Bears are denning; what to and what not to do Page 24
CONTENTS
On the Cover:
There have been several milestones in the timeline since the announcement from Pactiv Evergreen that it would shut down its paper mill in Canton; however, none were perhaps bigger than the news that the company had finalized the sale of the property to Eric Spirtas, a man who owns a St. Louis-based company that specializes in the demolition and repurposing of former industrial properties. (Page 6) A Shot Above photo
News
HERE of Jackson requests funding for homeless shelter........................................4 Property values increasing in Jackson ..........................................................................8 Gov. Stein promises intensive storm relief measures................................................9 Jackson seeks solutions in childcare gap..................................................................10
WCU's Project Discovery celebrates, reflects on 40th anniversary..................12 Community briefs..............................................................................................................13
Opinion
Into 2025 with a few ancient principles......................................................................14 Trump and the latest climate change red flag..........................................................14
A&E
WCU’s Bardo Arts Center welcomes ballet, circus acts......................................16 City Lights hosts book readings....................................................................................23
Outdoors
Over the hills and far away: Tsali Ultra race returns to WNC..............................24 Bears are denning; what to and what not to do ....................................................26
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E DITOR /PUBLISHER: Scott McLeod. . . . . . . . . . .
ADVERTISING D IRECTOR: Greg Boothroyd. . .
ART D IRECTOR: Micah McClure. . .
D ESIGN & PRODUCTION: Jessica Murray. . .
Jack Snyder.
D IGITAL MARKETING S PECIALIST Tyler Auffhammer. . .
ADVERTISING SALES: Amanda Bradley. .
Maddie Woodard.
C LASSIFIEDS: Scott Collier. .
N EWS E DITOR: Kyle Perrotti. .
WRITING: Hannah McLeod. .
Cory Vaillancourt.
Garret K. Woodward.
ACCOUNTING & O FFICE MANAGER: Jamie Cogdill. .
D ISTRIBUTION: Scott Collier. . .
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C ONTRIBUTING: Jeff Minick (writing), Susanna Shetley (writing), Adam Bigelow (writing), Thomas Crowe (writing)
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Ingles Nutrition Notes
written by Ingles Dietitian Leah McGrath
FOOD INSPIRATION
Where do you get your food inspiration for cooking or baking?
• If you’re a “Boomer” (born between 1946-1964) you’re likely to have a favorite cookbook or seek out new cookbooks that you can buy, check out from the library, or download to a device. You may also pick up food magazines at a bookstore or in the checkout line if a dish catches your eye. You may also watch cooking shows to get new ideas or “pin” ideas in Pinterest.
• If you’re “Gen X” (born between 1965-1980) you may crowd source recipe ideas from friends on Facebook, use Pinterest to save interesting
streaming cooking show or one on YouTube. If you subscribe to a meal-kit service, it may be to help save time and also meet health/calorie goals.
• If you’re a “Millenial” (born between early 1980’s and mid 1990’s) you may enjoy watching snippets of quick cooking ideas on TikTok or longer format videos on YouTube. Trying to balance a family and a career, you may order meal kits that are fully or partially prepared.
• If you’re “Gen Z” (born in the late 1990’s to early 2010’s) cooking may not be uppermost in your mind and you may think more about assembling quick meals and snacks from ideas you get from TikTok or combine items from the salad bar or deli at Ingles Markets with packaged items from your freezer for a partially homemade meal for yourself.
Just remember, all of these are just generalizations...whatever inspires you to cook or bake foods and meals for yourself and your family is great!
Leah McGrath,
RDN, LDN
Ingles Market Corporate Dietitian
Leah McGrath - Dietitian
BEST BURGER
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HERE of Jackson requests funding for homeless shelter
BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER
HERE of Jackson County, the county’s primary homeless services provider, is requesting half a million dollars from the county to purchase and renovate a facility that would become Jackson’s first and only permanent homeless shelter.
“This shelter would not just be a building, it’s a lifeline for individuals and families in crises,” said Director of HERE in Jackson County, Gretta Worley. “Our vision is the establishment of Jackson County’s first brick and mortar homeless shelter.”
The request comes at a time when Jackson County has lost critical resources for people experiencing homelessness, namely the sale of the University Inn, in addition to housing shortages and an economy riddled with rising costs.
“Homelessness is a reality in our county, and recent developments have made the need for a permanent shelter more urgent than ever,” said Worley during a presentation to the Jackson County Commission Jan. 7.
Until recently, University Inn in Cullowhee participated in a program that provided rooms for HERE of Jackson County to shelter people during extreme cold weather.
“This property served as the largest resource for sheltering individuals and families during these emergencies,” said Worley. “Unfortunately, [the previous owner] sold the University Inn and it has left us without the crucial option during what is already proving to be a harsh winter.”
Through access to the University Inn, HERE had specifically been able to provide emergency shelter for families with children, as well as the elderly, offering up to 30 days of shelter while working to secure payment solutions. The two other hotels that HERE still works with in the county — the Economy Inn and the Golden Eagle Inn — do not accept children.
“This leaves us with no option for families with children who are in crisis,” said Worley. “So right now, I have families
with children that cannot go into shelter because I have no place to put them.”
The lack of available shelter beds means that many in the community are left without protection during extreme weather. Worley says this shelter project is a direct response to that gap.
“At HERE in Jackson County, we are often the first point of contact for individuals experiencing homelessness,” Worley said.
In 2024 alone, HERE’s street outreach program conducted 60 intakes for homeless individuals in Jackson County. The program transitioned 28 households into permanent housing and provided eviction prevention to six households, keeping them in their homes.
“Despite these efforts, the lack of a centralized shelter prevents us from fully addressing the needs of families, children and elderly individuals,” said Worley. “This shelter will fill that void and provide a critical resource to our community.”
President of HERE’s Board of Directors, Marilyn Chamberlin, explained that even in the best of circumstances, using hotels to shelter unhoused individuals and families is not sustainable.
HERE plans to purchase and renovate a former daycare center in Jackson County, creating a facility that will operate as a cold-weather shelter during phase one of the project, capable of housing up to 24 individuals and two families
beginning in November of this year. During the second phase of the project, the facility will transition into a yearround congregate shelter over the course of the following two years, providing a broader range of services and expanded capacity.
Needed renovations for the building include roof replacement, bathroom upgrades to accommodate adults and inte-
“By addressing homelessness proactively, this shelter will help reduce the average duration of homelessness in Jackson County by 40% within the first year.”
— Gretta Worley
rior improvements that, according to Worley, will create “a safe and trauma-free, welcoming environment to residents.”
“Our vision is to make homelessness rare, brief and nonrecurring in Jackson County,” said Worley. “This shelter will not only address immediate housing needs but also connect residents with critical services including case management to help clients transition to stable permanent housing as well as a dedicated case manager to help our clients apply for and attain Social Security Disability Insurance benefits.”
The shelter will also allow people experiencing homelessness to access transportation assistance to jobs, healthcare and referrals to community partners for employment, mental health and other supportive services.
“By addressing homelessness proactively, this F
A
address homelessness in Jackson County. File photo
shelter will help reduce the average duration of homelessness in Jackson County by 40% within the first year,” said Worley. “This shelter will have measurable impacts on our community.”
HERE’s goal will be to transition at least 35% of individuals and 50% of families into stable housing within six months of admittance to the shelter and ensure that any percent of the housed individuals remain stable for at least one year in their residence.
“Beyond these outcomes the shelter will provide a safe, supportive space for individuals and families to regain their footing and build a path to stability,” Worley said.
HERE is requesting $500,000 from the county for the project. The money will go toward purchasing the facility, replacing the roof and updating the bathroom to ready the building for occupation as a cold-weather shelter by November. The organization is also pursuing additional funding through grants, donations and community partnerships in order to expand operations over time. A capital campaign that began in November has raised $24,000 towards the project.
“The impact of this shelter goes beyond numbers, it will directly address the Jackson County Board of Commissioners’ mission to ensure no life is at risk due to extreme weather; it will provide families with children and elderly individuals a safe and secure place to stay during times of crisis,” Worley said. “It will alleviate the strain on emergency services, healthcare and other community resources such as the county jail by creating a ripple effect of benefits across Jackson County.”
While HERE in Jackson County has reached out to Dogwood Health Trust to assist with funding in the past, Chamberlin says the organization is currently focusing nearly all its funding toward relief from Hurricane Helene.
The half a million dollar ask HERE is requesting from the county is significantly lower than the $3 million ask the organization floated a few years ago when the county was receiving American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
“I think the $500,000 is well within reach,” said Commission Chairman Mark
WNC counties to receive broadband upgrades
The N.C. Department of Information Technology’s (NCDIT) Division of Broadband and Digital Equity posted Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program scopes of work to expand high-speed internet access to unserved and underserved homes and businesses at approximately 67,724 eligible locations, in several counties, including Haywood, Macon and Swain.
The division posted 53 additional CAB program scopes of work on Nov. 26 to serve approximately 93,674 eligible locations and previously awarded nearly $118 million to fund CAB projects in 44 counties, bringing high-speed internet to almost 47,000 homes and businesses.
Internet service providers that are prequalified to participate in state broad-
Letson. “My biggest question is, who’s going to monitor, ensure that, especially if families are going to be in there, some of the mental health aspects and drug use?”
Chamberlin said the shelter would be staffed 24 hours. Like other shelters in the area, clients at HERE’s shelter would not be allowed to remain in the building 24 hours each day.
“They have to leave in the morning,” said Worley.
Commissioner Jenny Lynn Hooper inquired where people staying at the shelter go if they aren’t allowed to be there for 24 hours.
Chamberlin said that clients may be seeking mental health services during the day, working jobs, or using services that help connect them with employment.
“There’s lots of things that we can work with them to do,” said Chamberlin. “We’re not just going to set them out into the street.”
“Are these mandatory, that they go to these classes and that they work, or try to seek a job?” Hooper asked. “I mean there’s help wanted signs all over the place.”
Worley told commissioners that while HERE can suggest and offer employment services, it can’t force them upon those staying at the shelter.
“Well, if you can’t make them want to do something to either seek mental health and get a job or both, then they don’t have to do anything, they can just stay like they are,” said Hooper.
Regulations tied to funding that HERE receives through the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development promotes a “housing first” method that Worley said prevents the organization from forcing clients into any kind of services.
“If we do that, we lose the money that we have to help them to have for rent,” said Chamberlin. “With housing first, the federal government feels like as long as you have housing, then the other things will come. You’ll have a shower, you’ll feel like you can go to work, you feel like you can go out and look for a job. So that’s not our decision, that’s HUD.”
The board will consider HERE’s request for funding for a permanent homeless shelter during its upcoming budget season.
band expansion programs may submit proposals to provide broadband to all or a portion of eligible locations within each county.
“This public-private partnership will help achieve Governor Roy Cooper’s goal to close the digital divide and ensure more North Carolinians can access affordable and reliable high-speed internet,” a press release stated. “Funds come from the Biden-Harris administration’s American Rescue Plan.”
Each county’s scope of work will be posted until Feb. 17, 2025, at ncbroadband.gov/activecab-proposals and will include the evaluation criteria by which an internet service provider will be chosen and the instructions for submitting proposals. A map of each county’s eligible locations is located on NC OneMap’s CAB Planning Tool. For more information about the NCDIT Division of Broadband and Digital Equity, visit ncbroadband.gov.
Local officials feel good about Pactiv mill parcel sale in Canton
BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS EDITOR
Apprehension over the fate of a huge industrial parcel in the heart of Canton is now transitioning to cautious optimism.
A press release issued Jan. 10 by the St. Louis-based developer who’s been pursuing the 185-acre plot upon which the shuttered Pactiv Evergreen paper mill in Canton has sat dormant since last May says he’s successfully acquired the site.
“Our vision is to breathe new life into this dormant site, transforming it into a hub of industrial, commercial and residential activity that will benefit the town of Canton and strengthen commerce in the area,” said Eric Spirtas, president and director of communications for Two Banks Development and Spirtas Worldwide. “We are committed to collaborating with local, regional and national experts to develop a master plan that reflects the best ideas and concepts for sustainable growth.”
Pactiv shocked Western North Carolina in March 2023, when the company announced that the century-old mill would be shut down in a matter of months, leaving nearly a thousand workers unemployed. Since then, developers have shown plenty of interest in the 185-acre parcel but made little progress in coming to terms with Pactiv until now.
Spirtas was slated to close a deal with Pactiv on Oct. 1, 2024; however, Hurricane Helene caused floodwaters from
the Pigeon River to inundate the site on Sept. 27. Spirtas declined to close on that date, saying he wanted the opportunity to inspect the site for damage but Pactiv wouldn’t let him. Pactiv subsequently filed suit against Spirtas. That suit now appears to be water under the bridge; however, Pactiv is still embroiled in a number of other legal issues related to its ownership of the site, including a property tax appeal and a suit alleging the company violated the terms of a $12 million economic development grant from 2014.
Those suits won’t likely affect Spirtas, who’s been passionate about acquiring the site and putting it back into productive use.
