Smoky Mountain News | December 28, 2022

Vince Herman of Leftover Salmon

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We regularly see articles debating the benefits of drinking coffee. Many of us ( myself included!) can’t really start the day without a cup of hot coffee. Drinking coffee along with water, hot tea and low-calorie beverages will help keep you hydrated. While an 8 ounce up of black coffee has only about 5 calories, once you start adding creamer, sweetened creamers, sweeteners, or syrups to your coffee, the calories can quickly add up. Drinking coffee in excess can positively or negatively affect athletic performance and mood and for some it may disrupt sleep.

Coffee is a source of phytochemicals (plant chemicals) which may reduce our risk of some cancers (endometrial and liver) and the American Institute for Cancer Research does not at this time consider that drinking coffee will increase your risk of any specific cancers. https://www.aicr.org.

Like many things in life, drinking coffee is about moderation!

Leah McGrath, RDN, LDN

Ingles Market Corporate Dietitian @InglesDietitian Leah McGrath - Dietitian

written by Ingles Dietitian Leah McGrath

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT FAKE N EWS E DITOR

Lately I’ve been reading a book that came highly recommended and not a moment too soon, despite it being published in 2017 (I’m about 6 years behind on my reading, because reasons).

It’s called “The Death of Expertise,” written by never-Trump conservative Tom Nichols. While the title is pretty bold, the subtitle struck me as more profound: “The campaign against established knowledge.”

You see, when I started writing this yearend feature seven years ago, it was really a way to poke fun at the emerging fake news culture fostered by Liar-in-Chief, President Donald Trump.

It didn’t rain on Trump’s inauguration. Coronavirus is under control. Windmill noise causes cancer. Trump won. Fake news, all of it.

In the moment, it just seemed like a random stream of “alternative facts,” as former presidential adviser Kellyanne Conway likes to say, but in reading Nichols’ book, it’s now clear to me that this is indeed a “campaign.”

One needs only to look at the regular reporting in this fine publication (and others, although fewer and fewer each year) to see it — regular people, good people, hardworking people so filled with rage against whatever it is they’re raging against that they allow themselves to be fooled into believing, accepting and distributing fake news.

“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command,” wrote George Orwell in “1984.” Well, that’s where we are today.

My tax bills are fake, so I won’t pay them. Somebody stole $6 million, because I want to believe it’s true. The government doesn’t have jurisdiction over me. Vaccines don’t work. It wasn’t an insurrection. Ghost Town will be open by February.

For those who continue to campaign against expertise, against the evidence of your eyes and ears, herewith presented for your perusal are this year’s fake news stories, which, unlike some of the utter delusions presented as fact on a local, state and national basis, are admittedly fake.

ICE REPORT: MILLIONS OF UNDOCUMENTED BIRDS CROSS SOUTHERN BORDER EVERY YEAR

A shocking report from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released today says that millions of undocumented pigeons regularly cross America’s undefended southern border with Mexico.

“It’s becoming a real problem,” said Kip Gnipslip, a spokesperson for the federal law enforcement agency charged with monitoring illegal immigration. “It’s tremendously discouraging to apprehend these birds and release them back into Mexico, only to recapture the same ones the very next day. Something has to be done.”

Disgraced former president and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump immediately proposed building an 80-story, 1,951-mile border wall out of chicken wire from Pmurt Enterprises — definitely not a Trump-linked shell company but rather manufacturers of the very

best, greatest chicken wire available.

Not to be outdone, Florida’s Republican governor and likely Trump primary opponent Ron DeSantis immediately began work on an 81-story, 8,436-mile wall encircling the entire state, starting in the center of the Flora-Bama Lounge, continuing all the way down south through the Keys, and then back up north to Jacksonville.

Last week, ICE officials in Texas reported the apprehension of another 36 million pigeons.

Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott said it was “good practice” for the annual Monarch butterfly migration in March, and subsequently bussed the feathered felons to Martha’s Vineyard, Vice President Kamala Harris’ residence and New York City’s Central Park.

At last report, some of the pigeons were seen flying toward Canada.

INNOVATIVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT TO ACCEPT LIMBS AS COLLATERAL

Haywood County commissioners have green-lighted an affordable housing development just outside Waynesville that is expected to make a significant difference in the county’s acute shortage of inventory, especially of inventory affordable to people who are not remote workers for companies based in cities with a median income double that of most Western North Carolina communities.

The development, called Armorleg Estates, will feature endless rows of threebed, two-bath townhouses with postage stamp backyards and a charming “factorychic” aesthetic, available for only $499,999 apiece. Creative financing opportunities will ensure that these brand-new homes are accessible even to poor schmucks who are unable to cough up this paltry amount. Buyers can negotiate a price that subtracts the independently assessed value of their arm, leg or first-born child from the total cost.

“I am so grateful to the good folks at Tothecleaners Development for this lifechanging opportunity,” said Marion Ross, a second-grade teacher at Clyde Elementary School who was one of the first to close on a home at Armorleg Estates. “While it will be somewhat challenging to keep up with 25 seven-year-olds one-legged, I’m so happy to finally have a home. Truly, it’s the best deal I could have imagined in this market.”

Following the announcement of the development, Haywood Regional Medical Center published a statement warning would-be buyers that, due to supply chain shortages and staffing challenges, prosthetic replacements for any limbs used as collateral could take upwards of a year to complete.

LOCAL PUBLIC COMMENT SESSIONS TOTALLY HELPFUL AND NOT AT ALL INSANE

The Haywood County Commission’s regular public comment sessions have, over the past few years, become the most

enlightening couple of hours of each and every month, where citizen-experts regularly report back to commissioners on the completely legitimate and informative internet research they ceaselessly conduct.

This year alone, commissioners have learned about the presence of microchips in the covid vaccine, and that the vaccine doesn’t work anyway, and that the vaccine has already killed everyone who received it.

Commissioners also have garnered valuable information about the county’s taxpayer-funded mandatory needle exchange program, wherein every resident of Haywood County is required to possess hypodermic syringes on their person, at all times, under penalty of law.

Although not required by ordinance, citizens are encouraged to discard both clean and dirty syringes on playgrounds, in church parking lots and at the doorsteps of local businesses.

Commissioners have also been informed that Haywood County is the number one county in the entire world for ritual satanic mass slayings of children, with an astonishing 52,000 victims each year.

One particularly well-informed scholar, Beanie Crooks, recently delivered a presentation proving beyond all reasonable doubt that Haywood County is currently experiencing an unprecedented explosion in the local pigeon population.

“I simply can’t recall ever seeing so many of those birds around here,” Crooks said. “I see them everywhere I look. Under bridges. Hanging out in parks. Walking our streets. I demand that commissioners build an 82-story wall made of Pmurt Enterprises chicken wire around Haywood County, without borrowing money or raising taxes. We can afford this by cutting all state-mandated public services, like policing.”

TRIBE IN TALKS TO BUY SPACEX

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ next economic diversification project will be out of this world, as the tribally owned Kituwah LLC announces that negotiations are underway to purchase Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

Founded in 2002, SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches advanced spacecraft. Since the company’s founding, Musk has maintained that his ultimate goal is to colonize Mars.

However, at terms not yet dis- F

Go back to Mesopotamia! Wikipedia photo

closed to the public, Musk has indicated a willingness to sell.

“We’ve already bought so many companies here on Earth, space just seemed like the natural next step,” said Principal Chief Richard Sneed.

He noted the many high-paying job opportunities that the SpaceX venture would afford tribal members, and the likelihood of significant growth in the industry.

“Plus, enforcing banishments would suddenly become a lot easier,” Sneed said. “Once you’ve been deported to Mars, it’s pretty hard to sneak back onto the Qualla Boundary undetected.”

The impending deal has caused a great deal of excitement at Kituwah LLC headquarters, with many otherwise serious professionals spending their lunch hours giddily building model rockets and launch pads.

“Turns out, the timing for that fire couldn’t have been better,” said Kituwah LLC CEO Mark Hubble, referring to a Dec. 15 blaze that destroyed the company’s headquarters. “Once this deal goes through, we’ll need a bigger building, and I’ve got some ideas to show the architect.”

Hubble motioned the reporter to follow him into the break room, where a freshly painted, three-foot-tall wooden rocket sat proudly displayed on the table, mounted to a square of particle board. Bushes and a parking lot were depicted surrounding it.

“What do you think?” he asked, a boyish grin spreading across his face as he threw his arms wide. “I say we build it just like this. I mean, who wouldn’t want to work in an office at the top of a giant rocket?”

As of press time, Musk had not yet responded to Kituwah’s final offer, though a review shows he had tweeted 14 times in that time period.

SUPREME COURT REVOKES ANOTHER LONG-HELD CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT

Pointing out that it isn’t explicitly mentioned in the U.S. Constitution, the conservative majority on the United States Supreme Court has struck down a 50-yearold case that had allowed the English letter “T” to be utilized in written communications under certain circumstances.

Opponents of the ruling are concerned that the precedent could signify the start of a “slippery slope” and endanger the public’s right to use other letters, including “Q,” “Z” and the relatively worthless “X.”

On news of the ruling, Democrats in Congress rushed to codify the right to use the letter but were unsuccessful because inept party leadership hasn’t been able to capitalize on even one single conservative misstep since at least the 1970s.

Congressional Republicans derided the Democrats’ initiative; representatives Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) issued a joint statement calling the Democrat effort “socialism” and further stating that none of them had ever even seen the controversial character before.

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ward, SMN will incorporae he Supreme Cour ruling ino a new syle guide, and will respec and abide by he Cour’s ruling in all fuure ediions and publicaions, including in Smoky Mounain Living and Blue Ridge Moorcycling Magazine.

CANTON’S NEW TOWN HALL WILL OFFER DRIVE-THRU PUBLIC COMMENT

After devastating floods destroyed the Town of Canton’s municipal building in 2021, officials worked to find a suitable replacement where town administration could be housed and town business could be conducted. Thanks to a tremendous stroke of luck, a convenient downtown option was identified — a former bank operated by Champion Credit Union.

Extensive renovations on the building will be carried out; however, the decision was made to preserve the bank’s drive-thru lanes so that the board’s statutory public comment sessions will become even more accessible to those who wish to avail themselves of this sacred right.

Beginning next year, citizens will be able to pull into one of two drive-thru lanes and, utilizing the pneumatic tubes that once carried bank business back and forth, scream their concerns directly into the tube from the comfort of their vehicles. Architectural renderings of the new town hall shared with The Smoky Mountain News show that the tubes will be routed directly into the boardroom, as well as into Mayor Zeb Smathers’ office.

CONSTITUTIONAL SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION

PUSHES LOCAL LEOS TO TAKE CONTROL OF AIRSPACE

A far-right fringe group that urges law enforcement officers to break the law by usurping powers that normally belong to the federal government or the judiciary has issued to its members new guidance that’s literally for the birds.

In the past, the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association has told its members, mostly active-duty law enforcement personnel, not to enforce any laws that they deem “unconstitutional,” especially firearms laws that are, well, constitutional.

The problem with that, obviously, is that it’s not up to local sheriffs to determine the constitutionality of the laws they’re sworn to uphold. Still, the CSPOA encourages lawlessness on the part of lawmen (and women) with false claims that the authority of a county sheriff supersedes even that of the president.

This ridiculous claim also serves as the basis for some among the CSPOA who call for the appropriation of all federal property — including parks, monuments and military bases — back into their respective counties.

Last week, the CSPOA ruffled some feathers by claiming that county sheriffs could assert control of the airspace above the county, from ground level up into outer

space.

“It just makes sense,” said founder Richard Mack. “Especially what with all the problems we’ve been having at the southern border with uncontrolled pigeon migration — particularly the brown and black ones.”

In response, the Federal Aviation Administration said had some minor concerns about the county-by-county management of transcontinental air travel. When reached for comment by telephone yesterday, the United States Space Force laughed

and hung up.

LOCAL POLITICIAN’S RACY RIVER PHOTO SHOOT GOES TERRIBLY WRONG (SEE LEECHES, P. 87)

(Smoky Mountain News Outdoors Editor Holly Kays contributed to this fake news report, which is fake.)

Dec. 28, 2022-Jan. 3, 2023

Undocumented migrating pigeons are taking messenger jobs meant for our domestic pigeons!

Wikipedia photo

2022: A LOOK BACK

The year 2022 was no 2020. But hey, that’s a good thing. In some ways the year seems less exciting than the pandemic years that preceded it, but when you take a step back and look at all that happened, it’s striking how consequential this trip around the sun may have been. From an election that brought Democratic upsets nationwide and a regional red wave to a developing trend bringing increasingly ludicrous misinformation to the mainstream, there’s plenty to talk about. Join Smoky Mountain News as we dive into the most consequential and absurd stories we had the pleasure of printing for you in 2022.

HOWDY DOODY AWARD

In the November General Election, Haywood County’s lowest-information voters elected a county commissioner who’s decadelong, Napoleonesque lust for power led him not only to change parties from Democrat to Republican but also led him to run unsuccessfully in three previous elections.

This year, three-time loser Terry Ramey finally made it, despite being a tax cheat with a history of failed businesses and unpaid bills. Now, Ramey sits on a Republican-dominated commission and makes decisions about taxpayer money while still owing thousands in back taxes to the county, with some bills dating back nearly a full decade.

When interviewed by The Smoky Mountain News in September, Ramey disputed the bills but said he’d pay them if they were valid. Ramey also repeatedly threatened SMN for reporting on the delinquencies.

After a thorough county review, the bills were found to be valid, but as of press time Ramey still hasn’t paid them, making his word about as good as his credit rating.

