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December 10-16, 2014 Vol. 16 Iss. 28
Haywood’s tax collector gets bond, starts work Page 17 Tribal council takes heat for pay raises Page 22
CONTENTS
STAFF
On the Cover: Women climbing the corporate ladder or owning their own businesses is nothing new, and in fact North Carolina is among the nation’s leaders in this area. Still, those we interviewed for a series of stories on women in business say they sometimes face unique challenges as they move toward an era where the playing field is more level than ever before. • Women breaking the glass ceiling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 6 • Innkeeper discusses challenges, satisfaction of owning a business . . Page 9 • Brewer says male-dominated field welcoming to women . . . . . . . . . . Page 12 • Marketing expert says a woman’s confidence is key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14
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(Cover photo of Maleah and Denise Pusz by Holly Kays)
News Haywood’s elected tax collector gets his bond, starts work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Confiscated monkey gets new home at primate center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Haywood vows to rectify low pay-high turnover among deputies . . . . . . . . . . 19 Franklin’s Little Free Library a big success. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Cherokee Tribal Council members take heat for hiking their own pay . . . . . . 22 Sylva commissioner wants to make sure police sensitive to racial issues . . . 23 Glenville walleye join long list of mercury-tainted fish in WNC . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Scottish Tartan Museum in Franklin faces financial struggles . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
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Scott McLeod. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . info@smokymountainnews.com Greg Boothroyd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . greg@smokymountainnews.com Micah McClure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . micah@smokymountainnews.com Travis Bumgardner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . travis@smokymountainnews.com Emily Moss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . emily@smokymountainnews.com Whitney Burton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . whitney@smokymountainnews.com Amanda Bradley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jc-ads@smokymountainnews.com Hylah Birenbaum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . hylah@smliv.com Scott Collier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . classads@smokymountainnews.com Jeremy Morrison. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jeremy@smokymountainnews.com Becky Johnson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . becky@smokymountainnews.com Holly Kays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . holly@smokymountainnews.com Garret K. Woodward. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . garret@smokymountainnews.com Amanda Singletary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . smnbooks@smokymountainnews.com Scott Collier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . classads@smokymountainnews.com Jeff Minick (writing), Chris Cox (writing), George Ellison (writing), Gary Carden (writing), Don Hendershot (writing).
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WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2014 The disappearing glass ceiling Women-run entities rise in importance, numbers BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER isa Leatherman wasn’t trying to prove a point when she joined Nantahala Power and Light in 1987, the company’s third-ever female meter reader. She wasn’t trying to make a statement by moving up through the ranks as a powerhouse operator, engineer, vegetation management worker, relicensing agent or, as of January 2013, district manager for Duke Energy. “I didn’t accept the job wanting to blaze some trail because I was a woman,” she said. “It was a job to do. I’ve generally always approached any job like that. I try
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ing the company develop its own in-house mapping system of power lines and taps to help it pinpoint problems — has proven invaluable. “I got to really understand our power system in the Nantahala area,” she said. But then, she moved to Charlotte for her first job with Duke Power, as a hydro operator. Those six years were pivotal in a different sort of way. “You had all kinds of professionals that were there and you had all kinds of female professionals,” Leatherman said. “We [Duke Power] had our first female president during that time.”
A table of breakfast eaters share a laugh at Joey’s Pancake House. Helping customers create memories like this is what keeps owner Brenda O’Keefe going. Donated photo
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to do it my absolute best.” Evidently, that’s been a winning strategy, because the district manger job title comes with a lot of responsibility. The six-county jurisdiction covers all of North Carolina west of Haywood County, and the job description involves working with everyone from government officials to dissatisfied customers to grant applicants. It’s a big job, but a conversation with Leatherman about the day-to-day involves a lot of sentences begun with the words “I can,” a confidence that comes from the varied portfolio of experiences she’s built over of the last 27 years. Working off a biology degree, Leatherman’s experience in varied facets of Nantahala Power and Light’s operations — her accomplishments include help-
While at the beginning of her career there was nary a woman to be found in the utilities business — Leatherman oversaw an all male staff in her days as powerhouse operator — things were changing. It’s still a male-dominated business, but women are present, too. Of Duke’s 14 district managers in North Carolina, five are now women. Before, that number was zero.
MAIN STREET AND BEYOND Across industries, recent decades have seen a shift toward more and more women taking leadership in the business world, whether as entrepreneurs, business executives or leaders of boards and nonprofits.
“As I look through the membership list, I see more women in those positions, which 10 to 15 years ago were historically held by men,” said Julie Spiro, executive director of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce. Of the chamber’s more than 400 member businesses, 46 percent are either owned or managed by women, Spiro said. Those industries range from Main Street shops to Jackson Paper, one of the county’s largest employers, which has a female president and COO. It’s a different landscape from when Spiro, a Jackson County native, was growing up, or even from when she took the executive director job 15 years ago. Though she doesn’t have any hard numbers, her best guesstimate is that the number of female-owned or managed businesses in Jackson County is up about 20 percent from a decade ago. Linda Harbuck, executive director of the Franklin Chamber of Commerce, says she’s seen a similar trend. The chamber doesn’t keep numbers on female versus male-owned businesses, but Harbuck reeled off a laundry list of businesses owned or managed by women, along Main Street and through town, selling everything from furniture to donuts to yarn to shaves. “I’ve noticed that there’s more and more women who are the executive directors or presidents of chambers of commerce,” said CeCe Hipps, executive director of the Haywood Chamber. “When I first started, there were very few women in those roles and even more so when it comes to economic development and government relationships. Those were typically areas that were male-oriented.” Today, six of the seven chambers of commerce in The Smoky Mountain News’ coverage area have female executive directors.
A NATIONWIDE TREND These aren’t trends that are limited to Western North Carolina. Between 1997 and 2014, the number of women-owned firms in the U.S. increased by 68 percent, one-and-a-half times the national average of 47 percent for all businesses, according to the 2014 State of WomenOwned Businesses Report, commissioned by American Express OPEN. Over the entire 17-year period, an average of 591 women-owned businesses started each day. Women-owned firms — a statistic that includes only businesses with 51 percent or more female ownership — account for 30 percent of all enterprises. And North Carolina is at the head of that pack. According to the report, the state ranks ninth in the number of women-owned businesses, with 267,800 at the beginning of 2014, and it ranks third in overall growth since 1997. The state has seen a 91.4 percent increase in the number of women-
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BURSTING ON THE TROUT SCENE But that’s not to say women in leadership don’t still encounter raised eyebrows. Sally Eason, 15 years into her role as CEO of Sunburst Trout Farms, has encountered more than a few of those in her time in management. “Nobody comes in and says, ‘Wow, you’re the CEO!’ but you can always tell,” Eason said. “They look at me and go, ‘Who’s in charge?’ I say, ‘Well, I guess I am.’” She doesn’t get offended, though. “I think it’s fun.” Around since 1948, Sunburst is a family business, run by Eason and her husband Steve after Eason’s father handed it off. Sally and Steve took on the business just years before a wave of financial hardships Sally Eason. Holly Kays photo almost ended in disaster for the trout farm. There was a pair of hurricanes in 2004, and in 2006 arsonists burned the farm to the ground, though not before stealing $100,000 worth of caviar. Then there were several years of bad disease caused by drought and hot weather, one year bad enough to kill all the fish. And earlier this year, Steve passed away, throwing Eason into total management of the farm overnight. Sunburst could have gone under, but it didn’t. In
fact, it’s thriving. Eason and Charles Hudson, the company’s research and development chef, are now working on a consultancy branch of Sunburst, advising on aquaponic systems, business planning, grant writing, value-added product development and food safety protocols for selling seafood. They’re scoping out the possibility of building an aquaponic farm, and Eason’s daughter, Anna, is busy running Sunburst Market, which sells trout and other local food products, in downtown Waynesville. And in the midst of all that, Eason’s also a part owner with her siblings of Lonesome Valley, a gated community in Cashiers featuring a topnotch restaurant, forests dotted with mountain homes and popularity as a wedding destination. Creativity accounts for a lot of that success. When weather-induced financial woes loomed, Sunburst turned to grant writing. “He [Hudson] wrote a grant that saved Sunburst in 2011-12, gave us the funding that we needed to get back on track,” Eason said. Then, after the money came through, the pair realized that “we had spent so much time away from the farm working on saving the farm that the farm could run by itself,” Eason said. Eason’s children had taken on enough leadership that Eason and Hudson could start expanding the business in other directions. There’s a lot of coordination and collaboration that goes on between the various members of the Eason family to keep its portfolio of businesses going. It’s part of Eason’s job to facilitate that cooperation, and she sees her gender as an asset, more than anything, in making that work. “I think women tend to manage from their heart a little bit more and men manage from their head. That’s probably true in lots of aspects,” Eason said. “I think you get more work out of people when you do it the way I do it.”
SERVING MORE THAN PANCAKES Maybe there’s some truth to that, but Brenda O’Keefe, owner of Joey’s Pancake House in Maggie Valley, has found that sometimes being a woman in management means that you have to tap into your assertive side more often than you might like. In her nearly 50 years on the job, her experience has been that sometimes women have to one-up what’s considered average in order to be taken seriously. “You have to be better. You can’t be average,” O’Keefe said. “You have to be superior. Or that’s the way I’ve seen it.” O’Keefe can recount instances when salesmen asked to talk to her husband before she bought a car, or times when her speech has had to be on the verge of combative to get the point across. “It’s been an issue for me over the years,” she said. “Sometimes men would rather flirt with you than respect you.” The men she speaks of, though, are those who handle the restaurant’s food orders or deliver the kitchen equipment, not the ones who work inside, or the one who started the whole thing. “I worked hand in hand with my husband, and my husband had absolute ultimate respect for women,” O’Keefe said. O’Keefe first arrived in Maggie Valley with her husband Joey, who has since passed away, when the pair took a summer off from their working lives in Florida
S EE CEILING, PAGE 7
Jeanette Evans, owner of Mad Batter Food and Film, Sylva What came first: your culinary talent or entrepreneurial spirit? “Culinary. That’s what still keeps me in the game. The love of cooking. But the cooking is maybe half of it. The other half is management and finances and hiring contractors, how to fix something when it breaks down, how to staff.” When your immensely popular café in Cullowhee burned down, you faced the classic conundrum: stay in your safe zone or take a risk by reaching for something bigger. What convinced you to take the leap and break into the Sylva restaurant scene? “Knowing that I wouldn’t be going it alone. We were sitting around in my living room with a core group of staff, and it was them talking about the energy that had been put into it all those years and saying they didJeanette Evans n’t want it to die. But I think it is more than we have all expected. We were the go-to place in Cullowhee. We have to reestablish ourselves and build the local clientele and earn the trust of the community.” What is your secret weapon? “There is a whole crew of people working really hard to make the business successful, and I am just the leader in a sense. They are contributing their energy and effort and love and passion, too. You need good people that are interchangeable and flexible.”
WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2014
owned firms since then. However, the state ranks 17th in overall economic clout of women-owned firms, as growth in firm revenues ranks only 41st, with 48.6 percent growth. The outlook will likely continue to be good for North Carolina women, said Andrea Harris, senior fellow in the N.C. Institute of Minority Economic Development. “I would suspect that when the next census of women-owned businesses is released in the summer of next year, 2015, that we’re going to see — particularly in North Carolina, even around the country — significant growth in the number of women-owned firms,” she said. Some of that has to do with businesses that were started to add extra income during the recession expanding after experiencing success, some has to do with women being encouraged enough by the success of others to start their own venture, and some is still on the horizon as the aging baby boomer generation creates more opportunities for female businesswomen, particularly in North Carolina, where growth of retirement communities is one of the highest in the nation. In short, it’s increasingly common to be a woman at the helm of the business.
Bernadette Peters, owner of City Lights Café and Perk and Pasty, both in downtown Sylva What did you want to be when you grew up? “It was never a business owner. I wanted to be a tennis instructor. Then you realize you can’t do that your whole life without being in a lot of pain.” Was your path as a business owner intentional, accidental or both? “It was almost by default I started my first business. I worked in Bernadette Peters business on a corporate level for quite some time in Atlanta. Then I found myself laid off and I started a small business marketing agency. As you start getting older you start to think about what the future holds for you. We had a cabin up here and started thinking about what we could do to put us in this area. I had helped some friends with their marketing when they were opening a coffee shop and I noticed the smile they put on people’s faces and how you could make one latte and make someone really happy. In the marketing business, you had to work really hard on one contract to make somebody happy.” What has been the biggest learning curve for you as a woman in the business world? “In Atlanta, there is a good old boys club that does business together, so basically, I had to learn how to be a good old boy to hang with them. But you don’t have that issue here. It is more progressive.”
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WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2014
Real Estate Broker Carolyn Lauter Cathey Bolton, an artist and owner of Art on Depot in Waynesville, opened her gallery six years ago. She has been a potter for over 20 years and enjoys creating her pottery where customers can watch and learn about the process. Cathey's plans for the future include expanding her wholesale and retail sales. Refining her own pottery lines as well as consulting and designing lines to be sold in larger scales. As for other women starting out in business, Cathey advises them to “never stop learning, pay attention to your customer, set goals and be accountable.” Finally, Cathey said it is important to love what you do: “Be passionate, work hard and everything will fall in place.”
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A community is enriched when a native child grows up and returns to contribute to its success. We are fortunate to have two such women - attorneys Aggie Guy and Kim Carpenter Lay. Aggie is a native of Haywood County and a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, Florida Coastal School of Law and holds an LL.M. with a concentration in estate planning from the University of Alabama. Aggie serves as the public administrator for Jackson County as well as the county Area Agency on Aging attorney. Her practice is focused on advising clients in estate planning, elder law and real estate. Kim is a native of Swain County and a graduate of WCU and North Carolina Central University School of Law. Kim serves on the school board and is the Swain County attorney. She has helped thousands of individuals and businesses with civil litigation, workers’ compensation and social security disability claims. Kim and Aggie also immensely enjoy their roles as moms and are grateful to be raising their children in this beautiful area while being women in business.
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559 West Main Street, Sylva | 828-339-1010 | Little Savannah Road, Cullowhee NC 28779
CEILING CONTINUED FROM, PAGE 5
Maleah Pusz gets some work done during a quiet moment at the wine shop. Holly Kays photo
O’Keefe said. “Like a lot of people in Florida, I was kind of obnoxious. But learned so much right away from the young women I met who went to work for us.” That first group of women, hired in the late 1960s, now includes some of O’Keefe’s closest friends. Children who came to Joey’s for the first time on vacation with their grandparents return as adults, bringing their own kids to make their own memories. “Sometimes I think, ‘Is this really a restaurant I’m running?’” O’Keefe reflected. “It just seems like so much more.”
OVER A GLASS OF GOOD WINE That’s what Maleah Pusz, who’s edging close to the one-year mark of business ownership, is hoping to build at Bosu’s Wine Shop in Waynesville. And it’s why, as much of a non sequitur as it might seem that someone with a master’s degree in teaching might decide to buy a wine shop, she feels that it’s the perfect fit. “Sharing a cup of coffee, a glass of wine, a meal, a dinner — these things are very spiritual, and creating the experience for people to come and talk to each other and have the kinds of conversations that end up changing a worldview and [showing] what it feels like to be someone else, that’s all teaching can ever be,” she said while prepping for a wine and chocolate tasting at the shop. She and her mother, Denise Pusz, started a side business in chocolate-making about four years ago. At the
be true of any new business owner, male or female. Though Pusz defines the wine business as a male-dominated one, she believes she’s benefited from being under Dune’s wing for so long, from having suppliers see her as someone who comes with Dune’s endorsement. She’s also seen some trouble from people who look askance on her age — Pusz is 27 — and question whether she’s really the one in charge.
MOMENTUM FORWARD But at the end of the day, the most important thing is to get the job done and leave gender language out of it. Success in business demands both stereotypically male and stereotypically female traits. “If you want to make generalizations, that [creating community] tends to be women’s work,” Pusz said, “but Tony [Gaddis] and I did all the demolition for our renovation by ourselves, 50-50.” At the end of the day, the mark of a successful businesswoman is the ability to roll up the sleeves and get the job done, whether the obstacle be trout-killing drought, a complicated power outage, revenues and expenses that just aren’t panning out — or gender discrimination. “Coming up with $200,000 to pay bills was challenging and would be challenging for anybody,” Eason said of Sunburst’s particular dilemma. “It wouldn’t matter whether you were a woman or a man or a monkey.” Because when it comes down to it, a woman in business is just a person in business, and businesspeople must be smart, firm and creative. When asked why it’s important to have women represented in the business world, all the women interviewed for this story had echoes of the same response — because, why not? As O’Keefe put it, “If a woman can do the job, give her the job. I’m not for displacing men from jobs in any way, but if a woman can do the job, give her the chance.” There are still obstacles to that. The pay gap, for one. According to U.S. Census statistics compiled by the American Association of University Women, the average woman in the United States makes 78 cents for every dollar a man makes. North Carolina is better than the average, ranking 10th out of 51 with 83 percent earnings for women. In U.S. House District 10, the numbers are even a little better, with 84 percent earnings for women. But it’s still less, and Harris pointed out that it can also be harder for female entrepreneurs to come by the capital to get started. “I think access to market opportunities still becomes a challenge because we have oftentimes this mindset that ice that’s sold by men is colder than ice that’s sold by women,” she said.
WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2014
to look at buying a hotel further north. They stopped in Maggie Valley on the way and noticed a restaurant for lease just down the road from Ghostown, which was then drawing 10,000 visitors a day. And, as O’Keefe knew quite well, when people go on vacation, they eat breakfast out. “We said, ‘You don’t have to be a rocket scientist,” O’Keefe said. “Breakfast, pancakes, and we’re going to make a lot of money.” After that summer, Joey decided he was tired of being a hotel executive and tired of working year-round. The couple came back to Maggie, bought the restaurant and operated it as six-month-per-year venture. “I was a model, I thought I was someone special,”
time, Maleah Pusz had no idea that the wine shop was in her future, but now, as she gets ready to offer her guests her mother’s chocolates paired with wine, it makes perfect sense. Other ties have also surfaced as important, with Pusz’ relationship with businesses such as The Strand Theater and Sunburst Trout resulting in Strand popcorn served with champagne, Sunburst caviar paired with wine. Tony Gaddis, who Pusz met while working at Panacea Coffee Company after finishing her master’s, was another one of those important relationships. As the two got to talking, it became clear that they had the same passion for wine and for community. When a rumor began circulating that Bosu’s owner Bob Dune was thinking about retiring — and when the rumor proved true — it didn’t take long for Gaddis and Pusz to throw their hat in as business partners. They split ownership, 50-50, taking over in February. But not before spending a full year volunteering at the shop, getting to know the customers, the selection, the ins and outs of wine and what makes Bosu’s, Bosu’s. Pusz had eight different paying gigs that year, working at Panacea, The Strand, as a bookkeeper and for a winery in Argentina, for starters. “I basically did whatever I could do to learn as much as I could so that once I got behind the counter, when I shake your hand, I know what to do,” she said. It’s been a hard road, and there are still a lot of late nights, a lot of weeks when it seems like there are just not enough hours in the day to get it all done. But while it’s harder than she expected, Pusz says it’s also more fun. And like O’Keefe, who’s firm in her belief that she runs more than just a restaurant, Pusz knows she and Gaddis run more than just a retail store. “The first month that I was here by myself, someone came in and said, ‘I need wine to take to someone because it’s the last wine he will ever have.’ So we cried. We cried and then we picked out wine,” she recalled. “Then he came back and said, ‘That was really good.’” That kind of relationship played out from the other side when Pusz lost her father just before the business
Of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce’s more than 400 member businesses, 46 percent are either owned or managed by women. Those industries range from Main Street shops to Jackson Paper, one of the county’s largest employers, which has a female president and COO. sale went through. “Part of what I have learned about business is that it isn’t that you put on your stiff upper lip and you get through it,” she said. “It’s that I have the best job in the world because my customers are my friends.” Those are all challenges and revelations that would
Still, the momentum is moving forward, if for no other reason than the encouragement that the girls who will grow up to lead the business world of the future derive from seeing the success of females around them. “There’s no reason why anyone can’t be what they want to be in this day and time,” Leatherman said, “male or female.”
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WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2014
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Dynamic Duo is a residential cleaning service operating since 2013.The company is bonded and insured. “We love the freedom to create our own schedule,” said Tanya. “We also enjoy getting to know all of our clients,” said Ashley. Dynamic Duo has grown its business by providing the highest quality of housecleaning and a very reliable service. This past spring the company was able to hire its first employee and looks forward to growing its client base and adding more employees over the coming years.
Deb Hermida and her husband Jose have been in the restaurant business for years and it was always a dream of Jose’s to have his own place. While Jose takes the lead in the kitchen cooking up scrumptious meals, Deb takes pleasure in running the dinning room. Over the years she has enjoyed getting to know her regulars. She speaks of families coming in over the years and watching children grow up with a fondness that shows how much passion she has for her job.
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BY J EREMY MORRISON STAFF WRITER he first time Merrily Teasley saw the Balsam Mountain Inn was somewhat dreamlike. It was during a full moon hike that would reroute her life. “There was no illumination except for the moon,” Teasley recalled. “It just looked like magic. It was gorgeous.” That was in December 1989. She returned in the summer to see the inn again. “I couldn’t find it to save my soul,” Teasley said. After asking around for the whereabouts of a “funky, old inn,” Teasley found it. The structure — once a relaxing respite for the well-heeled and on the National Historic Register — was “a disaster.” Windows were covered in plywood, vandals had broken in and the sagging décor looked as if “someone in the ‘50s had gone haywire or something.” “It was just hard to describe how bad it was,” Teasley said. Visiting that day, she had a feeling about the inn. She knew she wanted to see it returned to its former splendor. “It was just gross,” Teasley remembered. “But the bones of the building were just beautiful. The building itself, if you could just kind of squint your eyes and not see all the bad stuff, was just beautiful.” This was not exactly foreign territory to Teasley. At the time, she was operating an old inn in Tennessee that she had purchased and restored in the late 1970s. In fact, the Balsam Mountain Inn would come to be the ninth property Teasley restored, and the second one on the historic register. “I’m a real fan of old architecture,” Teasley said. After selling her Tennessee inn the first day it went on the market, Teasley plowed into her North Carolina venture. But she found her new path to be somewhat of a tough row to hoe. Although she was bringing a substantial sum to the table from the sale of her Tennessee property, Teasley found it difficult to secure a loan to purchase and restore the Balsam inn. She was turned down by 16 banks. “That’s woman-specific, too,” Teasley said. “At least three of them required that my husband co-sign the loan, and I didn’t have one.” The businesswoman found such attitudes offensive. “They wouldn’t have asked any man to have his wife cosign the loan,” Teasley said. She recalled one especially irksome encounter with a local loan officer who asked her straight away if her husband would be cosigning. “He said that the very first question out of his mouth. He said, ‘you needn’t sit down.’ His golf clubs were by the door,” she said. “It made me furious, I have to say. And I let it be known. He didn’t have a job two weeks later, and
T
WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2014
Moonlit magic in Balsam Merrily Teasley brought the Balsam Mountain Inn back to life in the early 1990s. Today, Teasely still shares with her guests the magic she first experienced when stumbling upon the moonlit inn while hiking. Jeremy Morrison photo
“The bones of the building were just beautiful. The building itself, if you could just kind of squint your eyes and not see all the bad stuff, was just beautiful.” — Merrily Teasley
I hope I was the cause, because he was so insulting.” Eventually, Teasley secured some loans — from banks, from family, from the Southwest Commission — and got to work on the monumental task of restoring the Balsam Mountain Inn. But securing a loan would not be her only encounter with gender-based hurdles during the project. Turns out, some people don’t fancy a woman work-
ing a heavy-duty restoration job. “People didn’t take me seriously right off the bat. If they talked to me for more than five minutes they knew I knew what I was talking about,” Teasley said. “People assumed ignorance or stupidity or whatever, I think moreso than if I had been a man. It was just a basic assumption that women could not do that kind of work.” Soon enough, Teasley assembled a crew of workers who realized her gender was not an issue. She worked alongside them until the inn sparkled with new life. But still, Teasley found that being a woman would stir up issues even among her enlightened crew. Not bigdeal issues, but issues all the same. “I was a lot younger then, and prettier,” Teasley laughed, explaining that she did have to deflect advances better left off the worksite landscape. “They thought that maybe I was available. That was a little rough, and probably wouldn’t have happened to a man.” The gender-based hurdles that Teasley faced were not found in some backwards society long ago. They were here, in the modern era, in the early 1990s. Such hurdles didn’t make much sense to Teasley. “It never crossed my mind that I couldn’t do anything I wanted,” she said, surmising that such attitudes probably held stronger in this region than some other places. “I think being in the South made a difference, and being in a rural area.” These days, Teasley suspects, a woman might have an easier go at such a journey. “I’m fairly certain it would be easier,” she said. “I think the climate is better for women to do pretty much anything they want.” After restoring the Balsam Mountain Inn, Teasley sold the property in 2004. A few years ago, she bought it back. The inn is, by any account, a success. Travelers and guests soak up the old-world ambiance on moonlit nights, and newspapers and magazines relay the tale of a magical place nestled in the hills. When Teasley first began restoring properties, and when she jumped into the old inn in Tennessee, her parents thought she was “crazy.” Now, the innkeeper smiles as she recalls her father’s comments on his daughter’s work. “He said, ‘I’ve got four children,” Teasley recalled, “and I never knew it was the girl who was going to get written up in the Wall Street Journal.”
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Champion Credit Union
WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2014
Empowering Women for Business Success for Over 82 Years!
Top Row Left to Right:0/.-,,+-*)0(.+'&%.$#0("-!&0 -*+* -+ 0 & !. 0 %.+ )**0 .-*$ ,+&&#0 +. !,-* 0+*$0(% *- +,-%* 0 +*+ !. 0 "+.%*0 #0 - !0 .! -$!*,0 *&%. +,-%*0 ! "*% % ) 0 !,+0 %%$)#0/.+* "0 +*+ !.0 +)*! - ! 0 % -0/!,"0 !$ !,,!.#0 Accountant Bottom Row Left to Right:0 .- 0 !. !.,#0 %+*0 !. - -* 0 +*+ !. 0 + 0 !! !#0/.+* "0 +*+ !.0 (+*,%* 0 +.!*0(-% !#0 %., + !0 %+*0 .- -*+,%.
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athy Sheppard, president of Sheppard Insurance has worked in the insurance industry since 1982 after graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill. She bought the agency in 1992. “Every account presents unique challenges, some more than others. I enjoy the analysis and creativity that goes into putting together the appropriate insurance protection for my clients. I also am blessed to have the most wonderful customers who have been with us a long time,� Sheppard said. Sara Sheppard Pacifici, vice president of Sheppard Insurance, began working for the agency in 2009. Speaking on what drew her to the business Sara said: “I have always had a passion for helping people and that is just what this business does. We help people make the right decisions for their families or their business, and if something happens, we help them through very difficult times in their lives. It is a very rewarding career.� Kathy says women who own businesses can do everything men can do. “Don’t even think about your gender in deciding on your career,� she said. “We women can accomplish anything. Also don’t be afraid to take on the risk and challenge of owning your own business.�
“Don’t be afraid to take on the risk and challenge of owning your own business.�
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Cassidy Morgan Lance has been in the tattoo business for eight years. Working with her husband revealed a need and interest in permanent makeup in the area and the change fell directly in line with her cosmetology career. Many of her makeup clients suffer from failing eye site, allergies or alopecia and Cassidy loves the instant change it offers them. She says her favorite part of the job is “making that difference, giving something to someone that they have never had before, something that makes them feel normal.� Cassidy Morgan Lance is also a hairdresser at Blue Moon Salon.
292 N. Haywood St. • Waynesville (828) 452-2133 ForbiddenColorTattoo.com
Mary Coker, Cataloochee Guest Ranch, Maggie Valley
Shelli Allen, Happy Daze Donuts, Franklin “I always wanted to open a donut shop, my whole life,” Shelli Allen said when asked where the idea for Happy Daze Donuts came from. “It’s just one of those things, because I love donuts.” When the recession hit, Allen was working for a real estate attorney but soon got laid off as the real estate market crashed. She and her husband James — Shelli Allen who also lost his job — went back to school and then began making donuts for the Franklin Farmers Market. In 2013, they opened their shop with just $35 in the till. Allen said having the shop is “really fun,” but hard work. She and James get there at 2:30 or 3 a.m. and stay till 5:30 or 6 p.m. But it’s worth it, and she’s learned a lot. “I just started with donuts, but they [the customers] are like, ‘Do you make birthday cakes or bread, or can you make me a pie?’” Allen said. “I’ve learned that it’s just good to be able to diversify and grow.”