His redevelopment plan aims to boost the local economy by revitalizing the site into a mixed-use hub. Key initiatives include attracting manufacturing businesses, developing retail or office spaces and constricting badly needed housing.
Last July, the town rezoned the parcel, splitting the western half into light industrial and the eastern half into general business. Formerly, the entire site was designated as heavy industry, but the rezone seems to align with some, if not all, of Spirtas’ stated goals. Plans include public forums and collaboration to honor the site’s legacy while fostering sustainable growth.
Perhaps the biggest implication of the sale is the fate of the mill’s wastewater treatment facility — a critical piece of infrastructure that has treated the town’s wastewater for decades. The treatment agreement was slated to end in March. The town has the funds to construct a new site but doesn’t have a location. Now, there’s room for negotiation over the continuing use of the facility by Canton.
“We’re going to make sure it’s town and county first in those types of decisions,” Spirtas told The Smoky Mountain News last May.
Then-Gov. Roy Cooper took an active interest in the situation in Canton, along with then-Attorney General Josh Stein, who filed the economic devel- F
File photo
Eric Spirtas. LinkedIn photo
Pactiv Evergreen’s Canton paper mill, seen here more than a decade ago, finally has a new owner. File photo
opment lawsuit against Pactiv. Now governor, Stein is hopeful the sale will bear fruit.
“This project has the opportunity to bring jobs and new growth,” Stein told SMN. “I look forward to seeing what’s ahead for Canton.”
Stein’s Press Secretary Olivia Weidie said that litigation against Pactiv continues alongside the NC Department of Justice. Nazneen Ahmed, communications director for Attorney General Jeff Jackson, confirmed that.
“The sale of the mill site in Canton does not affect Attorney General Jackson’s lawsuit against Pactiv to repay the state for the $12 million it owes for closing the mill,” said Ahmed. “Our lawsuit continues on behalf of Canton’s residents and North Carolina taxpayers.”
Stein took advantage of a visit to Canton’s new Champion Credit Union headquarters — still under construction — on Jan. 14 to meet Spirtas and discuss his plans in detail, although Stein said it was still too early to discuss what economic development incentives, if any, might be available to Spirtas as his redevelopment progresses.
“Canton, as we all know, has taken on the chin these last couple years, the flood three years ago, then followed up by Hurricane Helene in September, the mill closing last year, but Canton can and will come back. Champion Credit Unions investment here in the community is evidence of that. I’m excited to meet with Mr. Spirtas to talk about his plans, what he wants to do with the property now that that deal has closed,” Stein said. “So we’ve been down in a dark place, but we’re going to come up to a brighter sky.”
Legislative leaders see a tremendous upside to the deal.
“Closing down was a huge economic blow to Haywood County, and getting it back into use is going to be good for workers in the area as far as jobs go, and putting it back on the tax rolls for the town and the county will be too,” said Sen. Kevin Corbin (R-Franklin). “It’s been sitting silent for months now, and it will be good to see some activity out there.”
Corbin doesn’t technically represent the mill parcel — several Haywood precincts were shaved of the 50th Senate District during the last redraw, putting the site in the district of Sen. Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell) — but Corbin still effectively handles constituent concerns there.
Rep. Mark Pless (R-Haywood) represents the entirety of Haywood County.
“I think it’s great opportunity, especially for the town of Canton and Haywood County as far as tax revenue goes, but we really need the jobs, so I’m hopeful he’s going to do something that will bring some good paying jobs back to county,” Pless said.
Pless, like Corbin, has been instrumental in helping the town deal with the impact of the mill’s closure by securing millions in direct appropriations from the General Assembly.
that the parties involved are continuing to work out the details.
Kevin Ensley, chair of the Haywood Board of Commissioners, recalls the days when Champion Paper, as it was known for decades, was a good neighbor and community member in Haywood County under the leadership of owner Reuben Robertson. It hasn’t been that way for a long time now, but Ensley is optimistic that there will be less frustration dealing with Spirtas than with Pactiv.
“I think that it’ll be good because we can actually talk to a person and get an answer,” Ensley said. “We’ve not been able to do that before. At least we’ve got someone who can make a decision and sign a document.”
From a county government perspective, the biggest impact of the mill’s closing was taxes; sales taxes from purchases made by the mill or by mill employees spending their paychecks locally and property taxes owed on the $19.7 million parcel, but especially business personal property taxes on items valued near $250 million, according to Haywood County Manager Bryant Morehead.
“I am thrilled about the successful sale of the Canton paper mill to Spirtas Worldwide,” Morehead said. “Over the past several months, I’ve had the privilege of getting to know Eric and learning about his vision to redevelop the site. His approach promises to rejuvenate our local economy while preserving Canton’s rich industrial heritage. Initially, when the mill’s closure was announced, I feared the site might remain shuttered, posing a long-term challenge for Haywood County. However, Spirtas’ commitment to growth and collaboration reassures us that this redevelopment will benefit all residents.”
still some unknowns there but I’m going to operate from a position of trust as a town official and do everything in my power to make sure that it works. Time will tell.”
On wastewater, Hamlett said he’s hopeful that Spirtas will be a good partner with the town and that the town would strive to be a good partner with him. The wastewater treatment facility is outdated, and something still needs to be done, Hamlett said, but he looks forward to the day that the town will control its own destiny with wastewater treatment.
Zeb Smathers, Canton’s mayor, said he’s pleased with the sale but that there was still much to be done.
“I have been and remain cautiously optimistic. I’ve had some amazing conversations with Eric. I think he fully knows our expectation that this mill site is not a project that should aim to be good, but rather great.”
— Zeb Smathers, Canton Mayor
David Francis, formerly in economic development with the county, now performs that function as the CEO and president of the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce. Few were as involved as Francis was with trying to hammer out details on the mill parcel’s future.
“I’ve been working with Spirtas for about a year now; I visited him in St. Louis after he announced the letter of intent back in May,” Francis said. “I spent a lot of hours with him, and since mid-December, it’s been a lot of work for him and his team to get to this point. We’re really proud that his happened and looking forward to these next few years for the makeover of Canton to bring back economic prosperity and take some worry off the town and county.”
Regarding wastewater treatment, Francis said it had of course been a topic since even before Hurricane Helene and
“I have been and remain cautiously optimistic. I’ve had some amazing conversations with Eric. I think he fully knows our expectation that this mill site is not a project that should aim to be good, but rather great,” Smathers told The Smoky Mountain News Jan. 10. “The standard is that we look through the eyes of the millworkers and the community and we do something that honors their service and meets their expectations. This can and should be an economic furnace not for just us, but for the entire region when we need it the most.”
Although discussions about wastewater treatment are ongoing, Smathers has a high degree of confidence that the problem is solved, at least for now.
“There are many things that keep me up at night. Canton’s future. Housing for flood victims. Flood recovery. I am not losing sleep over future of wastewater treatment,” Smathers said. “I am extremely confident that come March the wastewater treatment needs of the town will be met with no interruptions.”
Smathers’ governing board, which has spent countless hours in closed-session discussion over the mill’s fate, largely shares his sentiments.
“We had a known with Pactiv Evergreen, and that known, we didn’t like,” said Alderman Ralph Hamlett. “Now we have a new player. I say I’m hopefully optimistic because there are
Kristina Proctor, a Canton alderwoman, said she’s not personally met Spirtas, but she feels it’s important to ensure that citizens have input on what happens next. Spirtas’ assertion that he’d hold public meetings, forums and workshops to gather input and keep the community informed about progress and opportunities was welcome, she said.
“I think that shows somebody who sincerely wants to be a member of this community, who wants to listen to feedback and insight before major decisions for the property are made,” Proctor said. “I think it shows a good line of communication and good faith so we can build the relationship we need for success, long-term.”
Canton Mayor Pro Tem Gail Mull remains concerned about wastewater, the town’s budget and the identity of the town itself — a milltown without a mill — but as the only board member who actually worked at the mill, she is looking forward to the change.
“It’s a beginning, not an end,” Mull said. “There’s all sorts of possibilities out there, we just have to discover them. Our future certainly looks a lot brigther with Eric Spirtas that it did with Pactiv.”
Alderman Tim Shepard echoed his colleagues in his assessment of what, exactly, this means for the town.
“I guess the best way to say it is cautiously optimistic. In previous communications we’ve had with Mr. Spirtas, he has conveyed the desire to be a good partner with the town to help folks in Canton, and I’m optimistic that will hopefully happen,” Shepard said. “There is a sense of relief that the interim period between the mill shutting down and us not knowing what was going to happen is closed, and I’m looking forward to the next chapter. At least now we’re moving forward and not in a holding pattern.”
The mill, established in 1908, played a significant role in the region for generations before its closure in June 2023. As of Jan. 14, terms of the sale had not yet been disclosed, and no deed has yet been recorded.
Haywood Chamber President David Francis (left to right), Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers and Gov. Josh Stein walk through downtown Canton shortly after Pactiv announced the mill woudl close in 2023. Cory Vaillancourt photo
Property values increasing in Jackson
BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER
Astate-mandated, county-wide property reappraisal took effect on Jan. 1 this year.
Prior to the appeals process, the reappraisal showing a massive increase in real property taxable value for Jackson.
“North Carolina is in the top 10 most popular states at the moment,” said Tax Collector Tabitha Ashe. “A lot of people want to be in North Carolina and that’s just driving everything up.”
State law requires counties to conduct property reappraisals once every eight years. Jackson County is on a four-year reappraisal cycle to try and allow for smaller, more regular increases to property values, rather than spreading out larger increases over time.
mission on Jan. 7, Ashe went through several examples of different types of homes that have sold in Jackson for well over their previously assessed value. One mobile home assessed at $29,310 sold last January for $34,000, or 16% more than its assessed value. Another home in Scotts Creek previously assessed at $1,676,670 sold for $4,700,000 in October, a 180% increase from its assessed value.
“The real estate market is constantly changing,” said Ashe. “We’re required to pinpoint Jan. 1 of the reappraisal year … We have to make sure that that value reflects what it would be Jan. 1 of this year. That’s a little bit different than what a lot of people are used to expecting.”
Out of all North Carolina counties, in June, Jackson County had the highest medi-
“There’s a drastic discrepancy between what our assessed values are, what things are selling for and what things are listed for. It does not mean they’ll actually sell for that amount but just shows the drastic increase.”
Tabitha Ashe , Jackson County Tax Collector
Real property taxable value in the county stood at about $11.45 billion in 2024. As of Jan. 1, that number has increased by almost $7 billion, or 60%, to about $18.4 billion.
“We’re still finalizing values, and we’ve got a lot of data checks to do, but currently we’re projecting the tax base to grow nearly seven billion, over 60%,” said Ashe. “Which is a huge amount. In 2021 it went up 17%, maybe one or two billion.”
Before the last reappraisal, which took effect Jan. 1 of 2025, the median home sale price in Jackson County was $288,997. As of November, it was $423,071, which is a 46% increase overall.
In Sylva, the median home sale price went from $216,842 to $320,196, which is a 48% increase, over the four-year period. In Cashiers, the median sale price went from $760,447 to $1.4 million, increasing by 83%.
In her presentation to the county com-
an home listing price at $849,500. Ashe referenced at least five examples of homes for sale in Jackson County that are currently listed over 200% higher than the value they are assessed at, one of which was listed 305% higher than its assessed value.
“There’s a drastic discrepancy between what our assessed values are, what things are selling for and what things are listed for,” said Ashe. “It does not mean they’ll actually sell for that amount but just shows the drastic increase.”
Notices for property reappraisals will not go out until February, after which people will have one month to appeal their home’s assessed value. This could alter the overall county tax base increase, but Ashe says she does “still expect a very large increase overall.”
“There will be a lot of people that are getting a lot of sticker shock, especially people who have not really followed the real estate
market, have no desire to sell their property, things like that, it’s going to be very shocking,” said Ashe.
Of course, while the overall tax base increase is currently estimated at 60%, this does not mean that every home in Jackson is increasing in value by 60%. All of the change is based on the sales that occur within the taxing neighborhood a home is in.
“Sales in Cashiers are never used for any other township,” Ashe said. “Sales in High Hampton are never used for any other taxing neighborhood. We always try to make sure that everything is in a very similar area because they follow different market patterns … our county has a lot of variation.”
Different property types, whether it be vacant land, condos, residential dwellings or mobile homes, all change at different rates.
what you feel like the property could sell for based on the sales information that we have. If you do not agree with it, we recommend that you go ahead and appeal and just let us take another look at it.”
Reappraisal notices will go out to the public Feb. 3. At that point individuals will have a 30-day appeal window ending March 5. This year there will be an online appeal option in addition to the physical form. The tax office will not make any appeal decisions until after the appeal deadline has passed.
“We’re actually taking all of that, looking at each taxing neighborhood, seeing how many appeals we have in each one, using that to make sure there’s not particular things we’re missing,” Ashe said. “Is it one person appealing from the whole neighborhood, the whole neighborhood appealing? That helps us to gauge.”