A puppet show presented by Monroe Miller (top) and featuring Republican Haywood County Commissioner Terry Ramey will likely be an entertaining one, for as long as it lasts. Andy Bailey illustration

The man pulling Ramey’s puppet strings, Monroe Miller, is a wannabe watchdog who spreads misinformation and makes sometimes vicious personal attacks on elected officials and municipal administrators. Miller now cavorts with a group of concerned simpletons who literally use the complicated electronic transmission mechanisms of the internet — partially pioneered by Miller’s namesake inventor father — to rant about how they “don’t trust science.”

Such is Miller’s reputation that he’s known among local politicos as the Pillsbury Dough Boy because he’s soft, pudgy and white on the outside, but not fully baked on the inside.

Most recently, Miller has claimed without evidence and Ramey has parroted in unison that county officials embezzled, misappropriated, hid or otherwise stole $6 million in a property deal, earning Miller another nickname, the “Six Million Dollar Man.”

Over the next four years, the antics of Howdy Doody and his Pillsbury puppet master will take center stage amid an otherwise quiet, effective, efficient and sane county commission — so congrats and welcome to The Show, Commissioner Ramey. This is what you’ve been asking for, all these years. Now dance for us! Dance!

THE Z-3 AWARD

This past year was a good one for anyone named Zeb — or at least three Haywood County natives bearing the uncommon biblical moniker.

Zeb Powell, a goofy-foot snowboarder from Waynesville, has continued to bolster his reputation as one of the most talented, aggressive athletes in competition today. After winning the X Games Knuckle Huck in 2020, Powell placed a disappointing fourth in this year’s competition, but he hasn’t let that stop him from scrambling to the top of the professional snowboarding world.

Zeb Ross, a J. Creek Clogger from Canton, has brought international attention to a unique dancing style that originated in Maggie Valley. Ross, a powder press operator, inadvertently shot to internet fame when viral videos of him dancing, set to hip-hop, country and bluegrass tracks, garnered millions of views, culminating with an appearance at the Country Music Association awards with Peyton Manning and Luke Bryan.

Zeb Smathers, also of Canton, serves as the town’s mayor and spent the second half of 2021 helping to manage the complicated federal cleanup effort after deadly flooding killed six and laid waste to Canton’s downtown, including most town facilities, for the second

time in 17 years. Since then, Smathers, along with his elected board and staff, have bolstered Canton’s reputation as “the little town that won’t stay down” by focusing on rebuilding and resiliency.

Well done, Zebs!

I TOLD YOU SO AWARD

Darris Moody, of Haywood County, appears to have led a relatively quiet, normal life until at some point during the past few years she became radicalized by internet nonsense spewed forth by the so-called “sovereign citizens movement.”

After a Smoky Mountain News investigation in August outed her as the person behind a series of threats to local elected officials and public figures, Moody was taken into custody and arraigned on 58 counts of interstate communicating threats and one count of conspiracy to kidnap.

Against her initial inclination Moody retained one of the best criminal defense attorneys in the region, Sean Devereux, and begged for bond at her preliminary appearance before Judge Carleton Metcalf.

Metcalf carefully weighed Devereux’s arguments against those of government prosecutors, who wanted Moody held pending trial. Moody promised that if she was freed,

she would comply with the court’s orders to appear for trial-related proceedings, despite repeatedly and unabashedly regurgitating the core tenet of the sovereign citizens movement — that the government of the United States and its legal system are illegitimate and have no jurisdiction over her.

In the end, Metcalf released Moody on bond, calling it a difficult decision.

When Moody’s next hearing came about, just four weeks later, she failed to show and was taken back into custody by the FBI later that day.

THE ICARUS AWARD

The literature of classical antiquity is littered with tragicomic antiheroes who experience a devastating fall from grace commensurate with the scope and scale of their ascension to power and fame. Contemporary figures sometimes emulate this model; witness one Madison Cawthorn, who in late 2019 was touted as a rising star in the Republican Party.

Cawthorn came out of nowhere to win a crowded congressional primary in 2020, and then handily defeated an eminently qualified Democratic opponent to claim the seat vacated by former Rep. Mark Meadows. Unrestrained by the bounds of modern political discourse, Cawthorn embarked on an epic journey to the highest heights of national notoriety with his weekly screeds, of which there are too many to list here.

But like the fabled Icarus of old, Cawthorn refused to heed the warnings of, well, anyone, as he took flight on gossamer wings held fast by naught but beeswax.

This past spring, a series of scandals including an ill-timed district swap, poor

attendance, weak constituent services, racy photos, airport gun gaffes, traffic infractions, a crypto pump-and-dump scheme and a graphic video that can’t be unseen all conspired to weaken those wings, even as he attempted to fly ever higher.

Eventually, after getting too close to the sun, they melted — with quite a bit of help from fellow Republicans, including Hendersonville Sen. Chuck “Et tu, Brute?” Edwards, who snuck past Cawthorn in the Republican primary, leaving Cawthorn to rapidly plummet back to earth for the final seven months of his sole term as Western North Carolina’s congressman, with only the wings of a lame duck.

YOU’RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME AWARD

Haywood Republican Rep. Mark Pless is one of the most honest, straightforward members of the local body politic, which isn’t always the most diplomatic approach. Earlier this year Pless, who’s known for voicing his opinion without regard to whom it may agitate (at any point on the political spectrum) found himself embroiled in a series of backto-back barn-burners that drew scorn from across the aisle and across the county.

In May, Pless introduced a bill that would make all Haywood County elections, including municipalities and the school board, partisan. That bill was news to many local elected officials, and drew immediate opposition from an overwhelming majority of the governing bodies involved, with some even passing resolutions condemning the bill.

A few weeks later, Pless introduced another controversial bill that proposed stripping municipalities of their ability to regulate land use on parcels adjacent to and outside of town limits.

This, too, was met with substantial opposition by local officials who said they hadn’t been consulted. “They’re having a hard time understanding that I don’t answer to them,” Pless told The Smoky Mountain News. “They’re not my boss.”

Neither bill ended up going anywhere, but with Pless’ dominant performance in this past November’s General Election, the bills could come up again.

Dec. 28, 2022-Jan. 3, 2023

Haywood County clogger Zeb Ross became a social media sensation in 2022. Wayne Ebinger photo

Pictured here on election night, Madison Cawthorn (center) has finally fallen back to earth.

Jeffrey Delannoy photo

CLOSE THE GATE AWARD

Since time immemorial, Western North Carolina has been a sparsely settled, out-ofthe-way kind of place where nothing much of note ever happened, and people seemed to like it that way just fine. But amid the inevitable national population growth due to natural increase, the area’s unique environmental assets and Asheville’s prohibitively expensive housing market, Haywood County’s local governments have increasingly been butting up against residents who are none too happy to see things change.

That some of these residents are refugees from inferior American states — there, we said it — makes the opposition particularly ironic.

Back in 2018, Waynesville’s then-Mayor Gavin Brown uttered some prophetic words after his board chambers were packed with people opposing a badly-needed housing development. “It’s like some of you from Florida or Texas got here and decided to close the gate behind you,” Brown said. Since then, unprecedented development in and around Waynesville has brought increasingly hostile proceedings and out-of-control planning board meetings marked by NIMBYs (Not In My Backyard) who, with a straight face, vigorously assert their own property rights while simultaneously discounting the property rights of others who choose to sell, develop or build upon their own properties in accordance with state and local laws.

With all this in mind, the “Close the Gate” award goes to all the hypocrites who, if they get their way, will soon have to deal with a stagnant tax base and crippling worker shortage because they’re the only ones who will be able to afford to live inside the fences they’ve built around themselves.

WHITE CHRISTMAS AWARD

Christmas comes year-round for Evergreen Packaging, which wins this award for the white flakes Canton residents have found covering their cars and homes over the past year.

The trouble began in late September 2021, when the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality office in Asheville received 29 complaints from residents who woke to a mysterious white dust covering their cars. The complaints resurfaced in August — twice — and again in September and October, with the issue still not resolved.

The dust is believed to be lime dust, and in one case limestone dust, which while unhealthy to breathe at high concentrations is not considered a toxic substance. However, residents are concerned about the ongoing issue

— from the standpoint of health as well as from a practical desire to not have to wash their cars every day. In public documents, Evergreen told DEQ that many of the dust issues were related to problems with filter cartridges. Due to supply chain issues, the mill has had difficulty getting cartridges from its preferred manufacturer and keeping an optimal number of spares on hand. However, the cause of more recent dusting issues remains unknown.

The mill has battled other environmental issues too, logging a total of nine notices of violation between May 2021 and November 2022. Four are related to dust issues. Others stem from a May 2021 turpentine dump, a tall oil soap leak that caused in a fish kill on the Pigeon River and a groundwater seep discharging “black liquor” to the river.

The mill is a critical part of Haywood County’s economy, employing 1,140 people with competitive pay rates and benefit packages. Though it has drastically improved its environmental impact over the years, the mill still earns criticism from people concerned about its effect on air and water, both of which are vital to the county’s tourism industry. Residents are left hoping that the artificial snow season in Canton wraps up soon.

THE WAIT FOR IT AWARD

We’re told that the new Pisgah-Nantahala Forest Management Plan should be out any

day now, but we’ve heard that a lot over the past 10 years. In November 2014, the final plan was expected in August 2016. In August 2016, it was to be out by December 2017. And in December 2017 … you get the idea.

In all fairness though, planning the next 20 years for the 1-million-acre forest has been no small task. The U.S. Forest Service held dozens of meetings, published several interim planning documents and received 36,000 comments on the final plan — and then held meetings to consider 891 objections to that document. Now, Deputy Regional Forester Rick Lint is working with his staff to craft a written response to these objections which may include instructions for changes to the final plan. Forest Supervisor James Melonas must incorporate these changes and sign the plan for it to go into effect.

Initial stakeholder meetings for the plan were held in 2012, and the decade since has featured stark disagreement from people and groups with opposing points of view as to how the forest should be managed. Through most of the process, the main tension has been, on one side, with groups who want to see more young forest — and therefore, more logging — in order to benefit wildlife species who rely on this scarce habitat. On the other side are groups who want to see more protections for pristine habitat — and therefore, less logging — to benefit wildlife habitat and recreation values.

Early in the process, these disagreements were often sharp and angry, but as the years went by representatives of these groups began working to hash out compromises everyone could live with. The most notable of these collaborative groups was the Nantahala Pisgah Forest Partnership, whose more than 20 member organizations met for nearly a decade to hammer out a proposal that all those diverse interests could support. Many in the Partnership were disappointed to see that some of these solutions were not incorporated in the final plan.

While the final plan should go into effect soon, if history is any teacher the process could continue for years after that. When the last plan was signed in 1987, multiple environmental groups sued over aspects of the plan they did not believe adequately protected forest resources, and those questions weren’t resolved until new amendments were added to the plan seven years later in 1994.

We’re still waiting for it, but the waiting might not end with the stroke of Melonas’ pen.

THE AESOP AWARD

This one goes to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, which like the ant in the well-known fable has been busily storing away the proverbial grain as it anticipates a coming winter of casino profits.

In its 25 years of growth and operation, the tribe’s casinos in Cherokee and Murphy have churned out unprecedented profits, funding about half of its $735.2 million 2023 budget plus roughly $16,000 in annual payments to each tribal member. But increased competition is now a certainty, and the tribe is working to ensure that new and planned casinos in the Southeastern region won’t destroy its bottom line.

Since the tribe created its first LLC in 2018, this new business activity has taken off, and 2022 has been an especially busy year. Investments in 2022 involving the tribe or one of its business arms include closing on several buildings in downtown Waynesville, including the Southern Concrete property; starting production for a new medical cannabis enterprise with more than $80 million in startup funding; breaking ground on a $650 million casino project in Danville, Virginia; allocating $39 million for a hotel at Sequoyah National Golf Course; breaking ground on a $55 million horse racing track in Kentucky; starting a $275 million expansion to the Valley River Casino in Murphy and approving $75 million for a project with the French amusement park company Puy du Fou on the tribe’s 200-acre property in Sevier County.

“We can’t sit back and play defense or wait to see what happens,” Principal Chief Richard Sneed said in announcing the groundbreaking for the casino in Virginia. “We have to be very proactive. And it’s just good business sense, to diversify and be a participant in those emerging markets.”

The tribe has been writing some big checks lately, but its leaders believe those investments will pay off later. When winter comes, the EBCI hopes to have not only a stockpile of grain, but system in place to keep the produce coming — regardless of the weather.

Lime dust covers a windshield near High Street in Canton around Aug. 11.

NCDAQ photo

Officials from the EBCI and City of Danville break ground on the $650 million casino project Aug. 11. EBCI photo

GRIT AND GRACE AWARD

This award, which borrows the words of Haywood County’s hometown band Balsam Range, goes to the farmers of Western North Carolina who have battled floods, drought, untimely frosts and catastrophic inflation to continue producing the fresh fruits, vegetables and meats that the world relies on for survival.

Farmers in Canton and Bethel have had an especially hard time, battling all these elements even as they work to recover from last year’s devastating flood. The aftereffects of a major flood can last for years as farmers deal with contaminated and eroded soil, out-ofwhack nutrient and pH balances and weeds whose seeds the floodwaters have scattered in their fields.

Weathering the storm has always been part of farming, but it’s hard to fight a multifront war. Gary Griffith, a Bethel farmer who was one of the worst hit in the 2021 flood, said in an August interview that costs like seed, fertilizer and labor have “at least doubled” compared to last year, but revenues haven’t kept pace.

