37 minute read
Outdoors
Cleanest air on record
Blue skies like the one shown over Lake Junaluska (left) weren’t the norm 30 years ago like they are today. Duke Energy has replaced its 1964 coal-fired power plant in Asheville (right) with a new,
cleaner-burning natural gas facility. A Shot Above and Duke Energy photos.
Pandemic accelerates long-term move toward cleaner air in N.C.
BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER
When President Richard Nixon ‘s signature on the Clean Air Act of 1970 prompted North Carolina to create its Division of Air Quality, air quality was bad in Western North Carolina.
“Back in the ‘80s or the ‘90s, once summer hit your mountains would disappear,” recalled Jim Renfro, longtime air quality specialist for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, during an interview earlier this year. “You’re outside in the valley looking up, and you couldn’t see the mountains through the haze.”
MILES DOWN, AIR QUALITY UP
In one of the true environmental success stories of the past century, the situation has improved dramatically since then — and as 2020 fades into 2021, it’s expected to keep getting better.
“Without a doubt we are seeing the lowest ambient air pollution levels that have been recorded since the inception of our program,” said N.C. Division of Air Quality Director Mike Abraczinskas. “That’s wonderful news, testament to all of our good work, advancements in technology, regulatory and non-regulatory measures. North Carolinians are definitely breathing the cleanest air that they have anytime during their lifetimes.”
Abraczinskas spoke during the Land of Sky Regional Council’s annual State of Our Air Quality Briefing and Press Conference. The event usually takes place in Asheville during the early spring, but due to COVID-19 it was delayed and held virtually Oct. 30.
That’s not the only impact COVID-19 has had on the world of air quality, but unlike most impacts related to the virus, these have been overwhelmingly positive.
Data from the early days of the pandemic — March and April — show reductions of about 30 to 50 percent in vehicle miles driven as compared to 2019 figures. For the sixmonth period ending Sept. 30, traffic counts at the DAQ’s roadside site in the Research Triangle Park, one of the busiest stretches of road in North Carolina, were down an average of 26.8 percent compared to the same period in 2019, Abraczinskas said.
It appears that this drastic reduction in time on the road is leading to a noticeable improvement in air quality. Preliminary data show a decrease in mean levels of toxic nitrogen oxides in urban areas across the state. Compared to the average of 2018 and 2019 figures, 2020 data through Sept. 30 show a 23.1 percent reduction in Charlotte, a 38.5 percent reduction in Winston-Salem and a 40 percent reduction in Raleigh.
Similarly, there have been considerably fewer ozone warnings this year than in 2019, when the DAQ was “very nervous” about how close it got to violating EPA standards in the Charlotte area, Abraczinskas said.
Last year, three monitor sites in the Charlotte area reported a total of 189 Code Yellow ozone days and 16 Code Orange days. Through Oct. 12 this year, the number of Code Yellow days has decreased drastically and there have been no Code Orange days at any monitor. The Garinger monitor recorded 62 Code Yellow days last year, but only 14 this year, while the University Meadows monitor reported 67 Code Yellow days last year and 22 this year. The Monroe monitor, which recorded 60 Code Yellow days last year, has so far turned up a goose egg for 2020. While the monitors did not show any Code Orange days this year, in 2019 they reported seven, six and three such days, respectively.
“I’m going to caveat all this by saying that it’s preliminary,” said Abraczinskas. “It’s a preliminary examination of pre-quality assurance data, and further detailed analysis is going to be necessary to fully support any conclusion, but at least it provides some data that supports what we’ve all been presuming, and that is a reduction in vehicle traffic leading to improved air quality.”
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
The pandemic-related decrease in vehicle use coincides with another notable headline in air quality news. In January, Duke Energy retired the coal-fired power plant that has been producing energy in South Asheville since 1964, replacing it with a cleaner-burning $817 million natural gas facility that came online in two phases — the first in December 2019 and the second in April 2020.
The new plant is about 75 percent more efficient than the coal facility was, and it emits 60 percent less carbon per megawatt hour with a 99 percent reduction in sulfur dioxide emissions and a 40 percent reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions, said Jason Walls,
— Mike Abraczinskas, N.C. Division of Air Quality Director
Asheville area manager for Duke Energy. Mercury emissions have been eliminated, and the use of cooling towers in the new plant significantly reduces the amount of water required to run it. Ashley Featherstone, director of air quality for the WNC Regional Air Quality Agency, said her organization was “very excited” about the project and the reductions in pollution it will cause.