This also allows the tax office more time to help people through the appeals process while that option is available.
“Our goal is to ensure that all of our property owners feel they are paying their fair share, nothing more, nothing less,” said Ashe. “We want your assessed value to be
The property reappraisal itself will determine the assessed value of each property in Jackson County. It will be up to commissioners to determine the millage rate in the county as they work through a budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The tax rate is currently set at $0.38 cents per $100 of assessed property value. In reappraisal years, commissioners can decide whether to set a revenue neutral rate, a lower tax rate that results in the same property tax revenues for the county due to increased property values, or to maintain the same tax rate which results in higher property tax revenues for the county. The commission could also choose to increase the tax rate and even further increase property tax revenues. In the 20242025 budget, property tax revenues accounted for around 48% of the $93.8 million budget.
“People really want to be able to know what that new bill’s going to be and we have no way of really giving them a good estimate until all municipal boards finalize rates and that’s usually way after the appeal period has passed,” said Ashe. “People can’t really appeal the millage rate anyway. They could come do public hearings and comment and things like that, but really our goal is we just want to make sure that the assessed value is correct.”
There are avenues for property tax relief available through state programs, for which people can apply until June 1. Those programs are an option for people who are 65 or older or disabled, full-time North Carolina residents and have a gross spousal household income of $37,900 or less. There is also relief available for veterans with a 100% VA disability rating.
Gov. Josh Stein has made it clear that he intends on prioritizing Hurricane Helene relief in Western North Carolina.
Shortly after being sworn in on Jan. 1, Stein issued six executive orders meant to expedite aid to the still-devastated region where some have complained about a slow response, especially when it comes to housing amid frigid temperatures.
Stein enters office following the end of fellow Democrat Roy Cooper’s second term. Stein, the former attorney general, has focused on storm recovery, even creating a special team made up of experts and former staffers.
In his brief inaugural address from the State Capitol on Jan. 11, Stein focused heavily on recovery efforts, invoking often how North Carolinians’ hardiness has been crucial during this tough time. He called attention to the courage of everyday citizens, also recalling a few brave acts in the face of danger over the last couple centuries.
“Tragedy is not new to our state, but neither is goodness, neither is resilience,” Stein said.
“Hurricane Helene brought unprecedented devastation, heartbreaking loss of life, destruction of homes and businesses and ruination of critical infrastructure, but it also revealed our state’s character,” he later added.
Stein mentioned a few specific people who went above and beyond, putting others first amid disaster and uncertainty. One was Terryll Evans, who owns the radio station WPTL, based out of Canton.
“[She] hardly left her post so she could broadcast essential information to the desperate people of Haywood County,” Stein said.
Stein also mentioned a few specific areas where he hopes to see improvement on the government’s end when it comes to storm relief efforts.
“We must fast-track getting people back into their homes as soon as possible,” he said, adding that he wants to help small business owners while also rebuilding water systems, roads, bridges and dams so they are “resilient” and can withstand future natural disasters.
The executive order Stein mentioned specifically was the one that allows people to put an RV on their own property to provide temporary housing.
During a brief press conference at Canton’s new Champion Credit Union headquarters, Stein further discussed flood relief efforts, mentioning his executive order that would expedite the delivery of 1,000 “temporary transitional trailers” that can be placed on people’s property. He encouraged people who can put those shelters on their own property while their homes are repaired or rebuilt to take advantage of the opportunity.
“When we know folks are on their own property, the reconstruction, the redevelopment, that can happen earlier,” he said.
Stein added that people who need assistance should reach out to FEMA, noting that there are programs that haven’t yet been formed at the state level that will help with costs associated with housing, such as first months’ rents.
“If you’ve been displaced because of the storm, your house was damaged or destroyed and it’s not yet habitable, you are entitled to housing assistance… some of those folks will raise their hand and say, ‘I don’t need this anymore.’ But if anyone in Western North Carolina is not in that situation, but they still need housing because their house is uninhabitable, they are entitled to that continued assistance by FEMA. We want them to apply for that.”
Stein is likely to face some degree of resistance from the Republican-dominated General Assembly. While GOP House and Senate members often stood against Cooper, in his inaugural address, Stein ultimately called on legislators to work with him on a bipartisan basis to do what’s best for the state, especially when it comes to storm recovery.
“We have real problems to solve, and we don’t have time to settle petty political scores or fight divisive culture wars,” he said. “I want to stand with you as we fight for our people, not with each other. No party has all the answers. Good ideas do not come with party labels. When we work together, we are stronger, and there is no limit to what we can accomplish for the good of the state.”
Stein inauguration: Josh Stein was elected North Carolina’s governor last November and was sworn in earlier this month. X photo
Jackson seeks solutions in childcare gap
BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER
Jackson County has been working to develop a plan it hopes will mend the multigenerational workforce issue that is impacting communities around the country — childcare, and the lack of availability — on the local level.
that in some cases those jobs could be filled if there was childcare that matched the needs of that parent or family.”
When a child has a safe setting in which to be cared for, parents and other family members are able to pursue employment or educational opportunities that may lead to employment.
Development Commission centers in October of 2023.
“As a non-profit agency, we have asked for additional funding from our government funders, and this has not been granted to us at this time,” Sheila Hoyle, executive director of Southwestern Child Development Commission, told The Smoky Mountain
can chip away at it, knowing we’re not going to solve the big problem here locally in Jackson County, because it’s way bigger than we are,” Economic Development Director Tiffany Henry told the Jackson County Commission in a report on Jan. 7.
Through grant funding from Dogwood Health Trust, Jackson County was able to solicit the services of Business of Childcare, an agency that works to guide childcare business owners, operators, providers and the communities they serve toward better outcomes. Over the course of several months, Business of Childcare has hosted workshops and conversations with childcare stakeholders in order to get a picture of the childcare environment in Jackson County and determine actionable solutions.
The importance of affordable and available childcare in a community extends beyond the obvious level of providing care and vital developmental services for children.
“We think about it a lot and had a lot of conversations around why it’s even more important for communities from a workforce perspective,” said President of Business of Childcare Jeff Andrews. “Just as we highlight opportunities for jobs, help wanted signs around the county, we know
from a community perspective and it’s an economic multiplier,” said Andrews.
Beginning in September, Business of Childcare hosted six different workshop sessions, as well as follow up conversations with individuals who weren’t able to participate, to identify current problems and opportunities related to childcare.
“Importantly, in each of those sessions we focused the last half on what, if any of those, look like as a win, meaning, if it were better tomorrow, what does that mean?” Andrews said. “With all of that information, we came back together to really start to review what do those things start to look like as solutions.”
Business of Childcare will present its Childcare Solutions Activation Plan to the public during a session at 6:15 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, at the Department on Aging in Sylva.
Of the existing childcare centers in Jackson County, the smallest waiting list has four children on it, and the largest waiting list has 45 children. Two facilities have between 25- and 30-person waiting lists, and one center has nine on its waiting list.
While staffing vacancies at childcare center have decreased from 50 in March of 2023 to 37 in December of 2024, that is largely due to the closing of the Southwestern Child
choice but to close our childcare programs.”
When the closures took place, Jackson was already working with Business of Childcare and the two worked together to help other facilities with staff shortages absorb staff from the Southwestern Child Development centers, as well as some of those children.
“We were able to help find placement for a lot of those just because we were already collaborating and working together,” said Andrews.
Overall, the Business of Childcare found that there were as many as 900 additional childcare slots needed in the county, though without further investigation it is impossible to know how many of those 900 or so children who are not accessing childcare already have available care through care by family, friends, or alternative methods.
Like many industries right now, staffing is perhaps the largest hurdle for childcare centers.
“Programs are still faced with increasing pressure, mainly due to labor force and the available labor and the cost of that labor,” said Andrews. “Significant increases, almost leading all other industries on growth, of wages is the childcare factor.”
Andrews noted that childcare employees often make far below F
Jackson County is looking at options to make more childcare options available. Stock photo
“even what the retail establishments of many communities are offering.”
“That is our biggest contributing cost,” Andrews said. “And people say, ‘why is it so expensive?’ I say, ‘because people get paid, and this is a people-focused business.’”
In addition to a lack of available infant and preschool childcare, Business of Childcare found a lack of alternative childcare options such as afterschool programs, opportunities during the summer and extended hours childcare.
“But I think there was a wide belief that the early education field is well-represented in your area, well positioned to be a great partner in continuing to guide some of this work,” Andrews said.
When Superintendent of Jackson County Public Schools Dana Ayers was hired in 2021, she said one of her primary goals would be to expand access to early childhood education and literacy.
Since then, the school system has more than doubled its pre-K capacity with an additional class each at Smoky Mountain Elementary, Cullowhee Valley, Scotts Creek Elementary, Fairview Elementary and Blue Ridge schools, in part due to funding from Dogwood Health Trust and Blue Ridge School Foundation.
of these other things,” Andrew said. “What does childcare mean? Why is it important? Why do we want our kids to be getting prepared to show up in kindergarten? Whatever that might be under that umbrella, it provides an opportunity for the bigger community to be a part of that work and that engagement.”
Andrews also highlighted the importance of creating a workforce and talent pipeline from existing educational entities into childcare careers.
“We need more people doing this work, and part of that is working within the school systems and building on what exists — mentoring programs and others that often maybe need a few more resources or even a few more people,” said Andrews.
“An opportunity to show the career pathway that early education or childcare, whether as a professional worker in one of the centers or even going out and starting your own or doing something in the realm, is actually a good place to go and it’s a good place to be and it’s meaningful.”
Most importantly though, Andrews noted, careers in childcare have to be an option in which people can “make a wage that allows you to pay rent and buy groceries.”
In August of last year, the school system added an infant and toddler classroom at Scotts Creek School to help in providing childcare for JCPS employees.
In North Carolina today, the supply of child care falls short of demand with an average of over five families competing for every one available licensed child care slot statewide. Among parents with children under the age of six, 81% pay for childcare, and families in the state spend an average of $633 per month, according to a report from the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce.
While Andrews did not give a presentation of the full activation plan to commissioners at their Jan. 7 meeting, he did present the idea of a formal organization focused on Jackson County and all things childcare and early education.
“The group consensus of the different meetings and conversations is yes, there’s a great opportunity for that because, beyond that formal structure, it gives us an opportunity to have a platform to amplify some
Part of the activation plan from Business of Childcare will first involve working to maximize capacity at existing centers in Jackson County, several of which are operating below capacity due to staffing constraints.
“Everybody’s facing this same problem with childcare, and you may wonder why me, as Economic Development Director, is up here talking about childcare,” Henry told commissioners. “Childcare, housing, all these things impact economic development. That’s why I kind of took the lead with this. Our childcare providers are extremely busy and covered up and wanted to do this work, but they haven’t had the capacity to do it.”
In addition to Jackson County Economic Development, DSS, Region A Partnership for Children, Jackson County Public Schools and Southwestern Child Development have all been included in the work with Business of Childcare.
Business of Childcare will present its Childcare Solutions Activation Plan to the public during a session at 6:15 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, at the Department on Aging in Sylva.
Officials are arguing that childcare can improve the local economy. Donated graphic
WCU’s Project Discovery celebrates, reflects on 40th anniversary
Heath Robertson sat at the back of the bus on a college tour trip when he was asked about his future plans. Robertson’s answer? He didn’t have any.
He didn’t think he could afford college, and even if he could, he sure didn’t have the grades. To him, it wasn’t even an option — but that’s where Talent Search, now called Project Discovery, which is hosted by Western Carolina University, stepped in.
“Had they not had that long sit down with me on that trip, I probably wouldn’t have gone (to college),” Robertson said. “Lord only knows what would’ve happened because I know where I was headed, and it wasn’t anywhere good.”
Years later, Robertson has a doctorate and works at Cherokee Central Schools. Project Discovery has heard stories like that for decades, as it celebrates its 40th anniversary this academic year.
Project Discovery is a college access program funded by the U.S. Department of Education that serves low-income and firstgeneration, college-bound students.
Along with encouraging students to graduate high school and pursue a college education for the last four decades, Project Discovery has also helped students navigate the challenges of taking standardized tests, finding financial aid, applying to college and much more.
“There’s so many ways that that kind of touches me and speaks to me,” Project Discovery Director JennieV. Sorrells said on the 40-year milestone.
“I think one thing about being here for 40 years is the depth of relationships that we have in our communities and the opportunity that’s given to us to become a program that really is embedded in so many of the communities that we work with.”
kind of attempting to get into that realm and seeing what you can do.”
However, even after high school and both siblings went to the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill for undergrad, Sorrells’ support didn’t stop there.
“Her ‘job’ ended after I went off to college, but because she cared about where I was and what I was doing, she continued to reach out to be a resource for me through my college education,” Brooklyn said.
“I feel like even today I can reach out to JennieV. if I needed a recommendation for a job or something. She’s there.”
And still, years after their time in Project Discovery, former students know the importance of the program, especially to a largely rural part of the state.
