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Sept. 2-8, 2015 Vol. 17 Iss. 14

Mission Health expands footprint in Haywood Page 4 Southwestern Commission reflects on 50 years Page 6

CONTENTS

STAFF

On the Cover: Celebrating its 109th year, the Canton Labor Day Festival will return to downtown Sept. 5-7. The event will include 20 bands over three days, with 2014 International Bluegrass Music Association “Entertainer of the Year” Balsam Range headlining. Pictured is the 1950 Labor Day Parade. (Page 28) Canton Area Historical Museum photo

News Mission Health expands footprint in Haywood ..................................................4 Cherokee explores elected police chief position ..............................................5 Southwestern Commission reflects on 50 years ..............................................6 Waynesville asked to pare down Russ Avenue design ................................ 10 Josh Ward takes helm in Bryson City ................................................................12 Folkmoot option for SRCA could be long shot ..............................................14 Whittier farmers float idea for Drexel building ..................................................17 Jackson ABC board set to buy Cashiers store ..............................................19 Carousing squatters occupying Waynesville park ..........................................20

Opinion Tourism figures point to a post-recession recovery ........................................24

Canton Labor Day celebrates 109 years ..........................................................28

Outdoors

September 2-8, 2015

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A good time had by all at Waynesville Mud Run ............................................40

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Of bears and bees ..................................................................................................55

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Mission Health expands footprint in Haywood BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER ission Health opened a new $7 million medical complex in Haywood County this week offering an array of health care services in a jaw-dropping facility. Convenience for patients was touted by speakers at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday. Seeing a doctor, getting an X-ray, having labs done, and filling a prescription can all be done under one roof at the new Mission medical complex. “We know consumers want a one-stop shop convenient and close to home,” said Mission CEO Dr. Ron Paulus. A crowd of more than 300 turned out to tour the building during the ribbon-cutting and open house, from the business community and local elected officials to the general public and medical professionals — including doctors affiliated with Haywood Regional Medical Center curious about the new competition. “It is a reflection of how many people are interested in having Mission services right here in their backyard,” Jonathan Bailey, the vice president of operations for Mission Health, said of the larger-than-expected crowd. “It is great for us to be able to meet the needs of Haywood County.” Technically, Mission isn’t adding any new specialties, services or health care lines that weren’t already available in Haywood County through existing doctors and practices or at Haywood Regional Medical Center. Many of the specialists seeing patients at the new Mission facility won’t be based in Haywood full-time, but instead will travel from Asheville to hold office hours in Haywood on certain days. But having access to a suite of Missionbrand medical services under one roof resonated with many. “You can do everything here. It is a onestop place,” said Catherine Ledford, 62, a patient of Dr. David Mulholland with Mission Haywood Family Medicine. The new Mission Health complex went from ground breaking to grand opening in less than nine months. Construction costs for the 30,000-square-foot building were

Dr. David Mulholland of Mission Haywood Family Medicine (left) and Mission VP Jonathan Bailey greeted large crowds as they funneled through the foyer of Mission Health’s new medical complex in Haywood County during an open house Monday. Becky Johnson photo services including X-rays and imaging, labs, wound care, a pharmacy, physical therapy, orthopedics, spine specialists, sports medicine and more. The lynchpin of Mission’s new medical complex is its primary care team. Haywood has had a chronic shortage of family doctors in recent years. “Patients are struggling to get in and can’t get the appointments they need when they need them,” Bailey said. “We are signifi-

“Understanding people at their most desperate hour, that’s why we are here.” A lot of research and planning went into the building’s floor design, to reduce trekking back and forth as patients circulate to different areas. The orthopedist room is right beside the X-ray room, for example. “We thought about that kind of adjacency when we designed the building,” said Oscar Weinmeister, vice president of ambulatory development for Mission.