“We’re still on five-year-ago prices,” he said.

According 2017 numbers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average American farmer is 57.5 years old, a figure

that’s risen steadily in recent decades. However, the average age at which people start needing to eat food hasn’t budged. Nevertheless, WNC’s farmers keep pushing on, which explains the grit part of the award. And the grace part? That’s in the generous hearts and community-minded spirit that defines this region’s agricultural community.

DADDY WARBUCKS AWARD

For the past three years, since the sale of Mission Health, Dogwood Health Trust has been doling out substantial grants tailored to improve the health and wellbeing of North Carolina’s 18 westernmost counties and the Qualla Boundary. This year, that money made a big difference in the lives of public school students in WNC. Between grants to expand preschool education in Jackson County and secure free lunch for all elementary children in Swain County, there was the opening of the new nursing school building on the campus of Haywood Community College with the best high-tech learning equipment thanks to a grant from the trust.

It’s not only students who have reaped the benefits of Daddy Warbucks’ deep pockets though; in 2022, the trust put money toward affordable housing in the region, the Center for Native Health, Center for Domestic Peace and countless other organizations.

SILVER JUBILEE AWARD

The Silver Jubilee marks 25 years of reign for a monarch. What better award to celebrate the long-time commitment of Vickie Best to the Town of Maggie Valley? Best has worked for the town for 26 years. During that time, she has spent 23 years as town clerk, two years as administrative assistant, was named interim Town Manager after the departure of Nathan Clark earlier this year, and was hired as town manager in December.

Maggie Valley will surely benefit from the lengthy experience Best has with the town. Cheers to 26 years and counting!

PRE-K QUEENS AWARD

Jackson County Schools Superintendent Dr. Dana Ayers and Elementary Education Director Laura Dills have been named Smoky Mountain News’ Pre-K Queens of 2022. These two leaders in Education successfully doubled Jackson County Schools’ pre-K capacity with new classrooms at Blue Ridge School, Cullowhee Valley, Scotts Creek and Fairview schools. The women don’t appear to be slowing down any time soon either, in December the district announced it would be opening another preschool classroom at Smoky Mountain Elementary School in Whittier.

Ayers is currently in her second year as Superintendent of Jackson County Schools and has been working to expand early childhood education in the district since the very beginning. While some may have balked at the notion of universal preschool for Jackson County students when Ayers first arrived, with capacity already doubled and still growing, her

goal is now that much more within reach.

‘TRY IT ON MY OWN’ AWARD

Whitney said, “I am not afraid to try it on my own, I don’t care if I’m right or wrong, I’ll live my life the way I feel, no matter what I’ll keep it real, you know, time for me to do it on my own.”

Perhaps those were the words Macon County voters were hearing when they decided to vote no on the quarter-cent sales tax referendum, all the proceeds of which would have gone toward building a new Franklin High School. Rather than raking in a quarter of a cent on every dollar sold in Macon County, to both residents and visitors alike, voters decided that, for now, they’d like to make a go at funding the entire project all on their own — likely footing the bill with increased property taxes.

Planning began this year for a new high school. The project is desperately needed, not only because the buildings are so old, but also because of the challenges faced by those with disabilities in accessing different areas of the campus. The project will cost the county over $100 million.

The “Grit and Grace” award was inspired by a song title from beloved local bluegrass group Balsam Range. David Simchock Photography

Plans for the new Franklin High School. LS3P photo

THE STEAM PLANT

EMERITUS AWARD

This one goes to what is perhaps the longest-serving member of the Western Carolina University community — its steam plant.

Completed in 1924, its original boiler came to campus behind a large team of oxen. The oldest one still in use was installed in 1966, when Lyndon B. Johnson was president and Dr. Seuss’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” aired for the first time.

These are the kinds of facts former Chancellor David O. Belcher used to tell state leaders visiting campus as he campaigned for the necessary funding to replace the aging structure. Each year as the weather got cold, facility operators would cross their fingers and hope the old machines would make it through another winter. Failure would mean shutting down campus and sending students home.

WCU finally got the first half of its funding to replace the steam plant in 2018, with the second installment of $16.5 million included in the 2020 budget. This October, about 100 people gathered on campus to celebrate the grand opening of a new, state-ofthe-art steam plant adjacent to the original building, which will house a lobby, administrative offices and display space for old plant equipment. The university plans to run off the new plant starting Jan. 3.

While the steam plant originally ran on coal, it’s been using natural gas since 2006. The new plant will also rely on natural gas, with No. 2 fuel oil as a backup source. Though the new plant’s capacity of 110,000 pounds per hour is similar to the current output of 107,000 pounds per hour, the new facility will be much more efficient and reliable, running 90% efficient at full capacity compared to the old facility’s 50% efficiency at full capacity.

It’s well past time for the old plant to retire. But its long career of service is surely sufficient to earn the emeritus title.

‘PUT A RING ON IT’ AWARD

Amaya Hicks, Swain County High School senior and captain of the women’s cross country, basketball, indoor and outdoor track teams, came before the Swain County Board of Education on Sept. 12 with a unique, albeit impressive problem. She and her peers had won so many state championships over the last several seasons that the teams were having trouble raising enough money for the state championship rings.

In June of 2021, Swain County’s women’s track team won the 1A Track and Field State

Championship. That fall, the women’s cross country team won the 1A Cross Country State Championship. In February of 2022, the women’s indoor track team won the Indoor Track and Field Championship in the 1A/2A division. This May, the women’s track and field team again won the 1A Track and Field State Championship. Consecutive state titles by the cross country, indoor track and outdoor track teams is known as the “triple crown.” This is the first time a 1A school in North Carolina has accomplished this feat.

Not only are Swain County runners winning championships at a record pace, Hicks eloquently and unabashedly took the team’s issue before the school board to ask for greater equality between sports teams within the school system and assistance in fundraising the money needed for all their championship rings.

IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED AWARD

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. That’s just what the Jackson County Board of Elections did when it realized a vote counting mistake had been made on Election Day this November with 523 mail-in ballots counted twice. Thanks to the audit that takes place between Election Day and canvass, the board of elections had found the mistake and accounted for it early on the morning following Election Day.

Not only did the board of elections correct its mistake, it held a public meeting to explain, in detail, exactly what had occurred so that members of the public were crystal clear on the outcome of local elections. At a time of widespread misinformation surrounding voter fraud and lack of confidence in the system, this boots-on-the-ground communication from a local board of election was paramount in dispelling any doubts following Election Day.

GUMMING UP THE WORKS AWARD

Plenty of people complain about the state of the justice system, often repeating the old cliché that the courthouse is a “revolving door.”

But many don’t understand that while some of the issues plaguing the courts in Western North Carolina may be a result of policies such as Haywood County’s pretrial release pilot program, the bigger issues are the lack of resources and the sheer size and geography of the 30th Judicial District, which covers the state’s seven westernmost counties.

When SMN interviewed 45 people — including attorneys, judges, clerks and prosecutors — most people agreed three things were needed: more judges to hear the region’s increasing number of criminal cases; splitting the judicial district to allow judges a much easier commute; and opening a public defender office to handle the large workload providing counsel for indigent defendants.

Some even called the state of the system a “constitutional crisis” that is not affording people their right to counsel.

Below:

Above: Swain County women’s track and field team wins 1A State Championship. Marsha Hicks photo

Chancellor Kelli R. Brown speaks to the crowd gathered Oct. 21 to cut the ribbon on the new steam plant. WCU photo

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Of course, none of those solutions were seriously considered in 2022 by those who warm the seats in Raleigh’s legislative chambers, despite some rumblings that a new judge or two might find its way into the budget.

There was plenty of he said/she said while conducting these interviews, but at the end of the day, many people pointed to District Attorney Ashley Welch as clumsily playing politics to tank the opportunity to split the district and add new judges. Some opined that Welch’s alleged lobbying was an effort to prevent her prosecutorial district from shrinking in the future. When asked about a bill he’d put forward to do just that, Rep. Mike Clampitt told SMN he’d offered her an assurance that she would maintain her broader constituency.

“I reviewed with [Welch] the plan that I had with the bill information and assured her there was no jeopardy to her prosecutorial district,” Clampitt said.

While Sen. Kevin Corbin and several representatives said firmly that Welch never pressured them one way or the other on the issue, the truth may ultimately lie with N.C. House Speaker Tim Moore, who multiple sources said got the bill killed in committee. Despite several calls over several weeks, Moore refused to explain to SMN his rationale for allowing WNC courts to continue to struggle.

In some counties like Haywood and Jackson, things may actually be improving as many have noted the backlog is easing. However, in the far western counties, people

talk about a situation that gets worse every day, and the forecast isn’t creating much optimism.

Will the state consider giving more resources to the region’s courts in 2023? Your guess is as good as ours.

RED WAVE AWARD

Demographic trends point to the fact that Republicans in North Carolina may lose ground in the next few years, but boy do they have some huge victories to celebrate in the meantime.

Sure, Bo Hines — widely renowned as a lamentably inexperienced frat bro similar to our own Madison Cawthorn — lost his election and there were a few other losses the GOP wishes it could get back, but when it comes to the courts, the victories stacked up faster than rush hour traffic on I-26.

The GOP swept both the Court of Appeals and the N.C. Supreme Court in both 2020 and 2022.

The effort was a culmination of a strategy that has taken years to play out and included having judicial candidates speak at more events while putting them on GOP slate cards statewide. Their likenesses even appeared on the bus former Rep. Mark Walker once used in his failed Senate run.

“We were six-for-six between Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, and we’re 14-for14 over the last two cycles,” N.C. GOP Chair Michael Whatley said.

The consequences of this Republican sweep may be vast. Coming before the court in the near future may be cases involving abortion restrictions, congressional maps and the balance of power in Raleigh.

Perhaps most consequential, the court, which has been seen as increasingly partisan as the Democratic majority delivered several key rulings down party lines, may be facing a crisis of perception, which can lead to a crisis of trust. So, the question is, will the Supreme Court confirm our worst suspicions, or will the justices put party behind them to uphold the law as they see fit?

THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD AWARD

If you met David Crane and didn’t know he was, you’d probably think he was ridiculous. By God, you might tell yourself, this man is telling me he’s going to prosecute Vladimir Putin for war crimes.

But if you dig a bit deeper, you might just believe him. After all, this isn’t Crane’s first rodeo.

Following Charles Taylor’s years of terror committing war crimes in Sierra Leone from the late 1990s through the early 2000s, Crane was able to successfully prosecute the Liberian dictator on war crimes charges in an international tribunal. Should Taylor get the chance to read this spoof award, he’ll do so from a cell in a North England prison.

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, it became clear that Putin’s soldiers were committing atrocity after atrocity in hopes that their war would end in a quick victory. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his military had different plans. As the war raged on and Russia took more losses, the atrocities worsened and became more frequent.

Earlier this year, Crane’s group, The Global Accountability Network, published a 276-page white paper making their case for prosecuting Putin.

The road to prosecution is long, and the feckless public may not have the attention span to follow the prolonged process. But as the New York Times editorial board noted, it’s worth it.

“Even if the process is difficult and stretches into months and years, it is important that history be left a forensic, credible,

verified and judicially processed record of the specific crimes in Ukraine,” one editorial reads. “Those responsible should be named, their actions specified, and if at all possible, the guilty should be locked away.”

Since Crane spoke with SMN almost a year ago, his group has release more white papers, he’s received some international press highlighting his efforts, and he’s even been sanctioned by Russia. But as long and potentially daunting as the task may be, Crane still feels like this is a fight worth having, and one he thinks he can win.

After all, he’s done it before.

“We held Charles Taylor accountable, and that’s what’ll happen to Putin,” Crane said.

THINK ABOUT THE KIDS AWARD

Folks who grow up in Haywood County seem to be hardwired to take a side from birth — you gonna go with The Hill or the Mill, The Big T or the Big P, the Mountaineers or the Black Bears?

With that comes a strong sense of community, but also a strong sense of rivalry, a desire to do what’s needed to gain an advantage. This is especially true of the annual County Clash football game, which pits Tuscola’s and Pisgah’s football teams against each other in what is one of the nation’s finest rivalries.

In past years, the game itself has been intense, and no doubt there have been some pranks and no shortage of trash talking.

This year, however, brought a new level of gamesmanship as the two schools’ administrations jockeyed last-minute to see where the game might be held, leading fans on a rollercoaster that ultimately ended with things, of course, exactly as they’d planned been all along.

Republicans Richard Dietz, left, and Trey Allen took both of the North Carolina Supreme Court seats up for grabs from the Democrats, giving GOP justices control of the state’s highest judicial body. Donated photos

David Crane offers opening statements during the prosecution of warlord Charles Taylor. Donated photo

been a critical part of it, in some cases for decades.

While a few changed jobs, others retired and still others lost the elections that made them distinguished public servants in the first place. Regardless of the circumstance, we at The Smoky Mountain News would like to thank all of these dedicated individuals, and any we may have missed, for their work on behalf of the people of Western North Carolina. It is our sincere hope that they’ll find only the best in their future endeavors, whatever they may be. We’d also like to wish for those who’ll follow in their footsteps good fortune and continued success. Remember, we’re all in this together, and their success is our collective success.