“School systems in general, especially in rural communities, don’t have that economic stability,” Noland said. “When you’re in a home that doesn’t have a lot of economic stability and you’re kind of just working to make ends meet, you might not have the forethought for ‘I want to go to college,’ but having someone like JennieV. and Project Discovery as a whole to help and give you that support can open your eyes a little bit.”
The program assists students from 15 middle and high schools across Western North Carolina. While Project Discovery is a college-focused program, its middle school students receive no less attention from any other.
Brooklyn Brown, a Swain County High School and WCU alumna, saw the value in the program when she was in middle school. With the help of Project Discovery, she started to get an idea of what courses to take in high school and where and what she might study in college.
Her brother, Noland Brown, was also a Project Discovery student, and as a high schooler, he understood its value, too.
“Just the amount of support that JennieV. gave us with those common apps and with FAFSA, that’s a lot of really difficult things to navigate when you don’t have the resources to do so,” Noland said. “Having that support system is so important whenever you’re moving to higher education and
That support led to Noland graduating from UNC Chapel Hill debt free after Sorrells helped him with his interviews, essay prompts and resume skills for a scholarship that paved the way for his education.
For the last 40 years, that’s what Project Discovery has been all about. It’s been about helping families understand the landscape of applications and financial aid. It’s been about getting them to a good place.
And it’s been about seeing the impact the program has made in the long run.
“Sitting with them in that uneasy space, and then knowing that it works out and they find a good fit always feels good knowing that they have been enrolled in a school,” Sorrells said.
“But then once they graduate, it’s really meaningful to me because I most often see them coming back to their communities and being able to contribute and support themselves, support a family and then support other people in their community.”
Summertime snowfields shine on the Rockies as Project Discovery students make a long climb during a 2016 trip to Colorado. WCU photo
Community Almanac
Blanket auction to benefit local organizations
Students in the professional crafts fiber program at Haywood Community College created 10 blankets to support the community in response to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. These blankets were created during the fall 2024 semester as part of student coursework to give them away for a good cause to help the community. Shortly after the storm hit the area, Amy Putansu, professional crafts fiber instructor, wanted to take action. In addition to a wool mill in the eastern part of the country shutting its doors and looking to donate their wool and the need for classroom lab hours to be made up in the curriculum, this initiative was developed, and blankets were made.
Each weaver chose a historical overshot pattern to convert into a double weave for this project. The patterns are recognizable as they are identified with the Appalachian tradition of handwoven coverlets and are constructed of washable wool. Each weaver carefully considered pattern and material to ensure they are functional, beautiful, warm blankets.
Each weaver chose a historical overshot pattern to convert into a double weave for this project.
Donated photo
their “own” adult who believes in them and is willing to spend a little time hanging out and having fun.
All year, but especially during National Mentoring Month in January, BBBSWNC’s 18 mountain branches are recruiting local, big-hearted adults who will spend a few hours a month with their “Little.”
Perfection isn’t required. Working on schoolwork, going for ice cream, taking in a movie — that’s all it takes to be a Big. Being a good listener and a dependable, responsible human being are all it takes to be a mentor.
Bigs are vetted, guided, and supported by trained BBBS program coordinators who suggest (and often organize) outings for the matches. Bigs are paired with Littles based on their common interests.
Don’t want to be a Big? The community can also support the local BBBS branch by donating at bbbswnc.org. The branches thrive on support from local sponsors and friends.
Another super-fun way to support local kids is to get a team together for Bowl For Kids’ Sake in March, BBBS’s biggest annual fundraiser (learn more and register at secure.qgiv.com/event/bfks2025). Teams will bowl two games while having a blast with the other teams. To support BBBS, they’re asked to raise $50 or more per bowler. If they’d rather not bowl, they can simply donate to a specific team.
The online auction is made available in partnership with WARP (Weave the Real Peace), with 100% of the proceeds of the blanket sales benefiting two local organizations, BeLoved Asheville and the Craft Emergency Relief Fund. The auction is open until Jan. 19 at weavearealpeace.org/2025-online-auction.
Lake Junaluska hosts women’s retreats
Lake Junaluska will host four Journey to Joy Women’s Retreats in 2025, bringing women together for weekends of laughter, sharing, worship and fellowship.
Offered in partnership with Leigh Young, author of “Journey to Joy: A Seven-Week Path to the Joyous Life God Intended and Lessons from the Letters,” the retreats will be:
March 21-23, Journey to Joy: A Special Journey for the Wives of Pastors. This special weekend is designed to support and encourage the wives of pastors by providing opportunities for networking, encouragement and personal development. Panel discussions and group interactions will address topics such as soul-care, balancing expectations and stress management. Space is limited to 60 women.
April 4-6, Journey to Joy: The Women of the Cross. Who were these women who remained at the cross? What was their story? What would pull them so close to Christ despite the danger and horror of a crucifixion? How can we experience this level of intimacy with God? What can we
learn from The Women of the Cross?
Aug. 22-24, Journey to Joy: Lessons from the Letters. In August, explore “Lessons from the Letters,” a Bible study that looks at the letters in the opening chapters of Revelation to seven actual congregations in Asia Minor revealing the path to the joyous and abundant life. These letters are a gift of hope and peace. This study can be used by church groups, Bible studies, or individuals to kick off the “Seven Week Daily Devotion Lessons from the Letters” book.
Nov. 14-16, Journey to Joy: Blessed not Stressed this Christmas. Advent is meant to be a time of reflection, anticipation and spiritual preparation for the celebration of Jesus’ birth but it often gets lost. Join us for a spiritual renewal for this yuletide Journey to Joy as we focus on Christ amidst the busyness that can be challenging and distracting. Learn through Scripture how to be blessed, not stressed, this Christmas season.
house. Groundhog Day themed costumes are welcome and encouraged. Prizes will be given for the worst costumes, with judging based purely on favoritism. Light refreshments will be served. The public is welcome.
The event is hosted by the legendary landscape artist, Richard Baker.
“Groundhog Day is a great day to get together,” Baker says, “and collectively hope for an early spring. Plus, it will be an opportunity to see some first-rate artwork from the talented artists at the Folkmoot studios right in the heart of Waynesville’s Hazelwood community.”
Folkmoot is located at 112 Virginia Avenue, in Waynesville.
For more information, contact Richard Baker at 828.234.1616 or at richardbakersstudio@gmail.com
Become a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters
Artists’ studios at Folksmoot in Waynesville will be open from 4-7 p.m. Feb. 2 for an open
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina is urging mountain residents to become “Bigs.” A Big is a caring, empathetic adult matched with an enthusiastic child who needs
This year’s theme is Yabba Dabba Do, and costumes are encouraged (but certainly not required). Fred, Wilma, Dino, Bamm-Bamm — anything prehistoric goes. There will be prizes for the best costume.
Mentors make for successful futures. With just a little bit of help, and a whole lot of support, Bigs make a big difference in a young child’s life. Learn more about BBBS at bbbswnc.org.
Winter art programs offered at Lake Junaluska
Lake Junaluska’s artist-in-residence program will offer winter art classes in January and February. All classes will be held in Room 1 of the Earl & Martha Wilson Children’s Complex. Space may be limited for some classes.
• “Jewelry Making: Beaded Earrings,” 1-4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21, $20, class size limited to 10 students. To register, contact Sarah Workman at swwberry@gmail.com.
• “Intro to Folk Art Birds and Flowers,” 1-4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4, $50, class size limited to 10 students. To register, contact Stephanie Schulz at stephanielschulz@gmail.com.
• “Everyone Loves Silk,” paint/dye a ladies handkerchief and bandana, 2-5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11, $50, class size limited to 10 students. To register, contact Pam Winn at pamela.thesea@gmail.com.
• “Beginner Oil Painting,” beginner friendly and hands-on introduction, noon-3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, $50, class size limited to 10 students. To register, contact Haidee Wilson at haideeewilson@gmail.com.
Into 2025 with a few ancient principles
Even though we’re already a couple weeks into 2025, I’m still feeling the heightened energy that surrounds a New Year.
My parents were teachers and both worked second jobs. Dad was a night manager at the Roses in Asheville and Mom spent evenings organizing and sorting Avon inventory, and this was in addition to our practices and other activities. With our schedules so busy, it was often during winter break when we finally slowed down and enjoyed one another. Looking back, I now see the span of weeks surrounding Christmas and New Year’s was one of the few times our entire family truly relaxed, unencumbered by external expectations.
As we moved into this new year, I thought how wonderful it was back then to take a break from the frenetic pace of life and just be. Instead of grandiose resolutions and extensive goals, my plan for 2025 is to simply navigate life more intentionally with a focus on changing daily habits.
I like metaphors related to sailing. Ships are massive vessels driven by strong winds, but they are turned by a small rudder steered by the pilot. In my mind, I’m the pilot, my daily habits are the rudder and my life is the ship. Additionally, you can only steer a moving ship. If we never start moving in the direction of our dreams, we can’t steer our lives in a way we’re proud of and excited about. Also, consider how one degree of change can alter the ship’s course. If a pilot adjusts the rudder one degree, it seems like a minimal shift at first but over a span of time, the ship will end up in an entirely new destination. In our lives, small significant changes will guide us where we want to go without feeling overwhelmed or unprepared.
Not every country and culture encourages a hustle mentality and we Americans don’t have to succumb to the status quo. Over the past couple of years, I’ve learned about Japanese principles that enhance all levels of wellness and strength. It’s
not simply the Japanese way of eating and movement that leads to longevity, it’s also their spiritual practices. By “spiritual,” I don’t necessarily mean their attachment to a higher power, although that is also helpful. I’m talking about guiding principles that all cultures can benefit from. There are a number of these principles, but five of them ring true for me and are relevant to not only a New Year but to any phase of life.
Misogi is an ancient Japanese practice involving purifying the mind, body and spirit through physical and mental challenges. For some, this may be a physical challenge like running a race, taking an adventurous trip or hiking the AT. For others, it may be writing a novel, learning a new language or instrument, launching a business or tackling a home improvement project. The goal of any misogi is to build strength, resilience and self-confidence. Some folks like to embrace a misogi experience every 365 days so that it defines their year. In doing this, each year has something of a crowning achievement and also prevents all the years from blurring together as they so often do, especially the older we get.
Kaizen is a Japanese word that loosely translates to “improvement” but when defined fully it means continuous improvement. The philosophy is that one improvement builds upon the previous improvement until over time, huge gains are made. The Kaizen philosophy is heavily used in industry. For instance, one of the 14 guiding principles of The Toyota Way states, “Become a learning organization through relentless reflection and continuous improvement (kaizen).”
Trump and the latest climate change red flag
BY ROB SCHOFIELD GUEST COLUMNIST
Like a three-pack-a-day smoker who blames their chronic cough on allergies, or a recent flu shot — everything but their addiction — President-elect Donald Trump continues to embrace an absurd and criminally irresponsible brand of denialism on the subject of climate change.
This hard truth was exposed yet again by the latest horrific California wildfires.
As someone who grew up in Southern California in the 20th century, I can attest that destructive fires are nothing new for the region. I have vivid memories of watching nearby hillsides burn from my college dormitory at UCLA.
Yes, more people than ever inhabit the state, but it’s also true that things have changed dramatically in some other very important ways in the Golden State in recent decades.
As the news outlet CalMatters reported last week, California has 78 more annual “fire days” — days on which conditions are ripe for fires to spark — than it did 50 years ago. In effect, what once was mostly a seasonal issue in the late summer and early fall for certain areas, has become a year-round, statewide plague. And the chief cause is no mystery; it’s
climate change that has, among many other things, prompted repeated droughts, given rise to more lightning and windstorms, and created an epidemic of parched foliage.
If one was ever looking for reason to treat climate change and its destructive impacts with the utmost urgency, it’s hard to imagine anything more compelling than the myriad threats it so obviously poses to the nation’s largest and most economically important state. Amazingly, however, even as the Los Angeles area was burning and just a few months after Hurricane Helene inundated the mountains of Western North Carolina with unprecedented flooding, Trump was spreading preposterous misinformation and promoting toxic, shortsighted policies. Rather than acknowledging the irrefutable truth that climate change spurred on by carbon pollution is slowly and effectively asphyxiating the planet, Trump advanced cockamamie and easily debunked claims that the L.A. fires were the fault of politicians he doesn’t like and environmental regulations. At the same time, he reiterated his “drill, baby drill” pledges to expand our nation’s use of fossil fuels and torpedo efforts to grow sustainable energy.
And it’s hard to overstate just how utterly insane all of this is.
While kaizen often used in the business world, it’s relevant to all parts of life.
Wabi-sabi is centered around the acceptance of imperfection and the fact that change is inevitable. It’s finding the beauty in not only the ebb and flow of life but also the parts of life that are impermanent, incomplete or imperfect. I appreciate this principle because so much of life feels fleeting or unexpected and instead of letting it derail us, I like the thought of embracing the uncertainty.