LOCAL VS. NEXT DOOR The new Mission complex was lauded by Haywood Chamber of Commerce President CeCe Hipps as beneficial to the local economy. “Thank you for investing in our community and providing our citizens with additional medical care that is tailored for our community. Mission is a engine of economic activity and job creation,” Hipps said at the ribbon cutting. Eventually, there could be 50 to 60 employees at the Mission medical complex at full build out, Weinmeister estimated. For now, there are about 30 employees, with about half being new. The count doesn’t include rotating specialists with their own support staffs who will commute from Asheville on select days to hold office hours here. Since the new Mission complex won’t be doing surgery, patients who see Mission’s rotating specialists would travel to Asheville for procedures — from spine surgery to knee replacement. If Mission siphons local patients away from Haywood Regional Medical Center, it could cost existing healthcare jobs in the community, making the addition of jobs by Mission an overall wash in the county’s workforce. However, Bailey said Mission is not focused on taking business from Haywood Regional, and instead wants to serve patients who are already choosing Mission but currently have to drive. “We are finding a lot of patients still make the drive out of Haywood to Asheville to see these specialists,” Bailey said. “We are providing care the community was already going after and seeking, but providing it right here.” That’s the case for Rosanne Asbell, 75, who sees an orthopedist at Asheville Orthopedic Associates’ satellite office in Haywood County for her bad knees. “I think it’s wonderful,” said Asbell. “It will give competition to Haywood Regional, which is very good.” Mission hopes to overcome

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cantly increasing that capacity.” Mission is doubling the primary care doctors in its Haywood County practice from two to four. The additional doctors joining Mission Haywood Family Medicine will also add prenatal care and pediatrics to the practice’s repertoire. “When someone trusts you with their health, that’s a solemn responsibility,” said Mulholland, the original provider who started Haywood Family Medicine in 2002.

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around $7 million and the 23-acre site, purchased last August, was another $1.375 million. Equipment and furnishings carried an additional price tag, but one that Mission officials declined to share. The new Mission campus is a “testament to our investment in the health and economy of Haywood County,” Mulholland said. The new Mission complex will add capacity to meet the ever-increasing demand for health care as baby boomers age, with

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After nearly 30 years in business, Sylva’s Jewelry Outlet on Main Street is scheduled to close Sept. 15. “It’s just a good time,” said Jay Ball, who owns the store with his wife Irene. “We’re starting to enjoy our grandkids, and we’re ready to enjoy time off.” The Balls have been considering closing for some time now, but the final decision comes on the heels of Jay’s indictment on federal charges of illegal gun and drug sales. Jay, who is out on bond, faces 13 charges, with Keith Hooper as a co-defendant on three of them. Agents from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms arrested him Aug. 7 after surrounding his store on Main Street. He had filed to run for Sylva’s town board before withdrawing his name prior to the deadline. The store has been an important part of the Ball’s life for the past 28 years, the place their children — and now grandchildren — have spent their childhood. “We can’t stress enough our heartfelt gratefulness for all the patronage over the last 28 years in business, but more importantly the friendships we’ve made,” the Balls said in a written statement. “We hope all our customers

will continue to support the local businesses that make our area the greatest place to be.” The charges are not the main reason for closing, Irene stressed. Health issues have made the day-to-day business of running the store more difficult, and over the years retirement has become increasingly attractive. “It (the charges are) is a contributing factor I’m sure deep down, but we’ve been thinking about this for several years,” Irene said, “and when you’ve done it for that many years it’s time.” Jay’s lawyer advised the couple not to comment on the legal situation. However, Irene said, “I would like to stress to people don’t believe everything you hear.” Customers who have left repairs or layaway items at The Jewelry Outlet can pick them up there before Sept. 15 or make arrangements for later pickup by calling 828.506.7975. Money owed to the businesses can be mailed to 157 Jim Sellers Street, Sylva, N.C. 28779. The couple will continue with their real estate endeavors, renting property they own on Main Street. — Holly Kays, staff writer

— Dr. Ron Paulus, Mission CEO

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Question: What is this “Milk Drive” that I’ve heard Ingles is doing?