Michelle Briggs, Innkeeper, has been in the Bed and Breakfast business for four years as the owner of The Herren House in Waynesville. Prior to buying the Herren House, she spent years operating a B&B in Hendersonville. Known for her inviting personality, scrumptious food and entertaining Murder Mystery events, Michelle has decided to begin a new venture at Twin Maple Farms just up the road from the Herren House. Twin Maple Farms is destined to become the go-to destination for visitors and locals alike under Michelle’s care. “I’m looking forward to a new start and taking things to the next level by adding local weddings and events at this beautiful location,” she said of the new venture.
WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2014
Smoky Mountain News: The ranch has always had strong female leadership in its workforce and also within your family. What does it mean to you to have all of these women as the face of the business? Mary Coker: It’s definitely matriarchal. We’re all hard workers. We love these mountains and this area. We want to bring this hospitality and share it with everybody, and we just happen to have a lot of strong women Mary Coker heeding the call here. Not just the people who run the ranch, but also all those who work here. It takes a strong woman to work up here. We love them all because they’re our mothers, grandmothers, sisters and friends. We all work together really well. SMN: Western North Carolina has a growing female-run business sector. What are you thoughts on that? Have you come across any challenges yourself? MC: I’m proud that all of these women are coming up and stepping forward, and really shining as business owners and managers. The tide is turning. There were times when maybe someone wouldn’t take you seriously, but it all depends on if you take your-
self seriously. As long as you feel good about yourself and your product, we’ll all be here right with you — stick by your guns and stick with it. Be strong and keep with your passion.
Twin Maples Farmhouse 63 N. Hill Street, Waynesville • 828.452.7837
WEDDINGS • REUNIONS • CORPORATE MEETINGS & RECEPTIONS
Smoky Mountain Eye Care has been open since 1985, and Dr. Laura McDaniel was excited to join the practice in October of this year. “As long as I can remember, I have wanted to do something in the medical field,” said Dr. McDaniel. “It wasn’t until I started shadowing Dr. Aldridge in my hometown of Burnsville that my eyes were opened to the broad scope of practicing optometry. I witnessed him prescribing medications to treat eye infections and glaucoma, referring patients out for cataract surgery and LASIK, and co-managing their post op care — all in a day’s work!” Dr. McDaniel loves living in Haywood County — it is one reason she loves her job. “I love getting to know the people in this wonderful, close-knit community that reminds me of my hometown, I truly enjoy forming lasting relationships with my patients and helping them have a better quality of life,” she said. As for the challenges women face in the work place, Dr. McDaniel said most of the time women just have to work harder to meet their goals. “Being new to the field, I would say my biggest challenge is gaining trust with the community. This is something every new physician faces; however, being a woman it is even harder. In the entire business world, not just medicine, woman struggle to be taken seriously.” From Hwy. 19/23 take Exit 104 towards Lake Junaluska; continue 1/2 mile to Haywood Medical Park on the left. NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS
828.456.3211
www.smokymtneye.com
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WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2014
Tapping into the future Nicole Dexter of Innovation Brewing BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER t’s nearing lunchtime in downtown Sylva. The noonday traffic passes by a small building that houses Innovation Brewing. Inside, Nicole Dexter is checking equipment, hauling bags of hops and malt, all the while ready to take on another day amid her dream. “Things have been going really great,” the 28-yearold said. “Our numbers are much better than we projected or anticipated.” Co-owner/brewer at Innovation, Dexter and her fiancé, Chip Owen, recently celebrated their first year in business. What started as a passion that evolved into an idea and rolled onward into a reality, the couple’s craft beer endeavor is growing fast. On any given night the taproom is filled with locals and the curious alike, all gathering in what is rapidly becoming a social centerpiece of the community. “I didn’t realize we were going to make such an impact on this town when we came here,” she said. “I think in the beginning I was looking at things through a narrower lens and thinking about ourselves within the business. We always wanted to contribute to the community, but it has been amazing seeing how welcomed and embraced we’ve become in Sylva.”
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BITTEN BY THE BUG Originally from Pennsylvania, Dexter was raised in Florida. Early on, she didn’t know much about craft beer, let alone having an interest in the industry. But, that all changed when she took a job as a teenager at a brewery in Pennsylvania. She began to learn about the art of brewing, an ancient knowledge that slowly planted a seed in her head, one which would blossom in due time. “It was then I realized what craft beer was — a craft,” she said. “I began visiting breweries around the country and knew that this was an industry I wanted to be part of.” Dexter then found work at Asheville Brewing. After four years there, she and Owen decided to take the leap and launch their own entity in Western North Carolina. “Going into my jobs at the breweries, I never thought I’d own my own brewery, but it just developed,” she said.
“We felt we should go for it. Craft beer is what I’m knowledgeable about, passionate about, and I just love the whole community in the industry.” With Innovation on the map, and a reputation for great, quality beer flowing through Southern Appalachia, Dexter feels justified in her career pursuits. She is doing what she loves and is always looking ahead, always improving herself and the products put forth. “I like that I’m not limited in my growth,” she said. “Where as hard as I work and as big as this company is going to grow, I’m not just working on an individual scale, not trying to get a promotion. I’m trying to grow this company as a whole, and the harder I work, the better the company will be. I put in endless hours and that’s because I want to.”
THE FAMILY THAT BREWS TOGETHER And yet, with all of the continued camaraderie that exists in the craft beer industry, one thing is very noticeable — there aren’t many women involved. Dexter doesn’t see that as a “boy’s club” mentality. She simply notes that is just how it is right now, with more and more females finding their way into the microbrew workforce. “People ask me about that a lot, but I don’t really think of the brewing industry as male dominated even though it definitely is. It’s just like I have a lot of brothers,” she smiled. “None of the men in this industry make it feel like a male-dominated industry. This is a select group of people passionate about this who are going for it. I never feel out of place when I’m at meetings or when
“I like that I’m not limited in my growth ... I’m not just working on an individual scale, not trying to get a promotion. I’m trying to grow this company as a whole, and the harder I work, the better the company will be.” 12
— Nicole Dexter
we’re doing events — I’ve never felt anything but welcomed by the industry.” Though Dexter has always felt completely accepted by her community and industry, there is one small thing that continually has her shaking her head. “I bartend here a lot and sometimes people will assume I’m just the bartender, they’ll come in and say, ‘Hey, can I talk to the guy that brews here?,’” she laughed. “And I’ll say, ‘Sure, what do you need?’ They instantly have this look on their face of ‘whoops.’ I find it humorous, but it’s just one of those things that people don’t realize that it’s not just a guy in charge — it’s fun to take people by surprise with that.” Dexter points to the strong presence of female-run businesses in Sylva. Establishments like City Lights Café, Soul Infusion Tea House & Bistro or Mad Batter Food & Film are all mainstay spots for people, events and a strong sense of community. Dexter also noted the importance of the “Women in Business” luncheons that are put on by nearby Southwestern Community College. “It’s nice to be approached by different organizations that are women-run, that acknowledge your accomplishments, and there is that sense of pride for me being one of the few women in this industry,” she said. “This town has the strongest community feel out of any town I’ve ever lived in. I’m not sure if it’s partly because of all the female-run businesses, but we have this sense of community support. There’s a strength in this town and I feel so happy to be part of it — the magic of Sylva.”
Challenges and Advice from the Women at State Farm
Patricia Miller has owned
WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2014
and operated Affairs of the Heart on Main Street in downtown Waynesville since March of 1996. Her motivation to open the retail store was simple: she wanted a local place to sell the crafts she and her mom made together. When she made the decision to open her own store, her mom was at her side to offer moral support. Today Patricia and her sister Roseann work side by side in the store. They pride themselves on having good products at good prices. They love meeting the customers and providing great service.
Hope Surrett of State Farm Insurance in Waynesville has been in the insurance industry for 17 years. She recognized the struggle women face being taken seriously and treated equally in the work place but encourages other women to “allow those challenges to be a motivation to never lose sight of your goals.” Kim King has been in the insurance business for 27 years. She says women have to prove themselves in the work place, but she also believes “when you love your career anything is possible.”
Affairs of the Heart
Linda Hurley has worked in the insurance business for 43 years. When asked what advice she would give other women in business, Linda said “try to find something you are interested in and would enjoy and look forward to each day.”
————————————————————————————— 120 N. Main St. • Waynesville, NC • 828.452.0526
270-06
Kim’s Pharmacy was established in February 2008 by Kim Ferguson, a graduate of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Pharmacy. After completing her degree in 1990, Kim returned to her hometown to serve her community as a pharmacist. She is a lifelong resident of Waynesville and has deep roots in the community. Kim is also actively involved with Altrusa of Waynesville, DSS Christmas and Foster Child Program, and Relay for life. Kim’s Pharmacy is proud to have been selected favorite pharmacy by the readers of The Mountaineer 6 years running and is grateful to the residents of Haywood County for patronizing an independent pharmacy in this age of big box chain stores. Kim’s Pharmacy is honored to have been selected 2013 Business of the Year by the Haywood Chamber of Commerce. As the only compounding pharmacy west of Asheville, the pharmacy’s patients range from newborns to geriatrics and everything in between. It does a lot of compounding for vets in the area, and the animal patients range from cats, to dogs, to horses and squirrel.
“We take care of the whole family,” said Kim. 366 RUSS AVE. (BiLo Shopping Center) | WAYNESVILLE
828.452.0911 Find us on facebook: www.facebook.com/kimscompounds
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WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2014
Choppy seas? Not a chance “Follow your passion. Your enthusiasm and excitement and dedication to that passion will help you to be successful.” — Nyda Bittmann-Neville’s words of advice to other women in business.
It’s always smooth sailing for Nyda Bittmann-Neville
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BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER Nyda Bittmann-Neville is a powerhouse of business savvy. Grace and poise define her. Professional becomes her. Composed and collected — always. The owner of TNB Consulting Group, a marketing, branding and communications consulting firm, Bittmann-Neville helps businesses and businesspeople create, shape and leverage their own image. So naturally, she’s a master of her own. “Everyone has a image. It is that graphic representation of a person, place or thing,” Bittmann-Neville said. “We have the ability to control how we are going to manage that presentation. I cannot manage how you are going to react to it, but I can manage how I am going to present myself to the world.” From Florida originally, but now based in Waynesville, Bittmann-Neville is an accomplished businesswoman, positioning herself as an expert strategist in the field of marketing and branding. She coaches clients from all sectors and backgrounds, from major international firms to new start-ups, plus sidelines as a professional speaker who’s paid to give talks to big audiences. Bittmann-Neville has been a champion of women in business. She believes women entering the business world in America today are no longer encumbered by biases and barriers that held back generations of women before them. “The lines are becoming more and more blurred,” she said. “Because women have been persistent in seeking their passion and their desire to be in business, we continue to lessen any obstacles or barriers. Women certainly are eager, enthusiastic and risk takers in opening up businesses. And women are moving into major leader-
ship roles in the business world — our community is definitely a reflection of that. ” The biggest hurdle for women in business is confidence. “If you lack confidence, that comes out in the way you communicate,” Bittmann-Neville said. “Women face unique challenges when they lack confidence. But when women feel confident in their knowledge, and the way they position themselves, and the way they communicate that becomes less of an issue.” And, of course, Bittmann-Neville’s an expert at helping women develop confidence by honing their own brand and image — a tailored version of the consulting work she does for major institutions. “It has to be a total package. How do you feel about yourself? How have you created your brand?” she said. She preaches the “three C’s” of communication — clear, concise and compelling — which she believes are paramount in the business world. It’s second nature for Bittmann-Neville, who always seems to know the right thing to say, how to say it and when to say it. “But it is a trainable trait,” she said. Public speaking also comes naturally to BittmannNeville, a gift she discovered in high school when invited to give a talk before an audience of 2,000. “Mom said, ‘Go out there and be yourself and have fun,’” she recalled. It’s advice she still follows today before taking the stage at speaking engagements. When Bittmann-Neville moved to Waynesville from Florida four years ago, one of her first stops was the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce, where she promptly plugged into business networking channels. “I became part of the community quite quickly. That is one of the beautiful things about Waynesville and Haywood County. If you want to get involved, you can. It is very open-armed,” Bittmann-Neville said. The Haywood County business community embraced Bittmann-Neville as quickly as she embraced it. Her expertise has been tapped for several high-level
initiatives of the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce, including a major rebranding campaign and launch of a new economic development commission. She was also integral in the development of the chamber’s Women in Business program, which brings women in business together for quarterly motivational talks and professional luncheons. It was being launched just as Bittmann-Neville moved here, and the timing was serendipitous. She championed the program, serving as its chair for three years. “The mission for Women in Business under the chamber is we want to continue to cultivate the younger generations so they can continue to move into leadership roles within our community,” Bittmann-Neville said. “We have a lot of avenues that women can participate in to gain leadership skills, communication skills, presentation skills, that can help them to position themselves.” As a spinoff of Women in Business, a mentor program was created called Partners in Leadership — pairing younger businesswomen with experienced ones. A dozen women have gone through the nine-month mentor program to date. “We’ve had a number of those young women move into leadership roles in their companies,” BittmannNeville said. Bittmann-Neville has lent her talents to numerous organizations in the community. Beyond her service on the chamber board of directors, she serves on the boards of the Haywood Community College Foundation, the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre and the Fund for Haywood County. Despite her hefty plate of civic engagement, she keeps a robust schedule consulting for clients and on the national speaking circuit, making travel a constant. Meanwhile, her husband, a banker, commutes to the Winston-Salem area during the workweek. They didn’t intend to leave Florida until they retired. But the second home they’d built here beckoned. “We had the opportunity to leave Florida sooner than we expected. We looked at each other and said ‘yes,’” Bittmann-Neville said, gesturing at the longrange mountain views out the windows of her home office as justification. Before starting TNB Consulting Group, BittmannNeville was working as a senior marketing strategist for Barnett Bank. “Going into business for yourself is always a leap of faith,” Bittmann-Neville said. “I love what I do and I am excited about it every day.”
Amber Slagle, Village Florist and Gifts, Bryson City Amber Slagle enjoys her work. She works with flowers, and also atmosphere and mood. “Making it look good,” Slagle said. “Making everybody happy.” Slagle has worked with floral arrangements for quite while — “Me and my mom have done weddings since I was 16” — and spent the past few years working as a florist at Ingles supermarket. In June, she decided to take a leap and purchased Village Florist and Gifts in Bryson City. Running her own business, working with her mom, is an adventure. Maybe more so because she’s a woman. “Oh, Lord, yeah,” Slagle laughed. Even the small stuff — like dealing with the electric company — can be difficult as woman. “Just because your female, when you get on the phone with somebody they think they’re gonna screw you,” Slagle said. “They think you’re a woman, you don’t know what you’re doing, they’re going to pull one over on you.” And then there’s the routines that traditionally fall to women — taking care of the kids, cooking meals. Throw those in the mix with running a newly launched business and things get really interesting. “The woman is supposed to do the cooking, take care of the house,” Slagle said. “I’m here a lot of days until 7 or 8 o’clock at night.” But the business owner also sees some advantages to being a woman in business. For starters, she tends to handle the more stressful moments with a bit more grace than her husband. “I have an easier time staying calm,” Slagle laughed.
Monica Brown, Fryemont Inn, Bryson City Monica Brown didn’t set out to run a historic inn. “It was really not our plan,” Brown said. After meeting her husband while at college, Brown ventured to Bryson City to spend some time with the in-laws, Sue and George Brown, who had purchased the Fryemont Inn shortly before their son went away to school. “To just kind of help out,” Brown recalled.
Martha Holbrook, Rosebud Cottage and Mossy Rock, Franklin Martha Holbrook opened Rosebud Cottage in Franklin in 2007, just as the economy teetered on the edge of collapse. But despite challenging economic times, Holbrook was able not only to upgrade her location from her original shop on Highlands Road — now Rosebud Cottage is a Main Street business — but to open a second business, Mossy Rock, in April Martha Holbrook 2013. “They always say if you own your own business, you work 100 hours a week, and you do,” Holbrook said when asked the secret to her success. “Hard work.” Holbrook is far from being the only female business owner in Franklin, and she sees that as a good thing. “I think women have a sense of being a little more sensitive to people’s needs,” she said. “Not that men aren’t sensitive, but I think that women have a sense of a little broader view of customer’s needs.”
Miss Judy on Target, 1938
When women take over the reins: Three generations of the Alexander family at Cataloochee Ranch. “Women run this place,” says Mary Coker, the current manager of Maggie Valley’s venerable Cataloochee Ranch. And she should know. When Mary’s grandparents, Tom and Judy Alexander, opened the first Cataloochee Ranch in 1933, it was her grandmother, affectionately known to both family and guests as “Miss Judy,” who took on the responsibility of creating the Ranch’s now-legendary tradition of hospitality. By the time of Tom Alexander’s death in 1972, the second generation of Alexander women and their husbands had assumed the day-to-day management of the Ranch. Today, under Mary’s third-generation management, her mother Judy “Juju” Coker still greets guests every day at breakfast, her aunt Alice Aumen is there to greet them at dinnertime, and both help out with
WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2014
Amber Slagle runs Village Florist and Gifts with her mom, Rebecca Stephenson.
“It was really busy, business was booming in the 90s.” But the young couple ended up liking the area and decided to stick around. “It just kind of took hold,” Brown said. “We fell in love with the area and the people.” Brown and her husband now run the Fryemont. Over the years, she has also chaired the Swain County Tourism Development Authority and currently chairs Smoky Mountain Host, which promotes tourism in Western North Carolina. Brown doesn’t spend too much time thinking about how being a woman plays into any of these roles. She’s come of age post women-lib, and thankfully always considered her horizons pretty much open. “Our world now is more concerned about a person’s merit,” Brown said. “I’ve found that for the most part, if you’re confident in your decision making it doesn’t matter if you’re a man or woman.” In some ways, she said, it might be more advantageous to be a woman. Monica Brown Society tends to want to see you succeed. There’s not as much competiveness in interactions, like she has seen amongst men. “You can always get someone to carry something for you,” Brown joked. But Brown said she understands women do still face an uphill struggle in today’s world — “I’m sure there are some challenges in the corporate structure” — and offered some advice for young women heading into business. “Learn as much about every aspect of the business as you can,” Brown said. “Learn the business from the ground up, know what everyone else does around you.”
other duties on a regular basis. Meanwhile, Mary’s sister Judy B. Sutton manages the barn and pitches in wherever else she’s needed. Although her duties had been taken over by her daughters (and ultimately by her granddaughters), Miss Judy continued
Ranch general manager Mary Coker with sister, Judy B. Sutton, manager of the Ranch barn.
to be a gracious hostess at the Ranch until her death in 1997. And, for the women of her family, she left some enduring footsteps to follow.
Cataloochee Ranch 119 Ranch Drive, Maggie Valley, NC (828)926-1401 www.CataloocheeRanch.com
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WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2014
While my practice is not a woman-owned business, it is certainly run by women. I am fortunate to work with six ladies who continue to astonish me with their ability to balance their professional and home lives. Each has a unique personality and skill set, but as a group they bring the compassionate, nurturing nature we admire in women. Our staff includes: Mary Story — Our dental hygienist for 10 years, Mary is a favorite of our patients for her gentle technique and her conversational personality. Kelli Ray — For 17 years, Kelli has been the glue that holds the practice together. Her professional knowledge of all things dental is only exceeded by her caring nature. Sonya Scott — The first sound you hear when phoning our office will likely be Sonya’s cheery voice welcoming you to our practice. She provides a sunny disposition as the face of our front office. Claudia Painter — Having gained experience after years in
Family Dentistry Since 1994
specialty offices, Claudia brings a thoroughness to her dental hygiene duties. Katie Arrington — Having spent many years working in a pediatric office, Katie has the people skills to relate to all ages. Lisa Gillespie — My beautiful wife of 26 years, now that the nest is empty she has taken on the responsibilities as business manager.
MICHAEL D. GILLESPIE, DDS 611 S. Haywood St. • Waynesville • 828.456.9007
Bottom Row L to R: Jennifer, Angela, Carey, Loretta, Beth, Betty Joe, Top Row: Barbara, Patsy, Irma, Shelli, Karen, Brenda, Jackie, Chris, Jennifer Brenda O'Keefe grew up in a restaurant family and has owned Joey’s Pancake House for 49 years. She and her husband initially opened the Pancake House as a summer place but found themselves so charmed by the community that they never left. Brenda said all the women at the restaurant have been integral to its success. “Ambition is valued at Joey’s, and the high-achivers who have worked here over the years are a huge part of our success,” Brenda said. Over the years Brenda has seen a lot of change in how the business community treats women. She said that 20 years ago “women were not invited or wanted.” “Women have to be superior at everything to be taken seriously,” said Brenda. When asked what advice she would give to women just starting out in their career she said: “Prepare, get as much education as you can. Shadow someone in your field as early as you can, in college or high school. Go to work in your field before you jump in to figure out if it is what you really want.” Brenda has a passionate love for the restaurant business. “At its heart the restaurant business is easy: good food at a good price served well. Consistency is key, and in 49 years we have never changed any of our ingredients.”
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Haywood’s tax collector roller coaster is over Apples, oranges and bonds
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Several county employees – from the register of deeds to finance officer – must be bonded. The county pays the cost of their policy. For the new tax collector Mike Matthews, his $410,000 bond policy will cost $2,200 a year. That’s more than the premium for Finance Officer Julie Davis. Davis also has a $410,000 bond, but the annual cost is only $1,400. But that isn’t necessarily a reflection of Matthews being more risky in the underwriter’s eyes. “You can’t really draw a comparison,” said Steve Davis of General Insurance in Waynesville. Several variables play a factor, including the amount of cash handled. • In Jackson County, the tax collector and finance officer are both bonded for $250,000. But the cost tax collector’s policy is $1,500 a year versus $875 for the finance director. • The tax collectors in Buncombe and Haywood both had $100,000 bonds until recently, but the cost of the policies differed. The premium is $750 a year for the Buncombe tax collector compared to $350 for Haywood’s. • The Macon County tax collector has a $250,000 bond that costs $875, while Swain’s tax collector has a $50,000 bond that costs $100. But the cost of the policy is disproportionately higher for Macon. Macon’ bond amount is five time higher than Swain’s, but the cost of the policy is eight times higher.
What a ride: tax collector mayhem one for the Haywood history books The unfolding drama over the tax collector’s position has been marked by unexpected twists and turns. The first surprise was the election itself, with long-time Tax Collector David Francis losing by 250 votes to Mike Matthews,
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who is young and inexperienced by comparison. Next was the issue of whether Francis would stay on to train Matthews. Critics said it was a slap in the face to voters who thought they were ousting Francis to keep him around at all, but since Matthews wouldn’t know what he was doing his first day on the job, someone had to show him, and why not Francis? Then came the issue of Matthews’ salary. Commissioners set it at $55,000, about $20,000 lower than what Francis was making. Critics again said it wasn’t fair to pay Matthews less, but commissioners said it was reasonable since he wasn’t as
That’s low but normal for this time of year. Collections will climb sizably over the next six weeks – most people pay their property taxes in December and January – and should hit an 89 or 90 percent collection rate by the end of January, Francis said. Any property taxes not paid by then are considered delinquent, and the tax collector’s real work begins. It will be on Matthews’ shoulders to get the stubborn, dead-beat, cash-strapped or just forgetful tax payers to pay up by June. The county expects a tax collection rate of about 97 percent – totaling about $39 million – or it will face budget shortfalls. Matthews decline to comment for this article but has said publically that he is ready to roll up his sleeves and do the job he was elected to do. “To his credit, I think he is intelligent and I don’t think he will have any problems once he gets familiar with the job,” said Davis. The insurance agent said all that really matters is whether Matthews can hit the mark on tax collections. The politically charged climate surrounding his swearing in has obfuscated the real issue, he said. “I’ve said we should let this man make or break himself on his own. Let’s not throw a political wrench in it,” Davis said. “My only job was to get him a bond and I accomplished that, and now we can see how it all plays out.”
experienced as his predecessor. Besides, that’s what Francis was making prior to a promotion seven years ago that made him a manager over several adjunct departments – a dual role he served in addition to tax collector. Matthews won’t be acting in that dual capacity, and thus doesn’t get the salary that went with the larger role. But biggest hue and cry came when commissioners upped the amount of the liability bond, making it more difficult for Matthews to secure the necessary bond in time to take office on his scheduled swearing in day.
Smoky Mountain News
Critics accused the predominantly Democratic board of commissioners of political retribution against Matthews, a Mike Matthews, the new Haywood tax collector, took office this Republican, by upping the bond amount. But comweek. It will be on Matthews’ shoulders to get the stubborn, missioners said the higher dead-beat, cash-strapped or just forgetful taxpayers to pay up bond was justified — citby June. Becky Johnson photo ing Matthews’ limited experience and red flags in said. And it can’t always be done overnight. his personal financial record. Financial and credit history, net worth and “A lot of people are trying to make it a personal assets, employment background – political thing. There was nothing political in all of those are considered by an underwriter. it,” Davis said. The higher the bond, the more picky they are, After all, partisanship didn’t stop he said. Matthews from hiring Davis or Davis from “It is not a cut-and-dry proposition,” taking him as a client. Davis said. “He is a Republican and I am a Democrat, Davis stayed neutral in the political drama and I told him that, but I said I would do what playing out around the bond issue. He didn’t I would do for anyone who came to me, and pass judgment on the commissioners’ motives that’s help him get bonded,” Davis said. for requiring a higher bond, but noted that doing so did make it harder. HE REAL TEST “It is a bigger deal than a lot of people thought it would be, but it is not an insurAn audit over the weekend was timed mountable hurdle,” Davis said. “I am not with the changing of the guard from Francis saying it is without reason. The county to Matthews. commissioners had to exercise some At the point Matthews took over thought process there. I am sure in their Monday morning, only 48 percent of the mind they thought ‘We wanted to protect property tax bills had been paid for 2014, all the taxpayers.’” according to the audit.
December 10-16, 2014
BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER he newly elected Haywood County Tax Collector took office Monday, one week later than scheduled after encountering a delay in securing a professional liability bond. Mike Matthews, a Republican, was a longshot candidate, yet pulled out a narrow win in the fall election for tax collector. Haywood is the only county in the state with an elected tax collector, which was once the norm. Matthews was sworn in Dec. 8 and promptly began training under the tutelage of long-time tax collector David Francis. The two men were camped out behind a pile of paperwork in a county office Monday afternoon, with Francis walking Matthews through the county’s tax collection system and going over key files. They appeared to be putting any election bitterness behind them. Matthews needs Francis to teach him what the job entails and how to do it, especially since three of the five employees in the tax office have quit, retired or transferred in the past few weeks. Meanwhile, Francis doesn’t want to leave the county hanging, so agreed to stay on in an interim capacity for three months and help the guy who beat him learn the ropes. Matthews’ original swearing in planned for last week was postponed at the last minute after Matthews couldn’t get bonded in time. Matthews’ bond application was denied by at least one national insurance firm over issues discovered during employment and credit background checks. Although the county’s bonding agency declined to underwrite Matthew’s bond, Matthews continued looking through independent channels – namely with the help of Steve Davis at General Insurance in Waynesville. The normally routine process became a political circus, however, as Matthews’ supporters and critics argued over whether county commissioners were demanding too high a bond for Matthews and thus making it hard for him to take office. Hopefully, that is now water under the bridge, Davis said. “The fact he has gotten a bond probably diffused the situation,” Davis said. “He is in now, he’s got a bond, he is set for four years. I just think people need to let it go.” The tax collector must be bonded, but commissioners decide what dollar amount. Commissioners set Matthews’ bond at $410,000, while Francis only had a bond of $100,000. From a strictly technical standpoint, the higher the bond, the harder it is to get, Davis
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BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER n Old World pigtail macaque monkey taken away from its owner in Waynesville now has a new home at a primate preserve in Kentucky. The monkey — “Opey” — was the indoor pet of a Waynesville woman, who’d kept him in a cage in her home for almost seven years. After being picked up by animal control officers in November, Opey stayed at the Haywood County Animal Shelter for three weeks until a permanent home was found. Opey was spoiled during his stay at the shelter. The animal control officers miss him a little now that he’s gone, though he was more work than the usual shelter resident. “We made it peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but he A macaque monkey was a guest in the Haywood Animal liked his crusts cut off or he Shelter for a few weeks after being confiscated from his wouldn’t eat it. And we fed him owner. Local ordinances ban primates as pets in Haywood apples, but it wanted the skin County. Donated photo off its apple,” said Jean Hazzard, director of Haywood and hold his little hand and take him for a Animal Control. “We go all out for our aniwalk. But you just can’t. It’s too big a risk. It mals in Haywood County.” p could cost you your life,” Hazzard said. Opey was confiscated after animal conOpey wasn’t a small monkey either. He trol officers were tipped off. Technically, it’s p weighed 30 pounds, and was nearly four feet legal to own a macaque monkey. when he stood on his back legs. His old owner “But not in our county,” said Hazzard. l had kept him in a cage inside her home. The local animal control ordinance proMacaques can also carry diseases, so the hibits non-human primates. Simply put, priofficers wore gloves and a mask anytime they mates can be dangerous. entered the quarantine room to bring Opey Opey looked innocent enough — “When his food — three square meals a day. you handed him his sandwich he’d sit there Based on the average lifespan of his like a little child and he’d eat it,” Hazzard v said — but primates are strong and will bite. species in captivity, Opey should live another “It’s hard because you want to go in there 20 years at the primate preserve.