Ikigai may be one of the more well-known Japanese principles as I often hear of it when reading or watching material about the Blue Zones. The term blends two words: “iki” which means “to live” and “gai” which means “reason.” When put together, you have “a reason to live.” This principle encourages people to discover what truly matters to them and live a life full of joy and purpose. Research has shown that finding one’s ikigai greatly enhances happiness and longevity.
Finally, we have shinrin-yoku, also known as “forest bathing,” but can pertain to any time spent in and with nature. This practice refers to intentional moments in a natural setting, being fully present in your surroundings and allowing your mind, body and nervous system to relax. There are numerous health benefits related to time spent outdoors and when living in a beautiful place like Western North Carolina, we have little excuse to stay inside.
With all this being said, I love the momentum surrounding a New Year and am excited to see what’s in store for 2025. Whether you want to embrace some of these Japanese principles or you’ve created traditional resolutions, I hope you are feeling energized for what’s to come.
(Susanna Barbee is a writer, editor and digital media specialist. susanna.b@smokymountainnews.com.)
As fleets of scientists have repeatedly demonstrated, the climate crisis will continue to worsen even with swift and decisive action to tackle it. Sadly, even under the best scenarios, humans are faced with the grim reality that we are now in the business of acting to save what we can. But to tack dramatically in the opposite direction — as Trump and his allies say they will — is like a drunk driver taking another swig of vodka and punching the gas pedal as he leaves the scene of a wreck.
As environmental advocates have noted in recent months, the Biden administration took several enormously important steps — most notably securing hundreds of billions of dollars in new investments for expanding sustainable energy sources like wind and solar, subsidizing electric vehicles and the construction of charging stations, and strengthening the electric grid — that, if allowed to continue, will do much to mitigate important causes and ramifications of climate change.
Will Donald Trump and the legion of devoted followers he commands ever see the light? Is it even possible?
The indicators remain pretty grim at this point. But it’s also true that, sometimes, it’s the people who’ve been in denial the longest who ultimately become the most passionate advocates. The nation’s anti-tobacco advocacy
LETTERS
Shame on U.S. corporations
To the Editor:
What hypocrites we are! As we honor President Jimmy Carter for his worldwide humanitarian efforts, American corporations are busily rolling back Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts.
Joanne Strop Waynesville
community has long been peppered with exsmokers who were converted into health advocates by a lung cancer or heart disease. And in this case, even many fossil fuel producers acknowledge the need for change.
In short, the California catastrophe has reminded us yet again that climate change — through its impacts on everything from human health to immigration to the economy — is the existential policy issue of our times. And whether they do so out of genuine delusion or mere cynical self-interest, the politicians and their allies who try to evade this undeniable fact willfully endanger us all.
(NC Newsline Editor is Rob Schofield. NC Newsline is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.)
Columnist
Susanna Shetley
Under the bright lights
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
With the spring semester soon underway at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, so, too, comes the rich, diverse and vibrant cultural programming to the Bardo Arts Center.
Offering four marquee performances from renowned national production companies, this Spring 2025 lineup for the BAC will include “Light Chasers with Cloud Cult,” “Ballet Hispánico,” “Solstice: A Winter Circus Experience” and “Our Planet Live: A Netflix Original Documentary Series with Dan Tapster.”
In terms of the WCU Stage & Screen productions featuring an array of its talented students, “Boeing Boeing” and “Pippin the Musical” will hit the stage on select dates. As well, the annual Controlled Chaos Music Festival” will return in May.
Below are full descriptions and dates for the stage events.
• Jan. 24 — “Light Chasers with Cloud
Cult”: We’re born. We grow together. We triumph. We lose. We fall apart. We mourn. We resolve. And then we depart. This is our collective journey. But, is there more?
This singularly unique production tells the story of one couple’s life together, from childhood to marriage, sorrow and reconciliation — and ultimately to departure — through the beloved art rock band, Cloud Cult’s, 2010 concept album, “Light Chasers,” performed live by the band during the performance. Told through dance, movement, lights, music and imagery, this beautiful and affirming piece finds joy in loss.
Produced with permission and in partnership with Cloud Cult.
• Feb. 12 — “Ballet Hispánico”: This is the nation’s renowned Latino dance organization and one of America’s Cultural treasures. For 50 years, Ballet Hispánico has been bringing communities together to celebrate and explore Latino cultures through innovative dance performances, transformative dance training and enduring community
engagement experiences. Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Ballet Hispánico as they preform new and beloved works from their 50-year history.
• Feb. 13-16 — “Boeing Boeing”: Buckle up for farce at 30,000 feet. Jet-setting romances collide and turbulences of desire ensue. Parisian skies shimmer with laughter and intrigue.
• Feb. 27 — “Solstice: A Winter Circus Experience”: This captivating circus show unfolds the story of a character who has lost his inner light, plunging him into a wondrous and surreal world where memories
Want to go?
For more information and a full schedule of events at the Bardo Arts Center, visit wcu.edu/bardo-arts-center. To purchase tickets to any of the performances, go to wcuarts.universitytickets.com.
come to life and the ordinary becomes ‘extra’ordinary.
“Solstice” blends over eight acrobatic acts with lighting, costumes, music, scenery and snow to create a unique blend of poetry and circus in a 90-minute show. “Solstice” is an unforgettable celebration of the human spirit, where every member of the audience will feel like a kid again and remember what it was like to see snow fall for the first time.
• April 10-13 — “Pippin the Musical”: Step into a carnival of wonder, where illusions dance and destiny beckons. Young Prince Pippin’s quest for purpose unfolds in acrobatics, firelight, and magic.
• April 24 — “Our Planet Live: A Netflix Original Documentary Series with Dan Tapster”: From the Emmy Award-winning team behind Netflix’s “Our Planet” series, comes a new natural history speaker series: “Our Planet Live.” Brought to you by Silverback Films and Producer Desk in asso-
WCU will present Ballet Hispánico Feb. 12. File photo
This must be the place
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD
‘Be in love with your life, every minute of it’
I’m not doing well. And it feels oddly good to say just that, whether it be to family, friends, strangers or you readers alike. I haven’t felt good in a long time. Truth be told, I can’t remember when the I began to feel this way. Don’t get me wrong, I love life: the good, the bad and the ugly. But, lately, I’ve felt utterly deflated and defeated.
It’s like that moment in the seminal 1961 film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” when Audrey Hepburn’s character Holly Golightly says, “You know those days when you get the mean reds?” Her co-star George Peppard (aka: Paul Varjak) replies, “The mean reds? You mean like the blues?” Golightly shoots back, “No. The blues are because you’re getting fat and maybe it’s been raining too long. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you’re afraid and you don’t know what you’re afraid of. Do you ever get that feeling?”
Why yes, Miss Golightly, I do get that feeling. It’s currently washing over my mind, body and soul. Oh, and by the way, hello from the lobby of Homewood Suites (by Hilton) on Church Street in downtown Nashville. Just a few blocks from the whirlwind circus that is Broadway and all its honky-tonk bars and neon lights.
I’m here on assignment for Rolling Stone. Covering a gig at the Ryman Auditorium (“The Mother Church” of American music). The assignment itself was a full circle kind of thing, one where I found myself backstage interviewing Peter Rowan about the tribute held that evening to honor his long-gone band Old & In the Way. Rowan was the first person I ever interviewed and the first article I ever had published in a real deal magazine. That was 2006. I was 21 and a senior in college in Connecticut.
To preface, this past holiday season was, quite possibly, one of the worst of my entire existence. I’ll spare you the details and whole back story, seeing as it’d probably fill up this entire newspaper on its own (and then some). Regardless, I ended up in a very isolated, lonely and vulnerable place throughout Christmas and New Year’s Eve. The image of myself sitting alone at the end of a bar counter in a rowdy pub in the heart of Waynesville, sipping my beer slowly, gazing up to the glowing screen high above blasting coverage of the gigantic ball ringing in 2025 way up in
Times Square.
And here I stand on the backside of New Year’s Eve. It’s Jan. 11, which just reminded me that today’s the 40th birthday of my former high school sweetheart. I still hold her in high regard all these years later, seeing how she’s become an incredible mother, wife and friend to so many faces wandering this planet. I haven’t seen her in years, but our last encounter was on good terms, as it should be.
Seeing that date on the calendar. Hanging out with Peter Rowan. Currently wandering the snowy streets of Music City with an old buddy. My heavy heart (trudging through reruns of my dismal holiday season) tagging along as fast as it can with the restless, endless thoughts ricocheting through my brain. My emotions a rollercoaster of sadness and grief. But, also a renewed sense of self, this new, unwritten chapter now in my hands.
Thus, I’m not doing well. So, I decided to start doing therapy a few weeks ago. Now three sessions in (and although my emotions are raw and real), I’m enjoying talking to this therapist who was a complete stranger just last month. But, now she’s knows a lot of my backstory, and a lot of what makes me, well, me. Personal traumas felt, things that trigger my emotions, and what it means to transcend into your true self of potential, passion, and purpose.
To note, I totally believe in the value of therapy. But, personally, I avoided it for decades. And for many reasons, the biggest of which being forced to do therapy as a young elementary school kid in the midst of the 1990s ADHD/Ritalin craze. I was a good kid, just a little rambunctious and talked a lot. But, the nuns in my Upstate New York Catholic school didn’t like that. So, I was placed on this high-octane medicine for several years, coupled with therapy. By the time that period came to a close, I was already in high school, with big dreams of forever leaving behind my small farm town on the Canadian Border. My eyes and heart aimed for the unknown horizon of my pure intent to seek out genuine love, intrinsic experiences, and always remembering that kindness breeds kindness. I ain’t perfect, but dammit I try to be kind, to show love and compassion to others, even in the
HOT PICKS
1
Country and bluegrass star Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder will hit the stage at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.
2
Rising singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Alma Russ will hit the stage at 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, at The Scotsman Public House in Waynesville.
3
Brian Lee Knopp will share his new book, “Dreams I’m Never Gonna See: The Takeover of WDIZ Rock 100/FM and Other Essays,” at 3 p.m. Saturday. Jan 18, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.
4
An evening of traditional contra, round and other folk dances will be held from 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.
5
WNC Paint Events will host painting sessions at Panacea Coffee in Waynesville (Jan. 29) and Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville (Jan. 30).
face of sorrow.
So, yeah, here I am. A fresh calendar on the walls of my mind. Juggling nonstop assignments. Sitting down constantly to pour everything I saw and heard onto the blank page. Finding time each day to go for a jog somewhere, anywhere I may land. Finding time to spend with family and friends. Finding time for therapy. And, perhaps most importantly, finding time for myself, to be able to calmly and carefully understand the beauty of being on my own.
And I remain an eternal optimist. I believe in love. I believe in friendship. I believe in the good of people, where I truly feel there are way more good folks than bad on this earth. And I wish I could have all the time in the world to meet and interact with every single one of those kind souls. But, alas, I’ll have to make do with the handful of people I’m lucky enough to befriend, interview and write about week-in and week-out at this here newspaper.
The world is a crazy place right now. Always has been, always will be. But, the essence of whatever the meaning of life is (at least in my honest opinion) seems to reside in those fleeting moments of connection and heartfelt sentiments shared with others, whether on purpose or simply by happenstance. My head remains held high.
And as the late singer-songwriter Bert Jansch sings in “Running From Home,” these words and guitar notes echo out into the universe: “The passing image of you/Reflects a pain in my heart/And disappears into a crowd/Runnin’, runnin’ from home/Breakin’ ties that you’d grown/Catchin’ dreams from the clouds.”
Life is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all.
Thursday, January 16
January 22
Thursday, January 23
Friday, January 24
Blue Ridge Mountains.
Garret K. Woodward photo
LIGHTS, CONTINUED FROM 16
ciation with Netflix, “Our Planet Live” is a new and immersive live show featuring behind-the-scenes stories from the explorers, filmmakers, scientists and adventurers.
With some of the most eye-catching footage of our planet, this brings to life these stories from the natural world. With a focus on climate fragility and climate migration, “Our Planet Live” tells an unprecedented story about overcoming obstacles on a global scale and explores the messages at the heart of these action-packed, emotional, and unforgettable sequences.
• May 2 — “Controlled Chaos Film Festival”: The film festival is an annual showcase of work by students in the WCU School of Stage and Screen, Film and Television Production program. Organized by the School of Stage and Screen students, with faculty and guest judges overseeing the festival selections and awards, it features a diverse range of class projects, thesis, and independent films. For more on the CCFF, go to controlledchaos.wcu.edu.
WCU faculty art showcase
Featuring works from faculty artisans at Western Carolina University, the 2025 School of Art & Design Faculty Biennial Exhibition will be displayed Jan. 21 through May 2 in the Bardo Arts Center in Cullowhee.
Outside of the classroom, faculty members in the School of Art & Design are active artists and scholars that make significant contributions to the arts. The exhibition provides students and the community with an opportunity to view recent works created by distinguished faculty members whose primary research output is studio-based.
A special reception will be held from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30, at the BAC.
“Desert Gems” is a work by Nathan Ellis Perry.