This all fits in with the state’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from electric power production to 70 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 and reaching carbon neutrality by 2050, Walls said, and Duke is an “active participant” in helping the state reach those goals.
“It’s just a really exciting piece of work to be a part of,” he said.
To be determined is how the pandemic will affect overall energy use. Sophie Mullinax, project manager for the Blue Horizons Project, said that electricity and heat are responsible for 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, and that heating is responsible for about one-third of home energy use. In the mountains, peak energy use occurs on cold winter mornings as people are waking up and warming up the house, Mullinax said. While the rest of the Southeast experiences peak use on hot summer afternoons, the mountains’ winter peak is 30 percent higher than its typical summer usage.
With the pandemic, energy use across the board has become more stable as more people are working from home on a flexible schedule. However, many people are seeing higher individual energy bills — how energy use will shake out overall is an open question, Mullinax said.
“We haven’t had winter yet, so I think it’s fascinating and it remains to be seen,” she said. “Certainly, we’ll be seeing a reduction in some of the buildings and offices that are not in use right now, but of course factories and other organizations and businesses that keep our community running are still operating.”
Picture-perfect fall weather drew countless numbers of people to embark on outdoor adventures during the month of October, but some of those adventures went awry. Rescue teams responded to several emergency situations in the backcountry last month, one of which involved a fatality. n After four days of searching, teams found the body of missing hiker Chad Seger on Tuesday, Oct. 21, in the Shining Rock Wilderness Area.
Seger, a 27-year-old Asheville resident, had been missing since Monday, Oct. 12, when he spoke briefly with a family member by phone. He was reported missing the following Friday and an investigation began immediately. His vehicle was located in the Black Balsam Parking lot.
Searchers ultimately located him around 3 p.m. Oct. 21 in an off-trail area near the Art Loeb Trail with his gear nearby. A cause of death has not been released. More than 400 people representing multiple agencies from five states participated in the search. n An injured bear hunter was rescued from a remote area of Haywood County and transported to a hospital via helicopter overnight Tuesday, Oct. 27.
At about 5 p.m. that day, Haywood County received notice that bear hunter Richard Warren had been injured in a fall above Sunburst Campground off of Lake Logan Road, and the Lake Logan-Cecil Volunteer Fire Department and Haywood County EMS were initially dispatched to the scene. After assessing the situation, they requested additional resources.
Getting Warren from the location of his initial injury back up to a trail where he was eventually transported to the hospital by helicopter was a highly technical rescue effort, in the dark, involving more than 900 feet of rope haul lines and pulleys. Two responders were injured in the rescue process and were treated and released at the scene.
Multiple factors including patient condition, responder safety, terrain, weather and time of day went into the decision to call for air support. The Tennessee National Guard helicopter team provided mutual aid to assist the North Carolina National Guard with a UH60 blackhawk helicopter out of McGee Tyson Air Force Base.
About 60 rescuers and responders representing 16 different agencies were involved in the extensive rescue effort that lasted all night. The final rescue teams were checked back in safely around 7 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28. n Missing hiker Frank Braden Jr. emerged from the woods safely Wednesday, Oct. 28, after he was reported missing at 7 p.m. the previous day.
Braden had gone on a solo day hike along the Middle Prong Trail in the Tremont area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park but got turned around and ended up spending the night outdoors. More than 30 people participated in the response and searched more than 20 acres of off-trail areas along with 30 miles of park trails.
Braden was found safe without any major injuries around 4 p.m. Oct. 28 and walked out with assistance from park rangers.
demic has had a positive impact, but whether that impact proves to be a shortterm boost or a longer-lasting norm, air quality metrics have been trending in a positive direction for decades.
In the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, standard visual range on the most impaired days has nearly doubled from 28 miles in 2009 to just under 50 miles in 2018. Similarly, particulate matter concentrations have plummeted from about 10.5 micrograms per cubic meter in 2009 to about 6.5 micrograms per cubic meter in 2019. Ozone concentrations have fallen significantly as well, from 0.07 parts per million in 2009 to just over 0.06 parts per million in 2019. For the past decade, particu-
late matter and ozone levels have all come in well under the EPA standard applicable at the time.
“That’s progress you can see, and it’s great proof that our partnerships are working,” said Abraczinskas.