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Southwestern Community College has inadvertently released students’ social security numbers to a private research company. The college is reporting that all confidential student information has been confirmed as secure, and that steps have been taken to prevent future data breaches. “This was the first time we produced this particular report to respond to a request of this nature, and the social security numbers were missed in our initial review of the data file,” said Tyler Norris Goode, spokesperson for SCC. The group HigherEd Research, a scientific research and data analysis company, had requested basic student information such as name, program and dates of enrollment.
SCC officials and attorneys recognized the breach after the information had been sent. HigherEd acknowledged both over the phone and in writing that the email sent by SCC had not yet been opened; the group reportedly deleted the file without opening it. The college has notified and reported this incident to the Consumer Protection Division of the N.C.R Attorney General’s Office. “We implemented new procedures that will prevent this type of mistake from taking place in the future,” Goode said. “Although we are confident the situation has been addressed, we apologize to our students and have advised them to remain vigilant by reviewing their financial accounting statements and monitoring their credit reports.” Students who have further questions or need assistance can call 828.339.4406.
Becky Johnson photo
Higher pay the answer to high turnover among deputies
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Raising the bar isn’t hard when it’s this low Haywood deputies are the lowest paid in the region. A plan to incrementally increase their salaries over three years has been endorsed in principle by county commissioners. Entry-level deputies would get a raise of 15 percent and other deputies would get a raise of 10 percent over the next three years. All other sworn officers would get a one-time raise of 4 percent. Here’s how entry-level law enforcement hourly pay compares among agencies in surrounding counties.
* Hourly rates listed are for entry-level positions. Data compiled by Haywood sheriff’s office. Plus, there’s the cost of outfitting them with bulletproof vests made to fit each person’s body, and they can’t necessarily be used by the next officer coming in. Even uniforms are occasionally tailored and thus not interchangeable, Christopher said. If the sheriff ’s office could keep more of
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Buncombe County deputy...................$17.74 Asheville police officer .......................$16.83 Madison County deputy ......................$16.44 Henderson County deputy...................$16.37 Macon County deputy .........................$15.51 Transylvania County deputy ...............$14.98 Waynesville police officer ...................$14.95 Jackson County deputy .......................$14.35 Rutherford County deputy...................$14.16 Swain County deputy..........................$13.99 McDowell County deputy ....................$13.78 Haywood County deputy......................$13.72
This
December 10-16, 2014
BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER oping to combat a steady departure of officers, Haywood County entry-level deputies will see a 5 percent raise starting in January — the first step in a three-year plan to bring salaries of Haywood lawmen in line with the rest of the region. Haywood deputies are among the lowestpaid officers in Western North Carolina. That means high turnover as deputies take higherpaying jobs in neighboring counties. In the past 18 months, 10 deputies have left the Haywood sheriff ’s office and another three are in the process of leaving. Two detectives and a handful of jailers are among the departures as well. All cited higher pay at another job as their motivation. “In the vast majority of those exit interviews, they told me they had no desire to go anywhere else. They were happy here. They said ‘We don’t want to go, but we have no choice,’” Chief Deputy Jeff Haynes said. Of those who left over the past 18 months, almost all are going to work for another law enforcement agency. With just a 30- to 45-minute commute, a Haywood deputy can make more in Jackson, Macon, Swain, Madison, Buncombe or Henderson counties. With an hour commute, Rutherford and Transylvania join the list of higher-paying forces. “What bothers me is we have so many small counties half the size of Haywood that are paying more,” County Commissioner Bill Upton said. Sheriff Greg Christopher said the turnover comes at a price. There’s a material cost in training and certifying the officers. It can take weeks and even months before a new officer is ready to assume a regular shift rotation.
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Haywood Deputy Lance Easton, a 25-year-old patrol officer, will soon get a raise along with his counterparts, a move aimed at stemming steady turnover in the sheriff’s department.
its deputies, savings in training and uni- where the plan starts. form costs would partly offset the higher Entry-level deputies will get a raise of 5 salaries. percent, effective in January, bringing the “If you look at what it costs to replace hourly pay from $13.72 up to $14.40. That them, and you cut some of that out, you are will bump Haywood ahead of four other almost paying for it,” Commissioner Mike counties that it now lags behind, including Sorrells said of the raises. Jackson and Swain. Aside from the material savings, reducing The plan calls for an additional 5 percent the turnover rate brings a larger benefit, raise in year two, and again in year three. All County Manager Ira Dove said. deputies, not just entry-level employees, “You will also have a better force, not hav- would get the 5 percent raises in years two ing to constantly retrain,” Dove said. and three. Christopher agreed his department has Meanwhile, all other sworn officers would lost good officers. see a one-time raise of 4 percent. “We have become a training field,” Commissioners said they were committed Christopher said. “I have other sheriffs come in principle to phase in the full salary plan, up and tell me ‘Thank you very much for send- but approval for the 5 percent deputy raises ing me deputy so-and-so.’” Haywood County com“We have become a training field. I missioners were easily convinced after hearing have other sheriffs come up and Christopher make the case for better deputy pay during a tell me ‘Thank you very much for special county meeting last sending me deputy so-and-so.’” week. The salary plan proposed — Sheriff Greg Christopher by Christopher would be phased in over three years. The additional salary load would cost in years two and three would not happen $300,000 a year once fully implemented, but until budget time in the summer. would be offset by various savings. But the Commissioner Mark Swanger said it is the actual cost will be around $150,000 to right thing to do, but the county will now face $200,000, thanks to savings on training and the hard task of making room for the higher certification for new hires, less overtime pay salaries. associated with turnover, and an end to annu“We have to have our eyes wide open. This al bonuses.The most acute salary discrep- is a recurring expense that would be with us ancy is for entry-level officers, so that’s forever,” Swanger said.
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Library goes micro Mini library on Main Street promotes reading in Franklin BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER hose who frequent downtown Franklin may have noticed an odd-looking birdhouse taking up residence outside town hall in recent months, but the white structure isn’t a habitation for birds — it’s for books. “They’re sort of large birdhouse-style kiosks where books can be available to people wherever they are,” explained Karen Wallace, librarian at Macon County Public Library. “Our library is not in our downtown, and we thought it would be nice to make some reading available on Main Street in downtown Franklin.” The Little Free Library is a national organization that began in 2009 to make reading more accessible and visible in the community. You don’t need a library card to use the Little Library, and though the kiosks operate off of a loose “take a book, leave a book” philosophy, the push is more for people to take the books and read them. “These materials are free,” Wallace said. “There’s an assortment of some non-fiction books, some novels, some things for teens and some things for children, just a wide variety.”
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Get involved
Fall commencement scheduled for WCU Western Carolina University will hold commencement exercises Saturday, Dec. 13, to honor its fall graduating class and some newly minted WCU alumni who received degrees after this year’s summer school sessions. The 1 p.m. ceremony at the Ramsey Regional Activity Center is free and open to the public. Chancellor David Belcher will preside over commencement and deliver his charge to the fall semester degree candidates and summer graduates. Graduating student Jill Haley West White of Andrews, a secondary English education major, will deliver the primary commencement address. WCU’s fall class includes about 800 students who currently are working on final academic requirements to receive their degrees and who qualify to participate in the ceremony. Approximately 140 WCU graduates who completed degree requirements during summer school and who already have been conferred degrees also will be eligible to don caps and gowns for the event. Individuals attending WCU’s commencement should enter the Ramsey Center through one of four upper concourse doors. Those with physical disabilities should use the northeastern upper entrance, adjacent to the stands of E.J. Whitmire Stadium.
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dren, donated the materials. Volunteers built the structure and the town allowed its installation on its property. The Little Library has been restocked since it opened at the end of October, and books have been both borrowed and donated. Wallace hopes that people who use the Little Library will come in to find out what’s in the big one, located on 149 Siler Farm Road. And she’s also hoping to see more Little Libraries spring up around the county. She’s already Grace Johnson of Friends of the Macon County Public Library looks had an inquiry from United into the newly completed Little Library. Donated photo. Iotla Methodist Church. “They’re interested partially because they’re right across the street from the elementary school,” Wallace said. “It’s a hightraffic area and they thought it would be a To donate or help put more Little Free good location.” Libraries up in Macon County, call the By putting those book-laden kiosks in as Macon County Public Library at many places as possible — especially in outly828.524.3600. ing communities of the county, away from public libraries — she hopes to get Macon About 70 or 80 books fit into Franklin’s County more excited about reading. new Little Library, depending on the size of “We always like to have people reading,” the volumes inside. Friends of the Macon Wallace said. “We want to encourage people Count Library and Read2Me, a community to read, and we want it to be as convenient for initiative to put books in the hands of chil- them as possible.”
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Legal or not? Cherokee council votes themselves a pay raise, public protests BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER here wasn’t much discussion in the chamber Oct. 14 when Cherokee Tribal Council passed its budget for 2014-15. But as news of backpay and a $10,000 raise for council members spread through the reservation, things heated up. “You’ve opened a door by doing it, and I’m going to question and I’m going to stay on top of this and I’m going to refresh our memories and I’m going to keep the public refreshed,” Teresa McCoy, councilmember from Big Cove, told council during its Oct. 21 meeting. “They’re going to hear about it until they get sick of hearing what council’s doing. You need to go back and read your oath of office.” The budget, which became effective immediately and goes through Sept. 30, 2015, had passed during an Oct. 14 budget meeting labeled a budget hearing. McCoy, who along with Snowbird representative Brandon Jones was absent from the meeting, said the fact that the meeting was deemed a “budget hearing” indicated to her that no vote would be taken. “It was certainly not anything that was planned,” Chairwoman Terri Henry explained to council of the budget vote. “Essentially what happened was the budgets were finished and council wanted to have the resolution, so we had the budget and went into session and passed the budget.” Of the 10 council members present during the budget hearing, nine voted to pass both the tribal council budget in particular and the budget as a whole. Bo Crowe, representative from Wolfetown, was the only dissenting vote, but no discussion occurred.
December 10-16, 2014
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PAY RAISE OR SALARY ADJUSTMENT? Smoky Mountain News
By the time the Oct. 21 meeting rolled around, word had apparently gotten around to the community that the tribal council budget for 2014-15 would not only include raises of about $10,000 for each member but also backpay for raises that supposedly should have been given previously. Total, the extra pay added up to more than $1 million, Director of Finance and Management Cory Blankenship told tribal council. The money would boost salaries for tribal council members to $86,400 for council chair, $83,500 for vice chair and $80,600 for other council members. It’s unclear who got checks aside from sitting council members — whether the chiefs got raises or if previous council members who held seats during the backpay period get retro 22 pay. It’s also unclear how far back, exactly, the
backpay goes. The outcry from the public is that it’s illegal for council to give themselves any pay increase at all this year, according to the Charter and Governing Document of the EBCI. “The members of the Tribal Council shall receive such compensation as shall be appropriated by the Tribal Council, with no pay raise to take effect until the next council is seated,” Section 7 of the document reads. The next tribal council won’t be seated until the fall of 2015. According to Principal Chief Michell Hicks, though, the increase isn’t a pay raise. It’s a salary adjustment and long due to make up for incremental pay raises that should have been given all along. In the Oct. 21 council meeting, Hicks pointed to an ordinance passed in 2004 that stated that tribal council members should receive incremental raises of the same size given to tribal employees. Council members did receive a $10,000 pay increase in 2007 but had not received any incremental raises since then. “In this situation, this is an adjustment for prior periods, so it should have already been enacted,” Hicks told council. “It’s not a pay
“I have people in my community that can’t pay their power bills. There’s a lot of problems that we’ve gotta fix before I could ever justify a pay increase.” — Brandon Jones, Snowbird representative
raise, it’s not a pay increase, but it is addressing the enactment of an ordinance that’s already on the books.” Blankenship explained that tribal employees receive annual raises of 1 to 4 percent based on performance. To arrive at the backpay amount, he used the average percentage of these merit raises for years 2007-2013 to come up with an overall average percentage, 2 percent. Backpay is calculated based on 2 percent of the salary for each year. The public isn’t buying that explanation. “When you go from 70 to 80 [thousand], that’s a raise,” Wolftown resident Becky Walker told council Oct. 21. “You can call it an adjustment if you want to, but that’s a raise.”
PROTESTS DENIED Several of the council members agree with Walker. Bo Crowe provided the sole dissenting vote when the budget was initially passed, but McCoy and Brandon Jones, who were absent from the vote, also staunchly oppose
Jody Taylor angrily addresses Cherokee Tribal Council after council members vote not to hear a pair of protests opposing salary increases for council members. Council chamber video image. the increases. Though Albert Rose, a first-term council member, originally voted for the budget, he has since staked out a different position and even entered an official protest of the raises, along with McCoy. “I apologize to the people, to the community,” Rose said at the Nov. 6 meeting as council reached his and McCoy’s protests on the agenda. “If I’d known then what I know now, I couldn’t support it. I won’t support it.” But neither of the protests was ever read. According to Cherokee meeting rules, council members must vote on whether or not to hear a protest. The cover letters of McCoy’s and Rose’s protests were read, but council voted 7-5 not to hear the protests
“It’s not a pay raise, it’s not a pay increase, but it is addressing the enactment of an ordinance that’s already on the books.” — Principal Chief Michell Hicks
themselves. McCoy, Rose, Jones, Bo Crowe and Henry voted to hear them, while Bill Taylor, Perry Shell, Gene Crowe Jr., Tommye Saunooke, Adam Wachacha, David Wolfe and Alan “B” Ensley voted not to. An already tense audience erupted as the votes were taken. “So you’re not even going to listen to the people? You’re just going to shut us out?” one audience member shouted after members voted to deny McCoy’s protest. “The protest has been denied,” Henry
replied, before moving onto the next item — Rose’s protest. “I want each councilmember that just voted to deny two protests to tell us how much they received in backpay,” McCoy said. “The issues have been voted on,” Henry said. “The council — the vote was to deny the protest, so we’re going to move on.” That declaration elicited an audible response from the audience, and as Henry continued to bang her gavel to move on to Item 8, tribal member Jody Taylor came up to the mic to say her piece, speaking over the pounding gavel. “How about the tribal employees?” Taylor asked. “They don’t get a penny.” “It is only fair that we can speak on what our positions are from the community,” said Peggy Hill when Taylor stepped down, Henry continuing to bang her gavel and call for council to proceed with Item 8. “I voted to hear the protest, and I’m as disappointed as anyone else who voted to hear the protest,” Henry said. “The protest is not being heard.” “Do we go to the law? Do we go to court? Do we do an impeachment? What do we do?” pressed Hill. “You’ve shut us up.” At that point, McCoy cited legislation allowing her to cede time that she, as a councilmember, would have to speak. Rose did likewise. “I want [Assistant Attorney General] Hannah [Smith] up here,” said Solomon “Slick” Saunooke. “I have a legal question for Hannah.” “In my opinion it is not in violation of the charter,” Smith said. “I can talk more about that analysis if you’d like for me to.” Things cooled down a bit after that exchange, and for a while the meeting moved according to the agenda. But the issue kept resurfacing.
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BY J EREMY MORRISON N EWS E DITOR ylva Commissioner Danny Allen had a question. He’d been watching what was happening with the incidents in Ferguson, Missouri, and New York, where police-involved fatalities of black men have led to civil unrest, and wondered about his own home. “I wonder,” Allen asked during a recent Sylva Town board meeting, “if the police have gone through any kind of ethnic sensitivity training to handle such Danny Allen things?” In Ferguson, an unarmed black man was shot to death by a police officer who claimed he was protecting himself. In New York, a black man selling cigarettes died after being taken to the ground by a group of police officers, one of which held him around the neck as the man said he could not breathe. Neither case resulted in prosecution, and the incidents have sparked protests across the country. “We have a very small minority population here in Sylva, but we have a very large minority population at WCU,” Allen said. Sylva Town Manager Paige Dowling assured Allen that the national conversation was on the police department’s radar. “I know that it’s been a hot topic and they’ve discussed it a lot,” Dowling said. “I don’t know if they’ve had any training on it or not.” When contacted for comment, Chief Davis
Woodard referred any questions to Dowling. The town manager said that the police department routinely underwent required training, but that officers had not had any training focusing on ethnic sensitivity. “Since that’s so new, the training that they’ve had hasn’t dealt with that,” said Dowling. Dowling said that if any type of additional training was to be required, Sylva officers would certainly undergo such training. She also noted that officers’ training did focus on the appropriate use of force. Dowling said she understood the concern over police-minority relations, but stressed that Sylva’s law enforcement strived to “treat everyone equally.”
“Madam chair, these are heated discussions,” McCoy told Henry as an impassioned discussion about tribal enrollment segued, yet again, into the council raises issue. “They’ve been boiling for some time and we need to have them.”
and Hicks declined an interview, instead submitting an emailed statement that, aside from a description of the Cherokee budget process, read only, “The Tribal Council has authority over budgetary legislation and has determined along with legal counsel that all their actions were within their responsibility as the legislative body of the tribe.” McCoy said she’s not done trying to get some more detailed information on exactly what money was paid to whom. Though Blankenship gave out the total dollar amount of the raises and the salaries of tribal council members, he did not say how much backpay each individual council member got, saying that legally such information can only be made public by authorization of the chief. He also did not say how much the chief and vice chief received, if any, or detail where the money for the raises came from, as the raises were not part of the budget Chief Hicks originally proposed in July. “I have people in my community that can’t pay their power bills,” Jones said. “There’s a lot of problems that we’ve gotta fix before I could ever justify a pay increase.”
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— Danny Allen, Sylva commissioner
“All over the country right now there’s a lot of focus on law enforcement and what’s appropriate and what’s not — I mean, law enforcement are going to take a lot of heat all over the country,” Dowling said, before assuring that Sylva’s police officers were committed to equality. “I certainly think our officers serve the interest of the town to the best of their ability,” Dowling said.
Smoky Mountain News
The vote is done and the raises are being dispersed, but the discussion is far from over. Council members who disagreed with the raises are still fighting to keep the extra money out of their bank accounts — McCoy said she donated hers to various tribal organizations, as it had been paid out without her consent — and angry tribal members are expressing their rage online. “If you didn’t get to attend or watch Tribal Council today ... WOW!!! What a Sickening display of greed, cover-up and corruption!” reads the beginning of a Nov. 6 post on a page called Cherokee Rants & Raves. The post garnered 41 comments and 73 likes as of Dec. 8. Henry would not comment for this story,
“We have a very small minority population here in Sylva, but we have a very large minority population at WCU.”
December 10-16, 2014
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But the gambling machines in operation at these sites were not the sweepstakes variety and were clearly outlawed by as a form of gambling. “They all used the lingo sweepstakes in their signs, because they thought if they used that lingo they would be OK. But these were clear violations of the state statute,” Trantham said. The investigation began in February as a result of several citizen complaints and tips. The investigation was a cooperative effort between the county’s multi-agency Unified Narcotics Investigative Team, which includes all four police departments and the Haywood County Sheriff ’s office, as well as Alcohol Law Enforcement, N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security.
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Phillip L Wright has been named chief executive officer (CEO) for Haywood Regional Medical Center. He will assume his new role in January. “Everyone involved in the selection process was very impressed with the depth of experience and leadership capabilities that Phillip will bring to our hospital,” said Frank Powers, chairman of the HRMC Board of Trustees. “He has more than 30 years of health care experience with a proven track record of facilitating strong relationships and building effective teams. We are confident that Phillip will be a great asset to our community.” Wright is a seasoned healthcare executive, with 17 years of experience in executive leadership roles. He is currently serving as CEO for Santa Rosa Medical Center in Milton, Fla. Wright has also served as CEO and administrator of hospitals in South Carolina, Florida and Tennessee.
— Lt. Tyler Trantham
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BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER months-long undercover investigation led to a raid of three underground gambling parlors in Haywood County last week. The private gambling houses were outfitted with video poker and keno machines. Officers seized 35 illegal gambling machines and $8,000 in cash during the raids, carried out simultaneously last Thursday. All three gambling parlors were located on a half-mile stretch of the Old Asheville Highway east of Canton, not far from the Buncombe County line. They were each owned and operated by different people. “They were all in competition with each other,” explained Lt. Tyler Trantham with the Waynesville Police Department. “One opened, then another popped up, then another. They were drawing clientele from both Buncombe and Haywood.” The gambling parlors were operating out of leased buildings. Inside, the floor was lined with video gambling machines and little else. No merchandise was sold, but most provided sodas. “They have a cooler with soft drinks and you just help yourself. That’s to keep people there and keep them playing,” Trantham said. The gambling parlors were often thick with cigarette smoke. Most video gambling operations have an owner who provides the machines and hires an employee to man the site. Felony charges have been pressed against the owner and on-
site manager for one of the three locations. Arrests in connection with the other two sites are pending as the investigation proceeds, as well as the possibility of additional charges against the two arrested so far. Video gambling has been a controversial issue for law enforcement in recent years. The legality of certain types of machines classified as “video sweepstakes” is a grey area with the courts.
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Bust takes down gambling houses in east Haywood
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Glenville latest lake confirmed for walleye mercury contamination Walleye in Lake Glenville are prone to mercury contamination.
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What sort of training or degrees do you have? I have two undergraduate degrees, a B.A. in Speech Communications from West Chester University and a B.S in Human Nutrition from the University of Maryland and I have done some work towards a Master's in Marketing. To become a registered dietitian I also completed a dietetic internship - I did mine with the U.S. Army at Walter Reed in Washington D.C. I also passed a national board exam to become a registered dietitian and complete annual continuing education to keep my certification. Over the years I've had special
December 10-16, 2014
training in food safety certification, cooking, as well as wellness and health promotion.
How long have you been the dietitian for Ingles and what experience did you have before working for Ingles? I was an officer and dietitian in the U.S Army for four years on active duty. After resigning my active duty commission I worked in public health in South Carolina for a little over a year as a WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Director in the Low Country Health District. I have been working with Ingles for the past 14 years!
What sort of things does a dietitian for a supermarket do? I do a lot of writing for various publications and my blog (inglesnutriton@blogspot.com). I usually appear on television once or twice a month on WLOS in Asheville or WSPA or WYFF in Greenville. I plan and participate in various wellness events like Gluten Free Expos. I host a weekly radio program, "Ingles Information Aisle" on WWNC 570am (part of the iheart Radio network). I'm very involved with social media and can be found on
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Twitter as @InglesDietitian and on Facebook. My job also involves a lot of work with our
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customers, doing things like answering questions that come in by phone or e-mail, doing talks and presentations and store tours.
How can people get in touch with you? They can write to me through the Ingles website (www.ingles-markets.com/ask_leah/ ), call me 800-334-4936 or use twitter @InglesDietitian or Facebook (Leah McGrath Dietitian https://www.facebook.com/LeahMcGrathDietitian) to reach me.
Toxicologist coming to Jackson to field questions BY J EREMY MORRISON N EWS E DITOR new health advisory was issued this month warning people about mercury levels in walleye fish in Lake Glenville. This is not exactly news. “As an obligate piscivore — that is, fish that feed almost exclusively on smaller fish — this species is very prone to mercury bioaccumulation,” explained Susan Massengale, public information officer with the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Mercury occurs naturally in low levels in rocks, water and soil. It is also created when fossil fuels — coal, oil, natural gas — are burned, and during some manufacturing processes. Once emitted into the air, the mercury settles back onto land and into water. It’s a global problem. Since 2008, there has been a statewide fish consumption advisory in place warning the public about high levels of mercury in bass. It’s been fairly safe to assume that if bass are high in mercury, so are other higher-up-inthe-food-chain fish, like walleye. But, now, the assumption has been verified in Lake Glenville. “By request from N.C. Wildlife Resource Commission, we analyzed 20 walleye from Glenville Lake that were collected in 2013,” explained Massengale. “Mercury levels turned out to be high in almost all 20 samples.” This is not unique to Lake Glenville. It’s just a matter of being tested. The state Wildlife Resource Commission routinely collects samples of fish and routinely requests
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Want to go? Jackson County has scheduled a public meeting for Dec. 15 to discuss the recent fish advisory issued for walleye in Lake Glenville. The advisory warns of high mercury content in walleye, and suggests women of childbearing age and children under the age of 15 not consume the fish, and that everyone else limit their consumption of walleye — and bass, which is also high in mercury — to one meal of the fish per week. The Dec. 15 public meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Albert Carlton Cashiers Library, located at 249 Frank Allen Road in Cashiers. State toxicologist Dr. Ken Rudo will be available at the meeting to answer the public’s questions.
DENR to test walleye samples for mercury. In each lake where walleye are tested — be it Fontana or Santeetlah or Gaston — it is repeatedly confirmed that the fish are too high in mercury to be considered safe. It is advised that women of childbearing age and children under the age of 15 not eat the fish, and everyone else is advised to limit their consumption to one meal per week of fish high in mercury content. Fisherman Leonard Winchester found out in 2008 that his home lake, Lake Fontana, had walleye high in mercury. This was difficult news for him to digest. “Because I ate walleye pretty regularly,” Winchester said. After the state tested Fontana’s walleye, Winchester went and had himself tested for mercury. The results were startling. “It came back unbelievably
WCU board approves tuition hike
Mercury primer What is mercury? Mercury is a metal that occurs naturally at low levels in rocks, soil and water. It is also emitted when fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas are burned. Forest fires, some manufacturing processes and the burning of solid and medical waste also emit mercury.
placed at locations around Lake Glenville to warn people of the mercury issue. “I think that’s one of the things that the state will advise us to do,” Carden said, adding that the state had already informed the county that it could not foot the bill for such signage. “We’ll take care of that.” Jackson County will also be hosting a public meeting Dec. 15 in Mercury occurs naturally in low Cashiers to educate people about the fish advisory and mercury levels in levels in rocks, water and soil. Lake Glenville. Dr. Ken Rudi, a state It is also created when fossil toxicologist with the N.C. Division of Public Health, will be present to field fuels — coal, oil, natural gas questions from the public. — are burned, and during some “To try to answer any questions or concerns they have,” Carden said. manufacturing processes. “We want to do our part in educating people that are concerned.” “There’s no signs up at the lake — their Carden noted that such meetings somealibi is that it’s in the fishing regulations and times receive scant attention. on the website,” the fisherman said. “They Unfortunately, mercury pollution is old should have consumption advisories up at news to many. the boat ramps.” “Now, I think people are kind of on board Paula Carden, Jackson County’s director with knowing that fish have mercury in of public health, said that signs will likely be them,” she said. include tingling or numbness of the lips, tongue, fingers or toes; fatigue; and blurred vision. How does mercury get into fish? After mercury pollution is emitted into the air, it then falls back down into water and onto land, where it washes into water bodies. Once in the water, bacteria can change mercury into methylmercury, which is absorbed by tiny aquatic organisms. When fresh water and ocean fish eat these organisms, the mercury begins to build up in their bodies. Mercury then makes its way up the food chain, with larger fish eating smaller fish, and builds up in the tissue of larger fish. Because it binds to the protein in fish muscles, mercury cannot be removed by cooking or cleaning the fish. Can we still eat the fish? Larger fish, in both fresh and salt water environments — like bass or tuna — have been found to have unsafe levels of mercury. As a result, it is recommended that people limit their consumption of such fish. In North Carolina, officials advise that women of childbearing age and children
under the age of 15 do not eat fish with high levels of mercury. For everyone else, it is recommended that not more than one meal per week of such fish be eaten. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offers similar guidelines. But the agency is also stressing the importance — for children, pregnant women and everyone else — of eating varieties of fish found to have lower levels of mercury. In June, the EPA released a draft of updated advice concerning fish consumption. The agency decided to update its advice — stressing the importance of fish in one’s diet — because it found that women were limiting or avoiding fish altogether during pregnancy, and also not feeding it to their children, for fear of mercury contamination. For a list of fish commonly consumed, as well as their corresponding mercury levels, visit www.fda.gov/food/foodborneillnesscontaminants/metals/ucm115644.htm.