This event will include a gallery talk, along with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Free parking in available. The reception is free and open to the public. The museum’s hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and until 7 p.m. on Thursday.
On the beat
• American Legion Post 47 (Waynesville) will host an “Open Mic” 3 p.m. every Tuesday. Free and open to the public. 828.456.8691.
• Angry Elk Brewing (Whittier) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. All shows are free and open to the public. 828.497.1015 / facebook.com/angryelkbrewingco.
• Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host an open mic from 8-10 p.m. every Thursday. Free and open to the public. 828.631.1987 / balsamfallsbrewing.com.
• Balsam Mountain Inn (Balsam) will host an “Open Jam” 6 p.m. every Tuesday and semiregular live music on the weekends. 828.283.0145 / thebalsammountaininn.com.
• Bevel Bar (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.246.0996 / bevelbar.com.
• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 5 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.246.9320 / blueridgebeerhub.com.
• Blue Stage (Andrews) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.361.2534 / thebluestage.com.
• Boojum Brewing (Waynesville) will host Arnold Hill (rock/jam) Jan. 18 and Dan Clare Duo Jan. 25. All shows are located in The Gem downstairs taproom and begin at 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.0350 / boojumbrewing.com.
• Breadheads Tiki Shak (Sylva) will host “Tiki Trivia” at 7 p.m. every first Thursday of the month and semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.307.2160 / breadheadstikishak.com.
• Bryson City Brewing (Bryson City) will host
semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0085 / brysoncitybrewing.com.
• Cataloochee Ranch (Maggie Valley) will host Brian Ashley Jones & Melanie Jean (Americana/country) 5 p.m. Jan. 18. For tickets and reservations, go to cataloocheeranch.com/ranch-events/live-music.
• Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host Jon Shain & Piedmont Blues 2 p.m. Jan. 26 ($15 for adults, $7.50 for ages 6-16). 828.369.4080 / coweeschool.org/music.
• Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host “Team Trivia” Mondays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.634.0078 / curraheebrew.com.
• Farm At Old Edwards (Highlands) will host the “Fireside at The Farm” sessions on
select weekends. All shows begin at 6 p.m. 866.526.8008 / oldedwardshospitality.com/orchardsessions.
• Folkmoot Friendship Center (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.452.2997 / folkmoot.org.
• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host “Jazz On The Level” 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday, Brock Stephen (singer-songwriter) Jan. 17, Pat Sheridan & Friends Jan. 18, Justin Moyar (singer-songwriter) 3 p.m. Jan. 19, Adrienne Blanks & The Oracles Jan. 24, Frances Eliza (singer-songwriter) Jan. 25 and David Cheatham (singer-songwriter) 3 p.m. Jan. 26. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.454.5664 / froglevelbrewing.com.
• Frog Quarters (Franklin) will host live music from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays w/George James (singer-songwriter) Jan. 18. Free and open to the public. Located at 573
On the beat
East Main St. 828.369.8488 / littletennessee.org.
• Happ’s Place (Glenville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.742.5700 / happsplace.com.
• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. For tickets, go to caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.
• High Dive (Highlands) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.526.2200 / highlandsdive.com.
• Highlander Mountain House (Highlands) will host “Blues & Brews” 6-9 p.m. every Thursday ($5 cover), “Bluegrass Brunch” 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every Sunday (free) and the “Salon Series” on select dates. 828.526.2590 / highlandermountainhouse.com.
• Highlands Performing Arts Center will host Naturally 7 (R&B/soul) 7 p.m. Jan. 18 (admission is $90). 828.526.9047 / highlandsperformingarts.com.
ALSO:
• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will host “Monday Night Trivia” every week, “Open Mic w/Phil” on Wednesdays, Karaoke 8 p.m. Jan. 10 and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows and events begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.586.9678/ innovation-brewing.com.
• Innovation Station (Dillsboro) will host “Music Bingo” on Wednesdays and semiregular live music on the weekends. All events begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.226.0262 / innovation-brewing.com.
• Junction Pub (Sylva) will host “Open Jam” on Sundays, “Marg Monday Karaoke” on Mondays, “Trivia” on Tuesdays, “Open Mic” on Thursdays, Phil Thomas (singer-songwriter) Jan. 17, JCT House Band Jan. 18, Plant Jan. 24 and Nate Coffey Jan. 25. All events are free and begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.370.2090 / facebook.com/jctpub.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Tim Atkins (singer-songwriter) Jan. 18 and The Log Noggins (rock/jam) Jan. 25. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 / lazyhikerbrewing.com.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host “Music Bingo” 6:30 p.m. Mondays, Ray Ferrara (singer-songwriter) Jan. 17 and Jay Dee (country/rock) Jan. 24. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. 828.349.2337 / lazyhikerbrewing.com.
• Legends Sports Bar & Grill (Maggie Valley)
will host an “Open Mic Night” 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday, Karaoke Thursdays (6 p.m.) and Saturdays (7 p.m.), with live music each Friday (8 p.m.). Free and open to the public. 828.944.0403 / facebook.com/legendssportsgrillmaggievalley.
• Listening Room (Franklin) will host Chuck Brodsky (singer-songwriter) 2:30 p.m. Feb. 2. Suggested donation $20. Located at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host “Open Mic Night” w/Frank Lee every Thursday, Zip Robertson (singer-songwriter) Jan. 17, Katen Thomas (singer-songwriter) Jan. 18, Mountain Gypsy (Americana) Jan. 24 and Ron Neill (singer-songwriter) Jan. 25. All shows begin at 6 p.m unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 / mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.
• Old Edwards Inn (Highlands) will host live music in the Hummingbird Lounge at 5:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday. Free and open to the public. 866.526.8008 / oldedwardshospitality.com.
• Orchard Coffee (Waynesville) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. 828.246.9264 / orchardcoffeeroasters.com.
• Otto Community Center (Otto) will host James Thompson (Americana) 4 p.m. Jan. 17. Bring a beverage and snack of your
Americana, folk at Scotsman
Rising singer-songwriter and multiinstrumentalist Alma Russ will hit the stage at 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, at The Scotsman Public House in Waynesville. Based out of Western North Carolina and with her unique brand of “patchwork music” (country, folk and Appalachian styles pieced together), Russ enjoys playing guitar, banjo and fiddle. Russ was also a contestant on “American Idol” Season 16. Her most recent album, “Fool’s Gold,” was recorded in an abandoned church in the West Texas desert while Russ was on a national tour.
The event is free and open to the public. For more information on Russ, visit almarussofficial.com. 828.246.6292 or scotsmanpublic.com.
Alma Russ will play Waynesville Jan. 23. File photo
• Scotsman (Waynesville) will host the “Burns Night Supper” from 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22. Five-course dinner, whiskey, craft ales, poetry and bagpipes. Tickets are $70 per person. For more information, call 828.246.6292 or go to scotsmanpublic.com.
• Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will have its wine bar open 4-8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 828.452.6000 / classicwineseller.com.
• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host semi-regular tap-takeovers from local and regional breweries on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.246.9320 / blueridgebeerhub.com.
• “Flights & Bites” will be held starting at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at Bosu’s Wine Shop in downtown Waynesville. waynesvillewine.com.
• “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 11 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. There will also be a special “Beer Train” on select dates. 800.872.4681 / gsmr.com.
On the stage
HART offers theatre classes
HART recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. File photo
• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee) will host semi-regular comedians on the weekends. For tickets, go to caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.
• Haywood Arts Regional Theatre (Waynesville) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. harttheatre.org / 828.456.6322.
ALSO:
• Highlands Performing Arts Center (Highlands) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. mountaintheatre.com / 828.526.9047.
• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host semi-
Haywood Arts Regional Theatre (HART) in Waynesville has announced the launch of its “Spring Semester Theatre Classes,” which will run Jan. 27 through April 4.
The workshops offered provide a diverse lineup of classes for students of all ages and skill levels. Hosted by the Academy at HART, these engaging courses are designed to inspire creativity, build confidence, and equip participants with essential performance skills.
From young children discovering the magic of theatre to adults honing their craft, there’s something for everyone. To note, scholarships and pay-by-month options are also available through HART.
HART is a cornerstone of the local arts community, offering exceptional educational opportunities, community engagement and high-caliber productions. Through its education program, HART remains committed to fostering artistic growth, making the arts accessible and inspiring individuals of all ages.
For more information and/or to register, visit harttheatre.org or call 828.456.6322.
regular stage productions on the weekends. smokymountainarts.com / 866.273.4615.
• Peacock Performing Arts Center (Hayesville) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. thepeacocknc.org / 828.389.ARTS.
On the beat
choice. Free and open to the public. 770.335.0967 / go2ottonc.com.
• Peacock Performing Arts Center (Hayesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. For tickets, 828.389.ARTS / thepeacocknc.org.
• Pinnacle Relief CBD Wellness Lounge (Sylva) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.508.3018 / facebook.com/pinnaclerelief.
• Quirky Birds Treehouse & Bistro (Dillsboro) will host Open Mic Night at 7 p.m. Tuesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.586.1717 / facebook.com/quirkybirdstreehouse.
• Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub (Franklin) will host Karaoke 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Trivia Night 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, George James IV (singers-songwriter) Jan. 17, Steve Vaclavik (singer-songwriter) Jan. 18, Open Mic w/Dirty Dave 6:30 p.m. Jan. 24 and Jamie Rasso Jan. 25. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.369.6796 / facebook.com/rathskellercoffeebarandpub.
• Salty Dog’s Seafood & Grill (Maggie Valley) will host “Karaoke w/Russell” every Monday and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.926.9105 / facebook.com/saltydogs2005.
• Santé Wine Bar (Sylva) will host semi-regular live music on Sundays. All shows begin at 5 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.631.3075 / facebook.com/thewinebarandcellar.
• Sauced (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.246.9585 / saucedwnc.com.
• Scotsman (Waynesville) will host Tim Atkins (singer-songwriter) Jan. 16, Alma Russ (Americana/indie) Jan. 23, Second Chance Jan. 24 and Celtic Road Jam 4 p.m. Jan. 25. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.6292 / scotsmanpublic.com.
• Slanted Window Tasting Station (Franklin) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.276.9463 / slantedwindow.com.
• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder (bluegrass/Americana) 7 p.m. Jan. 17 (tickets start at $17 per person with upgrades available). 866.273.4615 / smokymountainarts.com.
• Stecoah Valley Center (Robbinsville) will host a Community Jam 5:30-7:30 p.m. every
third Thursday of the month and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.479.3364 / stecoahvalleycenter.com.
• Stubborn Bull (Highlands) will host semiregular “Live Music Mondays” with local/regional singer-songwriters. All shows begin at 5:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.200.0813 / the-stubborn-bull.com.
• Trailborn (Highlands) will host its “Carolina Concert Series” w/Melissa McKinney (Americana) Jan. 16 and Remedy 58 (Americana) Jan. 23. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.482.1581 or trailborn.com/highlands.
• Twisted Spoke Food & Tap (Maggie Valley) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.926.1730 / facebook.com/twistedspokerestaurant.
• Ugly Dog Pub (Cashiers) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.743.3000 / theuglydogpub.com.
• Ugly Dog Pub (Highlands) will host “Bluegrass Wednesday” at 6 p.m. each week and semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.526.8364 / theuglydogpub.com.
• Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host Mountain Gypsy (Americana) Jan. 16 (free), Lori & The Freightshakers (classic rock/country gold) Jan. 17, Rock Holler Jan. 18, Karaoke w/Lori (free) Jan. 23, Rich Manz Trio (acoustic/oldies) Jan. 24 and Macon County Line Jan. 25. All shows are $5 at the door unless otherwise noted and begin at 8 p.m. 828.538.2488 / unpluggedpub.com.
• Valley Cigar & Wine Co. (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.944.0686 / valleycigarandwineco.com.
• Valley Tavern (Maggie Valley) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.926.7440 / valleytavern.com.
• Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 9:30 p.m. 828.456.4750 / facebook.com/waternhole.bar.
• Whiteside Brewing (Cashiers) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.743.6000 / whitesidebrewing.com.
• Yonder Community Market (Franklin) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. Donations encouraged. Family friendly, dog friendly. 828.200.2169 / eatrealfoodinc.com.
• Find more at smokymountainnews.com/arts
Ricky Skaggs will play Franklin Jan. 17. File photo
Ricky Skaggs returns to Franklin
Country and bluegrass star Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder will hit the stage at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.
A 15-time Grammy winner, Skaggs’ career is easily among the most significant in recent country music history, with legendary guitarist Chet Atkins once crediting Skaggs with “single-handedly saving country music.”
Skaggs’ path in life has taken him to various musical genres, from where it all began in bluegrass music, to striking out on new musical journeys, while still leaving his musical roots intact.
In the past decade, Skaggs has been hon-
ored with inductions into the Gospel Music Association’s Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Musicians Hall of Fame. In 2018, a landmark year, Skaggs was also awarded membership into the National Fiddler Hall of Fame, the IBMA Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and country music’s greatest honor, the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Most recently, Skaggs was awarded the prestigious National Medal of Arts in 2020 for his contributions to the American music industry.