Conference organizer Bill Eaker, senior environmental planner for Land of Sky, agreed with that assessment as he gave an encouraging conclusion to the program.
“What we learned today is that if we do all work together and get really focused on something, that we can be very successful,” he said. “We’ve really got a tremendous environmental success story here in Western North Carolina and across the state.”
An Oct. 27 letter signed by 24 Democratic U.S. Congressmen is asking federal agencies to take urgent action on behalf of the critically endangered American red wolf.
While the wild wolf population — located exclusively in five Eastern North Carolina counties — has consistently numbered over 100 wolves between 2002 and 2014, it is now down to only nine collared wolves in the wild, the letter said, adding that two recent reports indicate there may now be only seven collared wolves.
While the total wild population is estimated at 17 to 20 animals to include those without functional collars, that population is aging, said Ron Sutherland, chief
Red wolf. USFWS photo
scientist for the Wildlands Network. The wolves include a set of 3- and 4-year-olds and a set of 9- and 10-year-olds, but wolves live only 9 or 10 years in the wild at maximum and the number is more like 3 or 4 years when factoring in humancaused mortality.
“In other words, the handful of red wolves we have left are all either middleaged or elderly, and the fate of the species in the wild hangs very much in the balance on their weary shoulders and paws,” said Sutherland.
The red wolf reintroduction effort has been the subject of years of conflict between wildlife agencies and environmental groups. In 2016, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service halted reintroduction efforts to support the existing wild population. A proposed rule released in June 2018 would have severely restricted conservation efforts and allowed red wolves to be killed with no hunting restrictions outside of a small area of public land in Hyde and Dare counties. A final version of the rule, which generated widespread opposition, has yet to be released.
“For six years, the FWS has not released any captive wolves into the wild population and has not resumed its prior proactive management of coyotes to address hybridization risks in the Red Wolf Recovery Area,” reads the representatives’ letter. “Given that no red wolf reproduction has occurred in the wild for the past two breeding seasons, the continued inaction of the agency will precipitate the extinction of the red wolf in the wild. This is a clear violation of both the public trust and the Endangered Species Act.”
The letter is addressed to U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Aurelia Skipwith and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Regional Director Leopoldo Miranda. It requests that the agency leaders take several specific actions to support the wild red wolf population. These include: introducing new wild breeding pairs “expeditiously,” resuming release of captive pups into wild dens as soon as wild reproduction is established, restarting the coyote sterilization program and other strategies in the Red Wolf Adaptive Management Program, maintaining the current five-county recovery area and identifying additional lands for red wolf habitat, selecting new sites for additional red wolf reintroductions, engaging local communities to protect wild red wolves from gunshot mortalities and supporting targeted education efforts regarding the red wolf’s characteristics and natural history.
The letter was written by Virginia Congressman A. Donald McEachin and co-authored by House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Raúl Grijalva of Arizona and Virginia Congressman Don Beyer. Signatories from North Carolina include District 12 Rep. Alma Adams, District 4 Rep. David Price, District 1 Rep. G.K. Butterfield.
Report feral hogs
A new online tool is available to report sightings of feral hogs or hog damage to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.
The wild hogs are invasive and cause significant damage to plants, prey on native wildlife and compete with native species for food and water resources. They also have the potential to spread disease that pose substantial risk to livestock, wildlife, people and pets.
Reporting sightings will help members of the Commission’s N.C. Feral Swine Task Force better determine priority areas to focus management efforts. The information will help them better understand the distribution and abundance of feral hogs statewide as well as the extent and types of damage they are causing.
To report sightings or damage, visit bit.ly/35rjkOp. For more information about feral hogs, visit www.ncwildlife.org/feral-swine.
Smokies bridge projects will require road closures
Work has begun to replace seven bridges in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and repair seven others, improvements made possible due to two construction contracts recently awarded by the Federal Highway Administration. The work will continue through Jan. 19, 2022, and requires several single-lane closures and a few full road closures to safely accomplish the repairs.
Forge Creek Bridge. NPS photo
Forge Creek Road in the Cades Cove area closed to all use on Nov. 2 and will remain closed through May 27, 2021, for the replacement of five bridges. There will be no access to Henry Whitehead Place or the Gregory Bald Trailhead during this time. Adams Contracting LLC of Lexington, Kentucky, is performing the work through a $3.5 million contract that includes replacement of timber decks, installation of steel beams and building new abutment walls and concrete approach slabs.