Source: North Carolina Division of Public Health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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What are the health impacts of mercury pollution? Mercury primarily affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Unborn babies and young children are especially susceptible. The more mercury that gets into a person’s body, the longer the exposure and the younger the person, the more severe the effects will be. Mercury is especially harmful to a developing brain. It can interfere with how nerve cells move into position as the brain develops, resulting in abnormal development. Prenatal exposure can affect the way children think, learn and problem-solve. Much higher doses of mercury are harmful to adults. Early signs of mercury poisoning
“I have friends who speak very highly of the bass. They like it, they eat it, their kids eat it,” he said. “I would bet that there are plenty of people with young children who don’t think anything of it.” Winchester blames this on the state’s “poor job on disseminating this information.”
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December 10-16, 2014
high,” the fisherman said. “It came back so high I shouldn’t have been alive. Of course, that wasn’t right, because I was alive.” Turns out, Winchester’s initial test was wrong. “The folks in Atlanta who did the lab work screwed up my test,” Winchester said, explaining that once a corrected test was performed his mercury levels read much lower. But still, the news concerning Fontana’s walleye was life-changing for Winchester. Prior to that, he could be found most mornings on the waters of Lake Fontana fishing for walleye. He loved the way it tasted, ate it a few times a week and hosted regular family fish fries. Not anymore. Since word came out that the walleye were high in mercury, the fish have pretty much dropped of his menu. “It has made a difference,” Winchester said. “Now, I probably eat walleye once a month.” But Winchester said he knows a lot of people who still regularly eat the walleye and bass from Lake Fontana.
Carolina Board of Governors that all UNC campuses submit tuition and fee proposals covering the next two academic years. The amount of the tuition increase for 2016-17 would be $114 for undergraduate students. The proposed schedule of tuition and fees must be approved by the UNC Board of Governors and the N.C. General Assembly. Funds generated by the tuition increase would be used to address salary issues as part of the university’s efforts to retain faculty and staff; add additional classes in the high-demand, high-growth
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The Western Carolina University Board of Trustees approved a schedule of tuition and fees for the 2015-16 academic year that includes a 3 percent increase in tuition for students from North Carolina. The proposal, unanimously approved by the board at its regular quarterly meeting Dec. 5, would mean a $110 annual increase in tuition for in-state undergraduate students. The trustees also recommended an additional 3 percent increase in tuition for in-state students for 2016-17, meeting new instructions from the University of North
areas of chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics and other STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs; and provide support for student services and programming. In addition to changes in tuition, the board approved an 8.11 percent increase in existing and new mandatory fees, or $232 per year, for undergraduates for 2015-16. Fee changes include an increase of 6.10 percent (or $42 per year) in the athletics fee to support personnel expenses and scholarships for student-athletes, and a 23.89 percent hike ($54 per year) in the undergraduate book rental fee to help defray the rising costs of print and electronic textbooks and supplemental materials.
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Tartans museum offers lesson on history, culture BY J EREMY MORRISON N EWS E DITOR cotland’s roots run deep in Western North Carolina. Since before this country’s inception, Scottish immigrants have been migrating to these hills that remind them of home. So, it makes sense that the only museum outside of Scotland that’s dedicated to the Scottish tartan — the various criss-cross patterns most associated with kilts — is nestled in an unassuming storefront on Franklin’s Main Street. “We had a volunteer that took the Macon County phone book,” said Jim Aikens, president of the museum’s board of directors, “and there’s over 1,500 names in Macon County alone.” The tartan museum and gift shop is a celebration of not only the tartan, but also Scottish history, and more specifically the country’s history as it intertwines with America’s and Western North Carolina’s own story. Most days, Aiken can be found tending
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shop at the museum. He started volunteering when he moved to the area in 2004 and now takes a lead role in operating the museum. “Most of the time,” Aiken said, “me and my wife are here five days a week.” Aiken enjoys educating folks on Scottish history. He likes helping them research and locate their individual family, or clan’s, tartan. “Some clans have one, others they’ll have a dress tartan, they’ll have a hunting tartan,” explained Aiken. “A lot of those came about through weavers trying to sell more tartans.” In the museum are collections of various tartan patterns from varying clans. They’re displayed together along a wall, making for a sort of Scottish rainbow. Some people, Aiken explained, can quickly differentiate between the patterns. Even between similar patterns hailing from the same clan. “They tell me you have to focus on the pattern, not the color,” he said. “The past director, you could take the name plates off
Want to help? In addition to money made at the gift shop and on museum tours, the Scottish Tartans Museum, a 501c3 nonprofit, also accepts monetary gifts. As the museum has plans for renovations, individuals and businesses can make donations to benefit individual displays; donors will be credited as sponsor with a plaque located on the displays. The museum also offers memberships. The memberships range from $25 for an annual individual pass or $35 for a family, to $600 for a lifetime membership. 828.524.7472 or www.scottishtartans.org.
took Cherokee brides). “We share the evolution of the kilt,” said Aiken, motioning toward a wall of the museum dedicated to telling the kilt’s story, from a tunic to a hooded blanket to the more modern pleated kilt. Upstairs from the museum is the tartan gift shop. This is where visitors can search for their own family’s tartan. Once found, the pattern can be purchased on a variety of surfaces: coffee mugs, glasses, coasters, stuffed animals. “Scarves and ties are the number one sellers,” Aiken said. “People that really get into their heritage, they want a kilt or shirt.” With the exception of a marketing grant from the local tourism authority, the Tartan museum subsists off of money made at the gift shop and from museum tickets. But in recent years, that subsistence has paled. “Because of the economy we have seen a decrease since 2009 in internet sales as well as walk-ins,” Aiken said. Due to the lean times, the museum has had to tighten its belt. “Because of our situation, I’ve asked my wife to volunteer, not get paid,” Aiken said. “She agreed, she knows this is my passion.” Along with Aiken and his wife, another employee also agreed to adopt a volunteer status. Employee insurance was also dropped. Even so, the museum is in debt. “Sales have been very low,” Aiken said. “But with no one receiving a salary right now, we are making some progress.”
Smoky Mountain News
The annual Burns Night Supper in Franklin is scheduled for Jan. 24 at Tartans Hall in the First Presbyterian Church, 26 Church St. The evening mirrors events held around the world — they’re most popular in Scotland and Ireland — celebrating the life and work of Robert Burns, a Scottish poet. The first suppers were held at the end of the 18th century. Franklin’s event cost $40 per person. The evening includes a serving of haggis, as well as toasts to both the lads and ladies. Tickets may be purchased at the Scottish Tartans Museum. 828.524.7472 or www.scottishtartans.org.
“We started joking around and said, ‘this ought to be the Franklin tartan,’” said Jim Aiken explaining that the town actually adopted its official tartan in July of 2005.
The Scottish Tartans Museum is located at 86 E. Main St., in Franklin. The museum is open Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 828.524.7472 or www.scottishtartans.org.
December 10-16, 2014
Burns Night Supper
of these and he could go ‘this, this, this.’” In addition to clan tartans, some tartans also represent organizations and groups. Some locales have their own tartan. Each branch of the U.S. military has been assigned a tartan. American astronaut Alan Bean carried the MacBean tartan to the moon, and a Canadian mountain climber planted one atop Mount Everest. “A little over 30 states have their own tartans,” Aiken added. Even the town of Franklin has its own tartan. That pattern — designed by Jenny McSween — is displayed on a loom in the museum. “We started joking around and said, ‘this ought to be the Franklin tartan,’” Aiken said, explaining that the town actually adopted its official tartan in July of 2005. In addition to tartans, the museum also focuses on Scottish history. There are displays dealing with ancient Scottish weaponry, looming techniques and the relationship between immigrants from Scotland and this area’s native Cherokee people (a lot of Scotts
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Scottish heritage alive in Franklin
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Hard to believe that it has been 14 years
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Plutocrats drive modern GOP agenda
To the Editor: It’s amusing to hear Republicans and other reactionaries describe Democrats and the Democratic Party. Contrary to their fictionbased descriptions, Democrats are not intent on keeping minorities dependent on the government nor do they any longer support segregation. Those who supported segregation after Lyndon Johnson passed the Civil Rights legislation became conservative Republicans. The Democratic Party still champions the working middle class, human rights and the work ethic. Democrats value individual effort and hard work. If you favor child labor laws, having a five-day workweek, and universally available public education, you might be a Democrat. The Republican Party, on the other hand, has morphed into an ultra reactionary plutocratic party hardly recognizable to what it was. Ronald Reagan would not be nominated by Tea Party Republicans to be dog catcher, much less president. If you think unions are evil and should be eliminated, you might be a Republican. If you believe that education should be for those who can afford private schools and that teachers are villains who teach kids liberal ideas, you are probably a Republican. Middle-class Tea Partiers have been duped by the very wealthy plutocrats, such as the Koch brothers, via Karl Rove, Caritas, and others to believe that the rich will be better than the government. Plutocrats want to get rid of
your dad is gone.” Just like that. Ten days after he turned 62 years old. Ten days before Christmas. I made a couple of phone calls, packed up, and left the office. I didn’t have to think any more about my plans for the weekend. I had to think of a future without my dad, and how different that would be, how different Christmas would be. So many of my memories of him are at Christmas, when he would finally take some time off the truck and spend time with us, watching the holiday college Coumnist bowl games or taking us all out to eat at the Sparta Restaurant. I ask the students in my writing classes to use sensory details — the small, specific, unique details of their lives — to make the past alive again, to make it a place where readers can go and experience what that moment looked like, and what it sounded like, and what it felt like. What was it like to be them, in that place and at that time? What puts them there? Was it the taste of cider, spiced in just that certain way, or of Chex mix, nuts and pretzels baked in Worcestershire sauce? Was it that little pine tree down by the clothesline, adorned in giant colored lights, and how each year the tree got just a little bigger and the colored lights just a little smaller?
Chris Cox
am in my office between classes, eating egg drop soup out of a little plastic container with a white plastic spoon, checking email, separating student essays into stacks, wondering whether I will be able to make it until Friday, when my next appointment with the chiropractor is scheduled. Every six months or so, my back slips out of alignment and I spend a few miserable days in varying degrees of pain, with tingling and burning sensations radiating through my torso. I gobble down muscle relaxers and handfuls of Ibuprofen, but get very little sleep until I’m properly aligned again and the pain finally abates, a square inch at a time, a minute at a time. I don’t have time for it, not with the end of the semester bearing down like the gray, oppressive sky just outside my office window, but back pain is notoriously indifferent to my plans and responsibilities. It is a capricious and vengeful god, demanding that I bow to it regardless of whether I have 50 freshman essays to grade and a lengthy list of Christmas shopping yet to do. Unless I want to give out freshman essays as gifts to friends and family, I don’t have any other good ideas for how to get all of this done in time. Then I remember. Fourteen years ago — almost exactly 14 years ago — I was sitting in my office just like I am today, only on that day the semester had just ended and the sky was a brilliant blue, unspotted by a single cloud, and I was thinking about my Christmas list, just like I am today, when the phone rang. It was my mother, who clearly had no good way to tell me what she had to tell me, so she just said this: “Hey Chris,
government so that they can have total control over the country and everyone in it. They want to go back to the time that three men determined that Garfield would be president. Norman G. Hoffmann, Ph.D. Waynesville
Time for many to relearn tolerance To the Editor: The letter “Democrats hurting African Americans” (SMN, December 3) confuses race with economics. The implication that Democrats have re-enslaved African Americans with social programs that rob them of the incentive to work and be productive is both tired and untrue. At the same time, the writer takes a whack at our public school system, referring to some as “horrible.” But at the crossroads of these two ideas — race and schools — lies an inescapable truth that the writer unknowingly hits. He mentions that about four times the number of African American students from New York Catholic schools go to college compared to their public school counterparts. What’s the real difference here? Economics. Catholic schools require tuition, and the parents of students in them are wealthy enough to pay to have their kids attend; the majority of parents of students in public schools are less likely to be wealthy. This economic gap brings opportunity, privilege, travel, books, computers
For me, it was just the sound of a key sliding into a locked door, very late at night, the house completely dark except for the mouse-sized nightlight in the hallway, everyone else long asleep but me, up reading a paperback with a flashlight, or listening to Casey Kasem counting down the top 40 on my clock radio, or just curled up in the dark watching the little theater of clashing shadows on my bedroom window. And waiting. Waiting for my dad to get home from playing cards, or from running errands, or from doing “dad things” that I neither questioned nor understood. So I waited. Then, all the way on the other side of the house, I would hear the metallic sound of the key sliding into the lock, the turning of the knob, the opening of the door, the way the frame squeaked just a little when it was pushed open. I knew then that my dad was home and that everything was going to be all right. It is hard to believe that it has been 14 years since I’ve seen him. I have an entirely new life now, a family of my own. Even though he never got to meet them, I can see traces of him in all three of them — my wife’s love of driving long distances alone, my daughter’s kind heart and healthy skepticism, my son’s relentless sense of mischief. I will make it until Friday. The back pain will pass, and I’ll get the papers graded, and I’ll get the Christmas shopping done. Just like my dad, I will be home for Christmas. (Chris Cox is a writer and teacher who lives in Clyde. He can be reached at jchriscox@live.com.)
— even food — to kids of well-to-do parents that are denied those of low-income families. Also, kids of well-to-do families often grow up with an unspoken understanding that they will go to college; not so for ghetto kids. What the writer needs to remember is that Democrats have a history of trying to improve the lives of people, particularly those that need help. Are we always successful? No, because democracy is an ever-changing thing, more art than science. And do some take advantage of public assistance? Yes. But trying is better than assuming that the rich will help the poor or that those in need should be left to starve. Democrats have a long tradition of working to benefit a broad spectrum of people, without specific consideration of race or gender. Here are a few examples: child labor laws, the work of Woodrow Wilson; Social Security and Aid to Dependent Children, Franklin Roosevelt; Medicare, Medicaid, Head Start, and Civil Rights, Lyndon Johnson … and the list goes on. All these acts have a single, color-blind purpose — to stabilize the lives of citizens and eventually free them of the yoke of poverty. Race has nothing to do with it. In any case, if we are going to confront the real problems that face the nation, we must relearn tolerance of each other. Our economy and industries need rebuilding. We cannot do it if we spend time quarreling among ourselves. It can only get done if we reason together. Rick Bryson Bryson City
Letter writer needs help connecting the dots
To the Editor: I certainly hope Santa brings Bob Wilson a “Connect the Dots” book — he could use the practice. His meandering letters are clearly out of touch with verifiable fact, but then his goal is plainly to give additional ink to some of the most flawed far-right messaging. To be clear, I do not fault papers for printing this tripe as it is, after all, submitted to the Opinion section. These are his opinions. Note: his opinion. I usually won’t bother to read these as they’re so clearly the conclusions of a very strange mind. I also do not usually call out letter writers by name, and will only refute the premise of their printed opinions. However, this person repeatedly shows his flawed and circuitous thinking with variations on quotes from what we all recognize as those notoriously twisted “urban legends” or, even worse, he offers his own invented “facts.” In short, these are in not facts. A friend labeled this kind of thinking as, and I quote: “off-the-shelf pundits, tend to construct these far-fetched analogies to fit presuppositions without rigorous analysis.” I agree. I don’t think any “rigor” is involved in any of Mr. Wilson’s rants. Let’s all ask Santa to do him a favor and gift him with a new children’s “Connect the Dots” book in hopes of improving his thought processes and promote reasonable, rational and truly factual future remarks. Shirl Ches Franklin
What do people really want?
A
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 A TASTE OF NEW ORLEANS 67 Branner Ave., Waynesville, 828.246.0885. 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., 7 days a week. Curtis Henry opened A Taste of New Orleans to cater to the locals and become the place that’s always open that you can rely on for different, flavorful dishes every day. Serving Cajun, French and Creole Cuisine in a lovingly restored space, Curtis looks forward to serving you up a delicious dish soon. AMMONS DRIVE-IN RESTAURANT & DAIRY BAR 1451 Dellwwod Rd., Waynesville. 828.926.0734. Open 7 days a week 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Celebrating over 25 years. Enjoy world famous hot dogs as well as burgers, seafood, hushpuppies, hot wings and chicken. Be sure to save room for dessert. The cobbler, pie and cake selections are sure to satisfy any sweet tooth. BLUE ROOSTER SOUTHERN GRILL 207 Paragon Parkway, Clyde, Lakeside Plaza at the old Wal-Mart. 828.456.1997.
Open Monday through Friday. Friendly and fun family atmosphere. Local, handmade Southern cuisine. Fresh-cut salads; slowsimmered soups; flame grilled burgers and steaks, and homemade signature desserts. Blue-plates and local fresh vegetables daily. Brown bagging is permitted. Private parties, catering, and take-out available. Call-ahead seating available. BOGART’S 303 S. Main St., Waynesville. 828.452.1313. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Carry out available. Located in downtown Waynesville, Bogart’s has been long-time noted for great steaks, soups, and salads. Casual family atmosphere in a rustic old-time setting with a menu noted for its practical value. Live Bluegrass/String Band music every Thursday. Walking distance of Waynesville’s unique shops and seasonal festival activities and within one mile of Waynesville Country Club. BOURBON BARREL BEEF & ALE 454 Hazelwood Ave., Waynesville, 828.452.9191. Lunch served 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dinner nightly from 4 p.m. Closed on Sunday. We specialize in handcut, 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
CONGR ATS GR ADUAT E S!
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FEATURING
Darren & the Buttered Toast FRIDAY, DEC. 13
Karaoke w/Chris Monteith SATURDAY, DEC. 14
Buchanan Boys
83 Asheville Hwy. Sylva Music Starts @ 9 • 631.0554
With E.C.W.
Dec. 13 9 p.m. $2/cover www.MadBatterFoodandFilm.com 828.586.3555 617 W. Main St. Sylva NC 270-26
APPÉTIT Y’AL N L BO
828-456-1997 blueroostersoutherngrill.com
— Real Local People, Real Local Food — 207 Paragon Parkway, Clyde, North Carolina Monday-Friday Open at 11am
Smoky Mountain News
medical prenatal care. In that moment of labor and with the call schedules now shared by all the practices, you have no guarantee who will be in that labor with you. So the question for you as the patient should also be about the quality of the hospital at which you deliver. Is that hospital guaranteeing that the person on call can safely deliver your child, especially in an emergency situation? Recently, my mother went for a consult for a surgical procedure. Her physician shared a list of potential complications. I have no way to confirm that his numbers are correct. The hospital for which he works can confirm them, but they are not public information. Hospitals provide numbers of these ‘complications’ to be compiled by organizations, but there is no way to verify accuracy. It is well nigh impossible for the average patient to access this list. Therefore, the patient really becomes “patient” — not proactive — in their health care. Again, the focus becomes more about health care dollars than about patient care. Hospitals depend on in-patient and out-patient days financially, and complications are potentially bad press. Lawsuits definitely are. Within each hospital there are committees of physicians, and they police themselves. By now, you can see where this is going. You know what happens behind closed doors. The purpose of my writing is to educate you, the consumer, the client who pays for all of this through insurance, taxes and deductibles. Ask questions, investigate. Get a second opinion. You deserve quality; you deserve optimal care. No industry can self-police. There are too many variables, and we all know what happens. Health care has become political. We can all too easily read an account of the “them versus us” mentality. We’ve lost many quality physicians in this area who refuse to practice corporate health care. They stood for the highest ideals. Like me, they got into medicine to care about people. The ones who remain would also like to practice to that standard, but their bosses are financial administrators, not health care providers. I believe that people have a right to know when there is something that could potentially be hazardous to them. Advocate for quality. It is your right to hold hospitals accountable for the care that they offer to the community, regardless of how many providers they throw into the ring. We need to create a new era in medical care and change this current situation into something that is beneficial for patients and allows providers to do their best work. To that end, I have also developed The Dogwood Insight Center, a 501 C(3) nonprofit corporation dedicated to providing sustainable health care, though community education and research, for this best model of health care. (Dr. Graeme Potter is the medical director for Dogwood Wellness & The Dogwood Insight Center in Sylva.)
December 10-16, 2014
DR. G RAEME POTTER G UEST COLUMNIST s one of the practicing, board-certified OB/GYNs in the community who provide prenatal care, I’ve been honored to care for more than 800 babies born in Western North Carolina. When I moved here in 2007, I was first associated with a larger practice, and since 2008 most of these babies were delivered with my private practice, Dogwood Women’s Health, and more recently Dogwood Wellness. For much of this time, I delivered babies and did surgical procedures at Harris Regional Hospital. For the past two years, my patients have gone to Mission Memorial Hospital for delivery; a process which has been enjoyable for both my patients and for me. The quality of care, and access to emergency care and the neonatal intensive care unit cannot be provided by any of the local hospitals. They also lack the resources to compete with the almost 100 percent breastfeeding rate I have attained partnering with the Mission staff. Why do we have so many providers right now? It is not because of patient demand. The four regional hospitals in this area (I include Haywood Regional Medical Center and Murphy Medical Center) draw from all seven counties west of Asheville. Excluding Haywood County, these counties produce about 1,300 babies yearly, according to 2012 N.C. Department of Health data. Increasingly, many of these mothers choose Mission Memorial Hospital for their care. Therefore, fewer than 1,200 deliveries and their prenatal care is divided between the three obstetric centers and the current census of 11 M.D. providers (including myself ) and 3 midwives. Unfortunately, in recent years there has been only one practice associated with each of these centers, leading to a forced monopoly. At Angel Medical and Murphy Medical, both these practices are owned by the hospital. Competition becomes very difficult when the hospital has no incentive to recruit for a private practice. When hospitals succumb to the corporation, the corporation becomes the focus, not the patient. Sadly, this has become more about corporate competition, more about corporate money than providing quality care. Within several years, the less effective providers will be called on the carpet when they cannot pull the impossible numbers that will be expected of them. Then there will be provider upheaval all over again. Although increasingly difficult, I have chosen to maintain a private practice. This is also one of the reasons that I have the freedom to work in the area of integrative medicine. I went into medicine because I care about people, your babies, your family. To this end, the decision to train with Andrew Weil, M.D., and return to a more integrative approach combines the best of all worlds. The focus is on you. Always. Creating and bringing a child into the world is a profoundly life-changing moment which cannot be adequately prepared for with routine
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and whiskey. The Barrel is a friendly and casual neighborhood dining experience where our guests enjoy a great meal without breaking the bank.
DOWNTOWN SYLVA • NC Mon.-Fri. 7-4 Sat. 8-4
Whole Cakes, Pies & Fall Goodies – Call 828-631-9856
Special Orders for the Holidays: Cakes, Pies, Pastry Platters, Cookie Boxes, Gift Baskets & More! 270-66
www.CityLightsCafe.com
FRIDAY, DEC. 12:
An intimate evening with Andrew Danner
Smoky Mountain News
December 10-16, 2014
CATERING, GIFT BASKETS AND GIFT CARDS FOR THE HOLIDAYS!
BRYSON CITY CORK & BEAN A MOUNTAIN SOCIAL HOUSE 16 Everett St.,Bryson City. 828.488.1934. Open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday brunch 9 a.m. to 3p.m., Full Menu 3 to 9 p.m. Serving fresh and delicious weekday morning lite fare, lunch, dinner, and brunch. Freshly prepared menu offerings range from house-made soups & salads, lite fare & tapas, crepes, specialty sandwiches and burgers. Be sure not to miss the bold flavors and creative combinations that make up the daily Chef Supper Specials starting at 5pm every day. Followed by a tempting selection of desserts prepared daily by our chefs and other local bakers. Enjoy craft beers on tap, as well as our full bar and eclectic wine list. CATALOOCHEE RANCH 119 Ranch Dr., Maggie Valley. 828.926.1401. We serve three meals a day on Friday and Saturday, and some Sundays. Join us for family-style breakfast from 8 to 9:30 am – with eggs, bacon, sausage, grits and oatmeal, fresh fruit, sometimes French toast or pancakes, and always all-you-caneat. Lunch from 12:00 till 2. In the evening, social hour begins at 6:00pm. Dinner is served at 7:00 pm, 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. CHEF’S TABLE 30 Church St., Waynesville. 828.452.6210. From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday dinner starting at 5 p.m. “Best of” Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator Magazine. Set in a distinguished atmosphere with an exceptional menu. Extensive selection of wine and beer. Reservations honored. 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.
p.m. Locals always know best, and this is one place they know well. From the highquality hot pressed sandwiches and the huge portions of hand-cut fries to the specialty frozen sandwiches and homemade Southern desserts, you will not leave this top-rated deli hungry.
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.
HERREN HOUSE 94 East St., Waynesville 828.452.7837. Lunch: Wednesday - Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday Brunch 11 a. m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy fresh local products, created daily. Join us in our beautiful patio garden. We are your local neighborhood host for special events: business party’s, luncheons, weddings, showers and more. Private parties & catering are available 7 days a week by reservation only.
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. Friday and Saturday serving freshly prepared small plate and tapas-style fare. Enjoy local, regional, or national talent live each Friday and Saturday night at 7 p.m. www.classicwineseller.com. Also on facebook and twitter. CORK & CLEAVER 176 Country Club Drive, Waynesville. 828.456.7179. Reservations recommended. 4:30-9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Tucked away inside Waynesville Inn, Cork & Cleaver has an approachable menu designed around locally sourced, sustainable, farm-to-table ingredients. Executive Chef Corey Green prepares innovative and unique Southern fare from local, organic vegetables grown in Western North Carolina. Full bar and wine cellar. www.waynesvilleinn.com. COUNTRY VITTLES: FAMILY STYLE RESTAURANT 3589 Soco Rd, Maggie Valley. 828.926.1820 Open Daily 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., closed 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. FILLING STATION DELI 145 Everett St., Bryson City, 828.488.1919. Open Monday through Wednesday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sundays (in October) 11 a.m. to 4
270-07
We’ll feed your spirit, too. MEDITERRANEAN
ITALIAN CUISINE
Open Christmas Eve, call for reservations.
1863 S. Main Street • Waynesville 828.454.5002 Hwy. 19/23 Exit 98 32
LUNCH & DINNER EVERYDAY CLOSED WEDNESDAYS
Cataloochee Ranch 119 Ranch Drive, Maggie Valley, NC 28751 | CataloocheeRanch.com | (828)926-1401
JOEY'S PANCAKE HOUSE 4309 Soco Rd Maggie Valley. 828.926.0212. Winter hours; Friday through Sunday and Mondays, 7 a.m. to noon. 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. Joey & Brenda O’Keefe invite you to join what has become a tradition in these parts, breakfast at Joey’s. MAD BATTER FOOD & FILM 617 W. Main Street Downtown Sylva. 828.586.3555. Open Tuesday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Wednesday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Hand-tossed pizza, steak sandwiches, wraps, salads and desserts. All made from scratch. Beer and wine. Free movies with showtimes at 6:30 and 9 p.m. with a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. Visit madbatterfoodandfilm.com for this week’s shows. MAGGIE VALLEY CLUB 1819 Country Club Dr., Maggie Valley. 828.926.1616. maggievalleyclub.com/dine. Open daily 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 is too short for bad coffee. We feature wonderful breakfast and lunch selections. Bagels,
tasteTHEmountains wraps, soups, sandwiches, salads and quiche with a variety of specialty coffees, teas and smoothies. Various desserts. ORGANIC BEANS COFFEE COMPANY 1110 Soco Road, Maggie Valley. 828.668.2326. Open 7 days a week 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Happily committed to brewing and serving innovative, uniquely delicious coffees — and making the world a better place. 100% of our coffee is Fair Trade, Shade Grown, and Organic, all slow-roasted to bring out every note of indigenous flavor. Bakery offerings include cakes, muffins, cookies and more. Each one is made from scratch in Asheville using only the freshest, all natural ingredients available. We are proud to offer gluten-free and vegan options. PASQUALE’S 1863 South Main Street, Waynesville. Off exit 98, 828.454.5002. Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. 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 indoor, outside on the patio or at the bar. Reservations appreciated. RENDEZVOUS RESTAURANT AND BAR Maggie Valley Inn and Conference Center 828.926.0201 Bar open Monday thru Saturday; dining room open Tuesday thru Saturday at 5 p.m. Full service restaurant serving steaks, prime rib, seafood and dinner specials.