Tickets for the performance start at $22 per person with seating upgrades available. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit smokymountainarts.com or call 828.524.1598.
On the wall
Haywood Arts to offer Helene support grants
The Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) in Waynesville has announced the launch of the HCAC Helene Support Grant.
Designed to provide financial assistance to HCAC artist members who have been significantly impacted by the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, the application process is currently underway. Funding will range from $300 to $1,500.
The Helene Support Grant is intended for individual artists, providing critical relief as they recover from the storm’s impact on their lives and livelihoods. Eligible artists must be active members of the HCAC as of September 2024 and must be working in one of the following artistic fields: craft, literary, media, performing, visual or interdisciplinary arts.
Eligibility Criteria:
Hurricane Helene.
• This grant is intended for individual artists; nonprofits are not eligible for this opportunity.
• WNC Paint Events will host painting sessions at Panacea Coffee in Waynesville (Jan. 29) and Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville (Jan. 30). For more information and/or to sign up, go to wncpaint.events.
• Marianna Black Library (Bryson City) will host “ArtWorks” at 1 p.m. every second Thursday of the month. Come create your own masterpiece. The materials for art works are supplied and participants are welcome to bring ideas and supplies to share with each other. Free and open to the public. 828.488.3030 / vroberson@fontanalib.org.
• Applicants must be an HCAC artist member as of September 2024 and be 18 years of age.
• Available to artists and creatives who have experienced loss due to Hurricane Helene, including loss of a studio, home, supplies or income.
• Applicants must have been affected by
The HCAC is committed to supporting local artists who contribute so much to the cultural fabric of our mountain community. With these funds, artists can begin to recover and rebuild after the storm’s devastation.
For more details about the Helene Support Grant and to submit an application, please visit haywoodarts.org/grants-funding or contact the HCAC at director@haywoodarts.org.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Experience a Casual, Relaxing Atmosphere
Perfect for all walks of life, from families to golf groups to ladies who lunch. We pride ourselves on using fresh ingredients from our gardens and supporting local farmers. The details are priority. SUNDAY – THURSDAY 11am-5pm
ALSO: On the street
• Marianna Black Library (Bryson City) will host an adult arts and crafts program at 1 p.m. every second Thursday of the month. Ages 16 and up. Space is limited to 10 participants. Free and open to the public. 828.488.3030 / vroberson@fontanalib.org.
• CRE828 (Waynesville) will offer a selection of art classes and workshops at its studio located at 1283 Asheville Road. Workshops will include art journaling, watercoloring, mixed media, acrylic painting and more. For a full list of classes, go to cre828.com. dawn@cre828.com / 828.283.0523.
• Gallery Zella (Bryson City) will be hosting an array of artist receptions, exhibits and showcases. galleryzella.com / 517.881.0959.
• Waynesville Photography Club meets at 7 p.m. every third Monday each month on the second floor of the Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center in Clyde. The club is a nonprofit organization that exists for the enjoyment of photography and the improvement of one’s skills. They welcome photographers of all skill levels to share ideas and images at the monthly meetings. waynesvillephotoclub@charter.net.
• Haywood County Arts Council (Waynesville) will offer a wide range of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. haywoodarts.org.
• Jackson County Green Energy Park (Dillsboro) will be offering a slew of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. jcgep.org.
• Southwestern Community College Swain Arts Center (Bryson City) will host an array of workshops for adults and kids. southwesterncc.edu/scc-locations/swain-center.
• Dogwood Crafters in Dillsboro will offer a selection of upcoming art classes and workshops. dogwoodcrafters.com/classes.html / 828.586.2248.
• Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host semi-regular arts and crafts workshops. coweeschool.org/events.
Old-time community dance
An evening of traditional contra, round and other folk dances will be held from 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.
Professional dance caller Harrison Keely will open the event at 6:30 p.m. with 30 minutes of basic instruction for beginners. Music will be performed by Paddy’s Return, a popular Brasstown-based energetic band strong on lively Celtic tunes of Ireland and Scotland. All dances are taught, with no experience or partner required.
Admission is by donation, $10 is suggested. Children and first-time attendees are admitted free. The library is located at 149 Siler Farm Road, with a hardwood dance floor, ample lighted parking and wheelchair access. The main entrance is temporarily closed for repairs, so enter through the Meeting Room door.
The event is produced by the Arts Council of Macon County. For more information, call 828.524.ARTS, email arts4all@dnet.net or visit artscouncilofmacon.org.
Contra dancing is a popular WNC activity. File photo
Cold Mountain Art Collective in Canton was decimated by Hurricane Helene. File photo
On the shelf
Poet sets a new path for humanity
“In time, maybe the land will decide.”
Scott T. Starbuck is an award-winning poet, career fisherman, climate activist and longtime resident of the Pacific Northwest. His most recent book, “Bridge at the End of the World (New and Selected Poems)” is a culmination of his major published poetic output.
He is described by Jerry Martien on the back cover of the book: “As a poet of climate change and a vital witness to what is at stake, he is a voice we should be paying attention to. Fisherman and teacher, public citizen and lover of the living earth, he wakens us to the beauty and peril of our moment.” After reading this collection, I agree wholeheartedly with this cover statement and would add that “Bridge at the End of the World” is probably one of the strongest political and environmental activist poetry collections I have read. His style is not that of “rant and roll” but it is very poetic. He allows his message to be clearly present and understood with flair and feeling.
The editor’s quote “Poets can serve as the conscience of our society” also grounds the perspective of this collection. In this sense, and somewhat in the spirit of Native American culture, Starbuck is a contemporary wisdomkeeper, sharing his knowledge and insightful experience, here, with us all.
Future,” “On Earth With Big Oil.” While many of the poems in this collection hint at rather dark subject matter, in the end Starbuck’s poems — while being honestly straightforward — are at the same time positive and hopeful. Such is his ouvre, his heart. “The real work/is daily practice/in order to be/of greater service/... while truth/like a cedar raven/waits and speaks/at inbetween/silence,” he writes in the poem dedicated to the Beat eco-poet Gary Snyder.
And then in a poem devoted to the extinction of otters, he ends his poem with the words: “Children drew otters/in schools/and noticed/in river shadows/asking why we lost them/and what was more important/than having them here.” In “Salish Sea Prophecy” Starbuck writes: “Ancestors had it all — snowy Thunderbird Mountains,/vast mysterious sea, uncount-
In this book with five sections referencing his previous collections and an additional section of “New Poems,” we have poems titled “Bumper Sticker: Extinction is Forever,” “At Nevada Nuclear Test Site,” “View of Modern War from Space Station,” “Coyote’s Prediction,” “Salish Sea Prophecy,” “Thoughts at the End of Empire,” “Ghost of Bukowski Speaks of Climate Change,” “Recycle,” ‘Welcome to the
Upcoming readings at City Lights
able salmon/returning each spring and fall.”
Or in the poem “Coyote’s Prediction” Starbuck ends the poem with the lines “Only things/that belong here/will last.”
But then there are lighter, more personal moments like in the poem “Earth Like the Deck of a Ship” where he writes “Maybe there is a spaceship you navigate/with an
electric guitar./In the 60s we made songs like that.” As a baby-boomer from the 60s myself, I resonate and relate to that! Being that 2024 was an election year, I would be remiss to not include a quote from Starbuck’s poem “Election Year” where he states: “... the way humans/hear of melting/Arctic,/blink, and do/nothing.” In the poem “Thoughts at the End of Empire” he shows us his more inquisitive side when pondering “It’s possible future generations will redefine/family, community, work, value, happiness,/life, dirt, success./ It’s also possible, based on our collective/behavior, there won’t be future generations.” But he continues in a positive vein, ever hopeful and optimistic in a later poem: “Exxon Mobil Became BlueOrbSolar ... Each country committed to saving/one thing from extinction—them.” And it always seems to come back to nature and the natural world with Starbuck, as in the poem “After Dreaming Extinction of Birds” where he writes: “... winged creatures/of every color and shade/filled skies with song./...Their migrations signaled/change of seasons/when there were seasons.”
On this path, Starbuck continues, back and forth, from fact to friction with his wake up call for us all to become more observant, diligent, and active when it comes to the future of planet and humanity. As a teacher, he suggests that we practice “deep listening/and long walks by still/or moving water/with wisdom/of stomach, feet, nose,/tongue, ears and intuition.” And so it is appropriate that he should feature the following words in the poem “Disabled Dancer” toward the end of the book: “ …. changing shallow/perceptions/that must be changed/to save what remains/that must be saved” and similarly in his poem “Above the Fish Hatchery” with “dreams connecting us to everything here/and beyond.” Other memorable lines in his book are “we would show up/to do the work/that must be done;” “to swim free in moonlit surface,/listen to/or sing ancient whale songs;” “The refuge this time/is going inward,/making peace with yourself/and those you love.” And, finally, in the book’s last poem he puts everything in the collection together in a final “doxology:” “the old ones say,/love is the only thing/to escape black holes.” So, like Starbuck, I’ll leave you with that. With love. Which in the end is all there really is that matters.
(Thomas Rain Crowe is a regular contributor to The Smoky Mountain News and is author of the multi-award winning nonfiction nature memoir “Zoro’s Field: My Life in the Appalachian Woods (2005).” He lives in Jackson County.)
The following literary events will take place at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.
• Lester Laminack will present his new children’s book, “A Cat Like That,” at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18.
The book is an entertaining tale about a day in the life of an island cat. Follow this big, round cat as she saunters through her island village, stopping to interact with folks at the bakery, the bookstore, the pier. Where is she headed next? What will she find at her last stop of the day?
This sociable cat knows everyone in town and the townspeople know to expect her as she follows her customary route. Young readers can fire up their imaginations with the turn of each page.
When cat-loving illustrator Nicole Wong read this story, she instantly knew just how to depict a day in the life of such a charming feline. The simple text leaves room for children to create their own stories as they engage with the art, and the predictable rhythm of repeated lines will encourage them to read along.
Laminack is professor emeritus from the department of Birth-Kindergarten, Elementary & Middle Grades Education at Western Carolina University, where he received two awards for excellence in teaching, including the Botner Superior Teaching Award and the Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award.
• Brian Lee Knopp will share his new book, “Dreams I’m Never Gonna See: The Takeover of WDIZ Rock 100/FM and Other Essays,” at 3 p.m. Saturday. Jan 18.
The title piece relates the takeover of central Florida’s hottest rock radio station by the Ida Lupino Liberation Organization, of which he was a member.
“Dreams I’m Never Gonna See” features 10 essays ranging widely and wildly, in both subject matter and life experiences: confronting a 1920’s Flapper ghost, shearing a sheep face-to-face with a live wolf, praising his personal hero Philippe Petit and exploring underground Disney World circa 1979.
Knopp is the author of the acclaimed 2009 memoir “Mayhem in Mayberry: Misadventures of a P.I. in Southern Appalachia,” which was a SIBA Award finalist featured on C-SPAN and the top seller in 2010 at Malaprop’s Bookstore — the first time ever that an indie-published, locally produced title bested all mass-market and mainstream titles.
He also created and contributed to the popular 2012 collaborative comedic novel “Naked Came the Leaf Peeper.” He has taught nonfiction writing for the Great Smokies Writing Program. His work has also appeared in Hippocampus Magazine, Stoneboat Journal, WNC Magazine, Now & Then: The Appalachian Magazine, The Great Smokies Review and in several regional magazines/anthologies. Both readings are free and open to the public. For more information, click on citylightsnc.com or call 828.586.9499.
Writer
Thomas Crowe
Tsali Ultra race returns to WNC
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD SMN FEATURES EDITOR
Returning for its 15th installment, the annual outdoor race, the Tsali Ultra, will be once again held at Tsali Recreation Area on Fontana Lake in Graham County.
Offering up 50K, 30K and 8K races, the marque event will also serve as the NC USATF 50 km Trail Championships, with participants hailing from 15 states and Canada. This will be the first time the championships will be held at Tsali.
“The trails at Tsali are fun, flowy and fast, with unparalleled scenery overlooking the blue waters of Fontana Lake and the wild woodlands of Great Smoky Mountains National Park,” said Tsali Ultra Race Director Gordon Turner.
Turner also heads Good Endurance Running, who took over the event this year. He recently spoke to The Smoky Mountain News about what it means to be a longtime runner, why the sport of ultrarunning is so unique and what it feels like when you find that ideal rhythm and pace on a jog.
Smoky Mountain News: With running, give me a timeline of your running life/career. Where did it begin? Why? And tell me how running began to take a prominent, important place in your life and passions?
Gordon Turner: I’ve been running for about 20 years. I started when I met my wife. We just ran for fun, enjoyed it and felt that it contributed to a healthy lifestyle. It was something we loved doing together and going to participate in local races.
Later on, I met Shawn and Nikki Daugherty, one of our partners [at Good Endurance Running]. Shawn owns GT Races, a local timing company in Kentucky and asked me to start timing with him. And I’ve been helping do that for around 10 years. We had been timing this event for a few years and that’s how we eventually ended up taking it over.