• American Whitewater Executive Director Mark Singleton

• Haywood Commissioner and two-time Chair Kirk Kirkpatrick

• Haywood County Sheriff Greg Christopher and Chief Deputy Jeff Haynes

• Haywood Waterways Executive Director Eric Romaniszyn

• Haywood Tourism Development Authority Executive Director Lyn Collins

• Haywood County Schools Superintendent Dr. Bill Nolte

• HART Executive Director Steven Lloyd

• Jackson County Sheriff Chip Hall

• Jackson County Commission Chair Brian McMahan

• Jackson County Commissioners Boyce Deitz and Gayle Woody

• Jackson County Clerk of Superior Court Ann Melton

• Macon County Commission Chair Jim Tate

• Macon County Commissioner Ronnie Beale

• Macon County Clerk of Superior Court Vic Perry

• Macon County Sheriff Robbie Holland

• Maggie Valley Town Manager Nathan Clark

• Swain County Commission Chair Ben Bushyhead

• Swain County Commissioner Danny Burns

• Waynesville Recreation and Parks Director Rhett Langston

HART’s Steven Lloyd. John Highsmith photo

Trying to tell all sides of the story

Sorry to burst your bubble but this is not a high-quality newspaper. Your version of journalism is laughable at best. Predominantly promoting leftist views and pushing a leftist agenda is not what I would call journalism but propaganda. But I will compliment you on allowing opposing voices a chance to comment and reply to your leftist leaning tripe.

The paragraph above was in response to a column I wrote back in June regarding the 23rd anniversary of starting The Smoky Mountain News. I was reading back issues from 2022 in preparation for some kind year in review column but decided instead to use this week to delve into this reader’s comments. It’s the kind of backhanded compliment that you must learn to appreciate in a business where you don’t get much positive feedback.

That column’s headline was “There’s still a market for good journalism,” and in it I discussed how the business model for newspapers — and journalism as a whole — has changed dramatically since we published our first edition back in June 1999 when there was very little news online. I argued that SMN does pretty solid journalism, and that helps us succeed as a business. Sure, we get it wrong sometimes, but — like any reputable news organization, and there are more than a few of them in this region — we’ll admit mistakes and work to correct them.

That June column was mostly about how we have searched

Omnibus Bill adds too much debt

To the Editor:

I’ve thought of writing for some time but outdoor sports were more important to me. As a long-time attorney, one would think that writing is one pastime that I could ignore. But, the U.S. Congress never lets us forget how lame and inept that they are.

The misnamed Omnibus Bill passed the U.S. Senate this very afternoon. This bunch or cabal can never surprise most of us who over 75 years have watched our chosen 19,009 try to dance on the head of a pin. If you watched the dance of the vultures this evening you might be grinning or crying, but the same jug services all of us, some 336 million U.S. residents.

If you watched or had the list of the worst expenditures to grasp our republic by the throat, some of you might approve and many will not. But no one who is competent or passed Math 101 should be gleeful.

Each citizen and maybe a couple of million illegal residents will be taxed by Uncle Sam some $5,100 for this reckless action by the U.S. Senate. For a family of 4, that’s just over $20,000, even if inflation sucks the juice out of our incomes, this 20K is still a strike at our

for new ways to keep this business alive, finding different revenue streams and even asking for donations from those who can afford it and who appreciate having free local news and the work we do to inform people about government and regional issues.

To both our advertisers and those who contribute, thank you very much.

usually demonizes opponents. It’s ridiculous to call that fair or objective, but hey, there’s a market for what those television personalities do. Those folks make millions a year and influence Washington lawmakers to do their bidding.

Trying to tell all sides of a story is sometimes a long-term process. For instance, I’ll bet we’ve written 20 stories this year on the affordable housing crisis in our region. It’s such a complicated and convoluted issue that once one story is done, someone would suggest we delve into another angle or one of our reporters would pick up on something from a source that would add another layer to the issue.

Editor Scott McLeod

But the journalism standards we adhere to is what made that comment above stand out. Those standards include being dogged but fair in our news stories, but also allowing plenty of space for opposing views. For example, back in May 2022 when we wrote about Rep. Mark Pless introducing a bill to make all municipal elections partisan, we made sure to get his comments and those who opposed him in the paper. In fact, in that very edition where my column attracted the comment above, Waynesville Alderman Jon Feichter published a letter critical of Pless’ bill.

That commitment to publishing opposing views is standard fare in most legitimate news organizations, unlike what most of us hear from the opinionated talking heads on CNN or Fox. They bring in “guests” who parrot their own views and then go down the rabbit hole of a one-sided discussion that

LETTERS

standard of living.

I’m not so old that I can’t remember the difference between the GOP and the donkey adherents. Now they are taking on the same complexion, grey and getting greyer; not exactly twins but it is difficult to determine which bunch thinks with the left side of the cranium and the right-siders that think very little with either side.

How do we stop these alleged public servants from scamming all the rest of us, not only of our self respect but of the few depreciated dollars that we have left? Well, until our society can restrict the amount of money available for news, publications and wastage, we shall endure, curse, prevaricate and pontificate, all to no avail. We are on the cusp of a monumental degradation of our lives. Is it Armageddon or just a nightmare? Who knows, but all of us, including them, had better screw our heads on and greet reality, which has been some time getting here.

Be sure and check your left hip after you speak to any politico who avers the greatness of our country. Our military cannot, in my opinion, fight their way out a wet paper bag, being weighted down with him, her, them, all identifying former genders, the ones we still

And then there’s the whole opinion about opinions. Often, we get criticized for leaning left. Guilty. I’m a registered Independent, but on most political issues I steer left. But I also appreciate nuanced political debate and will always publish letters and guest columns from those who disagree. Don’t like what you read on our opinion pages, then please send me your opinion.

Which brings me back around to the comment from the reader who disagrees. She’s a serial commenter on our website, so she must read every issue. And she noticed that we publish comments from those who disagree. I’ll take that as evidence that our goal to be a community forum for all opinions that don’t hit people below the belt is sometimes noticed — even by those who disagree.

(Scott

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

remember. In the past, the Congress approved the number of generals of all four ranks; we now need to reduce that number to reflect the number of enlisted personnel. Teaching socialism and “the Wizard of Oz” to mature

soldiers/sailors is not a great way to protect this country.

KG Watson

Colonel, retired, JD, US Army War College  Maggie Valley

Air the laundry. The Smoky Mountain News encourages readers to express their opinions through letters to the editor or guest columns. All viewpoints are welcome.

Send to Scott McLeod at info@smokymountainnews.com or mail to PO Box 629, Waynesville, NC, 28786

The uniforms are all part of growing up

Our son, Jack, is a senior in high school, which means that we are already well into the “season of lasts.” For us, the hardest one of all is the last marching band season. Marching band has been the center of Jack’s life since he was invited to join the high school marching band when he was still in the eighth grade. His older sister was a senior then and also in the marching band as part of the color guard. She was in her own season of lasts, even while he was embarking on a season of firsts.

That all seems like five minutes ago, as any parent knows. Even when you are wise enough to understand that you should savor every sweet sip of it, trying to taste those ballgames and dances and recitals is, as they say, like drinking from a fire hydrant. It’s fast, it’s furious, and then it’s gone. You’ll get a lot of it on you and, if you’re lucky, a little bit of it in you.

Sometimes it seems as if childhood is really just a series of different costumes or uniforms that your kid wears at different stages of childhood: scouts, with its sashes and badges and funny hats; baseball, with its bright pastels and local sponsorship lettering; the marching band, with their dazzling combinations of color and design.

Maybe this is, like so many things, a rehearsal for adulthood. We try on different versions of ourselves, different careers, different paths, and we dress the part. We’re looking for what fits, what becomes us, as we decide what we’ll become and what will ultimately become of us.

It is fair to say that our Jack enjoyed his baseball years. He was a Cub, and then a Pirate, and then a Dodger, among other things, for eight years. We have ample documentation of those years, believe me. On my more cynical days, I believe that youth sports is involved in a conspiracy with photography companies to sell you a very fetching, yet modest, package of pictures of your child in various poses for about the same price as a decent beach vacation.

Of course, we love those pictures of our little tee ball tike holding his bat at the ready (more or less) with an expression that is half determination and half utter confusion. Those photos are fun, sunny memories. He looked just fine in Dodger blue, let me tell you.

But what became him most was when he became a Tuscola High School marching band Mountaineer, donning the black and

gold. By his senior year, he had grown to nearly 6’5” tall, and with his long, billowing hair, he was quite a sight towering over his tenor drums, pounding them with a speed, dexterity, and level of authority none of us could have possibly imagined when he was a game, but slightly overwhelmed, middleschooler just trying to fit in, keep in step, and not embarrass himself on the bass drum.

By any measure, his senior season was literally a dream come true. Not only did he become the tenor drum ace he had once dreamed of becoming, the band was chosen as the Grand Champions of its first competition of the season, the very best band in all of the different classes. Suddenly, there was Jack, holding a trophy half as tall as he is over his head and running across the field with his bandmates surrounding him, a wild, spontaneous party with friends and family members pouring in from the sidelines to join them in celebration, parents trying their best to capture it all on their iPhones to send out in feverish reports on social media.

The hardest thing about being a parent is also the hardest thing about life in general, and that is learning how to find the balance between holding on and letting go, while coming to an understanding that both joy and pain are strapped in and going on this ride with us. We’d better be prepared to accept both as passengers, because when one is driving, the other is riding shotgun.

We were all braced and excited for the very last competition we would ever see after eight consecutive years as “band parents,” and then the unthinkable happened. Literally half the band got sick and the band director had no choice but to withdraw from the last competition. We were crushed.

Somebody once observed that you never know when the day comes that you pick up your child for the last time. But it comes. We thought we knew the date of the last band competition, but we didn’t. One hateful virus and it was all over, just like that.

We saw the band perform this season’s show one more time at halftime of the last home football game of the season, and then march one last time in the Waynesville Christmas parade. That is likely the last time we will ever see our son — either of our children — in a uniform. At least until they become nurses, or teachers, or UPS drivers, or whatever they will become.

We can only pray that uniform becomes them just as well. Thanks for the ride, Jack.

(Chris Cox is a writer and college English teacher who lives in Haywood County.)

Columnist Chris Cox

Show Me Something Higher

Vince Herman of Leftover Salmon

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD ARTS & E NTERTAINMENT E DITOR

It’s 2:54 a.m. in the rural backwoods of Virginia and Vince Herman hands me a shot of high-end tequila. With his trademark Cheshire Cat grin, Herman then pours himself a shot, soon raising it high into the air in honor of another incendiary performance.

Herman had just exited the Devil’s Backbone Throwdown Tent at FloydFest. Singer/guitarist for jam-grass legends Leftover Salmon, Herman & Co. tore up the late-night stage, tucked in the middle of the rollicking, sprawling festival grounds.

A beloved music gathering just off the Blue Ridge Parkway and down the road from the small mountain town of Floyd, the annual event attracts thousands from every corner of the country, all in search of mesmerizing Americana, bluegrass, funk and rock acts — FloydFest seemingly the “gold standard” for such a lineup.

With Leftover Salmon as one of the headliners at the festival, the band is in jovial spirits backstage, hearty laughter and bear hugs all around. And not just because of its string of raucous shows that weekend, but also in celebration of Leftover Salmon’s recent 30th anniversary.

Want to go?

Legendary Americana/jam-grass act

Leftover Salmon will hit the stage Dec. 30-31 at the Salvage Station in Asheville.

For Dec. 30, special guests will be Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley. Andrew Marlin (of Watchhouse), Jon Stickley Trio, and more will appear on Dec. 31

For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to salvagestation.com.

And in the middle of this whirlwind circus is Herman, holding court like he always has, this force of nature persona that seems larger than life, more so when you’re in his presence — a singer-songwriter who always followed his melodic heart, onstage and off.

Smoky Mountain News: What does that number of years, 30, mean to you when you put it in the context of not only you as a person now, but also the fact the band is cranking along just like a fine machine at this point?

Vince Herman: Well, I [recently] finished my third marriage, but the band is still going. [Laughs]. It’s been over half of my life. I’m psyched because when I started this band called

the Salmonheads, it was this Cajun jug band kind of thing, you know? There ain’t been jug bands around since the 1970s, so I knew it wasn’t creating a mainstream thing.

But, it was something that I’d be able to find this little niche and hopefully be able to do it for a long time — like some of my role models in the bluegrass and folk worlds, [where] you don’t need a hit. You don’t need to be a big mainstream success because it’s building the culture — festival by festival, show by show, keep digging. As John Hartford said, “If bluegrass music was any more popular, we’d have to play for people we don’t even know.”

SMN: Well, you must have had a conversation with yourself years ago that, come hell or high water, this is what you love doing.

VH: We knew about three or four years in this that it was a totally ridiculous idea to keep doing this. [Laughs]. But, it’s one of those things, you know? It’s in our scene — in bluegrass, Americana and jam music — where the people doing it are doing it because, no matter what, they love it. So, what it comes down to is that at some point it circles back to the crowd because you’ve kept doing it and they’re still there, still showing up, and still wanting to hear what we have to say.

SMN: What’s it like to look over onstage and still see singer/guitarist Drew Emmitt there?

VH: It’s such a blessing to still have Drew over there. He and I are the only ones left from the original incarnation [of Leftover Salmon]. When I moved from West Virginia to Colorado [in 1985], I was searching for the mythical bluegrass scene in Colorado, centered around the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and Hot Rize being out there.

I pulled into [Boulder] and there was a sign out in front of this bar: “Bluegrass Tonight.” My buddy and I walked inside. And as soon as we literally got out of the car — after driving from West Virginia to Colorado straight through — Drew’s band, the Left Hand String Band, was playing that night when I walked through the door.

SMN: Why is this music still your calling?