Answer:

Ingles, in cooperation with Feeding America, is selling Captain Protein Power icons to raise money to supply families with milk through Feeding America. Feeding America is an umbrella organization for a network of food banks across the United States. The Great American Milk Drive is an initiative to provide families in need with coupons for milk through those food banks. In Western North Carolina that food bank is Manna Food Bank in Asheville. Manna Food Bank in turn works with the following food pantry organizations in Haywood County:

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the perception that it’s an outsider. The new medical complex aims to drive home the message that Mission offers local health care, despite its flagship hospital being in Asheville. “Mission has long been a part of Haywood County,” said Bailey. Hospitals aren’t going to be the center of the health care universe in the future anyway, Paulus said. Clinic-style health care services — like the one-stop shop Mission opened — and outpatient surgery centers — which Mission may add to its Haywood

campus one day — are more convenient, more efficient and more popular with patients. Medicine under one roof, with a single trajectory of care, is a mantra Paulus preaches often. “We are moving away from a very hospital-centric model to a very at-your-side model of care,” Paulus said. Mission officials emphasized that the new complex is a harbinger of continued expansion and investment in Haywood County, with plenty of space to grow at its new Haywood campus. Mission snagged a key piece of property on Hospital Drive that is 23 acres, in the heart of medical row and a stone’s throw from Haywood Regional Medical Center. Mission’s prominent hilltop site showcases the stately building and the Mission Health sign to all passersby on the heavily traveled highway corridor below. “We have built a facility that is commiserate with the quality of care patients in Haywood County deserve,” Bailey said.

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Southwestern Commission Collectively leading the region for 50 years

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR ne day they were operating out of the community center building in Sylva and the next they were moving into a singlewide trailer in Bryson City. Some years federal grant money rolled in hand over fist, and other years they fought tooth and nail for highly competitive grants for their communities. They’ve seen years of unchecked growth and years of economic stagnation. Southwestern Commission was formed in 1965 to act as a conduit for local governments to receive federal funding for economic development, whether it’s for infrastructure, business development and training or other services. The organization also provides monitoring and oversight of grants and funding given to governments. Over the past 50 years, the Southwestern Commission has been through several transformations and continues to evolve along with the needs of the seven westernmost counties in North Carolina. SWC — a regional council of government — has the simple mission of helping the local governments in its district accomplish their goals. “We don’t have a strategic plan because we help the local govRyan Sherby ernments implement their own strategic plan,” said Ryan Sherby, SWC’s executive director. The commission’s work runs deep throughout the region, and whether they realize it or not, residents would be hard pressed to point out a piece of major infrastructure, an economic development project or a local government program implemented in the last 50 years that wasn’t somehow supported by SWC. Asking Sherby or past SWC leaders what their most important project was is like asking a parent to choose their favorite child. Each new piece of infrastructure helped move the entire region forward and each grant awarded helped a local government better serve its community. Beginning in 1965, SWC has had its hands in creating a library system, community colleges, finding funding for water and sewer plants, airports and community centers, expanding community hospitals, establishing emergency management programs and much more. Former SWC executive director Bill Gibson, who spent 40 years with the organization, said the commission’s role was always 6 a supportive one — being the facilitator for

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September 2-8, 2015

projects and often being the facilitator to work out a problem between two or more governments. “Processes were always the most important thing — motivating locals to think beyond the gap of the mountain where the next county started,” he said. “We had a lot of situations where we facilitated interlocal cooperation around common problems and opportunities.” As the region’s goals change, SWC’s services change to meet those needs. SWC was focused on securing federal funding for infrastructure projects during the early years, but Sherby’s focus during the last few years has been on regional long-range planning and pooling limited resources. County and town officials can get tunnel vision when it comes to dealing with challenges in their communities without realizing the county next door is facing the same problem. SWC allows county and town governments to come to the same table and find solutions. “We’re in a unique position to understand the culture and geography because we’re looking at it from 30,000 feet while others are looking at it much closer,” Sherby said.