When we were presented with the opportunity to take over this event, we knew the perfect couple to join us was Brian and Shelley Gajus. They organize the “No Business 100,” a 100-mile race spanning Kentucky and Tennessee. Between the three of us and our spouses, we all
share a passion for running, exercise and endurance sports. All of us own another race called The Pistol Ultra in Alcoa, Tennessee.
SMN: Ultra-running. How would you describe just what it is, in terms of the physical nature and emotional toll involved in this very unique sport and group of individuals? And how did you find yourself in that special realm of running? What’s been your biggest takeaway in doing so?
biggest challenge is simply committing to progress.
Many runners begin with 5K events because they’re accessible and plentiful, then move on to half-marathons, marathons and eventually ultra-distances. It’s a gradual journey that builds both physical and mental endurance over time.
During tough training moments, when
motivation wanes
or the
runs feel impossible, focus on what inspired you to start, whether it’s a personal challenge, a memory or a goal.
GT: Ultra-running is a unique and demanding sport that pushes the boundaries of physical endurance and mental toughness. Physically, it requires sustained effort over long distances — often on challenging terrain like mountains, trails or remote landscapes.
— Gordon Turner, Tsali Ultra Race Director
When it comes to gear, the right equipment can make a huge difference. I recommend visiting your local running store to get fitted for shoes that match your running style and the terrain you’ll be training on, whether it’s trails or roads. A good pair of shoes is essential to prevent injuries and keep you comfortable on those longer runs.
yourself with how far you can go.
SMN: When you’re in the midst of a run, right as your find your ideal pace and mental state of peace and serenity, where do your thoughts go? What are you feeling? What is that space like for you to inhabit when you find yourself in it?
GT: The key to achieving your race goals lies in consistent training. You need to commit to those long runs and build endurance to ensure you’re prepared for race day.
During tough training moments, when motivation wanes or the runs feel impossible, focus on what inspired you to start, whether it’s a personal challenge, a memory or a goal.
Having a mantra or slogan can help push you forward when you feel like giving up. Often, your mind will tell you to quit, but overcoming those mental obstacles is what leads to success.
The physical toll includes muscle fatigue, exhaustion and sometimes discomfort, but the mental challenges are just as significant. Ultra-running forces you to confront doubts, push past limits and stay focused over hours or even days.
Emotionally, ultra-running creates a bond among participants. The community is incredibly supportive, filled with individuals who understand the shared struggle. It’s not just about competing, it’s about camaraderie, cheering each other on and celebrating the achievements of everyone involved.
SMN: If someone were to look into pushing their running endurance and goals beyond the normal 5K-10K realm, what advice would you give to those curious in testing the waters of ultra-running? It’s a big leap for many basic runners, but something pretty much all runners have thought about trying at some point.
GT: If someone is looking to push their running endurance beyond the typical 5K10K range, my advice is to focus on taking the first step and getting started. The
Ready to run?
Featuring 50K, 30K and 8K races, the annual Tsali Ultra race will kick off on Saturday, Jan. 18, at Tsali Recreation Area in Almond. For more information, a full schedule of races and/or to register for any of the events, click on runsignup.com/race/nc/almond/tsaliultra.
Ultra-running is a big leap, but it’s worth exploring. Start small, build consistency and embrace the process — you might surprise
As a runner, race director, and timer, I’ve seen firsthand the pride and accomplishment on people’s faces when they cross the finish line. That feeling is why we push through the hard moments — whether running ourselves or supporting others in their journey.
The Joyful Botanist
BY ADAM BIGELOW
A smile for the briars
Iget asked questions a lot about plants, nature and the woods. People will walk up to me, take out their phones and show me a picture of a leaf or flower they found on their last hike or growing in their back yard and ask, “Hey Adam, what’s this plant?” I love it when this happens, every time. It brings a big smile to my face and joy to my heart.
I call it the “What’s that plant” game, and it’s one of my favorite games to play. So, if you happen to see me out in the world, and you wonder if I wouldn’t mind, know that the answer is most always a yes, I’d be happy to try and help figure it out.
One of my favorite vines that even many native plant enthusiasts have a hard time embracing are plants in the genus Smilax. These are the brier plants, the thorny ones. The plants that bite back. Greenbrier, sawbrier, catbrier are what they mostly are called. Other descriptive common names in this genus are carrion flower, horsebrier, bullbrier, hellfetter and tramp’s trouble. Greenbriers are beautiful plants. They have creamy white flowers in springtime, and their fruits ripen to a blueish black. Most all of them are woody, meaning they’re above ground all year long and regrow from old tissue come springtime. Most smilax also have thorns. Big ones that hurt and rip clothing and skin.
I’m often asked about the vines growing in people’s backyards and on their wooded property. They want to know if they are hurting the trees and if they should pull them all down. It depends on if the vines are native or if they are exotic and/or invasive meaning they did not evolve in Southern Appalachia.
Puzzles can be found on page 30
These are only the answers.
If they are exotic, meaning if they were brought in recently from a different part of the world, vining plants in natural areas tend to cause harm to not only the individual plants they climb but to the ecosystem as a whole. Invasive vines like English ivy (Hedera helix), bittersweet weed (Celastrus orbiculatus) and sweet autumn clematis (Clematis terniflora) not only cause harm to what they climb, but they also spread rapidly into the ecosystem.
Vines that grew up around here, grew up in community with everything else that evolved in this ecosystem, including the trees and shrubs that they climb, mostly play well with their neighbors. If they were bad for the plants they use for support, then either the vine or the tree would have gone extinct long ago. It’s hard to imagine the millions of years of co-evolution that native vines and native trees have shared, and invasive plants have only been around for a few hundred years comparatively.
My advice is to leave greenbriers to grow in the woods. You can try to dig them out. I’ve tried. Their stems are skinny and so are the initial roots going into the ground. And then you meet the tubers that act as anchors in the soil. Tiny, fibrous roots below these lead to more tuber anchors. Every time you pull one of the tubers, two more grow. Cut or pull one of the stems above ground, and two more shoots grow from the wound or from the ground.
When they are growing into a pathway or toward a driveway, I like to encourage them to grow in a different direction by braiding them into the foliage. If you are intent on cutting them back, then you can cut. They’ll grow back. And then you cut the sprouts. Again, they’ll grow back. Just keep doing this over and over to keep them clear until you die. The greenbrier will grow right where it wanted to in the first place. So, leave the native vines be. No need to cut them down. It’s better to embrace them and allow them to grow. But do that metaphorically. Those thorns hurt.
(The Joyful Botanist leads weekly wildflower walks most Fridays and offers consultations and private group tours through Bigelow’s Botanical Excursions. bigelownc@gmail.com.)
Greenbriers have creamy white flowers in springtime, and their fruits ripen to a blueish black. Adam Bigelow photo
Fisheries update offered next month
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park fisheries department is offering an informative and educational workshop from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Feb. 22, in the Old Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee. The workshop is open to any interested folks at no charge.
Among the many topics the workshop
will cover, using slide presentations and handouts, are:
• Hurricane Helene
• Aquatic organism passageways
• Collecting water samples
• Brook Trout restoration
• Fish population monitoring
• Volunteer parking tags
• 2025 schedule of activities
Coffee, drinks and light breakfast items will be provided. People can also bring their fishing gear for after the meeting.
N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission official releases trout into a river. NCWRC photo
Haywood Waterways
Haywood Waterways Association sent word last week that its staff and vounteers are hearing from one of their partners that they are working with the state to assess damage to private roads from compromised culverts or bridges.
Those interested in seeing if their private road culverts and bridges may be included in the assessment can send an email to info@haywoodwaterways.org with either their address or the coordinates for the culvtert or bridge.
Wildfire danger high in WNC
The N.C. Forest Service has designated the fire danger for the state’s far western counties as high. As the region thaws out from the recent winter storm and people want to burn outdoors, they are encouraged to reference the fire danger map and consult with their N.C. Forest Service county ranger about conditions and safe burning practices.
Bears are denning; what to and what not to do
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) advises the public that black bears in North Carolina are in their “winter homes,” which could be anything from a pile of brush, a hollowed-out tree, a rock cavity, an excavation under a fallen tree or even under the deck or in the crawl space of your home.
Bears choose to den in many different types of areas, from a remote wooded location to your neighborhood and community. Humans may encounter a bear den while hiking along a trail, walking a dog in a neighborhood or hunting. Regardless of where an encounter may occur, the NCWRC’s advice is the same — remain calm and leave the area quickly and quietly. If possible, simply stay away from the den area for the rest of the winter season.
“Over the last decade, we have had both an increasing human population and bear population, resulting in an uptick in bears denning under houses and decks, as well as unleashed dogs disturbing bears in dens,” said Colleen Olfenbuttel, NCWRC’s bear expert. “And in Western North Carolina this year, there are plenty of debris piles and fallen trees as a result of Hurricane Helene, which offer additional ground dens for bears and other wildlife.”
If a bear den is discovered in a populated area, people can co-exist through the denning season, which usually occurs through April.
If a homeowner is concerned about the close proximity of a den, NCWRC advises to call the N.C. Wildlife Helpline at 866.318.2401, or contact their local district wildlife biologist for further guidance.
Disturbances by humans or their pets may cause the bear to leave permanently. If a female denning with her cubs is disturbed, she may orphan them if humans do not leave the area immediately. If someone believes a cub has been orphaned, NCWRC advises not to handle, feed or remove it from the area.
Contact NCWRC and wildlife staff will investigate to determine whether the cub has been orphaned. If so, they will capture and bring it to one of the licensed bear cub rehabilitation facilities with the goal of returning it to the wild. NCWRC has been rehabilitating and releasing orphaned black bear cubs since 1976 through its cub rehabilitation program, which was one of the first of its kind in the country.
In spring, once bears have left their den and become more active, home and business owners should evaluate their property, as bears search for potential den sites from spring through fall. BearWise.org offers instructions for removing or securing potential den sites on your property.
An
Brooke Burnette Parrott photo
Fire danger is high across Western North Carolina. From climate.ncsu.edu
Bill Lea photo
Market PLACE WNC
MarketPlace information:
The Smoky Mountain News Marketplace has a distribution of 16,000 copies across 500 locations in Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties, including the Qualla Boundary and west Buncombe County. Visit www.wncmarketplace.com to place your ad!
Rates:
• $15 — Classified ads that are 25 words, 25¢ per word after.
• Free — Lost or found pet ads.
• $6 — Residential yard sale ads.*
• $1 — Yard Sale Rain Insurance Yard sale rained out? Call us by 10a.m. Monday for your ad to run again FREE
• $375 — Statewide classifieds run in 170 participating newspapers with 1.1+ million circulation. (Limit 25 words or less)
• Boost Online — Have your ad featured at top of category online $4
• Boost in Print
• Add Photo $6
• Bold ad $2
• Yellow, Green, Pink or Blue Highlight $4
• Border $4
Note: Highlighted ads automatically generate a border so if you’re placing an ad online and select a highlight color, the “add border” feature will not be available on the screen.
Note: Yard sale ads require an address. This location will be displayed on a map on www.wncmarketplace.com
Administrator 95 Depot Street Waynesville, NC 28786
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Case No.24E001553-430
James Michael Caldwell
Announcements
Accessories
CATTLEDOG/HEELER
TYPE MIX, BLACK &GRAY—HILDA
Spunky 4 yr-old girl; loves toys, hiking, learning commands. Prefer as only dog in household. Asheville Humane Society (828) 761-2001 adoptions@ ashevillehumane.org
“WORKING CATS” Asheville Humane Society has young cats available who are best suited to life in a barn/farm, warehouse, etc. Vaccinated and spayed/neutered. (828) 761-2001 adoptions@ashevillehumane.org
GROUP, LLC
Mar 25 2025
Administrator 415 Orion Davis Rd Waynesville, NC 28786
PUBLIC
Homes For Sale
ADDED
1
20 Mob code of silence
21 -- au vin (chicken dish)
22 Qualified
Milk or egg container
25 Volcanic event
28 Strike zones, to pitcher Kershaw?
30 Hefty slice
32 White-coated Scottish terrier, for short 33 Ohio city whose residents all have messy mop tops?
41 It merged with Exxon in 1999
45
Dalai -50 Brian of electronica 51 Play spiritedly
52 People evaluating a central California city?
55 Wedding vow 56 Seder bread
57 Makes public
Suffix with million
59 Has a feeling 61 Shepherd of "Mr. Iglesias"
64 Conjunction with a slash
65 Appliance invented by the first U.S. president?
70 "A Bell for --" (novel)
72 Caged (up)
Mai -- (cocktails)
Name of a labor union in a city south of Los Angeles?
Speaker
Siouan people
Schnozzola
Doping juice
Tot's plea
Sword variety
Silent assent
ANSWERS ON PAGE 26
BATH & SHOWER UPDATES NEED NEW WINDOWS?
Recreational Vehicles FOR SALE: 2001 HONDA VT600C
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!