SMOKY MOUNTAIN SUB SHOP 29 Miller Street Waynesville 828.456.3400. Open from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. A Waynesville tradition, the Smoky Mountain Sub Shop has been serving great food for over 20 years. Come in and enjoy the relaxed, casual atmosphere. Sub breads are baked fresh every morning in Waynesville. Using only the freshest ingredients in home-made soups, salads and sandwiches. Come in and see for yourself why Smoky Mountain Sub Shop was voted # 1 in Haywood County. Locally owned and operated. THAI SPICE 128 N. Main St., Waynesville. 828.454.5400. Lunch: Tuesday-Friday 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday noon to 3 p.m. Dinner Tuesday-Saturday 4:30 to 9 p.m. Closed Monday. Thai Spice, an authentic Thai restaurant, warmly welcomes you to experience a superb dinning experience. Don’t be timid, the food comes mild, medium, hot and Thai Hot. You choose. www.thaispicewnc.com VITO’S PIZZA 607 Highlands Rd., Franklin. 828.369.9890. Established here in in 1998. Come to Franklin and enjoy our laid back place, a place you can sit back, relax and enjoy our 62” HDTV. Our Pizza dough, sauce, meatballs, and sausage are all made from scratch by Vito. The recipes have been in the family for 50 years (don't ask for the recipes cuz’ you won't get it!)
-Local beers now on draft-
Live Music
Full Bar • Creekside Dining Specialty Sandwiches Crafted Beer & Moonshine
SID’S
WEDNESDAY: AYCE Fish & Shrimp THURSDAY: AYCE Crab Leg FRIDAY: Surf-N-Turf Special SATURDAY: Seafood Trio Special
——————————————————
ON MAIN 117 Main Street, Canton NC
828.586.1985•OPEN TUES.-SAT.
828.492.0618 • SidsOnMain.com Serving Lunch & Dinner
Exit 85 to Skyland Dr., two blocks from McDonalds
438 Skyland Drive • Sylva
236-50
Twin Maples Farmhouse 828.452.7837 63 N. Hill Street, Waynesville •
WEDDINGS • REUNIONS • CORPORATE MEETINGS & RECEPTIONS
HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE
Grand Opening of Twin Maple Farms, A new B&B in Waynesville
Friday Dec. 12 5:30-7:30PM
Hors d'oeuvres & Wine The Song Spinners will be preforming Christmas Carols
Ring In 2015!
December 10-16, 2014
Gift Certificates Available for the Holidays
REEKSIDE COYSTER HOUSE & GRILL
270-92
Burgers to Salads Southern Favorites & Classics
HORS D’OEUVRES BUFFET 9 P.M.-MIDNIGHT
MIDNIGHT CHAMPAGNE TOAST
Voted Best Steak in Waynesville Classic local American comfort foods, craft beers & small batch bourbons & whiskey. Join us for Prime Rib Thursdays. Vegetarian options available
Smoky Mountain News
LUNCH DAILY 11:30 A.M.-2:30 P.M. DINNER NIGHTLY AT 4 P.M. MONDAY-SATURDAY
MUSIC BY DUSTIN MARTIN & THE RAMBLERS DANCING & PARTY FAVORS MIDNIGHT BREAKFAST BUFFET INCLUDING LUCKY NEW YEAR’S FOODS
$5995/COUPLE PARTY ONLY
OR
$9995/COUPLE INCLUDES ROOM
Single Rates Available Reservations Recommended
Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. • Dinner Nightly at 4 p.m. • CLOSED ON SUNDAY 454 HAZELWOOD AVENUE • WAYNESVILLE • Call 828-452-9191 for reservations 270-10
70 Soco Road • Maggie Valley Reservations: 828.926.0201
270-21
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A&E
Smoky Mountain News
The world through her fingertips
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER
Maine is a long way from China.
And for Amy Putansu, that distance is a testament to her life, passions and career. “That was a whole new level,” she smiled. “I was in heaven — it was incredible.” A fiber instructor at Haywood Community College in Clyde, Putansu has gained a reputation as one of the finest in her field in Southern Appalachia and beyond. Last month, she was invited to give a lecture on textiles at the Amy Putansu International Shibori Symposium. Held at the China National Silk Museum in Hangzhou, China, the conference brought together experts and artisans from around the globe, all in one space. “I had never exhibited internationally,” Putansu said. “There were 65 short presentations from all over the world, all speaking on different textile topics. You’d be amazed at how much there is to talk about.” Sitting in her office at HCC, Putansu is still glowing from her experience in China. At 41, she’s headlong into a career that is continually blossoming. Her interest and drive for what she does comes from a never-ending quest for knowledge, one coupled with the notion that good things happen to those who work hard doing what they love. “It’s about preparedness meeting opportunity,” she said. “Learning is a lifelong process, for artistic growth, professional growth, and I wouldn’t be content if it didn’t continue.”
THE GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY
Putansu grew up on the coast of Maine, right outside of Rockland. Although the state is known for its generations of folk art and other artisan trades, Putansu herself was raised in a household and community where she wasn’t really exposed to the idea of crafts. “I wasn’t introduced to a very broad artistic experience in my early education or in my family,” she said. “I went to a tiny high school and the art programming was pretty slim. I mean, we didn’t even have pottery.” But, Putansu did start to notice something. Of what little art there was around her, she showed an interest in painting and photography, mediums she excelled at. When it came time to
A fiber instructor at Haywood Community College, Amy Putansu recently gave a guest lecture at the International Shibori Symposium in Hangzhou, China. Below: one of Putansu’s pieces, “Diptych,” was recently purchased to be displayed in the permanent collection at the China National Silk Museum. Garret K. Woodward photo (above) • Donated photo (below)
Want to go? Haywood Community College Fiber Instructor Amy Putansu will give a lecture on her travels to the International Shibori Symposium in China at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, at the Creative Arts Building in Clyde. She will also hold a lecture on textiles on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at HandMade in America in Asheville. www.haywood.edu or www.handmadeinamerica.org or 828.627.4672. decide on colleges, Putansu wasn’t sure what she wanted to do. She had a portfolio of art projects, so why not apply to art schools? With that, she found herself accepted by the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design in Providence. “Being from a small town in Maine to going to art school in a big city, it was a total culture shock for me — it set the stage for the rest of my life,” she said. Looking for an elective, Putansu took a fabric silkscreen class. And when she did, something inside of her clicked. She’d never thought about fiber or where our clothes come from, or that it was a possible career path. “I didn’t even know textiles was a field of study or could be a professional pursuit,” she said. “Most people don’t know where their clothes or upholstery comes from. We tend to not think, ‘oh, someone engineered this’ or
‘someone hand-stitched that.’” Putansu majored in fiber and graduated from RISD with a degree in fine arts (concentration in textiles). She headed west, finding work as an assistant designer at a small, independent crafting company in Seattle. There, she designed and made hand-woven upholstery, fabrics and interiors, learning valuable skills in the process. “Part of the time I’d be designing, part of the time learning how to use production looms,” she said. After a period in Seattle, she headed back to Maine, back home to start her own fiber studio. From 1998 to 2005, she spent her time making fabrics, then taking them on the road, traveling across America selling her wares. It was a bountiful experience, but soon she knew she wanted something more. Cue Western North Carolina.
THE ART OF APPALACHIA
Putansu eventually found herself teaching a workshop at the renowned Penland School of Crafts in Bakersville. She not only fell in love with the area, but soon found out about a fiber instructor opening at HCC, which she then applied for and got. “Haywood Community is a perfect fit for me,” she said. “The professional crafts program here is very unique. It promotes not only creativity and craft, but also how to market yourself as an artist, and I feel my life experiences in the field is what this training is all about.” In early 2013, the school opened its multimillion dollar creative arts building, attracting students from every corner of the country. “The students here are learning to make things, and make things well, with the emphasis around their ethics very positive, very minded in the local sustainability movement,” Putansu said. “I love it because they’re creating a whole new future, a different shape of manufacturing in America, a new design in conjunction with manufacturing.” With textile crafting a large part of the heritage in Western North Carolina, the students
“Learning is a lifelong process, for artistic growth, professional growth, and I wouldn’t be content if it didn’t continue.” — Amy Putansu
are not only preserving the traditional skills, they’re perpetuating them. “It’s about staying in touch with history,” Putansu said. “It’s maintaining that thread through generations, time and history. It’s about what we do, the objects we make, and it’s really important that history doesn’t get lost.” And it’s not only students showing an interest in HCC. About a year ago, Putansu was doing another workshop at Penland. She crossed paths there with Yoshiko Wada, the founder of the World Shibori Network. Known as an ancient, sophisticated type of tie-dye, shibori is a textile practiced throughout the globe. Putansu invited Wada to visit HCC, where there the fiber expert examined and critiqued one of Putansu’s pieces. Wada was impressed by Putansu’s work, asking her to come and present at the symposium. A once-in-a-lifetime chance, the conference opened new doors for Putansu, professionally and creatively. And to top it off, one of Putansu’s pieces, “Diptych,” was recently purchased to be displayed in the permanent collection at the China National Silk Museum. “It was the icing on the cake,” she said. “Continuing to grow in my own career is serving as a great model to my students, where your craft and skill never stops at some point, it continues to progress, forever.”
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Smoky Mountain News
Those faces back home, those things back in my native land that I cannot be there for, where an empty seat remains at the family table, they get heavy on my heart during the holidays, heavier each year.
Holiday Deals
December 10-16, 2014
It snuck up on me this year. I know that it resides at the end of November. I know it’s filled with food, friends and family. But, I wasn’t really paying attention to the calendar until The Festival of Lights & Luminaries will be the day before the “feast” when it held from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 13-14 in struck me. downtown Dillsboro. It struck me I wasn’t going “The Christmas Shoes” stage production will home again for Thanksgiving. be performed at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12-13 and at This time of the year, between 2:30 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Smoky Mountain Turkey Day and New Year’s Eve, I Community Theatre in Bryson City. find myself in a state of pondering, like I think we all do, when The “Toys for Tots” with Darren Nicholson the leaves are long gone from the Band (bluegrass) will be at 8 p.m. Dec. 12 at trees and a cold wind hits you Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville. leaving your house in the morning. There’s something timeless The Jingle Bell Bash will be held at 7 p.m. and distinctly human about the Dec. 13 at The Classic Wine Seller in loss of summer, into the fall colWaynesville. ors, into the silence of winter. The Nanta Claus Christmas Children’s Benefit It’s a deep sense of self, where will from 6 to 10 p.m. Dec. 13 at Nantahala you start to notice your age and Brewing in Bryson City. appearance a little more in the mirror. The well-earned crow’s feet and wrinkles aren’t disguised see, I had been planning for months to finalby an August tan or the shenanigans of an ly go home for Thanksgiving. I had planned unknown Friday when the air is warm and curiosity peaked. It’s a solemn state of being, to see my brand new niece, visit familiar faces and places only found in my dreams an emotion that, the older I get, I embrace these days. But, most of all, I had wanted to and appreciate, as sobering as it is. see my girlfriend. I haven’t been home for Thanksgiving But, as with life itself, those plans (or Christmas) since 2011. In 2012, it was didn’t turn out the way I had hoped. My due to a lack of funds (very expensive to fly girlfriend is now a past-tense reference. No back to Upstate New York during the holiill will on either end, it just is what it is, days). In 2013, it was due to work, and and at least we can remain friends when being able to get all of my deadlines met. all is said and done. So, with that said, I This year, it was matters of the heart. You
for each of the wild moments and newly grasped pieces of knowledge and self, I’ve missed innumerable weddings, funerals, anniversaries, births, birthdays, holiday dinners, and moments of “just because.” Those faces back home, those things back in my native land that I cannot be there for, where an empty seat remains at the family table, they get heavy on my heart during the holidays, heavier each year. I’ve made a lot of sacrifices, for good or ill, to get to this point in my existence. I’ve lost good women, old friends and sometimes my own sanity, all in pursuit of things I feel are worthwhile. One will never know if it all was for nothing, but, for me, I believe if your heart is pure and your mind open to the endless possibilities of the universe, you can never go wrong. There will be days, too many to count, where I find myself driving the highways, biways and back roads of this great big rolling piece of land we call America. I stare out over a silent dashboard, towards the horizon, always looking ahead, only looking back when I need to be reminded why I do what I do and why I’ll be relentlessly curious about what’s over the next hill, who is out there and what’s around that corner? There’s a method to my madness, and a lot of it comes from the conscious and subconscious support of those back home. I suppose someone has to be out here in the abyss, in pursuit of irresponsible enlightenment, in utter love with Mother Earth and eager to discover her secrets. I suppose. Life is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all.
arts & entertainment
This must be the place
decided I wasn’t ready to go home, not yet at least. The beating muscle in my chest is still pretty fragile and I walk on eggshells around it, leaving it alone, periodically making sure its ok, but mostly letting it repair itself in due time. I miss my family, always do, and yet I find myself following my heart and intuition, Garret K. Woodward photo which has always led me in the right direction of my intent. I’m truly blessed to have my career, to do what I get to do on a daily basis, all the amazing experiences I get to be part of. I’m blessed to know and be loved by incredible family and friends across the country and around the globe. Moving to Western North Carolina was quite possibly the best decision of my life. Those here have taken me in and always made me feel part of their families. They are truly some of the most kindhearted and caring folks on this planet. And for every one of those experiences and days down here, there are things back in the North Country I don’t bare witness to. Even though I feel I have the best job in the world, I’m out here in the cosmos, and
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Dulcimer Winter Weekend at Junaluska
Drum circle, dinner in Franklin
Western Carolina University’s Office of Continuing and Professional Education will hold its 10th annual Mountain Dulcimer Winter Weekend Jan. 8-11 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, Aaron O’Rourke, Jeff Furman, Linda Thomas, Jess Dickinson, Dan Delancey, Jim Miller and Anne Lough. 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 and $40 for nonplaying participants. Registration does not include meals or accommodations. Registration is open through Thursday, Dec. 18, and space is limited. 800.222.4930 or www.dulcimeru.wcu.edu or 828.227.7397.
The Drum Circle & Raw-mazing Dinner will be held at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 19 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Franklin. Everyone is invited to bring their favorite percussion instrument or use one provided. Gathering begins at 5:30 p.m., with the potluck at 6 p.m. and drumming at 6:30 p.m. sanmardan@yahoo.com or 828.332.7118
Community dance in Sylva A community dance will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, in the Community Room at the Jackson County Public Library. Dancing will include circle and square dances as well as contra dances. All dances will be taught and walked through before dancing. Terry Stefan will call the dance to the live music of Out of the Woodwork, a band made up of local musicians. The group invites anyone who plays an instrument to sit in with the band. There will also be a potluck dinner following the dance at 5 p.m. Bring a covered dish, plate, cup, cutlery and a water bottle. Admission is a suggested donation of $5. ronandcathy71@frontier.com or www.da ncewnc.com.
Alma Russ will Alma Russ will play perform at 6:30 Sylva on Dec. 16. p.m. Tuesday, Dec. www.almaplaysmusic.com. 16, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. The event will feature Russ on fiddle, guitar, banjo, and vocals. Russ is a singer and musician whose style is a melting pot of Americana, folk, old-time, and hints of blues and jazz. Her main instrument is fiddle, but she can also play around with the clawhammer banjo. At 14 years old, she has been singing for most of that time. Only in the last few years has she begun to incorporate instrumentation along with her singing. She has played with Owner of the Sun, Heritage Alive, Dusk Weaver and the Lifeway Community Church worship band. The event is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Jackson County Public Library. 828.586.2016 or www.fontanalib.org.
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Smoky Mountain News
December 10-16, 2014
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• Dulci Ellenberger (guitarist/vocalist), The Jingle Bell Bash with Joe Cruz (pianist/vocalist) and James Hammel (jazz/pop) will perform at The Classic Wine Seller in Waynesville. Ellenberger plays Dec. 12, with Cruz Dec. 13 and 20, and Hammel Dec. 19. Shows begin at 7 p.m. $10 minimum purchase. 828.452.6000.
• A jazz night with the Kittle/Collings Duo will be at 8 p.m. Dec. 11 and 18 at Innovation Brewing in Sylva.
• The Love Medicated and The Darren Nicholson Band (bluegrass/Americana) will hit the stage at BearWaters Brewing Company in Waynesville. The Love Medicated plays Dec. 12, with Nicholson Dec. 19. Both shows start at 7 p.m. www.bwbrewing.com or 828.246.0602.
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arts & entertainment
• Rodney Rice, Deltaphonic, Donna Frost, Darren & The Buttered Toast and Natty Love Joys will perform at No Name Sports Pub in Sylva. Rice plays Dec. 11, with Deltaphonic Dec. 12-13, Frost Dec. 18, Darren & The Buttered Toast Dec. 19 and Natty Love Joys Dec. 20. All shows begin at 9 p.m. Free. 828.586.2750 or www.nonamesportspub.com.
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December 10-16, 2014
• An old-time music jam session will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 20 at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in Cherokee. Bring an acoustic instrument to join in on the fun or just sit and enjoy the music. Free.
• Craig Summers & Lee Kram, “Toys for Tots” with Darren Nicholson Band (bluegrass/Americana), Hunter Grigg and Porch 40 will be at Frog Level Brewing Company in Waynesville. Summers & Kram perform at 6 p.m. Dec.11 and 19, with Nicholson 8 p.m. Dec. 12, Grigg 7 p.m. Dec. 19 and Porch 40 7 p.m. Dec. 20. 828.454.5664 or www.froglevelbrewing.com.
• The Dirty Soul Revival (rock/blues) will perform at 9 p.m. Dec. 13 the Water’n Hole Bar & Grille in Waynesville.
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MtnNews
Open Wednesday – Saturday, Nov. 28 – Jan. 3, at 5 p.m. (Closed Dec. 24 & 25.) Happening for the first time, this special Christmas event is located at 545 Tsali Blvd., Cherokee, NC. Stroll under the lights through fun, interactive displays that recount ancient Cherokee Christmas legends. Or come for the carnival rides, a 40-ft. Christmas tree, a visit with Santa Claus, and our synthetic ice rink. Tickets are just $5 for adults, $3 for children 6–12, and kids under five get in free. Grab your little elves and join us.
Smoky Mountain News
• The Franklin High School and Macon Middle School band concert will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. Celebrate the sounds of the season with over 200 students of Macon County as they play modern and classic Christmas and holiday selections featuring concert, honors and jazz ensemble members. Free. www.greatmountainmusic.com.
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with a neighbor in need FFall all brings beautiful colors, but it can also bring anxiety and concern for those who are facing colder wea weather ther and cannot afford hea heating ting for their homes.
December 10-16, 2014
WCU appoints new dean of fine and performing arts
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The Western Carolina University Board grams in the fine and performing arts to of Trustees has endorsed the appointment of the next level.� George H. Brown, associate dean of the Prior to his appointment at Western College of Fine Arts at Western Michigan Michigan, Brown served for 10 years as chair University, to the position of dean at the of the Department of Theatre Arts at Bradley College of Fine and University. During his final Performing Arts. year at Bradley, he also Associate dean at served as interim chair of Western Michigan since the Department of 2011, Brown brings an Interactive Media. He extensive record of achievetaught and served as head ment in the arts — as an of the directing program at artist, educator and adminTexas Christian University istrator — to his new role from 1993 until joining the at WCU, said Provost faculty at Bradley in 2002. Alison Morrison-Shetlar. He has worked in pro“George Brown has fessional and university proven himself up to the theater for more 20 years, challenge of leading our filling a variety of posiCollege of Fine and tions ranging from direcGeorge H. Brown. Donated photo tor to actor to fight chorePerforming Arts,� Morrison-Shetlar said. ographer. He has directed “With a 36-year career in the arts, includmore than 100 productions in theaters ing 21 years in the higher education arena, across the U.S., Caribbean and Europe and he has the experience, leadership skills, served as managing artistic director of knowledge and creativity necessary to take Island Center for the Performing Arts in the Western Carolina’s already strong proU.S. Virgin Islands.
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On the wall
Paintings by Jeannie Welch are currently being showcased in Franklin. Donated photo
Works by painter Jeannie Welch will be displayed throughout December and January in the Meeting Room of the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. Welch has lived in Franklin since 1993. She earned her BFA at the University of Florida and her MFA at the University of Miami. She has taught Art History and Art Appreciation at Southwestern Community College for many years. She also has exhibited in museums around Florida. www.fontanalib.org.
Meigs to be showcased in Sylva
On the street
Paintings and photographs by Joseph Meigs will be on display beginning Dec. 12 in the Rotunda Gallery at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Meigs will be hosting an artist meet and greet from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12. He is also one of three resident artists for the Jackson County Visual Arts Association (along with Tim Lewis and James Smythe), located in Gallery 1 in downtown Sylva. Meigs prefers landscapes, including silhouetted trees against a sunset or sunrise, barns, winter fields and meadows, and river/tree combinations.
• A wine tasting will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. Dec. 13 and 20 at Papou’s Wine Shop and Bar in Sylva. Additional savings on the tasting wines will also be available. 828.586.6300. • A community open house will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. Dec. 14 at The Lazy Hiker Brewing Company in Franklin. The facility will be open to show the progress of its construction. Tours on the hour. Gift certificates available for purchase. No beer for sale or consumption yet.
Arm knitting at Sylva library
Space is limited to 10 people, call the library to register. 828.586.2016 or www.fontanalib.org.
An arm knitting class will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. The class is the second event in the Creating Community Workshop series. Arm knitting has become very popular recently and that is no real surprise. Arm knitting is a quick and easy way to make a beautiful winter scarf. In this session, library staffer Helen Pate will guide participants on how to arm knit an infinity scarf.
• “The Hundred Foot Journey” (comedy/drama) will be screened Dec. 6-17 at The Strand at 38 Main in Waynesville. Tickets are $6 per person, $4 for children and $3 for the Saturday matinee. “Arthur Christmas” will also be shown Dec. 13-14 and 20-21, with free daytime showings. www.38main.com or 828.283.0079.
Friday, December 12
7:30 pm Handel's Messiah concert featuring The Lake Junaluska Singers, orchestra, and choral ensembles.
Saturday, December 13
9 am–3 pm Christmas Craft Show, Harrell Center Auditorium - Free Admission to Craft Show 2 pm The Cockman Family Concert, 7:30 pm Lake Junaluska Singers Christmas Concert Concerts held in Stuart Auditorium. Ticket office and doors open 1 hour prior to concert.
- PURCHASE CONCERT TICKETS General Admission: $17.50 (Youth 18 & under are free in General Admission Seating only.)
For tickets and a schedule of events: www.lakejunaluska.com/christmas
800-222-4930
Smoky Mountain News
December 12th-13th
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December 10-16, 2014
Appalachian Christmas
arts & entertainment
Works by Welch to be displayed
Purchase online at www.lakejunaluska.com/concert-tickets In person at the Bethea Welcome Center daily from 9 am – 5pm 267-302
39
arts & entertainment
On the holidays Cherokee chorus celebrates the holidays
Lights & Luminaries returns to Dillsboro
The Cherokee Community Chorus will present a Christmas Cantata “O Holy Night” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, at the Chief Joyce Dugan Cultural Arts Center on the Cherokee School campus. The Community Chorus is under the direction of J. Gilbert and piano accompanist is Sharon Bradley. The 30member chorus is comprised of community members from around the Cherokee area. All churches, the public, family and friends are welcome to attend. Free. 828.497.5350 or 828.497.3671.
The Festival of Lights & Luminaries will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 13-14 in downtown Dillsboro. With more than 2,500 candles in white bags lining the streets, Dillsboro will create a winter wonderland at the corner of Front and Webster streets. In addition, the town’s merchant “elves” trim their buildings, many of which date to the late 1800s, in traditional white lights. Shopkeepers also stay open late and serve coffee, warm cider, hot chocolate and homemade goodies to visitors. There will be sing-a-longs throughout town, horse-andcarriage rides, plus Santa and Mrs. Claus setting up shop in Town Hall. On Friday, Oak’s Gallery will have Pick & Play Dulcimer Group and George Frizzell will talk about C.J. Harris & Jackson County in the late 1880s and early 1900s at the C.J. Parlor. Bradley the Talking Bear will be at Bradley’s General Store; Melissa & Willy will play at Country Traditions; Nancy Tut’s Christmas Shop will host Larry Hasket Greenery & Tree Wreaths along with Carmela Brooks & Chrystal Deitz. On Saturday, Marshall Ballew will be at Riverwood Pottery; organists Urs V. Tolotti will be at Mountain Tunnel Crafts; Bradley the Talking Bear will be at Bradley’s General Store; Courtyard Christmas carol entertainment will be provided by guitarist John Morgan. Tut’s will again host Hasket, with Brooks & Deitz. Free, with parking and shuttle transportation available at Monteith Park. www.mountainlovers.com.
‘Night Before Christmas’ rolls into Waynesville Sheila Kay Adams and Michael Reno Harrell will play Waynesville on Dec. 18.
December 10-16, 2014
‘Blue Ridge Christmas’ with Adams and Harrell A “Blue Ridge Christmas” with Sheila Kay Adams and Michael Reno Harrell will be at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18 at The Strand at 38 Main in Waynesville. Adams is a National Heritage Fellowship winner, while Harrell is a widely renowned, platinum-selling Appalachian folk artist. Both encompass the history, culture and music of Western North Carolina and beyond. The evening will be filled with music, storytelling and more. Lorraine Conard and Emma McDowell will open the performance. Tickets are $18. 828.283.0079 or www.38main.com.
“A Night Before Christmas” will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, on Main Street in downtown. 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. Beverly-Hanks Real Estate will have Song Spinners at 6 p.m., Signature Winds at 7 p.m. and hand bells by the First Methodist First Ringers at 8 p.m. The Jingle Bell Bash Christmas Carol Sing-a-long will be at 7 p.m. at The Classic Wine Seller. Betina Morgan will be singing and playing her harp at the Burr Studio. The Strand at 38 Main will host holiday music with Sax Wassail at 6 p.m. and Brass Reflections at 7 p.m. MusicWorks will be in the Town Hall. Guitarist Mike Pilgrim will perform at Twigs & Leaves Gallery. Land of the Sky barbershop quartet will be at Affairs of the Heart. Singer/songwriter Ginny McAfee will perform at Earthworks Gallery. The Junaluska Music Studio students will be at Adorabella. Holiday refreshments will be offered at Ellie May’s, The Jeweler’s Workshop, Sunburst Market, Mast General Store and Ye Olde Brick House. Face painting will be at the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority. www.downtownwaynesville.com.
Bryson production celebrates the season “The Christmas Shoes” stage production will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12-13 and at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Smoky Mountain Community Theatre in Bryson City. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children. info@smctheatre.com or 828.488.8227. 270-94
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• The Nanta Claus Christmas Children’s Benefit will be from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, 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. • An Outdoor Christmas Concert with the Victory Baptist Church will be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Swain County Visitor Center. www.greatsmokies.com. • 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 to 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 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.
CHEROKEE
CLYDE • The inaugural Hometown Christmas Celebration will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, in the auditorium at Haywood Community College. A night of local music, artisan crafts and gifts, and holiday treats featuring appearances from McKayla Reece, Tim Surrett of Balsam Range, Eddie Rose & Highway Forty, Subject 2 Change, Matthew Curry & The Carolina Two, Sheriff Greg Christopher, and Mr. & Mrs. Santa Clause. Get your child’s photo with Santa from 2 to 4 p.m. and 5:30 to 8 p.m. A $4 donation per family is requested for photographs. Bring your own camera. Tickets for the performance are $8 and can be purchased at Sid’s on Main in
S EE EVENTS, PAGE 42
Holiday toy making in Bryson
Smoky Mountain News
Appalachian toymaker and storyteller Tim Hall will be demonstrating his craft at The Storytelling Center across from the Train Depot in Bryson City. Toy making will take place at 11 a.m. Dec. 4-7, Dec. 10-12, 1 p.m. Dec. 13 and 20, and at 2 Appalachian toymaker Tim Hall will spin tales and handcraft items p.m. Dec. 14-19 throughout the holiday season in Bryson City. Garret K. Woodward photo and 21-24. As well, the center is also putting up their “Children’s Tree.” Each time a child comes into the center, they make a paper ring to place on the tree. Hall has collected over 2,700 rings, which will be strewn around the tree. All names and rings will be noted online at their Facebook page (search: The Storytelling Center of the Southern Appalachians in Bryson City). 828.488.5705 or www.greatsmokies.com.