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE During the “heyday” of the Southwestern Commission, there was plenty of money funneling in from different agencies. “We couldn’t spend it as fast as it was coming in and now it’s fiercely competitive,” Sherby said of the early days. Similar councils of government were being established throughout the country as state legislatures and the U.S. Congress were creating thousands of grant-in-aid programs and distributing billions of dollars to implement them. “In the 60s when the federal government started helping local governments, they needed some entity to manage those funds so they didn’t have to contract with every local agency,” said Sarah Thompson, SWC director of planning and development. “And it’s evolved over the years to fill a lot of roles.” Gibson started his long career with the commission shortly after returning from military service in South Korea. He was one of half a million soldiers returning home about the same time, and he landed a temporary job with SWC in 1973 to help implement a program through the U.S. Department of Labor to reintegrate the troops into the workforce. In 1976, he became the executive director — a position he occupied until he retired in 2013. Gibson witnessed many changes in the region and the organization during those 40 years.

WHAT IS THE SOUTHWESTERN COMMISSION? The Southwestern North Carolina Planning and Economic Development Commission (Southwestern Commission) is the council of government for North Carolina’s Region A, which includes Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties and the 17 municipalities therein.

The mission The mission of the Southwestern Commission is to improve the quality of life in its seven-county service area by assisting local governments in reaching their goals. Southwestern Commission provides the following services: • Workforce development • Business services • Aging initiatives • Transportation planning • Community planning • Strategic plans • Project development • Project funding • Project management • Grant writing • Grant administration • Facilitation service • Leadership training • Technical assistance • GIS mapping • Economic development • Hiring/selection assistance

“When I started, the region was a whole lot more like the region I grew up in than the region it was when I was there or the region like it is today,” he said. “It was still deep Appalachia.” Vicki Greene started working at SWC around 1975 and retired in 2011 to run for a commissioner seat in Jackson County. With a master’s degree in public administration, she returned to Western North Carolina and landed a job as a community planner for SWC. Greene remembers the early days when communications were slow with limited technology. Most correspondence between counties was done via written letters — a far cry from how the commission operates today. “When I first started working, there was no Internet,” she recalled. “We did have a fax machine, but we had to run off a guide for local officials on a mimeograph machine.” It wasn’t just technology that was lacking. It was a time when Western North Carolina

was in desperate need of water and sewer infrastructure, roadways, airports, vocational schools and community colleges. In an effortw to carry out former President John F. Kennedy’s promises of a “Great Society,”b President Lyndon Johnson’s administration pushed through a number of programs to help rural America with infrastructure projects. Federal and state grant money was readily available for those local governments first to the plate to receive it. And Gibson always made sure his region was first in line. l “The reality was if we weren’t working overtime, we were denying someone — one of our counties or towns — the opportunityf to get 85 to 90 percent outside money for a project,” Gibson said. “Of course it was still tax funded stuff but it always redistributed for rural development.” p Say what you will now about the pro-b grams and the distribution methods, but without those programs, Western North Carolina wouldn’t have the strong foundationW it does today. “Some called it a pork barrel — I called it catching up and that’s the way a majority of folks looked at it,” Gibson said. “What we worked on was a range of community development projects — starting with basic infrastructure.” Gibson and Greene also built long-lastingp relationships during their tenure that Sherby continues to nurture today. They were locals and spoke the language of their region. Greene, who has known Gibson since their high school days, said the quiet young man she knew changed into a tremendous leader who had the gift of being able to converse and relate with anyone — from local farmers to legislators in Raleigh. “Somewhere along the way he morphed into the Bill Gibson who can tell you how to make a watch when you ask for the time,” Greene joked.

ROLLING WITH CHANGE During the early years of Gibson’s leadership, a good portion of the commission’s funding went toward infrastructure — water, sewer, roads and

SWC initiatives give unified voice to the region

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OPT-IN PLANNING

“Some called it a pork barrel — I called it catching up ... What we worked on was a range of community development projects — starting with basic infrastructure.” — Bill Gibson, former SWC executive director

Success stories The Southwestern Commission awarded $475,000 to local businesses in 2014 through its revolving loan fund. • Ridgefield Farms in Brasstown was awarded $150,000 to purchase feeder cattle for supplying all natural, locally raised beef to restaurants and retail meat markets. • The Hub Coffee Shop & Café in Graham County received $25,000 to provide a year-round destination for locals and tourists to dine, rent motorcycles, purchase souvenirs and enjoy downtown Robbinsville. • BearWaters Brewing Company in Waynesville received $125,000 to assist with the purchase of a 15-barrel brew tank for expansion of the manufacturing operation to meet growing demand. • Sunburst Trout Farms in Haywood County received $200,000 for a $900,000 plant relocation from its current processing plant at Lake Logan to the Waynesville Industrial Park, which will allow for expansion and increased production.