VH: I’ve had a lot of jobs, man. I’ve been a roofer, cook, fisherman, painter. I’ve done everything, and this is by far the most fun thing I’ve ever been allowed to do. And I know that I get away with it, too. I’m luckier than hell because every night I get to play onstage with these cats. If I had to audition for this band, I’d never get in. [Laughs]. Lucky as hell, and hopefully we’re able to do this a lot longer — you never want to quit when you get to do this.

Leftover Salmon with Vince Herman at center. (File photo)

This must be the place

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

15, 18, 30, 32, 40, 42’

It was another quiet Sunday morning in the ole humble abode in downtown Waynesville. But, this go-round, it was Christmas morning. Emerge from bed. Grab a glass of water. Check emails. Open the front door and check how much colder today is than yesterday.

Knowing damn well most people, places, and things would either be closed or busy with holiday affairs, I had to figure out what I was going to do with my day. No plans on the books. With most of family situated on the Canadian Border, I would, once again, be flying solo into the New Year and beyond.

Grab the trail running gear and aim for somewhere out west of Waynesville. Maybe Pinnacle? Tsali? Dirt routes behind Western Carolina University? I figured a quick breakfast at Waffle House on Russ Avenue would hold me over for food seeing as the grocery stores would be closed until Monday, and were also closed on Christmas Eve when I rolled into the empty parking lot defeated that evening.

Damn, I couldn’t even pull into the Waffle House parking lot due to the amount of hungry folks piling in. Not one open parking spot. Not one open booth. Hell, the entire counter was full, too. Shit. Turn around and head back to my apartment to figure out what’s left in my pantry to scrounge on. I think there’s a can of chicken noodle soup in there somewhere?

And, in that instance, my best buddy and his girlfriend (who’s like a little sister to me) called and said they were swinging by my place to retrieve his present for his father, seeing as he forgot it in my truck due to Christmas Eve shenanigans in downtown Waynesville. “Don’t forget about Christmas brunch,” his girlfriend rolled down the car window and reminded me.

Ah, the annual Christmas brunch his parents’ house tucked away in the mountainous forest just outside of town. The solo plans to disappear into the woods for the afternoon now switched to a three-mile jog on a logging road in Balsam Gap, only to circle back to the brunch.

Up in Balsam Gap, the paved road turned to gravel to dirt and then ice, the mountain ridge covered in a light layer of snow glistening in the midday sunshine. Tighten up the running shoes. Zip up the windbreaker.

Exhale a deep sigh, releasing the heaviness of the holidays. Proceed down the trail, the only sound being my breathing and the crunching of ice under my footsteps.

At one point on the trail, the dirt road crosses a small babbling brook. This is my turnaround point, but not before taking off my gloves and checking the temperature of the water, ice chunks all along the edges of the endless flow. Stand up and look up at the sky. Smile in gratitude of the solitude, of being able to be in that moment in the infinite universe, surrounded by ancient beauty and eternal mysteries of time and place.

Motoring back down to the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway, over to my buddy’s parents’ house tucked away in the mountainous forest. The winding driveway up to the picturesque home, poignant smoke coming from the chimney high above. Enter the cozy home. Walk down the basement stairs to the warm den. Immediately handed a mimosa. Ah, the simple things in life tend to be the most valuable, eh?

Even though it’s been a heavy year in my respective world, and even though I’ve been pretty much avoiding any type of holiday cheer amid the sadness and restless thoughts, it’s really hard to be “bah humbug” around my buddy’s mother. That woman radiates sincere joy and appreciation for those she hosts, and in everyday interactions.

It always means a lot when they invite me over for the holidays, where now I’ve found myself at their dinner table for Thanksgiving and Christmas the last few years. I may have been a “holiday orphan”

HOT PICKS

1Sauced (Waynesville) will host Tanner Burch (singer-songwriter) 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30.

2Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will host Andrew Wakefield (singersongwriter) 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 29.

3Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host a New Year’s Eve party w/The V8s 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31.

4Meadowlark Motel (Maggie Valley) will host A. Lee Edwards & Matt Royal (Americana/folk) 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30.

5The Scotsman (Waynesville) will host TracEnd (rock/pop) 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30.

initially, but a feeling of love and friendship washed over me once again when, as I said goodbye later in the evening, my buddy’s father goes, “You’re always welcome here. You’re part of the family.”

A couple hours later, after putting together a writing schedule for the rest of the year, and also working on the Foo Fighters’ “Everlong” on my Gretsch Electromatic guitar, I was still somewhat hungry. Luckily, a local Asian cuisine restaurant was open around the corner. Grabbing a lone seat at the bar counter, I ordered a plate of dumplings and a chicken dish. Oh, and a Sapporo tallboy to boot.

The rest of the establishment was filled with families and couples. Myself and two other lone wolves at the bar. Sipping beers, most likely all of us taking inventory of the year. I nodded to one of the lone wolves, a good friend of mine. We both had brought books with us, so I figured we’d catch up another time. Consume dumplings, Sapporo and mid-20th century literature in your own time, and at your own pace.

Getting the bill for the completion of my meal, I was also handed the signature fortune cookie. I cracked it open, with the small piece of paper stating, “You will receive a big compliment from others. Lucky numbers: 15, 18, 30, 32, 40, 42.” I suppose not “the fortune” I had fingers crossed for, like ones predicting financial affluence or romantic interests.

But, it was a fortune nonetheless. And, what does it matter, right? Fortune, like luck, is of your own manifestation. As they say, “preparation + opportunity = luck.” Same goes for fortune, whether material or spiritual (most importantly, spiritual).

What’s the real fortune? Friendship, love, and a childlike wonder of curiosity, discovery and adventure that never ceases in your existence on the planet. Leaving the restaurant, I thought of all the things I’m, well, lucky enough to have in my life — people, interactions, moments — and I felt deep appreciation for my fortune along this journey thus far.

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

Sundays

‘You

Thoughts of the North Country.

(Garret K. Woodward photo)

Rock rolls into Scotsman

Popular regional rock/blues act J.J. Hipps & The Hideaway will hit the stage at 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, at The Scotsman in Waynesville.

Hailing from Lenoir, the power rock trio explores the endless depths of the blues,

Interested in learning the dulcimer?

The Pic’ & Play Mountain Dulcimer Players will be resuming in-person jam sessions at the St. John’s Episcopal Church basement fellowship hall in Sylva. The group welcomes all beginners and experienced dulcimer players, including mountain (lap) dulcimer and hammered dulcimer players. Songs played include traditional mountain tunes, hymns, and more modern music. The group meets at 1:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Saturday of every month in the basement of St. John’s.

Burch returns to Sauced

Rising outlaw country singer-songwriter Tanner Burch will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30, at Sauced in downtown Waynesville.

Free and open to the public. 828.246.9585 or saucedwnc.com.

Tanner Burch. (File photo)

where a typical whirlwind set touches upon the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, The Allman Brothers Band, and much more.

Free and open to the public. 828.246.6292 or scotsmanpublic.com.

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

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

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

Indie, folk in Maggie Valley

Americana/folk duo A. Lee Edwards & Matt Royal will perform at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30, at the Meadowlark Motel in Maggie Valley.

Edwards has been a songwriter for over 30 years, and became the main singer, guitarist, and songwriter for the band Lou Ford. He has been called a “pioneer” of the Americana/altcountry genre. Punks, alt-country fans, and glam rockers alike agreed there was an honesty there, an authenticity not built on outward style, but inner substance.

Often lumped into the Americana catch-all, they nonetheless mined the sunnier side of the street musically, with Edwards’ biggest influences (Beach Boys, Big Star, Nick Lowe) never far from the surface.

After Edwards’ post-Ford band The Loudermilks folded, he did as he had famously promised in song years before, and took his things and moved up to the mountains. It is music that is direct, and which can occasionally make you uncomfortable, but later console you like that old friend you rarely get to see.

Edwards’ songs and fingerstyle guitar, accompanied by Matt Royal on bass, as a duo with harmonies that recall classic Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers, and Buck Owens & Don Rich.

Dinner will also be served onsite at its restaurant HomeCraft. Beer and wine available. Seated show. Reservations recommended. To RSVP, call 828.926.1717. For more on A. Lee Edwards, click on aleeedwards.com.

J.J. Hipps & The Hideaway. (File photo)

A. Lee Edwards and Matt Royal. (Donated photo)

Dec. 28, 2022-Jan. 3, 2023

• Altered Frequencies (Franklin) will host a New Year’s Eve “Retro Futuristic Rock N Roll Party” 8 p.m. Dec. 31 with CamGirl, React, Austin & Chuck Scarfy and Baby Doll Heads In A Bag. Doors at 7 p.m. 828.342.8014 or alteredfrequencies.net.

• Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host an open mic from 8 to 10 p.m. every Thursday. Free and open to the public. 828.631.1987 or balsamfallsbrewing.com.

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

• Boojum Brewing (Waynesville) will host karaoke at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, trivia at 7 p.m. on Thursdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.246.0350 or boojumbrewing.com.

• Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.634.0078 or curraheebrew.com.

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

• Folkmoot Friendship Center (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. For tickets, click on folkmoot.org.

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

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host John Friday (singer-songwriter) Dec. 30 and Robbie Rosado (singer-songwriter) 5 p.m. Jan. 7. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. 828.454.5664 or froglevelbrewing.com.

• Frog Quarters (Franklin) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. Located at 573 East Main St. littletennessee.org or 828.369.8488.

• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee) will host semi-regular live music and entertainment on the weekends. For a full schedule of events and/or to buy tickets, caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.

• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will host “Trivia Night with Kirk” from 7 to 9 p.m. every Tuesday, Open Mic Night every Wednesday and Andrew Wakefield (singer-songwriter) Dec. 29. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. innovation-brewing.com.

available onsite. Bring a lawn chair. Presented by Drake Software.

• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host Open Mic Night with Ivor Sparks every Wednesday, Mountain Gypsy (Americana/folk) Dec. 30 and Steve Heffker (singer-songwriter) Dec. 31. All shows begin at 6 p.m., unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 or mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.

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

writer) Dec. 29, TracEnd (rock/pop) 9 p.m. Dec. 30, Kevin Dolan & Paul Koptak (Americana/folk) Jan. 5 and J.J. Hipps & The Hideaway (rock/blues) 9 p.m. Jan. 6. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.6292 or scotsmanpublic.com.

• SlopeSide Tavern (Sapphire) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.743.8655 or slopesidetavern.com.

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

ALSO:

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

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host a New Year’s Eve party with The V8s 9 p.m. Dec. 31. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host Trivia Night at 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday, Old Time Jam 6:30 p.m. every Thursday and a New Year’s Eve party w/Urban Soil (reggae/soul) 9 p.m. Dec. 31. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Meadowlark Motel (Maggie Valley) will host A. Lee Edwards & Matt Royal (Americana/folk) 7 p.m. Dec. 30. Dinner will also be served onsite at its restaurant HomeCraft. Beer and wine available. Seated show. Reservations recommended. To RSVP, call 828.926.1717.

• Moss Valley (Franklin) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. Food trucks and beverages

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

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

• Quirky Birds Treehouse & Bistro (Dillsboro) will host Open Mic Night at 7 p.m. every Tuesday and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.586.1717 or facebook.com/quirkybirdstreehouse.

• Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub (Franklin) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.369.6796.

• Satulah Mountain Brewing (Highlands) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.482.9794 or satulahmountainbrewing.com.

• Sauced (Waynesville) will host Tanner Burch (singer-songwriter) 8 p.m. Dec. 30. Free and open to the public. 828.246.9585 or saucedwnc.com

• The Scotsman (Waynesville) will host The Carter Giegerich Trio (Celtic/bluegrass) from 2 to 5 p.m. Bridget Gossett (singer-song-

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

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

• Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host Blackjack Country Dec. 29, Macon County Line Dec. 30, Tricia Ann & Genepool Dec. 31, JC Parrothead Jan. 4, DJ Terry Mooney Jan 5, Wayne Buckner & The Shooting Creek Band Jan. 6 and Rock Holler Jan. 7. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.2488.

• Valley Tavern (Maggie Valley) will host The Laurel River Connection Dec. 29, Karaoke w/Jason Dec. 30 and a New Year’s Eve Bash 7 p.m. Dec. 31. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.926.7440 or valley-tavern.com.

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

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

On the street On the table

Ready to learn contra dancing?

Admission is $130 per person, which includes tax and gratuity. Reservations required. To RSVP, call 828.452.6000.

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

NYE at Classic Wineseller

A special “Black Tie Event” New Year’s Eve celebration will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, at the Classic Wineseller in Waynesville.

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

There will be a contra dance class offered from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.

Contra dance is considered the most accessible and sociable of all dances, with participants moving in two long facing lines or in groups, and with frequent partner changes. With its roots in the British Isles and France, contra dance has become a traditional American dance form.

No experience is needed to contra dance. All dances are taught. Beginners’ lessons start at 6:30 p.m., with dancing from 7 to 9 p.m. No need to bring a partner, but you’re welcome to do so. You may also bring a closed water container and snack. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Masks are encouraged, but not required. Please don’t wear perfumes or strong scents.

Suggested donation of $10 per person. This project is hosted by the Arts Council of Macon County and supported by a generous gift from The James Edward Hudock Trust.

• The ninth annual “Ruby Drop” New Year’s Eve celebration will begin at 10 pm.

Saturday, Dec. 31, at Motor Company Grill in downtown Franklin. Free and open to the public. 828.524.0099

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

• “Christmas Lights Drive-Thru” will run through Dec. 31 at the Great Smoky Mountains Event Park (formerly Inspiration Park) in Bryson City. For more information, a

full schedule of activities and/or to purchase tickets, click on greatsmokies.com/christmas-light-show-bryson-city.