December 10-16, 2014
• The Cherokee Lights and Legends Christmas will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. through Jan. 3 at the Cherokee Indian Fair Grounds. The Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held Nov. 28. Interactive displays of Cherokee legends, ice skating, carnival rides, and
more. Performers include an Elvis impersonator at 7 p.m. Dec. 6, 20 and 31 and Balsam Range (bluegrass) at 8 p.m. Dec. 13. Tickets for the celebration are $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 6-12 and free for children under age 5. www.visitcherokeenc.com. • The Holiday Homecoming will be Dec. 20 at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Old-fashioned Christmas music, holiday crafts, cider, cookies and more. • Trace Adkins: The Christmas Show will be at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at Harrah’s Cherokee. The production is a reverent, theatrical production, featuring songs from Adkins’ Celtic Christmas album, “The King’s Gift.” It combines fireside storytelling with performances of classic carols. Adkins’ trademark baritone has powered countless hits (“You’re Gonna Miss This,” “Ladies Love Country Boys,” “Songs About Me,” “Every Light In The House,” and “Just Fishin’”) to the top of the charts. Tickets start at $24.50.
arts & entertainment
Christmas in Appalachia
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arts & entertainment
On the holidays Civic orchestra holiday show in Sylva The Western Carolina Civic Orchestra will hold its 4th annual Community Christmas Concert on Thursday, Dec. 18, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. There will be an open house at 5 p.m. hosted by the Jackson County Genealogical Society, the Jackson County Historical Association and the Jackson County Arts Council. The musical celebration will begin with caroling on the library steps, led by Gayle Woody. The group Brassoon will play Christmas music from the balcony. The Civic Orchestra concert will start at 7 p.m. with a baroque Christmas Concerto, “Ode to Joy” by Beethoven, and seasonal favorites. Everyone will be invited to join in the jingling of bells and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” The orchestra is supported in part by a Grassroots Grant from the Jackson County Arts Council, with funding from the North Carolina Arts Council. The event is sponsored by the Jackson County Library, Jackson County Arts Council and Friends of the Jackson County Public Library. Free. www.fontanalib.org or 828.586.2016.
EVENTS, CONTINUED FROM 41 Canton and at Ammon’s Drive-In & Dairy Bar and The Mountaineer, both in Waynesville. All proceeds benefit Next Step Ministries, a member organization of the new Haywood Pathways Center in Hazelwood. nextstepministriesinc@gmail.com or 828.356.5432.
CULLOWHEE • A holiday-themed spin on the hit production “GRITS: The Musical!” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, in the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center at Western Carolina University. The all-new musical “Cinnamon Grits: Christmas in the South” will stage as part of the 2014-15 Galaxy of Stars Series at WCU. In addition to some of the holidays’ all-time favorite anthems, the show features songs including “The Christmas ‘BELLE’ Medley,” “You Gotta Re-Gift,” “The Crazy Aunt Blues,” “Yes There is a Santa Claus” and “The 12 Yummy Days of Christmas.” Ticket are $21 for adults, $16 for WCU faculty and staff, $15 apiece for groups of 20 or more, and $7 for students and children. The show is sponsored by Bear Lake Reserve. www.bardoartscenter.wcu.edu or 828.227.2479.
FONTANA
December 10-16, 2014
• The “Christmas in the Smokies” holiday
celebration will run through Dec. 31 at Fontana Village Resort. Winter fun, holiday festivities and events. 828.498.2211 or www.fontanavillage.com.
FRANKLIN • NewSong’s “Very Merry Christmas” featuring John Wilson, Jamie Grace and Sanctus Real will perform at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets start at $15. www.greatmountainmusic.com or 866.273.4615. • The “At the Christmas Dessert Tasting” will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 14, at the Hospice House on Maple Street. Fundraiser for The Hospice House Foundation of WNC. Raffle for handmade quilt, donations are $5 per ticket or three for $10.
MAGGIE VALLEY • The inaugural Maggie Valley Santa’s Workshop will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 13 at Sassy Kreationz. Refreshments will be provided. Non-perishable items will be accepted for donation.
SYLVA • The choir of First United Methodist Church, Sylva will present its annual Christmas Concert at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, in the
church sanctuary. A reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres and beverages will follow in the Asbury Room. This program will be a musical journey titled “Darkness into Light,” and will feature the talented chancel choir, narrations of the Bible Christmas Story, and solos by individual choir members. The choir will be accompanied by organ and piano music. “Darkness into Light” is the story of how Jesus came into the world to bring life and light to all mankind. The coming of Christ brought hope, peace, joy and love, and turned the darkness into light. This musical program will also be featured during the 11 a.m. church service on the same day. 828.586.2358. • The East Sylva Baptist Church Adult Choir will perform their annual Christmas Musical Celebration at 11 a.m. Dec. 14. Music from “Bethlehem Morning” and more. The children/youth production of “Chris-myth Busters” will be at 6 p.m. The musical is about a young boy finding the truth about Jesus and the first Christmas.
WAYNESVILLE • The classic holiday production of “A Christmas Carol” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11-12, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Dec. 13, and 3 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and $6 for students. www.harttheater.org or 828.456.6322.
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Books
Smoky Mountain News
Start your holiday shopping at the bookstore or all of you who haven’t started your holiday shopping yet, for you who scorn Black Friday, who keep telling yourselves day after day that you will go buy gifts tomorrow (tomorrow: what a wonderful word!), for all of you who wake at dawn in a cold sweat knowing that you are down to the wire, the holidays can hover like dark clouds at midnight. Gift cards are the backup plan, but then you remember you gave your mother, your siblings, and Uncle Billy-Bob Writer plastic for the Olive Garden for the last five years running. Suddenly your mouth is drier than a sack of Kibbles and Bits, and your hands are shaking the way they did that morning after Billy-Bob’s New Year’s party and you woke face down in his backyard bean patch without a clue as to how you got there. No fears, literati. The solution to your shopping problem is simple: hie yourself off to your local bookstore, do a bit of browsing, and let the purchasing begin. Bookshops offer gifts for every taste — Billy Bob might really appreciate a bartender’s manual, that mousy niece who might just be a genius might love a leather journal, and you know your mother buys a garden calendar every year when the sales begin. Beat her to the punch and show her you care. Now, you could order these same books online, but by shopping closer to home you help the local economy; keep your neighborhood bookshop in existence; and can handpick the books you want. So there you go. Stop your dithering and head out on your adventure. Here are a few ideas to get you started. Yes, it’s another list:
Manhattan — and of her trials dealing with her boss and with Salinger. This is a fine account of what it means to find your way as a young adult, to grow in confidence as to your own gifts, and to choose those pathways best for your own development. ■ Any full edition of The Christmas Carol can make a wonderful gift, particularly if you tell the recipient — a woman, say, who is queen of your heart while you are but the scullery knave
Jeff Minick
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■ Wayfaring Stranger (Simon & Schuster, 436 pages, $27.99) by James Lee Burke is a grand read for men young and old who like a story packed with conflict, violence, wit, and history. Burke gives us Weldon Holland, an oilman in Texas who as a boy took a shot at Bonnie and
Clyde, who fought the Germans in World War II, and who returns home to find he must fight again for his survival among the wolves of the petroleum fields of Texas and the coyotes of Hollywood. Burke’s writing is as usual first rate, and the ending will surprise you. ■ Joanna Rakoff ’s My Salinger Year (Alfred A. Knopf, 251 pages, $25.95) is a memoir of working at a literary agency in Manhattan that has as one of its clients the author of The Catcher in the Rye and Franny and Zooey. Here Rakoff shares with readers her account of life in a literary agency — and in
Hartbarger to present memoir Jim Hartbarger will hold a signing for his book On the Rim of the Basket — The Memoirs of Coach Jim Hartbarger from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, at the Jarrett House in Dillsboro. From a farm boy to an athlete, to a coach, to an owner of an historic inn and restaurant, Hartbarger has worn many hats during his lifetime. In this new book published by Catch the Spirit of Appalachia, Hartbarger highlights some of the lessons he has learned in his many endeavors. From Virginia’s Salem College, Robert E. Lee High School, Ferrum Junior College and Virginia Tech University to North Carolina’s Western Carolina University, his extensive athletic career has brought him many awards. Inducted into Western Carolina University’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000, Hartbarger served as WCU head basketball coach for five and a half seasons, capturing two NAIA District 6 regular season titles and one tournament championship. His team advanced to the 1972 NAIA Championship Tournament. His teams set school records
in hers — that you intend to read the story aloud to her. All of us know the story of Scrooge and Tiny Tim and the others, but how many people have actually read the book? Some critics regard Dickens as a writer to stand alongside Shakespeare, and some of those critics regard The Christmas Carol as his finest work. Read aloud, the words of this book become as savory on the tongue as that barbecue sauce served up by Uncle Billy-Bob for that
for points scored in a game and most field goals in a game, longest winning streak, most points in a season, most 100 point games and best field goal percentage. The 1970-71 team compiled a record of 25-5 and a winning percentage of .833. 828.736.2786.
Serena mock trial at WCU Western Carolina University business law students will present a mock trial based on the Ron Rash novel Serena at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, at a courtroom in the Jackson County Justice and Administration Building in Sylva. Rash, an award-winning writer and WCU’s Parris Distinguished Professor of Appalachian Culture, authored Serena. The novel, set in Western North Carolina, is this year’s selection for the WCU Office of First Year Experience’s One Book program. The program is designed to encourage students to have common intellectual conversation about one book. Freshmen were provided with copies of
previously mentioned party (Please, don’t tell me you forgot about the barbecue sauce). ■ William Joyce’s The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (Atheneum, $17.99) is ostensibly a children’s book, but don’t be fooled. Anyone who loves books will adore this volume. The London Times called it “one of the most influential titles of the early twenty-first century,” and you’ll see why when you see the sumptuous illustrations and ponder this book’s message. ■ Still stuck? Well, try this one: The Southerner’s Handbook: A Guide to Good Living (HarperCollins Publishers, 2013, 288 pages, $27.99). Crammed into this plain blue volume are essays from “Garden & Gun,” the title of a magazine that could only come, of course, from the South. You’ll find over 100 articles on such subjects as ramps, barbecue sauces, bourbon, fishing for bass, holiday punch, Mardi Gras, and William Faulkner. This is a “feel-good” book whose wide range of topics offers something for everyone. For a fuller review, please see the next issue of the “Smoky Mountain Living Magazine.” ■ Journals make excellent gifts. For one thing, you are saying to the recipients that their thoughts are worth recording. Such a gift will compliment your friends and please any of those family members you just verbally labeled as idiots over the Thanksgiving turkey and dressing. For another, you can spend a good bit of time simply inhaling the leather on some of these blank books. They smell better than a new pair of dress shoes. Well, there you go. Visit your local book emporium, purchase one of their holiday drinks, and have some fun browsing. Don’t forget to sniff those journals. (Jeff Minick is a writer and teacher. His two books, the novel Amanda Bell and a book of essays titled Learning As I Go: A Medley of Essays and Letters … are both available at local bookstores and at jeffminick.com.)
the novel, which was incorporated into transition courses as well as multiple upper-level courses in a range of disciplines. Jayne Zanglein, professor of business law, assigned her students to develop a trial based on the characters and a legal issue in Serena. They crafted a case set in 1930 titled “Susan Harrill, as spouse ‘ad litem’ on behalf of William Harrill, deceased, Plaintiff v. The Pemberton Lumber Company, Defendant.” In the lawsuit, Harrill alleges that an agent of the lumber company intentionally cut a cable wire in an attempt to injure or kill her husband. The mock trial will involve a range of witnesses including the book’s title character, Serena Pemberton, as the wife of the lumber company manager. Exhibits include historical images, detailed information and diagrams of log loaders and equipment, and statistics regarding workplace injuries in the southern United States from pulpwood logging. Free. 828.227.7191.
270-61
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December 10-16, 2014 Smoky Mountain News 45
46
Outdoors
Smoky Mountain News
A feathery Christmas Birders head outdoors for annual bird count BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER here’s plenty of tradition and symbolism that goes along with the holiday season, but for birders no tradition is more part of the holiday than the annual Christmas Bird Count. The count is just what it sounds like: Every year around Christmastime, birding groups around the country get together for a full day outside to count as many bird species as possible in a circle that’s 15 miles wide. Local groups can set their own date, but they have to fall within about 10 days of Christmas Day. This year, bird counts are happening between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5. “Birding is kind of like a sport. It’s a hobby to many people,” said Brock Hutchins, who is organizing the count for the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society. “It increases your own knowledge and gives you a chance to see birds in a wild habitat and with other birders.” A typical bird count entails an early morning meet-up where birders divide into groups and are assigned a section of the circle to cover. Then, the groups spend all day — rain, snow, ice or shine — tallying as many species as possible. The results are then compiled and sent on to the Audubon Society,
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Birders peer through binoculars at last year’s Christmas Bird Count in Franklin. Donated photo
Tufted titmouse. Judy Howle photo
Get counting There are plenty of opportunities for beginning and advanced birders alike to help out with the bird count. Check out the list below to find a count near you and let the leader know you’re coming. ■ The Highlands Audubon Society will start its count at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 18 in Highlands. To participate, contact Brock Hutchins at 404.295.0663. ■ The Franklin Bird Club will start its count at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 3, in Franklin. The day will begin early with a break for lunch and end around 4 p.m. with a group gathering afterward to share findings. Sign up by Jan. 1 at 828.524.4707. ■ The Carolina Field Birders are still in the midst of scheduling their count in Haywood and Jackson counties but will hold it on the weekend of Jan. 2-4. Groups will start at 7 a.m. and stay out through 5 p.m. before enjoying a celebratory dinner out and count tally. Birders should RSVP to Don Hendershot by Dec. 30 at ddihen1@bellsouth.net or 828.646.0871. ■ The Elisha Mitchell Audubon Society in Asheville will hold its count on Sunday, Dec. 21. mjwestph@unca.edu. ■ The Tennessee Ornithological Society will hold counts in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Saturday, Dec. 20 and Sunday, Dec. 28. To participate in the Dec. 20 count centered over Gatlinburg, contact Warren Bielenberg at 865.681.7884 or birdglass22@aol.com. To participate in the Dec. 28 count centered over Cade’s Cove area, contact Susan Hoyle at 865.909.0792 or hoyleshrike@gmail.com. Maps and contact information for all bird count circles nationwide, as well as a database of information from past Christmas Bird Counts, are available online at birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count.
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Smoky Mountain News
Appalachian Trail license plate funds are helping to make the woods a little safer for the volunteers who maintain the trail. Using the plate money, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy funds Wilderness First Aid certification courses, taught by Cullowhee-based Landmark Learning, for those who volunteer with various trail groups. The 16-hour course teaches participants how to deal with backcountry emergencies, ranging from broken bones to heat exhaustion. Pictured is a pair of “rescuers” practicing how to treat a patient exhibiting shock and internal bleeding during a recent course held at Franklin Town Hall. Donated photo
Health & Healing are just 2 feet away
December 10-16, 2014
Trail crews drill for backcountry emergencies
Fly Fishing the South
outdoors
whose database of bird counts goes all the bird and cackling goose. way back to 1900, when ornithologist Frank Birders in the Cades Cove area of Great Chapman started the first one. Smoky Mountains National Park have also The results of that body of information found some surprises, including short-eared add up to a lot more than just a hobbyist owls overwintering in the park and a flock tally. The information, compiled over more of more than 120 red crossbills on the than a hundred years and now taken by Foothills Parkway. more than 2,300 circles nationwide, adds There are a lot of knowledgeable people up to an ornithological history. out on the bird counts, birders who have “It gives a way for citizens to contribute honed their avian identification abilities to the scientific database of where birds are over the span of decades. But the bird and why they are in certain areas,” counts are also an opportunity for beginHutchins said. “Scientists can use that inforning birders to get out in the field with mation for their studies concerning where birds are Birders scan the going, if they’re increasing skies in Franklin. their population in certain Donated photo areas, decreasing population.” The key issue, really, is conservation, Hutchins said. Habitat destruction is a real threat for all manner of wildlife, but to help out the situation you have to know how the habitat is used. “To conserve habitat you need to know where the birds are and when they’re there,” he explained. Sometimes, what’s there is a surprise. Hutchins recalls one year finding a sandhill crane in the Highlands circle, a large bird whose north to south migration encompassexperienced ones. They can help spot birds es the American West and Midwest but for others to identify, record finds on paper steers clear of North Carolina. Another year, and just generally enjoy being outdoors and birders found some ringbill gulls, a seabird soaking up some knowledge. that’s not usually seen that far inland, and “We have enough people that have another time an American woodcock was enough skill to help to identify the birds, so spotted. if you’re a beginner you can contribute,” Don Hendershot of the Carolina Field Hutchins said. Birders in Haywood County says the count And the overall contribution of the averages about 73 species and has turned count itself? Hopefully, conservation for up such surprises as a yellow-headed blackmore feathered species.
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outdoors
Tuscola takes all in FFA event Tuscola High School students dominated Future Farmers of America’s Land Judging competition this year. The competition tests students’ ability
Smoky Mountain News
December 10-16, 2014
to identify different types of soil and, based on the soil’s position in the landscape, develop recommendations for various uses. In addition to Tuscola, 12 teams from nine schools participated, including students from Swain and Macon counties.
The test site, which was not disclosed prior to the competition, was the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Science’s Mountain Research Station in Waynesville. Tuscola’s Senior team ranked first place, as did its Junior team, and all three ‘High Individual” honors were claimed by Tuscola students. Tuscola student Addie Madison Ruff measures slope. Turner was Donated photo named Senior High Individual and Josie Presnell and Justin Bumgarner tied for the title of Junior High Individual. The competition is sponsored each year by Haywood Soil and Water Conservation District with assistance from Tuscola FFA advisors John Best and Beth Ross. Gail Heathman, gheathman@haywoodnc.net.
Just in Time for Christmas:
The face changes on the hour as melodies play!
Magic Motion Music Clocks
Ten high school students from the Haywood Community Learning Center recently armed themselves with colorful spray paint to mark the storm drains of Hazelwood with a message: “Don’t Dump … Drains To Pigeon River.” The goal of the messages was to increase public awareness that trash and chemicals that wash down storm drains go straight to the waterways of Haywood County, harming wildlife and ecology. The stenciling helped students earn credits toward their science class. “I just give the students the paint and show them a quick demo on how to stencil, and away they go,” said Christine O’Brien, project assistant with Haywood Waterways Association. “They get to choose the color of paint and make their own masterpiece along the curb.”
Master Gardeners recruiting The Haywood County Extension Center is now accepting applications for the 2015 Extension Master Gardener Volunteer program. The Master Gardener Volunteer training class will begin in January and run through April. The class meets once from 9 a.m. till noon on Tuesdays. The cost of the program, including training materials, is $120. In order to become a Master Gardener Volunteer, participants must complete the entire class and participate in 40 hours of volunteer efforts through the Extension Center. There are currently 120 active Master Gardeners in Haywood County. These Master Gardeners contribute thousands of hours each year through Cooperative Extension programs and answer gardening questions through the plant clinic hotline. If you enjoy gardening and would like to participate in the Extension Master Gardener program please contact the extension office today. 828.456.3575
Safety net sign-up for dairy farmers Applications for a federal program to give dairy farmers some financial protection are open through Dec. 19. The Margin Protection Program, established by the 2014 Farm Bill, helps cover losses when the difference between the price of milk and feed costs falls too low. “The 2014 Farm Bill created these safety net programs to provide safeguards against the uncertainty of weather and markets, but this safety net is not automatic. Producers
must visit their local Farm Service Agency office to enroll before December 19,” said Tom Vilsack, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary. “Despite the best forecasts, weather and markets can change, so a modest investment today can protect against unexpected losses tomorrow.” Farmers can calculate their best level of coverage online at www.fsa.usda.gov/mpptool. To sign up for the program, farmers should contact their county Farm Service Agency. Farms can submit comments to shape future Margin Protection Programs through Dec. 15 at go.usa.gov/GJSA.
WCU dorm gets LEED certification Fun, Affordable Gifts in Downtown Waynesville! Painted Ponies • Puzzles • Flags & Mailbox Covers Sauces, Rubs & Candy • Jewelry • Scarves
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Graffiti for a good cause
270-24
Western Carolina University’s Harrill Residence Hall has become the university’s second building to be LEED-certified for its comprehensive energy-efficient and environmentally friendly features. The building, a nine-story co-ed residence hall, was certified at the gold level, the second-highest eco-friendly rating possible. According to Galen May, university architect, the initial goal was a silver certification, so being certified at gold instead is an achievement. “The standards at WCU are high in how we expect our buildings to perform,” said May. “The energy efficiencies and subsequent savings at Harrill Residence Hall that we are seeing now are a reflection of the quality expected as well as the desire to keep student costs down.” Originally built in 1971, the 77,000-square-foot residence hall underwent a $15.5 million renovation completed in 2012 and features modern suites of rooms for 354 students, kitchenettes and living and gathering spaces, air-conditioning and a 6,000-square-foot addition with an upscale meeting venue. gmay@wcu.edu or 828.227.7442.
outdoors
Geminids to light up the night sky The Geminid meteors will make their yearly appearance once again, loosing glowing particles through the sky Dec. 13-15. The shower happens at about the same time every year. The shower is calculated to reach its peak of 120 meteors per hour at 7 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14, so the best times to see the meteors will be overnight on Dec. 13-14 and Dec. 14-15. Light from a waning quarter moon will interfere somewhat with observation of fainter meteors, but successful observation can still start as early as 10 p.m. and continue through dawn. Meteors result from particles of dust causing the atmosphere to glow as the particles enter the upper atmosphere of the Earth. After more than a century of searching, astronomers in 1983 determined that the parent body for the debris that causes the Geminids is the asteroid 3200 Phaethon. This is unusual since most meteor showers are caused by debris from comets, not asteroids.
Vagabonds, a small RV camping club, is looking for new members to join for the 2015 season. The schedule runs April through November, with one weekend of camping planned per month, usually within 100 miles of Franklin. The 2015 schedule will go out in February. Outings feature campfires, potluck dinners, outdoor enjoyment and good conversation with no structured activities. No dues and all ages are welcome. Lillian, lilnau@aol.com or 828.369.6669
Log on. Plan a getaway. Let yourself unplug.
Yoga for outdoor fitness A yoga session designed to strengthen participants for specific outdoor activities will be held 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17 at REI in Asheville. A professional yoga instructor will teach the in-store class, targeting key body areas that are commonly tight or easily injured. The class is open to all yoga levels with the goal to create enough familiarity with beginning yoga practice at home. Free. Registration required at www.rei.com/event/63166/session/104325.
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outdoors
Franklin greenway gets some extra acreage
Cataloochee Ski Area. Donated photo
Base Camp takes to the slopes
Smoky Mountain News
December 10-16, 2014
Beginning ski and snowboarders who would like to learn the ropes at Cataloochee Ski Area will have a chance through the Base Camp Waynesville Ski Program. The program, open to all ages, will begin in January and continue through February. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, a group will leave from the Waynesville Recreation Center at 4 p.m. and return at 9 p.m. Prices for rec center members are: $23 for lift ticket only, $35 to ski with rented skis or boards, $7 to rent a helmet and $10 for ski lessons only. Prices for nonmembers are only a few dollars higher. Register with the Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department, 828.456.2030 or tpetrea@waynesvillenc.gov
The Little Tennessee Greenway will offer users a bit more space to enjoy the outdoors following Dick and Melissa Jones’ gift of a .66-acre piece of property adjacent to the greenway. “The greenway is a tremendous asset out our community,” said Derek Roland, Macon County manger. “Usage of it continues to grow, and I’m sure in the future we will enter into discussion to see how best that property can add to the enhancement of the greenway.” The property is located off of Highlands Road, near the middle of the 4.5-mile route. It’s just another gesture of public service for Dick Jones, who spent more than three decades of his life as county
attorney for Macon County. County leaders have not yet discussed what the property might be used for but are
certain that, whatever the outcome, it will provide some important benefit to Macon County. “It’s valuable property to the county,” said Kevin Corbin, chairman of the Macon County Board of Commissioners. The greenway has been a work in progress sine 1997, when Duke Power acquired land along the Little Tennessee in Franklin to build a powerline. The transmission line easement represents almost half of the trail. The Town of Franklin, Macon County, Duke Power and, later, Friends of the Greenway worked together to bring the greenway to fruition. Today, summer visits exceed 20,000 per month, according to Friends of the Greenway’s website, and the greenway connects multiple parks and picnic areas. The Jones’ gift will add just a little more opportunity for greenway development. “We’re very grateful that a community member and a long-time public servant of Macon County has been so gracious to give us that piece of property,” Roland said. — Holly Kays, staff writer
Jackson County Rec goes skiing The Jackson County Recreation Center will hold a five-week learn-to-ski (or snowboard) series at Cataloochee Ski Resort this winter. Lessons will take place 1:30-3 p.m. on Sundays for five consecutive weeks beginning Jan. 11. Ages 8 and up are welcome. Prices are $175 for lift, lesson and rental, $140 for lift and lesson and $90 for the lesson alone. The $90 price is available to those who hold a season pass and own their own equipment. Register at the Cullowhee Recreation Center or call 828.293.3053.
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For the first time since Dale Ditmanson retired in January 2014, Great Smoky Mountains National Park has a permanent superintendent. A string of three acting superintendents have served in the post over the past year. Cassius Cash, a Memphis native who is currently superintendent for Boston National Historical Park and Boston African American National Historic Site, will assume his new post in February. “I wholeheartedly look forward to rolling up my sleeves and working with and learning from a group of dedicated employees at the park who have the privilege of and responsibility for preserving and protecting some of the most precious natural and cultural resources in the country,” Cash said. Cash will be the first African-American to serve as the superintendent of the Smokies. Cash has spent the majority of his public lands career with the U.S. Forest Service, beginning in 1991 as a wildlife biologist at the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Washington State. He went on to work with that agency for 18 years in various leader-
ship positions. He served as an administrative officer in Nebraska, district ranger in Georgia, and a civil rights officer in Mississippi. Cash was the deputy forest supervisor at the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest in southern Oregon before transferring to Boston. Cash has served as superintendent at the Boston parks since 2010. Earlier this year, Cash served as the deputy regional director and chief of staff in the Northeast Regional Office. “Cassius has a great reputation as a Cassius Cash leader and has proven his ability to effectively work with partners, stakeholders and local communities. We know that he will be an excellent steward of the Smokies, one of the crown jewels of the Southeast Region,” said NPS Southeast Regional Director Stan Austin, who made the appointment.
Retiring Soon? Retirement Retirement Income Planning Income Planning 401K Rollovers 401K Rollovers Annuities Annuities Understanding Understanding Social Security Social Security Understanding Understanding company benefits benefits” company benefits” Larry East, CFP®
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52 Walnut St., Suite #6 Waynesville, NC 28786 Next to Haywood County Chamber of Commerce
270-46
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December 10-16, 2014
Friends of the Smokies raised more than $18,000 for Great Smoky Mountains National Park on GivingTuesday, far more than its $4,500 goal. GivingTuesday is a day inspiring people to give back to their communities by donating to nonprofit organizations. It was created as the non-profit world’s response to the post-Thanksgiving shopping blitz. Friends of the Smokies got $7,000 in matching funds for individual donations from Dalen Products, Inc., DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee, Inc., and one anonymous donor. “Supporters of the national park stepped up to this challenge in a big way,” said Jim Hart, president of Friends of the Smokies. “Thank you to each and every person who made a donation and to our matching partners for their generous support.”
outdoors
Smokies hires superintendent
Evening sun reflects off Bradley Fork at Smokemont. Holly Kays photo
270-02
Circle Smokemont A 6.2-mile loop hike from Smokemont Campground will take in Bradley Fork, Richland Mountain and Bradley Cemetery in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. The hike, led by Barbara Morgan through Carolina Mountain Club, includes 1,300 feet of ascent. It begins by paralleling Bradley Fork on the Bradley Fork Trail, crosses the stream on a split log bridge, loops over to Richland Mountain and stops by the cemetery on the way back. RSVP to 828.460.7066 or barbc129@gmail.com.