have guided the process with significant public input on how the seven western counties can collaborate to create a vision for the region’s future. A team of expert consultants selected by the SWC board conducted a comprehensive analysis of the region — looking at development patterns, commuting habits, the economy, population growth, important landscapes and other factors. Funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission, the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration paid for the initiative. The vision is for all entities in the region to work together to attract new jobs that match the region’s skill level and are attractive to young people. “Everyone agrees that there is a lack of well-paying jobs in the region, and that many young people are leaving

telecommunications. Gibson can’t point to any sudden shift that has molded the organization into what it is today. He said it was a gradual change throughout the years as state and national politics changed. With each new administration — on the local, state and federal level — came new goals, nixed funding and a new set of challenges. On the other hand, Greene recalls a big shift that shaped SWC’s efforts. In Ronald Reagan’s 1981 State of the Union address, he promised to terminate the

SMOKY MOUNTAIN BLUEWAYS There is a very blurry line between tourism development and economic development in Western North Carolina, because one begets the other and vice versa. So it would make sense that Southwestern Commission’s economic development function sometimes dips into the tourism realm. “We talk about tourism a lot,” Thompson said. “Anybody that comes here will probably be a tourist first. ” For that reason, SWC thinks it is important to focus on downtown revitalization and making sure communities get funding for recreational projects to encourage tourism. SWC is working with the regional marketing entity Smoky Mountain Host and Duke Energy Foundation on a project — Smoky Mountain Blueways — to highlight the recreational opportunities the region’s rivers and lakes have to offer. A website is being developed to point tourists to all the water recreation entry points in the region. Sherby said the website will be user-friendly by having an online mapping component to directly lead people to water access points. The site also will have specific information for outdoor enthusiasts, including photos of each site, parking capacity, types of fish, public restroom and picnic areas and where kayaking, fishing and canoeing are allowed. Duke Energy Foundation has made a significant investment to expand public use and access to waterways, especially on the Nantahala and Tuckasegee rivers. “We have a tremendous amount of public access to waterways because of Duke and the Forest Service,” Sherby said. “We think we can plant the flag as the premier watersports destination for the Southeast. We’ve got it all.”

Economic Development Administration and other governmental entities that SWC received a majority of its funding from. “He did everything but say ‘Vicki go home,’” Greene said. “Both agencies are still alive today, but they don’t have the kind of money they used to have for infrastructure projects.” Sherby, who has been the executive director for about three years, said the focus has changed as the region has changed. There are many programs SWC has been tasked with administering that have been taken away and

new ones that have been added. At one point things like child services and emergency management were under the commission, but they have since been turned over to the counties. Gibson said that happened often — SWC would start a program or take over a program and would make sure it was running efficiently before turning it over to a local government. “I always felt our mission was to help local government fix something until they could do it well or better by themselves — then we

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More than 100 meetings led by SWC resulted in a clear picture of what is important to people in the region. The effort was dubbed “Opt-In” — Opportunity Initiative of Southwestern North Carolina — and is about recognizing opportunities and positioning the region to make the most of them. Local business, government and community leaders

Community members participate in an Opt-In workshop in Clay County. Opt-In is an initiative led by Southwestern Commission to create a unified vision for the region. Donated photo