Estes Brothers of Jonesville, Virginia, was awarded a separate $1 million contract to replace two bridges and repair seven more in other areas of the park. The repair work includes replacing damaged rails, repointing masonry, sealing cracks and repairing deck joints. Bridges in the following areas will be repaired throughout the contract period and visitors should expect singlelane closures in these areas: two bridges along the Gatlinburg Bypass; two bridges along Little River Road; two bridges in the Elkmont area and one bridge in the Park Headquarters area. When the schedule is finalized this winter, the park will announce dates for a monthlong full closure of the road leading to Ramsey Cascades Trailhead and the road leading to Smoky Mountain Stables in order to fully replace bridges in those areas.
Current road closure information is available at www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm.
Become a sedimentation sentinel
Join a growing group of volunteers working to identify sources of sediment in Western North Carolina streams by participating in one of two six-hour trainings slated for Tuesday, Nov. 10, and Saturday, Nov. 21, in Panthertown Valley.
The training sessions will teach participants what projects produce the biggest benefits and prioritize where coldwater conservation happens. After the training, volunteers can work on their own schedule to cover priority roads and trails in the Tuckasegee, Pigeon, Upper French Broad, Davidson and Mills River Watersheds.
Both sessions will be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cold Mountain Gap Trailhead in Panthertown. To sign up, contact Jeff Wright at jeff.wright@tu.org.
Storm impacts Panthertown access
Hurricane Zeta has washed out a significant portion of a road used to access the Salt Rock Gap Trailhead at Panthertown Valley.
The storm washed out half of Cedar Creek Road coming up from U.S. 64 near Cashiers. The road is closed and will be for some time. Use alternative routes to access Panthertown Valley.
Friends of Panthertown is in the process of assessing the trails to determine the extent of storm damage there. Trail users should be aware of significant risk of blocked trails and the potential for trees and branches to fall from above. Avoid parking or camping in areas where trees could fall.
Cedar Creek Road is closed before its junction with Breedlove Road as the result of storm
damage. James Hughes photo
Help hellbenders
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission wants to hear about hellbender sightings, part of agency biologists’ ongoing effort to learn more about where the giant salamanders live and how their populations are faring.
In North Carolina, the 16-inch aquatic salamanders are found only in fast-moving, clean mountain streams in the western region. Once common, the creatures have disappeared throughout much of their habitat due to declining water quality and habitat degradation, and to a lesser degree due to persecution from anglers who mistakenly think that hellbenders hurt the trout population. While they may occasionally go after a trout on a line, hellbenders eat mainly crayfish and are not poisonous, venomous, toxic or harmful to humans.
Hellbenders are listed as a species of special concern in North Carolina, meaning that taking, possessing, transporting, selling or attempting to do any of the above to a hellbender is a Class I Misdemeanor punishable by a fine and up to 120 days in jail.
Report hellbender sightings to lori.williams@ncwildlife.org or call the Wildlife Interaction Helpline at 866.318.2401.
Explore at REI
From hiking tours to survival classes, REI in Asheville is offering a variety of outdoor-oriented programs this fall.
Prices range from free to $440, depending on the activity, and registration is required at www.rei.com/events/p/us-ncasheville. Courses tend to fill up, so it’s recommended to register as far in advance as possible.
Deadly rabbit disease could spread to N.C.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is asking for help to monitor the spread of a deadly rabbit disease known as rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus serotype 2, or RHDV2.
This fatal disease affects both domestic and wild rabbits. There is no cure for wild rabbits and a vaccine for domestic rabbits is not yet readily available in the United States. The disease has not yet been reported in North Carolina and is currently found primarily in the southwestern U.S. People can spread the virus indirectly by carrying it on their shoes and clothes, but it doesn’t impact human health.
Should the current disease outbreak make its way to the East Coast, the commission is concerned about its potential impact to native rabbit populations, particularly the Appalachian cottontail that is found only in the western part of the state at higher elevations. The Appalachian cottontail is a designated a species of concern by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and classified as vulnerable to critically imperiled throughout most of its range.
Anyone who finds a dead wild rabbit in which the cause of death is not readily apparent, or in which the animal has blood around the nose, mouth or rectum, should refrain from touching it and call the commission’s wildlife helpline
their range. Andrea Shipley/NCWRC photo
at 866.318.2401 or email wildlifehelpline@ncwildlife.org.