WAYNESVILLE
Smoky Mountain News
PROGRAMS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY • DAY PASSES AVAILABLE
RECREATION CENTER 550 Vance St. • Waynesville • 828.456.2030 www.waynesvillenc.gov
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WNC Calendar
Smoky Mountain News
COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS • Voices in the Laurel Children’s choir will hold its annual holiday silent auction fom 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec 13, at the Harrell Center at Lake Junaluska, next to the Stuart Auditorium. Items include ski passes, dinner for two at the Red Stag Grill at the Grande Bohemian in Asheville, admission tickets to Dollywood, Ripley’s Aquarium, NC Zoo, The Arboretum, Jewelry from Silpada, local crafts, gift cards to local services, restaurants and stores, and gift baskets. • A workshop titled “iPhoneography Made Easy” will be offered from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, by Western Carolina University’s Office of Continuing and Professional Education in the Cordelia Camp Building in Cullowhee. $89 registration fee includes lunch. photography.wcu.edu or 227.7397. • Fall Commencement for Western Carolina University’s graduating class will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Ramsey Center in Cullowhee. 227-7216 or e-mail registrarsoffice@wcu.edu. • A community open house will be held from 2 -6 p.m. Dec. 14 at The Lazy Hiker Brewing Company in Franklin. The facility will be open to show the progress of its construction. Tours on the hour. Gift certificates available for purchase. No beer for sale or consumption yet. • An essential oils workshop will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 15, at Waynesville Wellness. Learn about aromatherapy and how pure pressed DoTerra oils can aid in your wellness. 283.0173. • “Understanding our Past, Shaping our Future” exhibit will be at the Chief Joyce Dugan Cultural Arts Center at Cherokee Central Schools through Dec. 17. 554.5124. • A Ladies Night Out will be held from 6-9 p.m. on Dec. 20 at Humanite Boutique in Sylva. Complimentary and personalized styling, mini manicures, drinks and appetizers. 631.1599.
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 Handmade queen-size quilt will be raffled off to benefit Hospice House Foundation of WNC. $5 per ticket or $10 for three. • The 17th annual Turkey Drive by the Maggie Valley Area Lodging Association. Donations benefit Haywood County’s disadvantaged residents. Every $25 will deliver a full meal to a family. www.visitmaggie.com. • The Jackson County Family Resource Center is in need of slightly used blankets for their Blanket Drive. Accepting blankets until Dec. 1. Deliver to the Jackson County Family Resource Center, 1528 Webster Rd., Webster. 354.0109. • $10 Fall Fix: get unfixed pets for spay/neuter and rabies vaccination for only $10 through Nov. 30, through Haywood Spay/Neuter. Pet owner must live in Haywood County and sign their pets up at the Haywood Spay/Neuter office, noon to 6 p.m. open Tuesday through Friday. 452.1329. • P.A.W.S. Adoption Days first Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the front lawn at Charleston Station, Bryson City. • Salvation Army taking food and new toy donations. Drop off donations at Salvation Army at 290 Pigeon Street, Waynesville, NC 28786. For more information, call 828-456-7111. • Ring the Bell for Salvation Army. Contact Sammy at 456-7111, ext. 2 on where you can ring the bell.
BUSINESS & EDUCATION • A class on Facebook and social media will be held at 9:05 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11, at the Macon County Public Library. Registration required. 524.3600 or cwilder@fontanalib.org. • A small-business seminar for farmers entitled: “Pricing and Promotion for Agriculture Businesses,” offered by Southwestern Community College, will be held from 9 a.m.-noon on Thursday, Dec. 11, at the Jackson County Library in Sylva. Registration/reservations required: www.ncbsc.net. Info at 339.4211 or t_henry@southwesterncc.edu. • A seminar entitled “Protecting Your Financial Assets” will be held from 10 a.m.-noon on Thursday, Dec. 11, in the conference room of the Haywood County Senior Resource Center. Reservations recommended • “Is it True? Information on the Internet” – a class that helps discern online fact from fiction, will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 16 and at 9:05 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18, at the Macon County Public Library. Registration required. 524.3600 or cwilder@fontanalib.org.
FUNDRAISERS AND BENEFITS • The Santa Claus Christmas Children’s Benefit will from 6-10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at Nantahala Brewing. Attendees asked to bring toy donations. Several holiday craft beers on tap. Worst sweater contest. Free. www.nantahalabrewing.com. • “At the Christmas Dessert Tasting” will be held from 2-4 p.m. on Dec. 14 at Hospice House in Franklin.
• The City Lights Bookstore’s Holiday Giving Tree is underway. Pick an ornament from the tree and find a book for the age, gender and language listed. All Giving Tree purchases get a 20-percent discount. 586.9499. • Help the hungry in Highlands by purchasing a $20 gift card at Bryson’s Food Store or a dinner meal certificate ($19.95) at Mountain Fresh Grocery. All donations will be shared between Highlands Emergency Council and the local food bank.
HEALTH MATTERS • Annual Christmas party hosted by the Macon County Cancer Support Group will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11, in the cafeteria of Angel Medical Center in Franklin. Bring inexpensive gift for exchange (optional), finger food and guest. • A blood drive will be held by The American Red Cross from 1-5:30 p.m. on Dec. 12 at the Jackson County Department on Aging in Sylva. • A blood drive will be held by The American Red Cross from 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Dec. 13 at Otto Community Center. • A blood drive will be held by The American Red Cross from noon-4:30 p.m. on Dec. 15 at Masonic Lodge. • The Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 1:30-6 p.m. on Dec. 16 at Maggie Valley United Methodist Church. • A Red Cross Blood Drive will be held from 10 a.m.2:30 p.m. on Dec. 18 at WNC Community Credit Union in Waynesville.
• An Adult Wellness Clinic will be held from 9 a.m.noon and 1 p.m.-4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18, by the Jackson County Department of Public Health at its clinic site in Cashiers. Includes blood work, EKG, blood pressure, height, weight and personal wellness profile. $40. Must schedule in advance. 586.8994. • The Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 10 a.m.2:30 p.m. on Dec. 19 at Lowe’s in Sylva. • The Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 9 a.m.1:30 p.m. on Dec. 22 at Lowe’s in Franklin. • The Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 1-5:30 p.m. on Dec. 29 at Evergreen Packaging in Canton. • A Red Cross Blood Drive will be held from 10 a.m.2:30 p.m. on Dec. 31 at First United Methodist Church in Franklin.
RECREATION AND FITNESS • An organizational meeting for a Winter Adult Co-ed Volleyball League will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at the Waynesville Recreation Center. Season runs from Jan.14-March 18. 456.2030 or dhummel@waynesvillenc.org. • “Silver Sneakers” new member orientation will be held from 10 a.m.-noon on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at Waynesville Recreation Center. Refreshments provided. 456.2030 or tplowman@waynesvillenc.gov • The Smart Start basketball program “Biddy Ball” will be held for ages 3-6 starting Jan. 17 at the Waynesville Recreation Center. $40 registration fee. Registration deadline is 5 p.m. on Jan. 3. Parent or another adult must be able to attend seven on-hour sessions. 456.2030 or dhummel@waynesvillenc.gov.
All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted. from 3:30-4:15 p.m. on Dec. 16 at Macon County Library. Pajamas, robes and slippers are optional. 524.3600. • A sneak peek at “Plug In and Read: Using Technology to Prepare Young Readers for the Future” – a digital story time and various new educational technology tools - will be offered at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at the Canton Branch Library. Sign-ups required: 648.2924. Regular sessions will start in January at Waynesville and Canton libraries. • Teens and tweens ornament-making activity, Dec. 17, 4-5 p.m. at Canton Library. Sign up is required. Call 648.2924 or email kpunch@haywoodnc.net to sign up. • The fourth Explorer’s Club will be at 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18 in the Storytime Room of the Jackson County Public Library. Topic will be the various Winter Holidays celebrated around the world. Special guests, snacks, and crafts that all are pertinent to the theme. Free. No sign-up required. 586.2016. • Board and card games for kids will take place from 1-3 p.m. on Dec. 19 at Macon County Public Library. Bring a game to share or join someone else’s. 524.3600. • Mini-camps will be held for children ages 5-12 on Dec. 22-23 and Dec. 29-30 at Waynesville Recreation Center. Each camp costs $15 for members ($20/nonmembers). Registration deadline is Dec. 15. tpetrea@waynesvillenc.org or 456.2030.
Kid’s movies
POLITICAL CORNER • A membership meeting of the Jackson County NAACP will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, at Liberty Baptist Church in Sylva. New officers will be installed. 743.9747. • Haywood County NAACP will meet at 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 20 at Pigeon Community Multicultural Development Center, 450 Pigeon Street, Waynesville. Potluck lunch followed by short business meeting. All people of good will are welcome.
KIDS & FAMILIES • Seasonal stories, crafts, games and snacks for the family at 4 p.m. Dec. 10 at Haywood County Public Library in Waynesville. 356.2511. • Creative writing class entitled “Write On” will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 10 for 8-to-12 year olds at the Jackson County Library. 586.2016. • Cookies with Santa will be from 4-6 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Jackson County Family Resource Center in Sylva. Bring your own camera. 631.3900. • Family craft time entitled “Deck the Stacks” will be held at 6 p.m. on Dec. 11 at the Jackson County Library. The event will include making ornaments and other knickknacks that will be used to decorate the library. 586.2016. • Breakfast with Santa from 8-11 a.m. on Dec. 13 at Canton Armory. Buffet-style breakfast is $5 for adults; $3 for children. Ages 2 and under are free. Professional photos available for purchase. • “Arthur Christmas” will be shown for free on Dec. 1314 and Dec. 20-21 at The Strand at 38 Main in Waynesville. Saturday morning cartoons will also be shown at 11 a.m. www.38main.com or 283.0079. • Christmas Event – A Magical Adventure will be held
• A classic, Christmas-themed movie will be shown at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Free. Bring your own snacks. For movie titles contact the library at 586.2016. • Popular children’s movie featuring Kermit the Frog will be shown at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, at Macon County Public Library. Call 524.3600 or sign up for newsletter by writing maconkids@fontanalib.org to get movie titles. • Popular animated children’s movie set in frigid era will be shown at 1 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 22, at Macon County Public Library. Call 524.3600 or sign up for newsletter by writing maconkids@fontanalib.org to get movie titles. • Classic children’s Christmas Eve movie featuring bearded man in red suit will be shown at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 23, at Macon County Public Library. Call 524.3600 or sign up for newsletter by writing maconkids@fontanalib.org to get movie titles.
A&E FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS • Dillsboro Lights and Luminaries event will be Dec. 1213 in downtown Dillsboro, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Free refreshments, entertainment and more than 2,500 candles. www.visitdillsboro.org or facebook.com/DillsboroNC. • “Oh Holy Night” nativity festival will be held from 5-8 p.m. on Dec. 12 (live nativity) and from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Dec. 13 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Waynesville. Free. 80+ nativity sets on display.
• Annual Holiday Bazaar will be held on Dec. 13 at the Jackson County Farmers Market from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Community Table in Sylva. Beef stew will be served as a Market Fundraising Feast. 399.0290 or jacksoncountyfarmersmarket@gmail.com. • Crafts fair will be held from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Dec. 13 at the Maggie Valley Santa’s Workshop located at Sassy Kreationz, 567 Soco Rd. Maggie Valley. Santa will be there from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and coffee, hot apple cider, hot cocoa, and Sandra’s Bakery items will also be for sale. • A Hometown Christmas Celebration will be held from 5-9 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, at Haywood Community College’s auditorium. Event features local music, artisan crafts, gifts, Santa & Mrs. Claus and holiday treats. $8 per ticket. Proceeds benefit Next Step Ministries. Tickets available at Sid’s on Main in Canton, Ammon’s Drive-in & Dairy Bar and Mountaineer. 356.5432 or nextstepministriesinc@gmail.com. • “A Night Before Christmas” will be held from 6-9 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13 in Downtown Waynesville. Shops, galleries and restaurants will be open. Hundreds of luminaries. Live nativity scene. www.downtownwaynesville.com. • An Outdoor Christmas Concert with the Victory Baptist Church will be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Swain County Visitor Center. www.greatsmokies.com.
• Cashiers Christmas Parade at noon on Dec. 13. 743.5191. • “A Christmas Memory,” Capote’s touching tale, will be presented in a dramatic reading at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Franklin. 736.3674. • The East Sylva Baptist Church Adult Choir will perform their annual Christmas Musical Celebration at 11 a.m. Dec. 14. Music from “Bethlehem Morning” and more. The children/youth production of “Chrismyth Busters” will be at 6 p.m. • A community Dance will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14, on the second floor of the old courthouse in the Jackson County Public Library Complex in Sylva. Circle and contra dances; no partner or experience required. Community dinner will follow at 5 p.m.; bring covered-dish, plate, cup, cutlery and water bottle. Ronandcathy71@frontier.com.
• Cherokee Lights & Legends, an opportunity to stroll under the lights at Cherokee Indian Fair Grounds, will be held Wednesdays through Saturdays until Jan. 3. 59 p.m. on Wednesday through Thursday; 5-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 5 p.m.-12:30 a.m. on New Year’s Eve. $5 adults; free for kids under 5. Skates for synthetic rink: $3/30-minute session. www.visitcherokeenc.com. • “Christmas in the Park” is scheduled for 6-7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 19, at the Jackson County Recreation Park in Cullowhee. Light scenes, decorations and a chance to visit Santa. Fire pit available; hot chocolate, marshmallows and coffee for sale, $1 each. • Holiday Homecoming, an old-fashioned Christmas
• “John Parris’ Christmas” presented by the Webster Historical Society will feature Curtis and Janice Monteith Blanton reading the Christmas stories of Parris at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21, at Webster Methodist Church. . A second original Christmas story written by Curtis Blanton for the event will also be read. • A Yule service will be held at 11 a.m. on Dec. 21 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Franklin. 736.3674. • “Christmas On the Green,” thousands of lights and trees, is on display every night from Thanksgiving until New Year’s Day in Cashiers. • The Polar Express-themed train by the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City runs though January. Event features hot cocoa, Santa Claus and caroling. www.gsmr.com or 800.872.4681.
ON STAGE & IN CONCERT • The Franklin High School and Macon Middle School band concert will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. Free. www.greatmountainmusic.com. • “A Christmas Carol,” presented by Haywood Arts Regional Theater (HART) will be performed Dec. 11-14 at the HART Theater in Waynesville. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. (Dec. 11-12), 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. (Dec. 13) and 3 p.m. (Dec. 14). Tickets: $15 adults; $10 seniors; $6 students. Reservations at www.harttheatre.com or 456.6322. • Grammy-nominated country singer John Berry will make a stop in his Christmas In America tour at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. Tickets start at $20. www.greatmountainmusic.com or 866.273.4615. • “Cinnamon GRITS” holiday musical will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12 at Western Carolina University’s Bardo Center. $21/adults; $16/WCU faculty and staff; $15 each/groups of 20 or more; $7/students and children. Sponsored by Bear Lake Reserve. 227.2479 or bardoarscenter.wcu.edu. • Newsong’s The Very Merry Christmas Tour makes a stop at 6 p.m. on Dec. 13 at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. $15-30. 866.273.4615 or info@greatmountainmusic.com. • Trace Adkins: The Christmas Show plays at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 13 at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Event Center. $24.50-44.50. 800.745.3000. • Balsam Range will perform at 8 p.m. on Dec. 13 at the Cherokee Fairgrounds in conjunction with Cherokee Lights and Legends Christmas festivities. $5 adults; free for kids under 5. 554.6490 or www.visitcherokeenc.com. • A Christmas concert entitled “Darkness into Light” will be presented by the choir of Sylva’s First United Methodist Church at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14. A reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres and beverages follows. 586.2358. • Alma Russ will perform American folk music with her fiddle at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 16 at the Jackson County Library. Performance is free and open to all ages. 586.2016.
Smoky Mountain News
• A Christmas concert will be held from 6-7 p.m. each Saturday in December at the corner of Main and Everett Streets in Bryson City.
• A Christmas cookie exchange and silent auction will be held from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, at First United Methodist Church in Sylva. Christmas stories, visit from Santa, refreshments and silent auction benefitting United Christian Ministries in Sylva. 586.2358.
December 10-16, 2014
• A Christmas Celebration will start at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, with the recitation of “The Ghosts of Christmas Past” created by Gregg and Pauletta Clark followed by a sing along holiday Music Jam at the Rickman Store in Franklin. Where Shadows Walk, Franklin’s Haunted History Tours, offer three tour options. Presented by Friends of the Rickman Store.
celebration with traditional music, holiday crafts, cider and cookies, will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
wnc calendar
• Christmas in Canton Carol Sing featuring choirs from Central Methodist, Canton Presbyterian, First Baptist and St. Andrews Episcopal will be held from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Dec. 12-13 at Sid’s on Main. Visit with Santa on Dec. 12 only. Live nativity on Dec. 13 only.
• Michael Reno Harrell and Sheila Kay Adams, perform “Blue Ridge Christmas” at 7:45 p.m. on Dec. 18 at the Strand in Waynesville. $18 in advance; $20 on show day. 38main.com or 283.0079.
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wnc calendar
• The Western Carolina Civic Orchestra will hold its fourth-annual Community Christmas Concert on Thursday, Dec. 18, at the Jackson County Public Library. Event is sponsored by the library and Jackson County Arts Council. Open house at 5 p.m.; music starts at 6:30 p.m. when Brassoon plays from the balcony. Civic Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Bradley Martin and accompanied by Dr. Andrew Adams, starts at 7 p.m. Orchestra is sponsored in part by a Grassroots Grant from the Jackson County Arts Council. 586.2016.
NIGHTLIFE • The Corbitt Brothers will perform at 9 p.m. on Dec. 10 at No Name Sports Pub in Sylva. Free. 586.2750 or www.nonamesportspub.com. • Craig Summers & Lee Kram will perform at 6 p.m. Dec. 11 at Frog Level Brewing Company in Waynesville. 454.5664 or www.froglevelbrewing.com. • Rodney Rice will perform at 9 p.m. on Dec. 11 at No Name Sports Pub in Sylva. Free. 586.2750 or www.nonamesportspub.com. • A jazz night with the Kittle/Collings Duo will be at 8 p.m. on Dec. 11 at Innovation Brewing in Sylva. • An open jam session will be held from 6:30-9 p.m. on consecutive Thursdays, Dec. 11 and Dec. 18, at Heinzelmannchen Brewery in Sylva. Free Bring instrument, creativity, musicality and a fun attitude. 631.4466. yourgnometownbrewery.com
• Darren Nicholson Band (bluegrass) will play at 8 p.m. on Dec. 12 at Frog Level Brewing Company in Waynesville. 454.5664 or www.froglevelbrewing.com. • Dulci Ellenberger (guitar, vocals) will perform Americana, oldies and originals at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12, at the Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. 452.6000.
• Joe Cruz (piano, vocals) performs songs made famous by the Beatles, Elton John and James Taylor at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, at the Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. He’s opened for Chicago, Bonnie Raitt and others. 452.6000. • Natty Love Joys will perform at 9 p.m. on Dec. 20 at No Name Sports Pub in Sylva. 586.2750 or www.nonamesportspub.com.
• Andrew Danner will play live music at 7 p.m. on Dec. 12 at City Lights Café in Sylva. • The Classic Wineseller’s annual Jingle Bell Bash will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13. Joe Cruz (piano, vocals) will be joined by wife Tracey, and their two daughters for Christmas carols and holiday music. Song sheets will be available. Dinner reservations: 452.6000. • A wine tasting will take place from 2-5 p.m. Dec. 13 at Papou’s Wine Shop and Bar in Sylva. 586.6300. • Donna Frost plays at 9 p.m. on Dec. 18 at No Name Sports Pub in Sylva. 586.2750 or www.nonamesportspub.com. • A jazz night with the Kittle/Collings Duo will be at 8 p.m. on Dec. 18 at Innovation Brewing in Sylva. • Darren & The Buttered Toast will perform at 9 p.m. on Dec. 19 at No Name Sports Pub in Sylva. 586.2750 or www.nonamesportspub.com. • The Darren Nicholson Band (bluegrass/Americana) will play at 7 p.m. on Dec. 19 at BearWaters Brewing Company in Waynesville. www.bwbrewing.com or 828.246.0602.
• The Love Medicated will hit the stage at 7 p.m. on Dec. 12 at BearWaters Brewing Company in Waynesville. www.bwbrewing.com or 828.246.0602.
• Craig Summers & Lee Kram will perform at 6 p.m. on Dec. 19 at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville. 454.5664 or www.froglevelbrewing.com.
• Deltaphonic will perform at 9 p.m. on Dec. 12-13 at No Name Sports Pub in Sylva. 586.2750 or www.nonamesportspub.com.
• Hunter Grigg will play at 7 p.m. on Dec. 19 at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville. 454.5664 or www.froglevelbrewing.com.
• The Love Medicated will hit the stage at 7 p.m. on Dec. 12 at BearWaters Brewing Company in Waynesville. www.bwbrewing.com or 246.0602.
• Singer-songwriter James Hammel (guitar, vocals) will perform jazz, pop and original songs at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 19, at the Classic Wineseller in
December 10-16, 2014
Waynesville. Dinner reservations: 452.6000.
• Porch 40 will play at 7 p.m. on Dec. 20 at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville. 454.5664 or www.froglevelbrewing.com. • Mike Pilgrim (mandolin), Don Mercz (guitar) and Drew Kirkpatrick (guitar) will perform “gypsy jazz” at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 26, at the Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. He’s opened for Chicago, Bonnie Raitt and others. Dinner reservations: 452.6000. • Joe Cruz (piano, vocals) performs songs made famous by the Beatles, Elton John and James Taylor at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 27, at the Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. He’s opened for Chicago, Bonnie Raitt and others. Dinner reservations: 452.6000. • A game day will occur from 2 to 9 p.m. every third Saturday of the month at Papou’s Wine Shop & Bar in Sylva. Bring dice, cards or board games. 586.6300.
BOOKS & AUTHORS • A mock trial based on Ron Rash’s novel “Serena” will be held at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 9 at a courtroom in the Jackson County Justice and Administration Building in Sylva. Free. 227.7191. • A book signing for new author, former WCU basketball coach Jim Hartbarger, will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12, at the Jarrett House in Dillsboro during the luminaires festival. Refreshments will be served. 736.2786.
third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at various locations. 456.8428. • Write a Novel this November at the Canton Library, 3:30-6 p.m. Every Monday in November, meeting room, Canton Branch Library. 648.2924.
CLASSES AND PROGRAMS • Amy Putansu, a professional crafts fiber instructor at Haywood Community College, presents a lecture on her recent travels to China at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10, in Room 7105 of HCC’s Professional Arts Building. As part of her tour, she spent time with a Tibetan monk to practice sand painting. Free. 627.4672. • Writers Club at 1 p.m. on Dec. 11 at Albert CarltonCashiers Community Library. Explore and share ideas with other writers. Prose and poetry welcome. 743.0215. • Adult Writing Group will meet at 6 p.m. on Dec. 11 at the Jackson County Library. Class consists of exercises, group readings and writing mechanics. 586.2016. • The Appalachian Toymaker & Storyteller will be demonstrating his craft at 2 p.m. Dec. 10; 11 a.m. Dec. 11-12, and 1 p.m. Dec. 13 at The Storytelling Center at the Train Depot in Bryson City. 488.5705 or www.greatsmokies.com. • Intermediate blacksmithing workshops will be held from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Dec. 12 at Green Energy Park in Dillsboro. Open to adults of any ability level. Ages 1317 may participate with parent present. 631.0271. www.jcgep.org. • Intermediate blacksmithing workshops will be held from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Dec. 13 at Green Energy Park in Dillsboro. Open to adults of any ability level. Ages 1317 may participate with parent present. 631.0271. www.jcgep.org.
• A Haywood county non-fiction book club meets the
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Smoky Mountain News
In this issue:
Author Denton Loving on one of life’s greatest questions The Chattanooga Zoo works to preserve hellbenders Historical and harrowing tales of snowstorm survival Carroll Best’s banjo legacy PLUS ADVENTURE, CUISINE, READING, MUSIC, ARTS & MORE
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wnc calendar December 10-16, 2014
Smoky Mountain News
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• Students will present research from 2-5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at the Highlands Biological Station. Their research is from their semester-in-residence program at the Highlands Biological Station. www.highlandsbiological.org or 526.2602.
• Sylva Photo Club meets from 3-5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, at Cullowhee Methodist Church. Workshop will focus on “What’s in Your Camera Bag,” and participants how they use each item in their bag. Visitors and guests are welcome.
• Mountain bikers are invited to the Nantahala Area Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11, at the Jackson County Library in Sylva. nantahala.area.sorba@gmail.com.
• A basic knitting class will be offered from 10 a.m.noon each Tuesday at the Jackson County Senior Center. Free. Bring yarn and needles if you have them. 586.4944 or stop by the Jackson County Department on Aging and Senior Center in Sylva.
ART SHOWINGS AND GALLERIES
Smoky Mountain News
• A public meeting to discuss and answer questions about increased mercury levels in Lake Glenville’s walleye fish and largemouth bass will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 15, at the Albert CarltonCashiers Library. • A free “Yoga for Outdoor Fitness” class will be taught from 6-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at REI Asheville. For all levels. Wear comfortable clothing and bring yoga mat, water bottle and straps or blocks. Registration required: www.rei.com/event/63166/session/104325. 687.0918. • A Christmas Bird Count will be held by the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society at 7:30 a.m. on Dec. 18 at Hudson Library in Highlands. 770.486.3715.
• Art by library patron Jeannie Welch will be displayed in the Meeting Room of the Macon County Public Library during December and January.
• The Elisha Mitchell Audubon chapter based in Asheville will hold its bird count on Sunday, Dec. 21. mjwestph@unca.edu.
• Paintings and photographs by award-winning artist Joseph Meigs will be on display for one month starting Dec. 12 in the Jackson County Library’s Rotunda. Artist will be present from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Dec. 12.
• The Tennessee Ornithological Society will hold a count centered over Cade’s Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Sunday, Dec. 28. Susan, hoyleshrike@gmail.com.
• A photography show featuring the work of Robert Ludlow is on display from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Monday through Friday and from 1:30-5 p.m. on Sunday through December at Canton Branch Library. smokychess@gmail.com.
• The Franklin Bird Club will hold its bird count early on Saturday, Jan. 3. 524.4707.
• The Appalachian Pastel Society Juried National Exhibition will be held through Jan. 4 at The Bascom in Highlands. www.thebascom.org.
• The Historic Haywood Farmer’s Market will continue through December at a new indoor location at The Folkmoot Center in Hazelwood. Held from 9 a.m. to noon featuring meats, eggs, baked goods, and winter produce.Located at 112 Virginia Ave. 550.4774.
FILM & SCREEN • The “The Hundred Foot Journey” (comedy/drama) will be screened Dec. 6-17 at The Strand at 38 Main in Waynesville. $6 per person, $4 for children and $3 for the Saturday matinee. www.38main.com or 283.0079. • A new comedy directed by Wes Anderson about a legendary concierge at a famous hotel from the Republic of Zubrowska will be shown Thursday, Dec. 18, at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Macon County Public Library. Run time: 1:40. Rated R. 524.3600.
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Outdoors
• Free arm-knitting class is at 11 a.m. on Dec. 13 at the Jackson County Library. Library staffer Helen Pate will guide participants on how to arm-knit an infinity scarf. Yarn will be provided, but participants must register. Space is limited. 586.2016.
• Nifty Needles group, which meets at First United Methodist Church in Sylva, is seeking new members to help knit and crochet warm, useful items for those in need. Supplies (yarn and needles) and lessons provided.
Trust the AACD* Accredited Team offered at the practice of Dr. John Highsmith. The only AACD accredited dentist in Western North Carolina, Dr. John Highsmith offers unparalleled artistry and expertise. To support his dentistry with precision and exceptional quality, Dr. Highsmith works extensively with Kent Decker, CDT, the only AACD accredited Lab Technician in North Carolina.
• A creative arts workshop entitled “Deck the Halls Ornament Making” will be held from 9-11:30 a.m. and from noon-2:30 p.m. on Dec. 13 At Haywood Community College. Creativearts.haywood.edu or 565.4240.
• A classic 1949 comedy starring Robert Mitchum, Janet Leigh and Wendell Corey will be shown at 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 19, at the Macon County Public Library. Run time: 1:17. 524.3600. • A new movie based on true events (the lives of three-time cancer survivor Annie Parker and geneticist Mary-Claire King) will be shown at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11, in the Macon County Public Library Meeting Room. 524.3600 • A classic romantic comedy about an assistant district attorney who falls in love with a petty shoplifter will be shown at 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12, in the Macon County Public Library Meeting Room. 524.3600. • The Mad Batter Food & Film now showing featured films, 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., Thursdays through Saturdays, downtown Sylva location. Special kids’ matinee at 2 p.m. Saturdays. Free. Movie listings and information, www.madbatterfoodandfilm.com. 586.3555.