September 2-8, 2015

Mountain West Alliance, a regional marketing initiative, began in 2014 after the state legislature decided to defund all non-state entities receiving state aid, which included Advantage West — a vital rural economic development entity. Ryan Sherby, SWC’s executive director, said SWC started a conversation in the region about who could take over the marketing and economic development services Advantage West was providing at the time. “We decided we needed a central clearing house for economic development information — business training, where to find capital, the assets we already have and what products we have to sell to the outside world. No entity was doing that,” he said. “The (SWC) board has given us the charge to be the lead economic development entity in the region.” With private and governmental partners, SWC is in the strategic planning phase of the effort right now — working on fundraising and building up a database of economic development resources in the region. The final result will be an integrated marketing campaign and the launch of a website to provide entrepreneurs and industries a comprehensive look at what is available in the seven western counties and the Qualla Boundary. Since the process of starting a business can be confusing for someone who doesn’t know what resources are available, Sherby said the website will help fast-track the process. “It’s really a virtual collaborative of entities that already exist in the region,” Sherby said. “It’s critical to grow entrepreneurs and small businesses into medium and bring large businesses into the area.” Thompson said she also hopes the website and marketing campaign will give outsiders an accurate picture of what Western North Carolina is like now and not the stereotypes that are often portrayed. “We want to show that we’re not the Wild West anymore,” she joked.

home to find better economic opportunities,” Sherby said. “The economic downturn has only made things more difficult.” Opt-In also includes a vision for vibrant and pedestrianfriendly towns, efficient transportation systems, protecting mountain culture and natural resources, and improving the quality of life for residents by addressing issues like affordable housing, education levels, access to health care, an aging population and high rates of diabetes and obesity. The outcome was a new tool — the Regional Investment Guide — to help local governments decide where development, transportation improvements, infrastructure and other investments should occur to minimize the cost of extending services and protecting limited resources. “The Opt-In process affirmed support for many of the initiatives that we and partnering organizations were currently developing in the region,” Sherby said. “These initiatives — such as the creation of an angel investment fund and a regional marketing entity — coupled with strategies to move transportation and other key infrastructure investments forward were already beginning to take shape." To see the complete report, visit www.optinswnc.org.

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BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR ess money and stiffer competition for grants means that Western North Carolina needs to have a solid plan in place to show the need in the region and stay competitive. That is exactly what Southwestern Commission Region A has been helping with in recent years with regional planning and marketing efforts like Mountain West Alliance, Opt-In and Smoky Mountain Blueways initiatives.

S EE COMMISSION, PAGE 8 7

September 2-8, 2015

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COMMISSION, CONTINUED FROM 7 moved on to something else,” he said. All of the counties in the region now have four to six commissioners or aldermen on the board plus a professional full-time manager, but Gibson said that wasn’t the case in the early years. Counties typically had three commissioners, and the chairman often served as the county manager. He said Canton was the only town he could recall having a professional town manager back then. So SWC stepped into that role when needed. “We would help commissioners work through situations they weren’t prepared to handle,” Gibson said. Gibson said trying to find common ground in the region between Democrat and Republican leaders was never an issue in his opinion — even with new leaders coming in every few years. “At least half if not 75 percent of county commissioners were Democrat — but very conservative — and the Republicans — one couldn’t tell the difference,” he said. “They were all pro-county, fiscal conservatives trying to do what was best for the county. You didn’t see any political ideologists.” Gibson and Greene saw their fair share of changes on every level, and they understood that it came with the job. When Gibson reached his retirement age, he could already see another political shift in policy brewing at the state and federal level and had to ask himself an important question. “I had to look at myself and ask, ‘do you really want to go through another one of these?’ and the answer was no — the commission needs a fresh mind and new energy,” Gibson said.

SPREADING THE WORD

Smoky Mountain News

Mention Southwestern Commission to someone on the street, and it is likely they’ve heard it mentioned before but will probably have no idea what the organization does. Gibson said that isn’t a new problem. It isn’t that SWC isn’t as prominent as it once was — the stealth qualities of SWC have historically been intentional. SWC considers itself an extension of the local governments it works for and would rather the elected officials receive the credit. “To some degree that’s by design — we usually ran pretty deep and pretty dark in terms of always following the lead of the elected and appointed officials,” Gibson said. “They are the guys and ladies who stand for election and get called in the middle of the night. It’s seldom they get calls when things go right.” Gibson also sees that paradigm changing and now thinks it may be time for SWC to be better known by the people it serves in the region. Local government requires more public input now than it used to, and with limited funding available from the state and federal government, counties need more support from constituents in order to fund projects. With new leadership coming into local governments every few years, Thompson said outreach and education is a large part of what SWC does to let counties and municipalities know what services the organization can provide. “It’s kind of a road show — we remind 8