The commission will rely on reports of rabbit mortalities to document the disease’s occurrence and potential spread in North Carolina. When moving rabbits from other states into North Carolina, rabbit owners must possess a health certificate or Interstate Certificate of Veterinary Inspection.
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Puzzles can be found on page 38
These are only the answers.
This image from the Museum of Natural History in London is part of the collection
William Bartram painted for John Fothergill in the 1770s. Donated image
Exhibit re-imagines Bartram’s art
An exhibit featuring the work of more than a dozen regional and local artists who have rendered William Bartram’s 18th century artwork into a modern context will open with an outdoor ceremony 4:30 to 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, at the Macon County Public Library.
“Re-imagining Bartram” is hosted by the Georgia-North Carolina Bartram Trail Society and will run through the end of December. It celebrates Bartram’s 1775 exploration of north Georgia and Western North Carolina, during which he described Cherokee villages and customs, plant and animal life, and the mountain landscape of that time. His 1791 publication Travels remains in print and is the only such account of the area from that time period.
To attend the opening or visit the exhibit, contact Kristina Moe at kmoe@fontanalib.org. www.ncbartramtrail.org.
Friends of the Greenway to host craft fair
The Friends of the Greenway will host an Arts and Crafts Fair 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, in Franklin, its only fundraiser of the year.
The event will include music, a raffle drawing, food and vendors at FROG Quarters on 573 E. Main Street. All vendor fees, food purchases and raffle ticket purchases will benefit FROG. COVID19 safety precautions will include increased vendor spacing, hand sanitizer and masks required for vendors and volunteers but encouraged for all others.
Conservation purchase complete in Burke County
The Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina has purchased 322 acres in Burke County, completing the second and final stage of a 652-acre conservation purchase.
The 652 acres comprise the Oak Hill Community Park and Forest, which partners plan to transform into a destination for hiking, mountain biking, outdoor education, archeological exploration, community events and other recreational and educational opportunities. The purchase ensures permanent protection of a segment of Canoe Creek, forested uplands, agricultural land and scenic views of the Blue Ridge and South Mountains. Previously timbered areas of the property will be stewarded through forest restoration projects to create new opportunities for forest management education.
Originally a 913-acre parcel, the land was managed for timber production, private hunting and agriculture. In 2015, it was sold to a land investment partnership, and by 2018, the property was being subdivided and sold.
With the purchase complete, the land trust will now work to develop a park master plan with assistance from Destination by Design. The process will include opportunity for public input and feedback. Foothills Conservancy also hired EcoForesters, a nonprofit professional forestry organization, to complete a Community Forest Plan. A combination of private donations and grants made the purchase possible.
COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
• The Friends of the Greenway will hold its Arts & Crafts Fair fundraiser from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7. All vendor fees, food purchases, and purchased raffle tickets will benefit FROG. The raffle drawing will be at 2 p.m., participants do not have to be present to win. Music will be ongoing during the event. Safety precautions will be in place with vendor spacing, hand sanitizer will be available, masks are required for vendors and FROG volunteers, and encouraged for all others. • Live Forgiven Church will host a grocery giveaway from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 45 Crown Ridge Road Sylva. The event will be held curbside with safety precautions in place. It is open to anyone with shelf stable items, produce and eggs available to donate. Email Chris and Crystal Akers at FoodMinistry@LiveForgiven.Life for more information. • Town of Waynesville will conduct its bi-annual Cemetery Clean-up beginning Nov. 9. Cemetery Staff will begin tagging items to be removed on Oct. 12, items not removed by Nov. 9, will be removed by Town Staff and stored for 60 days. For additional assistance, contact the Public Works Office at 828-456-3706. • Papertown Winter Market will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7 at Bethel Christian Academy in Canton. Admission is free. Vendors are welcome, the cost is $40 for a table and chair at the Market. Contact Jessica Jones at 828.734.9733 for further details.