FARM & GARDEN
• The Jackson County Farmer’s Market has moved indoors for the winter. It is held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays at the Community Table, located in downtown Sylva off Central Street between the playground and pool. 399.0290 www.jacksoncountyfarmersmarket.org.
HIKING CLUBS • A 6.2-mile hike near Smokemont organized by Carolina Mountain Club will be held at 10 a.m. on Dec. 13. Contact Barbara Morgan for more information at 460.7066 or barbc129@gmail.com • The Nantahala Hiking Club will take a moderate-tostrenuous work and exploration hike, with elevation change of 800 ft., on Rocky Bald Ridge just off the Appalachian Trail at Wine Springs on Saturday, Dec. 13. 524.5298. • The Nantahala Hiking Club will take an easy-tomoderate 1.5-mile hike, with an elevation change of 400 feet, on the Rufus Morgan Trail on Sunday, Dec. 14. 410.852.7510. • The Nantahala Hiking Club will take a moderate-tostrenuous nine-mile hike on Monday, Dec. 15, with an elevation gain of 1,300 feet going North on the Appalachian Trail from Wayah Crest to Wayah Bald Lookout Tower. 765.318.9981. • An 8.5-mile Cedar Rock Mtn. Loop Hike organized by Carolina Mountain Club will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 17. Contact Bruce Bente for more information at 699.6296 or bbente@bellsouth.net.
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The Best Deal in the Mountains! CLASSIFIED ADS 50 WORDS OR LESS ARE
PER WEEK Smoky Mountain News
(Pre-pay only)
FREE: Residential yard sale ads, lost or found pet ads FREE: Non-business items that sell for less than $150 $35: Non-business items, 25 words or less, 3 months or until sold
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING
Call Classifieds Manager Scott Collier — 828.452.4251 or email classads@smokymountainnews.com 68793
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MarketPlace information:
THRIFT WORLD
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.
At Peddler’s Square. 8,000 sq. ft. Indoor Flea Market Featuring: Furniture • Art • Antiques • Tools • Clothing Boutique • Christmas Shop • 100’s of Items WHY PAY MORE? Open 7 Days, 10 - 5, 62 Peddlers Square, Waynesville. From Waynesville West on 74 Bypass, 4 Miles on Left (Across from Edisto Gas) - Buy, Sell, Trade & Consign 828.276.6377
Rates: ■ Free — Residential yard sale ads, lost or found pet ads. ■ Free — Non-business items that sell for less than $150. ■ $12 — Classified ads that are 50 words or less; each additional line is $2. ■ $12 — 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. ■ $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.
REACH READERS Across North Carolina for only $375. Run your 25-word classified line ad in 99 newspapers with one call to this newspaper by dialing 828.452.4251, or call NCPS at 919.516.8009.
Classified Advertising: Scott Collier, phone 828.452.4251; fax 828.452.3585 | classads@smokymountainnews.com
ARTS AND CRAFTS ALLISON CREEK Iron Works & Woodworking. Crafting custom metal & woodwork in rustic, country & lodge designs with reclaimed woods! Design & consultation, Barry Downs 828.524.5763, Franklin NC
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AUCTION: Tractors, Tools, Forklift, Boats, Shop & Power Equipment, Specialty & Plumbing Tools, Fiberglass Equipment - Online Only Auction, Bidding Ends DECEMBER 11th @ 6:00PM - Jones County, NC. www.HouseAuctionCompany.com 252.729.1162 NCAL#7889 TAX SEIZURE AUCTION Wednesday, December 10 @ 10am. 196 Crawford Road, Statesville, NC. Selling Seized Restaurant Equipment for the NC Department of Revenue due to Unpaid Taxes. Bar Equipment, Pizza Ovens, Mixers, Refrigeration, Gas & Electric Cooking Equipment, Quantity of Seating, Smallware. 704.791.8825. ncaf5479. www.ClassicAuctions.com
AUCTION AUCTION Construction Equipment & Trucks, December 11th, 9 AM, Richmond, VA. Excavators, Dozers, Dumps & More. Accepting Items Daily thru 12/5. Motleys Asset Disposition Group, 804.232.3300x.4, www.motleys.com/industrial, VAAL#16. HARPER’S AUCTION COMPANY Friday Dec. 12th @ 6:00 p.m. Join Us for Some Great Deals, You Never Know What Treasures You Might Find. We will have Nice Furniture, Glass, Christmas Items, Box Lots and Much More!! harpersauctioncompany.com 47 Macon Center Dr. Franklin,NC 828.369.6999. Debra Harper, NCAL #9659, NCFL #9671. PUBLIC AUCTION Saturday, December 13 @ 10am. 201 S. Central Ave., Locust, NC. Selling Tax Seized, Repo & Estate Vehicles, Heavy Equipment, Trucks, ATVs, Tools, Equipment, '65 Mustang 2+2 Fast Back, Street Rods, Pickup, Cars, Track Loader, Box Trucks. 704.791.8825. ncaf5479. www.ClassicAuctions.com
BUILDING MATERIALS HAYWOOD BUILDERS Garage Doors, New Installations Service & Repairs, 828.456.6051 100 Charles St. Waynesville Employee Owned.
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AUTO PARTS BLOWN HEAD GASKET Cracked Heads/Block. State of the art 2-part Carbon Composite Repair! All Vehicles Foreign or Domestic including Northstars! 100% guaranteed. Call Now: 1.866.780.9038 SAPA
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WE ARE LOOKING FOR A Full Time, Experienced Kitchen Manager. Resumes can be emailed to: 2014employmentopportunity@ gmail.com Interested & Qualified Personnel For More Info Can Contact 407.509.7882 or 407.509.7879
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
December 10-16, 2014
DRIVERS: *New Year - New Opportunities* Looking for: Better Pay? Better Home-time? Better Equipment? Better Compensation??? CDL-A 1yr. Exp. 877.704.3773.
HIGHLANDS-CASHIERS HOSPITAL Positions now available: ER and Acute Registered Nurses, MDS Coordinator, Annual Gift Officer, Major Gift Officer, Unit Clerk, Certified Nursing Assistant, Pharmacy Tech and Administrative Assistant. Benefits available the first of the month following 60 days of full-time employment. PreEmployment screening required. Call Human Resources. 828.526.1376, or apply online at: www.highlandscashiershospital. org
EMPLOYMENT
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EMPLOYMENT
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find us at: facebook.com/smnews
59
WNC MarketPlace
PETS
HOMES FOR SALE FOR RENT W/ OPTION TO BUY
HAYWOOD SPAY/NEUTER 828.452.1329
4/BR Home, Desirable Neighborhood/Mtn. Views, Privacy, One Mile to Lake Junaluska. Master BR/Walk-In Closet, Double Sinks in Bath. Hardwood & Carpet, 2 Fireplaces, LR, DR, Office, Bonus Room- 1/2 Bath, Equipped Kitchen, New Roof, Covered Porch & Patio, Level Fenced Back Yard, Spacious Storage. Move In Ready $1,200/mo. Call 828.298.7287
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!
BRUCE MCGOVERN A Full Service Realtor shamrock13@charter.net McGovern Property Management 828.283.2112. NC MTNS NEAR ASHEVILLE Owner must sell new log cabin on 1.5ac. Huge porches, vaulted ceiling, 1200sf ready to finish. $74,900, add'l acreage avail. 828.286.2981.
Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 12 Noon - 6 pm 182 Richland Street, Waynesville
REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCEMENT PUBLISHER’S NOTICE All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention, to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18 This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised on an equal opportunity basis. BEWARE OF LOAN FRAUD. Please check with the Better Business Bureau or Consumer Protection Agency before sending any money to any loan company.
REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCEMENT AMERICA’S BEST BUY! 20 Acres - Only $99/mo! $0 Down. No Credit Checks. MONEY BACK GUARANTEE & Owner Financing. Near El Paso, Texas. Beautiful Mountain Views! Free Color Brochure. 1.877.284.2072 www.TexasLandBuys.com SAPA 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 BANNER ELK, NC 10 acre tract adjoining National Forest, huge panoramic views of Grandfather Mountain & access to 2 lakes & 9 parks! Taking a loss, $49,900. 877.717.5263, ext691.
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December 10-16, 2014
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NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS Offering 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments, Starting at $400 Section 8 Accepted - Handicapped Accessible Units When Available
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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
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FOR SALE 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. DREXEL HERITAGE DINING ROOM Set - Table with 3 Leaves, 8 Chairs and Matching Buffet. Please call 828.577.8503. ENJOY 100 PERCENT GUARANTEED, Delivered?to-the-door Omaha Steaks! SAVE 74 percent PLUS 4 FREE Burgers - The Family Value Combo - ONLY $39.99. ORDER Today 1.800.715.2010 Use code 48829AFK or www.OmahaSteaks.com/mbfvc46 SAPA
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Puzzles can be found on page 62. These are only the answers.
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Pet Adoption Black and white, nice. Call 877.273.5262 JULIE - A 2 year-old, female Pit Bull. She is spayed, up-to-date with shots. weighs about 45 lbs., and is housebroken. She had a accident which required removal of her left hind leg. She was abandoned by her owners who left her at the vet’s who did the surgery. She loves to play at her foster home with another dog there who looks just like her. She handles her condition beautifully. Call 828.788.3056. SADIE - A friendly, 2 year old, Bull Terrier mix who loves other animals. 877-273-5262. WHITNEY - A brindle, feist/pug mix. Friendly, 1-2 years, cute. Tan and white. 877.273.5262. BANDIT - An adolescent, neutered, black cat. He tries to
answer the telephone. He is litter box trained. 828.586.5647. BARNUM - A purebred, 3 year old, male, 28 lb. Beagle. He is sweet, good on a leash, working on house training, and usesa doggie door. Barnum is very laid back, but will definitely let you know if someone is at the door. Call 828.586.5186.
HANDSOME, CHARLI -
Mountain Realty
Ron Breese Broker/Owner
www.ronbreese.com Each office independently owned & operated.
beverly-hanks.com 269-43
ARF’S NEXT LOW-COST Dog and cat spay/neuter trip is Jan. 26. Register in advance at ARF’s adoption site in Sylva 1-3 on Saturdays. Spaces limited, so don’t wait to register. You should’nt bring your animal to registration. Do bring income documentation if you wish to apply for free or low-income discounts. For more information, call 877.273.5262.
The Real Team
JOLENE HOCOTT • LYN DONLEY MARLYN DICKINSON
Real Experience. Real Service. Real Results.
828.452.3727
who has recently been on a diet to lose some weight. I am very sweet and love to snuggle. I like to sleep on your bed at night and might even work my way under the covers! I love to be petted, and will often talk to you while you love on me. Adoption fees vary; if you’re interested in me, adoptions@ashevillehumane.org. AMELIA - Boxer Mix dog – tan & white, I am about 2 years old, and a great companion. I am loving and playful, although I do still like to jump up around people sometimes and might be too much for small children. I get along well with other dogs and have also been around cats, but sometimes like to chase them. Adoption fees vary; Contact adoptions@ashevillehumane.org.
828-508-9607
Haywood Properties — haywoodproperties.com • Steve Cox — info@haywoodproperties.com
mountain realty
Keller Williams Realty
1904 S. main St. • Waynesville
kellerwilliamswaynesville.com • Ron Kwiatkowski — ronk.kwrealty.com
Michelle McElroy
Mountain Home Properties — mountaindream.com • Sammie Powell — smokiesproperty.com
RESIDENTIAL BROKER ASSOCIATE
Main Street Realty — mainstreetrealty.net
828.400.9463 Cell
McGovern Real Estate & Property Management
E-PRO, CNHS, RCC, SFR
michelle@beverly-hanks.com
• Bruce McGovern — shamrock13.com
74 North Main St. • Waynesville 828.452.5809
Emerson Group • George Escaravage — gke333@gmail.com 269-45
Prudential Lifestyle Realty — vistasofwestfield.com 269-46
Realty World Heritage Realty realtyworldheritage.com • Carolyn Lauter realtyworldheritage.com/realestate/viewagent/7766 • Martha Sawyer realtyworldheritage.com/realestate/viewagent/7769 • Linda Wester realtyworldheritage.com/realestate/viewagent/7771
MOUNTAIN REALTY
Mieko
Thomson ROKER/R /REALTOR EALTOR®® BBROKER
Cell (828) 226-2298 Cell
RE/MAX — Mountain Realty
2177 Russ Avenue Waynesville NC 28786
• • • • • • •
Mike Stamey
mstamey@beverly-hanks.com
ERA Sunburst Realty — sunburstrealty.com
Commitment, consistency, results.
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
smokymountainnews.com
269-47
Michelle McElroy — beverly-hanks.com Marilynn Obrig — beverly-hanks.com Mike Stamey — beverly-hanks.com Ellen Sither — esither@beverly-hanks.com
www.The-Real-Team.com
mthomson@remax-waynesvillenc.com mthomson@remax-waynesvillenc.com www.ncsmokies.com www.ncsmokies.com
ASHEVILLE HUMANE SOCIETY 828.761.2001, 14 Forever Friend Lane, Asheville, NC 28806 We’re located behind Deal Motorcars, off Brevard & Pond Rd.
• • • •
December 10-16, 2014
black, I am about 2 years old, and was brought to AHS by my previous owners because I was not doing well in their busy household with other pets. Although I am still timid at first, I have done much better in a foster home with a quieter environment. I am friendly with people and get along fine with other cats, as long as they don't pester me. I love to be petted, but not picked up. I will be a great companion for someone who wants a friendly cat but doesn't need a "lap cat." Adoption fees vary; if you’re interested in me, please contact adoptions@ashevillehumane.org. SNICKERS - Domestic Shorthair cat – brown tabby, I am about 7 years old, and I’m a “plump” girl
Beverly Hanks & Associates
Is a long-haired, male cat. He is black and white. 877.273.5262
ARF (HUMANE SOCIETY OF JACKSON COUNTY) Holds rescued pet adoptions Saturdays from 1:00 - 3:00 (weather permitting) at 50 Railroad Avenue in Sylva. Animals are spayed/neutered and current on shots. Most cats $60, most dogs $70. Preview available pets at www.a-r-f.org, or call foster home. KAIYA - Domestic Shorthair cat –
Haywood County Real Estate Agents
2177 Russ Ave. Waynesville, NC 28786 Cell: 828.400.9029 ron@ronbreese.com
WNC MarketPlace
PENNY - A female, terrier mix.
The Seller’s Agency — listwithphil.com 74 NORTH MAIN ST. • WAYNESVILLE, NC
www.beverly-hanks.com
• Phil Ferguson — philferguson@bellsouth.net
Carolyn Lauter Broker/ABR
270-12
1986 SOCO ROAD, HWY 19 • MAGGIE VALLEY, NC 28751
828.734.4822 Cell • www.carolynlauter.com carolyn.lauter@realtyworldheritage.com 262-02
TO ADVERTISE IN THE NEXT ISSUE 828.452.4251 | ads@smokymountainnews.com 61
www.smokymountainnews.com
December 10-16, 2014
WNC MarketPlace
Super
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CROSSWORD
ments 76 107, in old Rome 77 Actress Irving ACROSS 78 With 33-Down, whom 1 Persistent Dr. Seuss “nobody doesn’t like” character 80 Moistens meat while 7 Total stupidness drunk? 13 - -faire 83 Puerto Rico’s 20 Actress Wilde Observatory 21 Fifth U.S. president 86 CPR experts 22 Writer Caldwell 23 Dissuade people from 87 Maladies 88 Author Zola using a bridge? 91 Rights org. since 1920 25 “Look, Ma” follower 92 Scratched (out) 26 Be a thespian 27 Impressionist Claude 94 Arrange meals neatly in a picnic basket? 28 Frogs’ relatives 30 Destroy the interior of 97 Dance with dips 100 Shooting marble 31 Azure 102 “... - in ‘team’” 34 Horse riders’ shop? 103 Actor Feldman after 37 Above, in odes a bad fight? 38 Twofold nature 106 Feisty fish 41 Errand boy 110 Endorsed 42 Thieving Fink? 111 Take the loss 46 Grammy winner 112 Put at 000 James 115 “Nice one!” 48 - -Z (‘80s Camaro) 116 Zeros 49 “Revolver” or 119 Stress caused by a “Tapestry,” e.g. “Great” czar? 50 Lose iciness 52 Run through small 123 Boy in “E.T.” holes 124 New Jersey borough 56 “GoldenEye” Bond girl next to Fort Lee Simonova 125 “Help Me, -” (1965 58 Open courts used by #1 hit) opera singers? 126 Midday naps 62 Delayed 127 High regard 63 “- be back” 128 Wised off to 66 Poet Edward 67 Drink in DOWN 68 Stiller of film 1 Pops 69 Predicament experi2 Smart enced by humans? 3 Thurber’s Walter 73 Unused, in Ulm 4 “- done it!” 74 Self-evident state5 Run on TV TEE TIME
6 Fred of “My Three Sons” 7 “That’s my cue!” 8 Shot amount 9 Tech. school 10 “... - quit!” (threat ender) 11 Hold 12 “Holy moly!” 13 Ivan of tennis 14 Came up 15 Suffix with amateur 16 Jamaican pop music 17 Honor with a tune 18 Tough out 19 Rind-cutting tool 24 Caviar 29 USN ranker 32 Spotted lynx 33 See 78-Across 34 - Poke (caramel lollipop) 35 USAF NCO 36 Raises one’s glass to 38 Apply gently 39 Land east of Arg. 40 24-hr. cash dispensers 42 - Tin Tin 43 Verbal test 44 Plant studier 45 Britain’s Tony 46 Suffix with Euclid 47 Time when DST starts 50 Merry refrain 51 A eunuch guards it 53 Like liver, nutritionally 54 Like offenses one can get canned for 55 Perfume since 1931 57 “- at ‘em!” 59 Vintage song 60 Architect I.M. 61 Belittle
64 Rank above maj. 65 Molten flows 68 Slugger Ruth 70 “Hot Stuff” actor Davis 71 Pot topper 72 Mariah Carey #1 hit 75 New York county or lake 79 Mimosa-family tree 81 Honorary law deg. 82 “No big -” 84 Homecoming attendees, e.g. 85 Suffix with poison 89 Former Sprint rival 90 Tina’s ex 93 Decked in a boxing ring 94 Foyer sofas 95 Josephine of mysteries 96 Hide-hair link 97 Some steaks 98 It has a pH above 7.0 99 Little bump 100 Day after Fri. 101 Threefold 104 Granny on “The Nanny” 105 Ship parts 106 Diem lead-in 107 Adjectives modify them 108 Throng 109 Forward 112 Russo of “Ransom” 113 Buffalo’s lake 114 E-mail clutter 117 U.S. fighters 118 Scorching 120 Little child 121 - Na Na 122 “Help us!”
answers on page 60
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PERSONAL MAKE A CONNECTION. Real People, Flirty Chat. Meet singles right now! Call LiveLinks. Try it FREE. Call now 1.888.909.9978 18+. SAPA YOUR AD COULD REACH 1.6 MILLION HOMES ACROSS NC! Your classified ad could be reaching over 1.6 Million Homes across North Carolina! Place your ad with The Smoky Mountain News on the NC Statewide Classified Ad Network- 118 NC newspapers for a low cost of $330 for 25-word ad to appear in each paper! Additional words are $10 each. The whole state at your fingertips! It's a smart advertising buy! Call Scott Collier at 828.452.4251 or for more information visit the N.C. Press Association's website at www.ncpress.com 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! 1.888.637.8200. 24 hour HOTLINE. SAPA
SCHOOLS/ INSTRUCTION COMPUTER CERTIFICATION CLASS! Get the skills needed to become a certified Help Desk Professional! No Experience Needed! Call CTI for details at 1.888.734.6712 or visit AskCTI.com. Training Grant Available! AVIATION MANUFACTURING Careers- Get started by training as FAA certified Aviation Technician. Financial aid for qualified students. Job placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance. 877.300.9494. 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 MONEY FOR SCHOOLPotentially get full tuition & great career with U.S. Navy. Paid training, medical/dental, vacation. HS grads ages 17-34. Call Mon-Fri 800.662.7419
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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 60
The naturalist’s corner BY DON H ENDERSHOT
Extreme commenting on plan for national forests
Y
including conservation groups, wildlife/hunting organizations, recreation groups, forest product businesses, cultural heritage groups, concerned residents, state and local governments, and others as identified. The Partnership has agreed to work collaboratively and in parallel to the Nantahala-Pisgah National Forest (NPNF) planning process to initiate a robust public dialogue in support of this process, utilizing a variety of sources including national, regional, tribal, and local/community expertise. Results will be compiled and presented as a set of recommendations to the NPNF, which can be considered for future management decisions. The Partnership’s approach emphasizes public participation
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Smoky Mountain News
Authorized Big Green Egg dealer plus a huge selection of accessories!
ment for more early successional habitat. And I know lots of people from various conservation/environmental groups who would agree on some of those measures, perhaps many — but when I see this kind of my way or the highway bombast, I have to wonder how sincere those other scenarios are. Fifteen years or so ago “they” were called environmental wackos. Today, from perusing different websites, chat boards, message boards, etc., it looks like the epithet du jour is “extremist,” therefore the title of this piece, because while some out there won’t want to listen to opposing views or engage in collaboration, the Forest Service is mandated to do just that. So it’s “extremely” important that if you have reservations regarding the FS’s draft plan that you comment and let them know. It could be that you find the areas where timber harvest and/or timber production could, perhaps, be allowed too large or ill defined. Or perhaps the language is too vague and you would like more detail about what would be timbered when, or it could be any other part of the draft plan, just let them know that you don’t support this draft in its present form — comment because you know “they” will. To comment, email comments-southernnorth-carolina@fs.fed.us or mail comments to 160 Zillicoa St., Suite A, Asheville, N.C., 28805. Comments received by midDecember will carry more weight. And I will be back later with more thoughts regarding the Plan Revision. (Don Hendershot is a writer and naturalist. He can be reached a ddihen1@bellsouth.net.)
December 10-16, 2014
ogi Berra said it best — “It’s like déjà vu all over again.” When I read Holly Kays’ Nov. 12 article about the USDA Forest Service’s Plan Revision in The Smoky Mountain News (www.smokymountainnews.com/news/item/14637), I was taken back to the early 2000s, when I was a fulltime reporter at SMN covering meetings regarding President Clinton’s Roadless Initiative. People, groups and/or organizations had staked out positions either in opposition to or in support of the initiative and were pretty intractable. But that was 15 years ago, right? Things are different now. The Forest Service and conservation and environmental groups have embraced consensus building and collaboration. The old ways of pointing fingers and calling names have given way to trust, right? But who can you trust? Gordon Warburton is the mountain ecoregion supervisor for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Warburton has worked closely with the Forest Service, helping to implement Master The endangered North Carolina northern flying squirrel Stewardship Projects across the lives in older forests in the transitional zone between region (see www.smokymounboreal hardwoods and spruce-fir. USFWS photo tainnews.com/travelguide/item/5819). And Warburton told Appalachian Voices back in and information sharing in order to reach 2012 that, “There’s a brand new Forest community-supported and science-based Service out there. The agency had a problem methods for forest management, interpretain the 1980s with legacy logging, and they tion and investment. Further, the live with that. We (the Commission) used to Partnership strives to create a lasting voice ask that they hold back on some of their for innovative management and public land disturbance activities. Today, they’re investment in the public forests of North almost solely focused on ecological restoraCarolina’s mountains for the future.” tion. Glaring timber cuts have gone away.” Looks like a great fit, right? A knowledgeAnd in October, Jack Igelman of Carolina able partner representing a state agency — Public Press quoted Warburton: “It’s importhe state Wildlife Resources Commission — tant to realize that it’s not the Forest Service with close ties to the Forest Service and a conof yesterday. We’re going to have to trust stituency (hunters and fishermen) with a visthem in the process, too.” ceral connection to our public lands. Who Warburton was invited and accepted a could be in a better place to join in a “robust position on the leadership team of The public dialogue in support of this process” — Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Partnership, the Plan Revision — a process that described on their website as “… a variety of Warburton has already encouraged us to stakeholders, has come together to foster civic trust? But in October, Warburton went to a engagement and positive guidance in creating meeting of a group called the Fish & Wildlife the best possible management plan revision Conservation Council and presented a 43for Nantahala-Pisgah National Forest.” page PowerPoint encouraging specific actions The partnership is made up of two dozen with regards to the plan revision. Here are advocacy groups and their vision is, “The some direct quotes from that PowerPoint: Partnership members represent a diverse “We have to stand opposed to all new cross-section of key stakeholder interests, wilderness additions — period — OVER 70
percent going to old growth.” “Mountain Treasures [a collection of 41 areas across the Nantahala and Pisgah NFs that the Wilderness Society feels need greater protection] — oppose recognition of these by USFS.” “Mountain Treasures — need to identify sportsmen who have an interest in each one of the mountain treasures — must address management and wildlife importance on every area, e.g. OLD MANAGEMENT AREAS.” “We need to be able to address each of the key Mountain Treasures areas — need sportsmen who can speak against these and rally locals against them.” “NCWRC will develop a case for management in each area.” “Old Growth needs to be re-examined — call for a re-examination of designated areas — with so much of the forest that cannot be managed, how much designated old growth do we need? ” And, you can imagine, within 43 pages there are many more specific actions called for. There is a section regarding the Mountain Treasures section, labeled “Their Strategy.” I’m not sure if “they” are The Wilderness Society or simply anyone who believes there are areas in the Nantahala and/or Pisgah that would benefit from more protection. I find this blatant rally against any kind of collaboration regarding old growth and/or any other forest areas that some deem worthy of protecting sad. When I research media and/or websites etc., I find a lot of merit in some of Warburton’s argu-
1552 E. MAIN STREET | SYLVA
828-586-6969 | www.brysonfarmsupply.com
270-59
63
NEW LOCATION
Our mission is to provide high quality, personalized and compassionate obstetrical and gynecological care to women beginning in adolescence and continuing through menopause. We strive to consistently exceed the expectations of all of our patients. Dr. Janine Keever earned her Bachelor's degree at Western Carolina University in 1996. After earning her M.D. at East Carolina University and completing a residency at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, she returned to the mountains to open Smoky Mountain Obstetrics & Gynecology in 2006. Since then, her main focus has been to provide the best possible health care for the women of Western North Carolina. Keever is a skilled surgeon specializing in minimally invasive gynecological procedures, including the 'no scar' vaginal hysterectomy. She is also active in community affairs. Keever lives in Sylva with her husband and adventurous 6 year old son.
December 10-16, 2014
Dr. Sabine Kelischek is a board certified OB/GYN physician who has practiced in WNC since 1994. She received her B.S. from Davidson College and M.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While there she also studied Health Policy and International Health at the School of Public Health. Her interest in health policy took her to Washington, D.C. where she served as Legislative Director for the American Medical Student Association.She completed her residency training at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia and soon thereafter relocated to the mountains to enter private practice. Kelischek loves contra dancing and sings with the Asheville Choral Society. Other interests include gardening, quilting, and literature. Leah Trombly, WHNP is a board certified Women's Health Nurse Practitioner who joined the practice in August 2014. She received her B.S. from Mount Olive College in North Carolina, and MSN from Frontier in Hyden, Kentucky. Her clinical specialties include well woman/preventative care, childbirth education, breast health, and weight management. Leah was awarded Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships in 2005 and 2010 to study Spanish in Mexico and Nicaragua and offers bilingual services. She is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant as well as a certified Independent Beachbody Coach. She is an avid exerciser, and is happily married with five wonderful children.
Smoky Mountain News
Kathy Walsh, WHNP is our newest Board Certified Women's Health Nurse Practitioner. She recently relocated to the mountains from Illinois, where she worked for 31 years in the field of collaborative and holistic care for women. She earned a B.S. from Western Illinois University and MSN from the University of Wisconsin. Her clinical interests range from OB care and birth control to menopause and integrative medicine. She is also a Certified Lactation Educator. She enjoys hiking in our beautiful mountains. Among her many accomplishments, she is especially proud of raising four fabulous children and finishing the Chicago Marathon.
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Yearly Exams and Paps Contraception/ Birth Control Hormone Replacement Therapy Specialized Gynecologic Surgery Minimally Invasive Surgery Prenatal Care for both Low and High Risk Pregnancies In Office Ablations and Essure Procedures Vaginal hysterectomy specialist Childbirth Education Breastfeeding Support
Both physicians are Board certified by American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Both nurse practioners are Board Certified.
For informative articles, online appointments, online bill pay and more visit our website at
www.mysmoga.com
Same day appointments available for urgent concerns. To make an appointment, call
828.631.1960 70 The Village Overlook Sylva, NC 28779