• “Strand of Lights” drive-thru light show will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. through Dec. 30 at the Smoky Mountain Event Center (formerly the Haywood County Fairgrounds). Tickets for the nightly show are available online at 38main.com, with only 100 cars per onehour time slot. This helps reduce wait time and traffic congestion for a more enjoyable experience. Admission is $20 per vehicle. The drive-thru winds around the Smoky Mountain Event Center campus for nearly one-mile. Play your favorite carols (and sing-along) as the route takes you past numerous 2D displays, mixed with lighted buildings and holiday experiences throughout.

The evening will include a four-course dinner and champagne toast. The courses will include the following: English shrimp cocktail, choice of filet with twice baked potato, prosciutto-wrapped asparagus or mushroom and truffle ravioli with Boursin cream sauce and asparagus, Valrhona chocolate cake, and complimentary champagne toast.

As well, there will be live music provided by Nashville recording artist Mean Mary & Frank James.

ALSO:

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

• “Uncorked: Wine & Rail Pairing Experience” will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on select dates at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City. Full service all-adult first class car. Wine pairings with a meal, and more. For more information and/or to register, call 800.872.4681 or click on gsmr.com.

Dec. 28, 2022-Jan. 3, 2023

HCAC ‘Small Works’ exhibit

The Haywood County Arts Council’s (HCAC) “Small Works” exhibit will run through Dec. 31 at the HCAC Gallery & Gifts showroom in downtown Waynesville.

The annual exhibit that expands the types of work for sale in the downtown Waynesville gallery, as well as who can display their work. Other than specially curated exhibits, which occur a couple times annually, this exhibit is the only one that allows any artist within the western mountain region to participate for a small fee.

With dozens of artists participating, the exhibit promises to be eclectic. Although the only requirement is that the pieces be 12 inches in any dimension or smaller, HCAC challenged participants who are making holiday themed works to consider artistic expressions that are multicultural in nature and celebrate the many different holidays, ways of celebrating, and ways of experiencing holidays.

HCAC also encouraged participants to create works that celebrate Appalachian heritage and craft.

“Our vision is that this exhibit embodies not only the giving spirit, but also a multi-cultural spirit that speaks to the diversity of people, cultures, and religions that make up Appalachia,” Beryl said. For more information, click on haywoodarts.org.

ALSO:

• Southwestern Community College Swain Arts Center (Bryson City) will host an array of workshops for adults and kids. For more information on the upcoming classes and/or to sign-up, click on southwesterncc.edu/scc-locations/swain-center.

• Dogwood Crafters in Dillsboro will host an array of upcoming art classes and workshops. For more information and a full schedule of activities, click on dogwoodcrafters.com/classes.html or call 828.586.2248.

The ‘Small Works’ showcase. (File photo)

Thoughts and books for your own ‘Happiness Project’

In her online article “World Happiness Report reveals the US has gotten happier in 2022,” Ann Schmidt relates that the United States moved from number 19 out of 146 nations to number 16 in its happiness index.

On the other hand, in “Americans are less happy than ever. What are we doing wrong?” Mary Elizabeth Williams informs us that many Americans report being unhappy with their lives. She cites one study reporting that “The intense motivation to pursue happiness has been very robustly linked to worse wellbeing in the U.S.”

So much for polls.

Whatever the case, we Americans have long chased after happiness. After all, written into the Declaration of Independence as among our “certain inalienable rights” are “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

And we all have our own ideas on what happiness looks like. As we head into 2023, some of us have doubtless made New Year’s resolutions designed to enhance our happiness. Losing weight, heading off to the gym, or spending less money are some of the most popular of these vows. If I can just drop 30 pounds, George tells himself, I’ll be a happy guy. And maybe he will.

But suppose we just want to tweak our happiness index, to smile more, feel a bit lighter in spirit, or wake in the morning bestowing a blessing on the new day rather than a curse. We’re not looking for cloud nine, or even cloud seven; we’re just looking for a modicum of everyday satisfaction and joy.

Here are a few books that might give us such a boost.

In “The Happiness Project” (Harper Paperback, Anniversary Edition 2018, 368 pages), Gretchen Rubin recounts a conversation with her husband Jamie. He asks, “So, if you’re pretty happy, why do a happiness project?” She answers, “I am happy — but I’m not as happy as I should be. I have such a good life, I want to appreciate it more — and live up to it better.”

And so, Rubin sets out on her year-long happiness project, which she lays out in detail in this book. Along the way, she gives readers scores of suggestions that might contribute to their own well-being and contentment, as her chapter titles alone tell us: “Make time for friends,” “Boost energy,” and “Keep a contented heart.”

The tone of this book, and the suggestions it offers, can also be found in its subti-

tle: “Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun.”

The Happiness Project became a bestseller — surely that added to Rubin’s happiness! — and she wrote several follow-up

work and our private lives. For many of us, those boundaries are either blurred or nonexistent, and Pederson demonstrates how, by compartmentalizing the two, we can actually get more work done while at the same time more fully enjoying our time away from the desk or the workplace.

One added attraction that makes this little book special are the simple but sweet illustrations and the layout. These in themselves create hygge, a feeling of warmth and comfort.

In “A Simple Act of Gratitude: How Learning to Say Thank You Changed My Life” (Hatchette Books, 2011, 240 pages), attorney John Kralik describes how he lifted himself from a “tour de force of failure” and despair by writing one thank you note every day for a year. These notes changed the direction of his life. I haven’t yet read Kralik’s book, but hope to do so in the coming year, for it reveals what is surely one of the foundation stones of happiness: gratitude for others and for the good things and people in our lives.

books, including “Outer Order, Inner Calm: Declutter & Organize to Make More Room for Happiness” (Harmony, 2019, 240 pages). Decluttering has become a movement of sorts in America, with dozens of books and websites offering advice on how to get rid of the junk in our closets and the detritus in our minds. Many of Rubin’s suggestions can be found elsewhere, but she does offer some excellent advice on replacing our “stuff” with beautiful objects, and in the final short chapter links the consequent orderliness with the calm we’ll feel.

One offshoot of this movement to unload our junk is the introduction of hygge to Americans. This term from Denmark has no direct translation into English, but as Stephanie Pederson tells us in “American Cozy: Hygge-Inspired Ways to Create Comfort & Happiness” (Union Square & Co., 2018, 224 pages), hygge (pronounced “whogah) implies contentment, quiet joy, and “taking pleasure from the things around you.”

As in Rubin’s books, many of Pederson’s ideas are shared by other authors and experts, though Pederson adds a Danish twist. At one point, for instance, she writes about the importance of erecting boundaries around parts of our day, especially between

At the very end of his life, in an essay “My 2019,” English philosopher and author of more than 50 books Roger Scruton recollects his battle with cancer and the savagery with which critics assailed his reputation in the last year of his life. He died in January 2020. Here are his thoughts written just weeks before his death.

“During this year much was taken from me — my reputation, my standing as a public intellectual, my position in the Conservative movement, my health. But much was given back: by Douglas Murray’s generous defence, by the friends who rallied behind him, by the rheumatologist who saved my life and by the doctor to whose care I am now entrusted. Falling to the bottom in my own country, I have been raised to the top elsewhere, and looking back over the sequence of events I can only be glad that I have lived long enough to see this happen.

Coming close to death you begin to know what life means, and what it means is gratitude.”

So, if you’re looking for increased happiness, read some books and practice some of the ideas that appeal to you.

But start with gratitude, and you’re well on your way to happiness. (Jeff Minick reviews books and has written four of his own: two novels, “Amanda Bell” and “Dust On Their Wings,” and two works of nonfiction, “Learning As I Go” and “Movies Make the Man.” minick0301@gmail.com.)

A year in outdoors

BY HOLLY KAYS OUTDOORS E DITOR

From new parks to big birthdays to policy overhauls, 2022 has been a year of change and major milestones for the outdoors in Western North Carolina. Here’s my best stab at outlining some of the biggest news to enter the region’s outdoor world this year.

PARKING AT A PRICE

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park overturned decades of precedent when it announced a proposal in April to start charging visitors for parking. The new rules, which received official approval in August, set the price at $5 per day, $15 per week or $40 per year. The proposal was the subject of intense debate, with the park receiving 15,512 comments on the parking tag program and other fee increases. Many area residents think of the Smokies as their own local park, and because the terms of a 1951 deed transfer in combination with a 1992 federal law mean the park can’t charge an entrance fee, they had understood it would remain free to use forever. However, proponents of the fee say that park use has increased too sharply and with too little funding from the federal government for the Smokies to sustain its operations without the parking tag program. The new fees will become effective in March. The park is also taking measures against rampant roadside parking at popular trailhead areas, and those efforts have already begun.

FUTURE OF THE PISGAH-NANTAHALA

Ten years ago, the U.S. Forest Service started meeting with stakeholders to discuss a monumental effort to revise the forest management plan for the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests. After dozens of meetings, multiple rounds of public comment and robust public debate, the Forest Service has released its final plan — almost. The plan, published in January, laid out the framework

for management decisions on the 1-millionacre forest for the next two decades, but it also gave the public a chance to object before the new plan went into effect. And object they did. The Forest Service accepted 891 objections as meeting its criteria to participate in objection resolution meetings, which were held in August. Deputy Regional Forester Rick Lint is charged with crafting a written response to these objections, which may include instructions for changes in the final plan. Forest Supervisor James Melonas was expected to sign the plan into effect — with any required changes — this fall. As of press time, it looks like the final answer for the future of the Pisgah-Nantahala will wait until 2023.

LIGHTING UP THE CAPITOL

Each year, one of the country’s national forests supplies the towering tree that serves as a national symbol of celebration on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. For the first time since 1998 — and the third time in history — that tree comes from the PisgahNantahala National Forest. Specifically, from Haywood County. “Ruby,” a 78-foot red spruce harvested from the forest along N.C. 215, just before its intersection with the Blue Ridge Parkway, was cut down in a ceremony Wednesday, Nov. 2, and went on a tour covering much of the state before ending up in Washington, D.C., for the lighting ceremony Tuesday, Nov. 29. Coche Tiger, a fourth grader at New Kituwah Academy in Cherokee and a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, did the honors, also telling the Cherokee legend of the evergreen tree on national TV. Before she traveled north, Ruby’s cones were harvested and delivered to the Southern Highlands Reserve in Lake Toxaway, which will grow them into hundreds of red spruce seedlings to be replanted on the forest landscape. When Christmas is over, Ruby’s wood will be used to make musical instruments.

DEBATE OVER BEAR SANCTUARIES

When the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission proposed allowing limited hunting in bear sanctuaries, people turned out in force to oppose the measure. The Wildlife Commission said more hunting pressure was needed to curb the growth rate of the mountain bear population, which sits above 7,000 and is growing at an estimated 6% annually. The proposal stemmed from the U.S. Forest Service’s 2018 request to allow hunting in Panthertown Valley to reduce human-bear conflicts. However, of the 2,744 people who weighed in on the proposal, 86% opposed it, saying that education, not hunting, is the solution to reducing conflict. Though the Wildlife Commission voted unanimously to approve the rule anyway, the N.C. Rules Review Commission rejected it, saying it was unclear and ambiguous. While a revised version of the rule was later approved, it had already been flagged for legislative review due to the number of people who wrote the RRC requesting such a review. When the N.C. General Assembly convenes in January, legislators will have 31 days to introduce a bill disapproving the rule, which cannot go into effect until any such bill is defeated or until the General Assembly adjourns without ratifying it.

NEW TRAILS ABOUND

Spring kicked off with the much-anticipated opening of the Chestnut Mountain Nature Park in Canton April 22. The first phase of development on the 450-acre property features the mountain biking F

Cars parked along the road near Laurel Falls Trailhead damage the vegetation trying to grow there. NPS photo

Rafters splash through a rapid on a blue-skied day. NOC photo

skills course Berm Park, which offers five trails of varying difficulties, as well as a 0.6mile hiking trail that climbs 350 feet to Berm Park and what will be the trailhead for more hiking and biking opportunities. A pedestrian bridge greets visitors at the parking lot off U.S. 23. The opening ceremony was a big deal, but less than a month later outdoor enthusiasts had something new to celebrate — the Fire Mountain Disc Golf Sanctuary in Cherokee. The 18-hole, championship-caliber course sits on 31 acres between Cherokee Central Schools and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In addition to enjoying the lofty canopy and mountain creek, players learn about the Cherokee culture while tossing discs. Each hole is named for an animal, historical figure or legendary entity, with signs at each tee pad describing the namesake’s role in Cherokee folklore and rendering its name in the Cherokee language. Trail lovers should watch out for more new opportunities in 2024. Also in Cherokee, plans for an expan-

sion to the Fire Mountain trail system are underway, and the tribe continues to collaborate with the Town of Sylva on what are expected to be the highest trails open to mountain bikers east of the Mississippi River.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR EVERYBODY

This year was a milestone for a variety of organizations whose work has a big impact on the outdoors in Western North Carolina. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission turned 75, while the Nantahala Outdoor Center turned 50. September marked 45 years since the concept for the Mountainsto-Sea Trail was first proposed during the National Trails Symposium at Lake Junaluska, MountainTrue turned 40 and the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation celebrated 25 years of supporting the National Park Service mission on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Coche Tiger tells the Cherokee legend of the evergreen trees during the Nov. 2 harvesting ceremony as EBCI Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources Joey Owle looks on.