BUSINESS & EDUCATION
• Summit Charter School will host a k-12 open house at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10 at the school, 370 Mitten Lane, Cashiers, NC 28717. Tours will also include the school's new high school building as well as the Summit Center, which features a gym and classrooms for music and art education. For more information or to RSVP, call 828.743.5755 or email kpusch@summitschool.org. • Franklin’s Mobile Museum, formerly Arduino Club, will meet with masks each Saturday at 1 p.m. outdoors at the Wesley Park pavilion, at 573 NE Main St., Franklin, starting Nov. 7. We will discuss and work on various museum exhibits, this year science themed. The exhibits will travel around the region to school outdoor events. For more info, visit franklinsmobilemuseum.com. • Western Carolina University’s Office of Professional Growth & Enrichment will be offering an online High Impact Leadership Certificate from Monday – Friday, Nov. 9-13, with live instruction, activities and interaction. The program will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day with breaks throughout. Online spots are limited to 24. There are 29 SHRM PDC credits available at the successful completion of the program. The registration fee is $849. The nonprofit rate is $649. For more information and to register, visit pdp.wcu.edu or call 828.227.7397. • In November and December, on the first and third Fridays, a Career Advisor from the Swain County NCWorks Career Center will be at the library to assist job seekers with their job search efforts. Assistance filling out job applications, creating professional resumes, and preparing for interviews will be provided. The Marianna Black Library, a member of the Fontana Regional Library, is located in Downtown Bryson City at the corner of Academy and Rector. For more information or to make an appointment, please call the Marianna Black Library at 828.488.3030 or visit www.fontanlaib.org. n All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted. n To have your item listed email to calendar@smokymountainnews.com
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
• A new Zumba class will start up 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Waynesville Recreation Center. Register with Tom Plowman at tplowman@waynesvillenc.gov or 828.456.2030.
A&E
• An exhibit featuring the work of more than a dozen regional and local artists who have rendered William Bartram’s 18th century artwork into a modern context will open with an outdoor ceremony 4:30 to 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, at the Macon County Public Library. To attend the opening or visit the exhibit, contact Kristina Moe at kmoe@fontanalib.org. • The annual “Polar Express” train ride will kick off the holiday on Nov. 6 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 www.gsmr.com. • “Art After Dark” will continue from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, in downtown Waynesville. It is free to attend Art After Dark. For more information, click on www.waynesvillegalleryassociation.com. • An artist demonstration will be hosted by painter Jennifer Sharkey from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Haywood County Arts Council on Main Street in Waynesville. Free and open to the public. www.haywoodarts.org. • Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host Scoundrel’s Lounge Friday, Nov. 6, Bona Fide Nov. 7 and Good Bonez Nov. 14. All shows begin at 6:30 p.m. Free and open to the public.www.froglevelbrewing.com. • Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host The Pony Express Nov. 7 and Anna Victoria Nov. 14. All shows begin at 7 p.m. For more information and a complete schedule of events, click on www.lazyhikerbrewing.com. • Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host Anna Victoria 7 p.m. Nov. 6. All shows begin at 7 p.m. Free and open to the public. For more information and a complete schedule of events, click on www.lazyhikerbrewing.com. • The Maggie Valley Festival Grounds will host a drivein concert series with Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires (rock/Americana) Nov. 5, Martin Sexton (folk/soul) Nov. 7, Keller Williams & Friends (jam/acoustic) Nov. 13 and St. Paul & The Broken Bones (soul/rock) Nov. 19. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m. Hosted by The Grey Eagle and Worthwhile Sounds, tickets are available at www.thegreyeagle.com. • Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host an open mic from 8 to 10 p.m. every Thursday. Free and open to the public. www.balsamfallsbrewing.com.
FOOD & DRINK
• A ServSafe certification program in food protection will be offered 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 18-19 at the Macon County Cooperative Extension Center. The $125 registration fee is due by Nov. 2. Register at https://macon.ces.ncsu.edu/2020/10/food-protectionmanager-certification. For more information contact Kimberly Terrell, 828.349.2048 or kimberly_terrell@ncsu.edu. • The Elevated Wines Weekend will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at The Village Green Commons Amphitheater in Cashiers. Tickets are $150 for general admission, $100 for local residents of Jackson and Macon County, and a special $50 ticket for anyone in the Cashiers service industry, such as first responders or hospitality and tourism employees. To purchase tickets, visit www.eventbee.com/v/elevatedwines/boxoffice. Tickets will also be available on the day of the event. For additional information, visit www.highlandswineshoppe.com/events, call 828.526.4080 or email director@cashiersgreen.com. • There will be a free wine tasting from 2 to 5 p.m. every Saturday at The Wine Bar & Cellar in Sylva. 828.631.3075. • Bosu’s Wine Shop in Waynesville is offering lunch on Saturdays, “Lunch with us” from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring fresh seasonal menu with outdoor seating, weather permitting. 828.452.0120 or www.waynesvillewine.com. •Bryson City Wine Market offers a new flight line-up of wines to enjoy from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. every Friday and Saturday. The Wine Market also offers market plates for two including a wide array of delectable finger foods. Come by any day for a glass of wine and a Taste of the Market Plate. Call 828.538.0420.
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
Saturdays, Nov. 7 and Nov. 21, in Haywood County. Space is limited. Sign up by calling the Haywood County Recreation and Parks Department at 828.452.6789. • The third annual Outdoor Economy Conference will take place entirely online, but instead of occupying a single day it will instead span an entire month. Sessions will be held noon to 4 p.m. every Thursday in October, with the theme being “The Future of Outdoors.” In addition to presentations, the online format will include ample networking time with peers and presenters alike. Attendees will have access to all conference materials for six months and can purchase an allaccess pass or a-la-carte session tickets. Learn more at www.outdooreconomy.org. • The ninth annual N.C. BikeWalk Transportation Summit will be held online Nov. 5-6. The $50 registration fee — $15 for students — includes a year’s membership with BikeWalkNC. Register at www.bikewalknc.org/nc-bicycle-summit. • The Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference, typically held each year in Savannah,
Outdoors Georgia, will be offered virtually this year Jan. 5-7. For more information, visit www.seregionalconference.org, or call 877.994.3842. • The Friends of the Greenway will host an Arts and • A display of 50 powerful paintings showcasing the Crafts Fair 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, in most remote and wild corners of the Canadian Arctic is Franklin, its only fundraiser of the year. The event will on display through Jan. 3 at the N.C. Arboretum in include music, a raffle drawing, food and vendors at Asheville. Entrance to the exhibit is free with the FROG Quarters on 573 E. Main Street. All vendor fees, arboretum’s standard $16 parking fee. Face coverings food purchases and raffle ticket purchases will benefit are required for visitors age 5 and older. FROG. COVID-19 safety precautions will include increased vendor spacing, hand sanitizer, and mask required for vendors and volunteers but encouraged for all others. • Join a growing group of volunteers working to identify sources of sediment in Western North Carolina streams by participating in one of two six-hour trainings slated for Tuesday, Nov. 10, and Saturday, Nov. 21, in Panthertown Valley. Both sessions will be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cold Mountain Gap Trailhead in Panthertown. To sign up, contact Jeff Wright at jeff.wright@tu.org. • Friends of Panthertown is hosting a series of trail work days this fall, and all are invited to come pitch in. Scheduled work days are Wednesday, Nov. 4; Thursday, Nov. 12; Saturday, Nov. 21; Saturday, Nov. 28; Wednesday, Dec. 2; Friday, Dec. 11; Saturday, Dec. 12; Saturday, Dec. 19. To sign up, visit www.panthertown.org/volunteer. • A three-day cleanup at Fontana Lake will culminate the statewide Trees4Trash Neighborhood Tree Challenge taking place Oct. 31-Nov. 7. Cleanup sessions at Fontana will be held 9 a.m. to noon Friday, Nov. 6, and Saturday, Nov. 7; as well as 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, at Fontana Dam. The cleanup is part of a slate of events hosted by the N.C. Wildlife Federation that stretches across the state and includes plantings, cleanups and giveaways. Due to COVID-19 protocols and space limitations, participants must register online at https://bit.ly/31DR75M. • Learn how to navigate with a map and compass during a free two-day course held 8 a.m. to noon
C 5 ACROSS
ACROSS
1 Patronize for purchases 7 Tennis segment won without loss of a point 15 Dude 20 Actress Duff or Swank 21 Not righted, as wrongs 22 Epic about Troy 23 What a siemens is a unit of 26 Open into flower 27 Seamless shift 28 Get fixated 29 Scottish port 30 Viper type 33 -- T (just so) 34 Broiling bar 35 Diverse assortments 44 Flip out 46 "-- help if ..." 47 -- Khan (Islamic title) 48 Elicit an encore, say 49 Italian entree 55 Ore- -- 56 Gift getter 57 Signs off on 58 "My treat" 59 Mars vehicle 61 "Dilate" artist DiFranco 62 Formerly 63 Oakland team 65 Flukes 70 Many a released prisoner 72 Grandpa Walton player Will 73 Tarzan player Ron 74 Draw out 75 Jai -- 76 Reagan's "Star Wars" prog. 77 Tries to trim down 82 Luau chow 83 Dartboard's rings, e.g. 88 Astral bear 90 Alternate spelling of a word: Abbr. 91 Fair-hiring abbr. 92 Actor Kevin of "Weeds" 93 Part of a routine baby immunization 99 Churn up 100 Stetson, say 101 Ending of ordinals 102 Flow stopper 105 Err in finding the total of 108 Fruity pastries 110 Jaffa citizen 114 Assembly associated with a church creed 118 Put off 119 Cheapest ship quarters, formerly 120 Take out of the pier 121 Number of dwarfs 122 Infuriated 123 Gazes