James Edward Mills/Choose Outdoors photo

Bill Lea photo

Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation honors past leaders

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation marked its 25th anniversary with a celebration on Thursday, Nov. 17, at Highland Brewing Company in Asheville. More than 100 guests attended to mark the nonprofit’s years of support for projects and programs that enhance the country’s most visited national park.

The event also honored the leaders who have guided the organization since its start in 1997. Past chairs of the board of trustees were inducted into the newly created Abbott-Everhardt Society, named for the Parkway’s original landscape architect, Stanley Abbott, and late Director of the National Park Service and Parkway Superintendent, Gary Everhardt.

The society’s members are Ken Wilson of Waynesville; Lou Bissette and Bob Shepherd of Asheville; Houck Medford of Blowing Rock; Greg Brown of Fairview; Gary Stewart of Matthews; Harvey Durham of Boone; Alfred Adams, Pat Shore Clark, Linda Combs, Hobie Cawood, and Cynthia Tessien of WinstonSalem; Jack Betts of Meadows of Dan, Va.; Broaddus Fitzpatrick of Roanoke, Va.; and current chair John Mitchell of Hendersonville.

“It was so wonderful to join in celebration

with our supporters and champions for the Parkway. Hundreds of projects were made possible over the last 25 years because of the dedication of our community. We look forward to the legacy impacts to come over the next 25 years,” said Carolyn Ward, of the Foundation.

Parkway Superintendent Tracy Swartout also addressed the guests, who enjoyed live music from John Herrmann & Friends, a special Anniversary Ale by Highland Brewing Company and hors d’oeuvres.

First Citizens Bank is the premier sponsor of the Foundation’s 25th anniversary events. Forever Mountain sponsored the Asheville celebration.

Ring in the Year of the Trail

When the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, the Year of the Trail will begin in North Carolina.

Since 1997, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation has provided more than $20 million in support for the Parkway. A portion of that funding is made possible by sales of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation specialty license plate in North Carolina. The nonprofit is now accepting preorders for a new Parkway license plate in Virginia that will raise additional funds to enhance the national park. More information is available at gettheplate.org.

The General Assembly declared 2023 the Year of the Trail in 2021 when it passed a bill championed by Burke County Rep. Hugh Blackwell and the Great Trails State Coalition. The next 12 months will celebrate and draw attention to North Carolina’s vast network of trails, greenways and blueways. These trails showcase the state’s diverse landscapes — from grand mountain vistas to quiet rivers, vibrant urban greenways, coastal forests and the rolling hills of the Piedmont. North Carolina Year of the Trail is the largest statewide celebration of trails and outdoor recreation in state history and is expected to firmly establish North Carolina as “The Great Trails State.”

The bill makes law recognizing and celebrating North Carolina’s comprehensive network of public trails and greenways constructed and managed by local, state, and federal agencies and nonprofit partners. Trails and greenways are a vital part of community infrastructure, providing significant health, economic, and transportation benefits, and are the cornerstone of North Carolina’s $11.8 billion outdoor recreation industry.

Working collaboratively with N.C. State Parks, the N.C. Department of Transportation and other partners across the state, the Great Trails State Coalition has developed a campaign that will reach all of North Carolina through multiple communication channels, including social media, advertising, events and newsletters, delivering content and stories about the positive impacts of trails in communities across the state. The campaign aims to inspire people of all ages, abilities and back-

Duke grants fund EMS projects

A recent round of grants from Duke Energy will include $75,000 in funding to support emergency management services in Haywood, Jackson and Swain counties.

Totaling $750,000 in awards, the Emergency Preparedness Grant aim to reinforce communities’ ability to help residents prepare for and recover from severe weather events.

Local awards include:

■ Jackson County will receive $25,000 to upgrade the technology at its emergency operations center, facilitating better coordination and response. Funding will provide for essential command staff equipment, including an interactive mart board and four laptop computers supporting EMS, fire, law enforcement and other state and local agencies.

grounds to use trails, boost outdoor recreation tourism, advance inclusion and diversity on trails, promote safe and responsible use of trails and recognize the contributions of volunteers in building and maintaining trails.

The campaign kicks off on January 1st with “First Day Outdoors” — an invitation for everyone to find a trail to walk, run, hike, bike, paddle or ride. Visit a State Park

for a First Day Hike or explore one of the countless trails across North Carolina.

During 2023, the Great Trails State Coalition will share videos and content telling stories about trails and people in North Carolina, and giving examples of how trails are impacting local communities and changing lives for the better — along with how trails are built and how to get more trails where you live.

Look for events in every county, including special events in State Parks, guided trail experiences, clean-ups, celebrations and more.

For more information, visit greattrailsnc.com and follow on social media @greattrailsnc.

■ Haywood County will receive $25,000 toward a utility terrain vehicle, or UTV, to be used in search and rescue efforts for lost or injured hikers and during snow and high-water events to access stranded residents in need of medical care.

■ Swain County will receive $25,000 to improve ArcGIS capability. Duke’s contribution will go toward an in-house advanced mapping tool to boost the county’s ability to respond to high-water events, wildfires and wilderness search and rescues.

“Emergency preparedness and storm recovery begin at the local level,” said Stephen De May, Duke Energy’s North Carolina president. “Households and businesses across our state have endured a number of significant and costly storms in recent years. These grants will help our communities by giving our first responders the tools and training they need to tackle whatever Mother Nature throws our way.”

Race Cataloochee

The racing season is back at Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley, starting in January for ages 8 through adult.

■ Middle school racing will be Tuesday nights at 6 p.m., with categories for ages 811 and 12-14. Races will be held weekly Jan. 10 through Feb. 28. High school racing will be at 6 p.m. Wednesdays Jan. 11 through March 1. All races will be a modified giant slalom using Nastar software for timing. Participants must register and sign a waiver at Nastar.com. Cost is $130 to race for the season, or $269 including lift tickets. The price for racing, lift and rentals all season is $349. Coaches at each area school are the best point of contact. Email racing@cataloochee.com if you are unsure whether your school has a race program.

■ NASTAR Public Racing will be held on Sundays Jan. 8, 22 and 29 and Feb. 5, 12 and 26. This fun, competitive and easily accessible racing program allows racers of all ages and abilities a means to compare themselves with one another, regardless of when and where they race, using a racer

handicap system and establishing the National Standard on each NASTAR course. At each race, participants can win a platinum, gold, silver or bronze medal based on their handicap. Pre-register at Nastar.com. Cost is $11 for two runs or $22 for unlimited runs. A lift ticket or season pass is required.

■ Open to racers 18 and older the Thursday Nigh Adult Race League will be held at 7 p.m. Thursdays Jan. 12 through Feb. 23. All racers have two runs or until 8:30 p.m., whichever comes first, with awards given to the top male and female racers as well as to the top overall team. Teams may have up to four members, one of which must be female, and three members of the team must attend each race. Courses will be set as a modified GS course, with participants racing for the better of 2 runs. Helmets and goggles are required, and helmets are available for rental. Cost is $16 to race or $51 for racing and a night lift ticket, good for 6-10 p.m.

For more information, visit cataloochee.com or call 828.926.0285.

Cataloochee offers special rate for homeschoolers

Starting Tuesday, Jan. 3, homeschoolers will get special rates at Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley any Tuesday through the end of the season.

These rates on lift tickets, lessons and rentals will be available when homeschool credentials are presented at the ticket center on the lower level of the lodge. No signup is required.

Rates are $32 for a lift ticket, $50 for a lift ticket and equipment rental, and $66 for a lift ticket, lesson and rental. The package is for day skiing from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, visit cataloochee.com.

TU talks trout — in the classroom

Shannon Messer will speak on his years running the Trout in the Classroom program at the Sylva Chapter of Trout Unlimited meeting 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3, at the United Methodist Church in Sylva.

Messer’s presentation will offer an opportunity to learn about an innovative conservation project for schools. The classes raise trout from eggs to release in local rivers and learn chemistry, biology and conservation on the way.

The meeting will include food, raffles and more, with non-members welcome. For more information, contact tu.sylva.373@gmail.com.

The Plunge returns to Canton

The 11th annual Plunge Benefit-t-t-ting Kids in the Creek and Environmental Education will take place 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Champion Credit Union Aquatics Center in Canton.

The depth of the plunge is a personal choice, ranging from a dip of the toe to full immersion off the diving board, and costumes are encouraged.

Prizes will be given to the winners in five separate categories: Top fundraiser for a school team (three awards), top fundraiser for an individual (three awards), top fundraiser for a community team (three awards), best costume (top three) and team with the most plungers (one award).

In addition to the Plunge, activities will include the Base Camp on the Go outdoor activities truck, equipped with Zorb balls, an obstacle course, a GaGa Ball pit and more; bonfires, DJ Master P, Bona Fide bluegrass band and all the amenities of Canton Recreation Park.

The cost to participate is $10 for youth under 18, $35 for adults, or free by raising sponsorships. All proceeds go to Haywood Waterways Association’s Kids in the Creek and environmental education programs. Walk-ins welcome. To register or donate, visit goplunge.org. For a hard copy registration form, contact Haywood Waterways at 828.476.4667 or info@haywoodwaterways.org.

New signage coming to Highlands greenway

New signposts are up along the Highlands Plateau Greenway. These posts will soon host new, updated directional signage. The greenway organization has been working with designers and fabricators to develop better, clearer signage along the trail. Efforts are also underway to design a new map for the Greenway to help visitors and new hikers navigate the Greenway and plan their adventures.

Sea turtle rescue founder wins wildlife award

Jean Beasley, founding director of the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, was named winner of this year’s Thomas L. Quay Wildlife Diversity Award from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

“Since opening the Beasley Center in 1996, over 1,000 sick and injured sea turtles have been rehabilitated and returned to the wild,” said Wildlife Commission Executive Director Cameron Ingram. “That incredible work, along with establishing the volunteer-based Topsail Turtle Project and improving conservation measures benefitting sea turtles, makes her most deserv-

ing of this distinguished conservationist award.”

The Wildlife Commission annually gives the Quay Award to individuals who make outstanding contributions to wildlife diversity in North Carolina. Beasley is the 17th Quay Award recipient.

The award is named after Thomas Quay, who passed away in 2012 and was a professor in NC State’s Department of Zoology for 32 years. A self-described “full-time volunteer, and unpaid environmental activist, Quay was the first recipient of the award in honor of his passion for wildlife, ornithology and teaching.

The Champion Credit Union racoon takes the leap during a previous Plunge. Donated photo

COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

• The Jackson County Farmers Market meets every Saturday November through March 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and April through October 9 a.m.-noon at Bridge Park in Sylva, 110 Railroad St. Special events listed on Facebook and Instagram.

• The Jackson Arts Market takes place from 1-5 p.m. every Saturday at 533 West Main St. in Sylva with live music and an array of local artists.

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

• “Art After Dark” will be held from 6-9 p.m. each first Friday of the month (May-December) in downtown Waynesville. For more information, go to facebook.com/galleriesofhaywoodcounty.

• Jackson County Green Energy Park is once again welcoming visitors. It is open to the public each week 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. Public classes will resume this spring. JCGEP will also host live glassblowing demonstrations at Innovation Station during the Lights and Luminaries festival in Dillsboro. For more information email info@jacksonnc.org or 828.631.0271.

H OLIDAYS

• Smoky Mountain Christmas Light Spectacular will take place 6-10 p.m. Nov. 10-Dec. 31, at the Great Smoky Mountain Event Park. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays in November, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. BrysonCityChristman.com

FUNDRAISERS AND B ENEFITS

• Haywood Waterways Association and The Town of Canton are hosting the 11th annual Plunge and Plunge Challenge till take place at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Champion Credit Union Aquatic Center (Canton Pool). The event raises funds for Kids in the Creek and other Haywood Waterways’ other community education activities. For more information contact 828.476.4667 or info@haywoodwaterways.org.

CLUBS AND M EETINGS

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

• Knit Night takes place at 5:30-7:30 p.m. every second Tuesday of the month at The Stecoah Valley Center. The event is free and open to the public. RSVP is recommended: 828.479.3364 or amber@stecoahvalleycenter.com.

• Sylva Writers Group meets at 10:30 a.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month, starting Jan. 11, at City Lights Bookstore. For more information contact sylvawriters@gmail.com.

S UPPORT G ROUPS

• Highlands Mountain View Group holds open A.A. meetings in Highlands at the First Presbyterian Church, 471 Main St., at 5:30 p.m. on Monday and at noon on Wednesday and Friday. The Cashiers Valley Group holds open meetings at the Albert Carlton Cashiers Community Library at 7 p.m. Tuesday, 5 p.m. Friday and

n All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted.

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

Sunday, and at 9 a.m. Saturday. Zoom meetings are available at noon on Monday, at 7 p.m. Monday and Wednesday and at 9 a.m. Saturday (ID# 921 817 2966, password CVG2020). For more information, please visit www.aawnc80.org or to speak with a member of AA 24/7 at 828.349.4357.

• The SHARE Project and RISE Resources in Support of Empowerment bring you Smart Recovery Friends and Family at 6:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month in the Haywood Regional Health and Fitness Center Upstairs Classroom.

• Free support meeting for families and friends who are struggling in their relationships with loved ones in addiction. Meetings provide concerned significant others the tools needed to effectively support loved ones without supporting the addictive behavior. These tools help family and friends better cope with loved one’s situation and regain peace of mind. Meetings take place from 6-7:30 p.m. every other Thursday at RISE, located at 926 East Main St. in Sylva. More information at www.risewnc.org or 828.477.4136.

• Haywood Hospice & Palliative Care is sponsoring a Community Grief Gathering at 1 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month at the Canton Library in the meeting room. Each month will feature a different grief topic. The Haywood County Public Library and Haywood Hospice require that masks be worn inside the building. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Dan Pyles at 828.452.5039 or email Daniel.pyles@lhcgroup.com

• Dementia Caregivers Support Group, for those providing care for folks who are dealing with dementia, meets from 4:30-6 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Haywood Senior Resource Center (81 Elmwood Way, Waynesville). For additional information call 828.476.7985.

• Al-Anon, for families and friends of alcoholics, meets every Monday night from 7-8 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 77 Jackson St., Sylva. Enter at front of church through the door to the left of the sanctuary; meeting is first door on the right. The Church requests that you wear a mask if you are not vaccinated.

• Narcotics Anonymous meetings are back “live” inperson after a year of being on Zoom only. Local meetings are at noon on Mondays and Wednesdays at Sylva First United Methodist Church in downtown Sylva. Entrance at back of building.

• Grief Gathering, hosted by Haywood Hospice & Palliative Care take place at 1 p.m. on the second Wednesdays of the month at the Haywood Regional Fitness Center. Designed to offer support to anyone in the community who has recently experienced a loss. For more information, contact Haywood Hospice at 828.452.5039.

K IDS & FAMILIES

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

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

at lisa.hartzell@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2511.

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

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

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

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

A&E

• Maggie Valley Ice Festival will take place 3-8 p.m. Jan. 28, at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds.

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

• Paint and Sip at Waynesville Art School will be held every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 7-9:30 p.m. To learn more and register call 828.246.9869 or visit PaintAndSipWaynesville.com/upcoming-events. Registration is required, $45.

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

F OOD AND D RINK

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

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

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

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

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

CLASSES AND PROGRAMS

• Chess 101 takes place from 3:30-4:30 p.m. every Friday in the Canton Branch of the Haywood County

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

n Complete listings of local music scene

n Regional festivals

n Art gallery events and openings

n Complete listings of recreational offerings at health and fitness centers

n Civic and social club gatherings

Public Library. No registration required, for more information call 828.648.2924.

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

• Uptown Gallery, 30 East Main St. Franklin, will be offering Children’s Art Classes Wednesdays afternoons. Adult workshops in watercolor, acrylic paint pouring, encaustic and glass fusing are also offered. Free painting is available 10 a.m.-3 p.m. every Monday in the classroom. A membership meeting takes place on the second Sunday of the month at 3 p.m. All are welcome. Call 828.349.4607 for more information.

ART SHOWINGS AND GALLERIES

• “Thursday Painters” group will be held from 10 a.m.3 p.m. on Thursdays at The Uptown Gallery in Franklin. Free and open to the public. All skill levels and mediums are welcome. Participants are responsible for their own project and a bag lunch. 828.349.4607 or pm14034@yahoo.com.

Outdoors

• Tickets are now on sale for Winter Lights, an open-air walk-through light show of more than 1 million lights running Nov. 18-Dec. 31 at the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville. Ticket prices range from $30 to $60 per car depending on the date and entry time, with members receiving a $5 discount. Flex tickets are $75. For more information or to reserve tickets, visit ncarboretum.org/winter-lights.

• Hike the 3.2-mile entrance road to Chimney Rock State Park at 8 a.m. Jan. 1, from the Old Rock Café. The park superintendent will lead an informative discussion about the park’s history along a route that is typically restricted to vehicular traffic only. 828.625.1823 or www.ncparks.gov/first-day-hikes.

• Hike from Bearwallow Falls Picnic Area to the Bearwallow Overlook and then down to the Upper Bearwallow Falls observation deck at 10 a.m. Jan. 1. The hike is about half of a mile. 828.966.9099 or www.ncparks.gov/first-day-hikes.

• The Sylva Chapter of Trout Unlimited is holding its monthly meeting from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, January 3, at the United Methodist Church in Sylva. Shannon Messer is speaking on his years of work running Trout in the classroom. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about this innovative conservation project for schools. The classes raise trout from eggs to release in local rivers and learn chemistry, biology and conservation on the way. Raffles and more, everyone is invited. For more information contact tu.sylva.373@gmail.com.

PLACE WNC

Market

Legals

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF HAYWOOD IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE DISTRICT COURT DIVISION

FILE NO. 22 JT 65

In Re: MCCALL a female minor child NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION

TO: WHITNEY NOVA PARR

Last Known Address: 252 Francis Asbury Road Waynesville, NC 28785 Take notice that a pleading seeking relief above-entitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows:

The Petitioner, Larry E. McCall, II is seeking to terminate the parental rights of Respondent Mother, Whitney Nova Parr concerning the above named female child that was born on the 25 th day of July, 2019 in Haywood County, North Carolina to Petitioner, Larry E. McCall, II and Respondent, Whitney Nova Parr.

You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than FEBRUARY 6, 2023 being forty (40) days publication of this notice, and upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the court for the relief sought.

This 20TH day of DECEMBER, 2022.

DONALD N. PATTEN, PLLC

Attorney for Petitioner 46 South Main Street Waynesville , NC 28786 828-452-1454

By:_____ Donald N. Patten _________ DONALD N. PATTEN

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE COUNTY OF HAYWOOD DISTRICT COURT DIVISION

FILE NO. 22-CVD-1024 AMBER DUNCAN, Plaintiff, v. NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION

JOHN THADUES HUNTER CHAFIN, Defendant, Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been

action. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: Complaint for Permanent Custody

You are required to make defense to such pleading no later than January 27, 2023 upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the court for the relief sought. This 20 day of December, 2022

NIELSEN LAW, PLLC

Joshua D. Nielsen 413 Walnut St Waynesville, NC 28786 (828) 246-9360

Announcements

DONATE YOUR VEHICLE To fund the

SEARCH FOR MISSING CHILDREN. Fast Free Pickup. 24 hour response. Running or not. Maximum Tax Deduction and No Emission Test Required! Call 24/7: 999-999-9999 Call 855-504-1540

Employment

Tax and Health Justice Advocate

HEOP Tax Credit Advocate and Health Justice Advocate - Waynesville or Highlands Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) is a communiaid agency governed by a local Board of Directors. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina (WNC), Pisgah Legal Services provides free civil legal assistance to low-income people in WNC. With over 100 dedicated staff, including over 30 attorneys plus program staff, and an active group of 300 volunteer attorneys, we provide free services to nearly 20,000 people per year to meet their basic needs, primarily in the poverty law areas of housing, public beneprevention, health care, immigration, and consumer law.

We are currently hiring a Tax Credit and Health Justice Advocate for our WNC Health and Economic Opportunity Program (HEOP), which supports our mission in 18 Western North Carolina counties as part of a multi-year grant funded expansion of anti-poverty work

within the broad areas of free tax preparation/ tax credits and outreach/ enrollment for Affordable Care Act health insurance. The WNC HEOP Tax Credit and Health Justice Advocate will be responsible for ensuring that families and individuals gain access to quality health insurance coverage, as well as quality tax preparation services throughout the assigned region. The responsibilities will be split between providing tax preparation services, which includes informing potential clients of free tax clinics, col-

records, inputting data

into tax return databases of tax documents with appropriate agencies and responsibilities as a health justice advocate, which includes helping clients make informed decisions about healthcare coverage by providing one-on-one enrollment assistance.

This position is full-time and can be based out of our Waynesville or High-

hybrid work schedule is available. This position requires travel within the Western region, which includes Clay, Cherokee, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties and the Qualla Boundary. Position requires presence at onsite and offsite tax and health insurance enrollment clinics within service region. Salary range is $36,327$67,953 annually.

Employees are eligible for medical, dental, vision

and life insurance coverage the 1st of the month following the start date.

Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) pays 100% of the Employee and 50% of the Dependent Cost for BCBS Medical and Dental coverage. PLS pays 50% of the Employee Coverage Cost for BCBS Vision coverage. PLS pays 100% of Long-Term & Short-Term Disability Coverage, Life Insurance Coverage of 5x base salary + an additional $15,000 Life & AD&D Coverage. 401k Retirement Plan after 6 months of employment.

includes Pet Insurance, Paid Parental Leave, 12.5 Company Holidays, 22 Paid Leave Days, Paid Sabbatical Leave for eligible employees, Employee Assistance Program for entire household and a great working environment with work life balance! Pet Insurance also offered. To view the full job posting & to apply, please visit https://www.pisgahlegal.org/jobs

COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM!

Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Grants and Scholarships available for certain applicants. Call CTI for details! 1-855-5544616 The Mission, Program Information and Tuition is located at CareerTechnical.edu/ consumer-information.

INSURANCE SALES PRODUCER Are you P&C licensed with some active insurance experience? Are you a self-starter, motivated, friendly, and professional? If this describes you, then this busy downtown Waynesville insurance agency needs you! Competitive pay, generous PTO and work environment. Serious applicants send resume to or call. (828) 452-2815 georgiinsgrp@gmail. com

Home Goods

PREPARE FOR POWER OUTAGES TODAY With a GENERAC home standby generator $0 Money Down + Low Monthly Payment Options. Request a FREE Quote – Call now before the next power outage: 1-844-938-0700

Pets

“WORKING CATS” Asheville Humane Society has cats available who are best suited to life in a barn, warehouse, etc. Ready to mousehunt! (828) 761-2001 adoptions@ashevillehumane.org

BLACK MALE CAT, ARTU 10 year old, sweet house-panther; loves toys and high places. Sometimes lap cat, sometimes independent. Asheville Humane Society (828) 761-2001 adoptions@ ashevillehumane.org

Real Estate Announcements

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

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

Rentals

TIMESHARE CANCELLATION EXPERTS. Wesley Financial Group, LLC Over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt and fees cancelled in 2019. Get free informational

Haywood Co. Real Estate Agents

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate- Heritage

• Carolyn Lauter - carolyn@bhgheritage.com

Beverly Hanks & Associates- beverly-hanks.com

• Billie Green - bgreen@beverly-hanks.com

• Brian K. Noland - brianknoland.com

• Anne Page - apage@beverly-hanks.com

• Jerry Powell - jpowell@beverly-hanks.com

• Catherine Proben - cproben@beverly-hanks.com

• Ellen Sither - esither@beverly-hanks.com

• Mike Stamey - mikestamey@beverly-hanks.com

• Karen Hollingsed- khollingsed@beverly-hanks.com

• Billy Case- billycase@beverly-hanks.com

• Laura Thomas - lthomas@beverly-hanks.com

• John Keith - jkeith@beverly-hanks.com

• Randall Rogers - rrogers@beverly-hanks.com

• Susan Hooper - shooper@beverly-hanks.com

• Hunter Wyman - hwyman@beverly-hanks.com

• Julie Lapkoff - julielapkoff@beverly-hanks.com

• Darrin Graves - dgraves@beverly-hanks.com

Emerson Group - emersongroupus.com

• George Escaravage - george@emersongroupus.com

• Chuck Brown - chuck@emersongroupus.com

ERA Sunburst Realty - sunburstrealty.com

• Amy Spivey - amyspivey.com

• Rick Border - sunburstrealty.com

• Randy Flanigan - 706-207-9436

• Steve Mauldin - 828-734-4864

Keller Williams Realty - kellerwilliamswaynesville.com

• The Morris Team - www.themorristeamnc.com

Lakeshore Realty

• Phyllis Robinson - lakeshore@lakejunaluska.com

Mountain Dreams Realty- maggievalleyhomesales.com

• Lyndia Massey- buyfromlyndia@yahoo.com

Mountain Creek Real Estate

• Ron Rosendahl - 828-593-8700

McGovern

Real Estate & Property Management

• Bruce McGovern - shamrock13.com

Premier Sotheby's International Realty

• DeAnn Suchy - deann.suchy@premiersir.com

• Kaye Matthews - kaye.matthews@premiersir.com

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

• The Real Team - TheRealTeamNC.com

• Ron Breese - ronbreese.com

• Landen Stevenson- landen@landenkstevenson.com

• Dan Womack - womackdan@aol.com

• Mary Hansen - mwhansen@charter.net • David Willet - davidwillet1@live.com • Sara Sherman - sarashermanncrealtor@gmail.com • David Rogers- davidr@remax-waynesville.com

Many musical melanges

Airplane flier

Cannes area

Wife of Henry VIII who was always mimicking people?

One of five womb-mates

Year, in Rio de Janeiro

Walk around with a voting slip?

Einstein's language

War deity

Reel go-with 89 Singer India.--

Omar of "Juice"

Mao -- -tung

Coll. dorm monitors

High rubber footwear item worn while catching crustaceans?

Jan. preceder

Food scarcity

High no. for a valedictorian

Giant bird of lore

Rock concert gear

Dog command

Python's kin

Je ne sais --

War general George

Apportion something erroneously?

Glam rocker Brian

XI less IV

Actress Esther

Young girl

What Archie Bunker said when a discriminatory comment got him in trouble?

Up until now

Stood up

Auditing gp.

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Entertainment

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Health/Beauty

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Home Improvement

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SUDOKU

Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

Answers on 34

WATER DAMAGE TO YOUR HOME? Call for a quote for professional cleanup & maintain the value of your home! Set an appt. today! Call 833664-1530 (AAN CAN)

Legal, Financial and Tax

DO YOU OWE OVER $10,000 To the IRS or State in back taxes? Our

tax bill or zero it out completely FAST. Let us help! Call 877-414-2089. (AAN CAN) (Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-5pm PST)

Wanted to Buy

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