DOWN
1 The Bible's Queen of -- 2 Far from flat, as terrain 3 Balsam fir or pine extract 4 Lobby orgs. 5 Part of MFA 6 Beginner 7 Jean- -- Godard 8 -- whim 9 Actors Kilmer and Avery 10 "And on and on": Abbr. 11 Bit of babble from a crib 12 Once-a-year 13 Old Persian 14 Academy email ending 15 Activity-tracking device 16 Stretchy 17 See 65-Down 18 Mille -- (Minnesota county) 19 Fruity beverages 24 Apple buy 25 Police cruiser 31 Post-it note, informally 32 Gyro breads 34 Utah's lily 36 Winans with 12 Grammys 37 Be fond of 38 French for "summer" 39 Govt. health agency 40 Tardy 41 Pitted garnishes 42 The Green Party's Ralph 43 Trades jabs 44 Watch readout, for short 45 "So that's your trick!" 50 For the -- (temporarily) 51 Self-pride 52 Run up, as expenses 53 The "A" of OAS: Abbr. 54 Bana of "Troy" 60 Poem of exaltation 61 Suffix with pent- 62 Whale locale 63 Keepsake 64 At least one 65 With 17-Down, Princess or Royal Caribbean 66 Ad -- committee 67 Baldwin of "Aloha" 68 Eye suggestively 69 British soldier of old 70 Add zing to 71 Beautify 75 Prefix for "height" 76 Food filter 77 Three, in Ulm 78 Optimistic declaration 79 Interior-design magazine 80 Saints linebacker Manti -- 81 Tax form ID 84 Egg-shaped things 85 Salt, chemically 86 Clergyman's area: Abbr. 87 Ltd. cousin 89 Civil War folk song 94 Trendy 95 Pursued 96 Hauled (off) 97 Clothes 98 Trendy 103 1970s-'80s sitcom 104 Gets as much as one can out of 105 Docs' orders 106 Big name in slushes 107 1970s-'80s skit show 108 "Toodles!" 109 Read digitally 111 -- -chef (#2 in a kitchen) 112 Peewee pup 113 Cost an arm -- leg 115 Belief system 116 Epoch 117 Guided
ANSWERS ON PAGE 34
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Answers on 34
This year, you can feel the satiisfaction of supporting families who are suffering with the devastating effects of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease and in turn help our loocal businesses and restaurants. Our traditional fundraiser has been n cancelled but your participation has not!
This year’s fundraiser is being held “Covid 199” style, without actual players but with your help we are “in it to win it” as we raise money to assist in the operations of M Maple Leaf Adult Day Care, MemoryCare of Hay ywood County, and HayDRE. These three organizations devote all of the eir time and energy to those in our county who a are making the journey with dementia or other cognitive related disorde ers. With the funds raised, we will be able to provid de scholarships to Maple Leaf Respite for respite care grants for caregivers who need relief, MemoryCare of Haywood Cou unty for patients and families resource support for our Haywood County r residents who are making the journey with demen ntia.
In the past, you have been faithful suppo orters of this fundraiser and we are hoping and praying that we have your continued support... just in a different wa ay.
With d ti illb ki the “long walk” with dementia a little less frighteWith your donation, you will be making the n ning for those families in our t cards for local businesses and/or restaurants, in current Covid 19 closures as you choose gif your name, for your tee gift.
We cannot say enough about the community in which we live. We feel blessed to be
Your tax-deductible checks can be made out to Alzheimer’s Fundraiser, with the Tax ID# of your choice in the memo line.
*Youmayalsoindicateifthiswillbeinhonor/mem You may also indicate if this will be in honor/memoryofsomeonewhohasbeen ory of someone who has been affectedbyAlzheimer’sorothercognitiverelatedaffected by Alzheimers or other cognitive related disorders.