Seniors participate in the Macon County Elder Abuse Awareness Walk. Southwestern Commission Area Agency on Aging’s mission is to assure that every older person in Region A has the opportunity to live life to the fullest in the least restrictive setting possible. Donated photo them of what we do,” she said. “Some have more staff capacity and some get used to relying on us.” Sherby said the commission conducts a service survey to ask local governments what services the organization should be providing. “It’s important for us to stay current on their current goals when new people come in,” he said. “They own the regional council — it’s a shared organization and we’re basically an extension of county and city staff.” Macon County Commissioner Ronnie Beale is very familiar with the work SWC does. He is active on the board of directors and on the transportation planning committee. With changes in how the North Carolina Department of Transportation is prioritizing projects to receive funding, he said SWC’s transportation planning would be critical in the coming years. “Southwestern Commission has been a friend to all the far west counties in many ways throughout the years,” he said. “If it hadn’t been for them, we wouldn’t have secured money for infrastructure and wouldn’t have the long-range planning that’s benefited Macon County in many ways.”

NEW LEADERSHIP Gibson’s retirement marked the end of an era for the organization. Gibson and two other key leaders — Greene and Mary Barker — all retired within three years of one another. “A changing of the guards was taking place,” Thompson said. “They had 100 years of experience between the three of them.” The loss was huge for the organization’s continuity, but Thompson said the transition was as smooth as it could be with existing staff stepping into the vacant roles. Sherby has worked for SWC for eight years. Five of those years were spent as the transportation planner before he was chosen to lead SWC into its next phase. For someone who is a “transplant,” Sherby took it as a good sign that the SWC board of directors selected him to lead the organization. That alone was a significant change given that Gibson was a homegrown product of Western North Carolina. Gibson was a mentor to Sherby when he began at SWC and said he is very proud of the work he’s been doing since taking the helm.

“Every time I walk in the office, which isn’t very often now, I swell with pride upon seeing where they are and what they’re doing and the kinds of relationships they’ve maintained,” Gibson said. “I’m really happy and proud to look back and see the organization is in better hands than if I had stayed.” Waynesville Mayor Gavin Brown, who served as chairman of the SWC board of direc-

Organizational structure of SWC • All counties and towns in the region are dues-paying members • SWC board of directors is made up of leaders from each county and municipality. • The organization has five divisions — Agency on Aging, Community and Economic Development, Land and Water Conservation, Transportation Planning and Workforce Development. • SWC has received federal funding for the past 50 years to implement these core operation programs. While that funding has been steadily funded, available funding for community and economic development public projects has steadily decreased over time.

tors in 2013-14, agreed that Sherby was the right person to move the organization forward. “Ryan is working on what Bill created — his way of doing business is different than Bill’s, but the result is the same,” Brown said. While Gibson may have built the structures and relationships throughout the region, Sherby will continue to maintain those relationships and plan for future infrastructure. “Ryan brings a lot of passion and he understands the politics of what we do, and we appreciate all the work he does for us,” Brown added.

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE Even before Sherby moved into the executive director position, SWC’s focus was shifting to more regional and long-term visioning and planning. For many years before the recession, the region saw unbridled growth

without much big-picture planning in mind. Local governments didn’t have the development standards and procedures in place that many of them do now. The second-home industry was booming in the region and the health department was continuously six months behind on inspections. “We wanted that growth, but we weren’t ready for it,” Sherby said. “We have to figure out how do we manage that kind of growth.” Greene, who worked for SWC for 36 years in many capacities, said she thinks Jackson County has been at the forefront of planning for the future by implementing development standards for the county, having planning councils in several communities and passing ordinances to protect the county’s natural resources. These days it’s harder to secure funding and implement a large-scale infrastructure project without a sound plan in place. Thompson said most grant applications want you to be able to show the need for the proposed project. “They want to know ‘is this something that region wants or someone grabbing an opportunity?’” she said. Thompson said the region is now at a point where sustainable planning is critical for the region’s future. This is where SWC’s Opt-In and Mountain West Alliance initiatives play a key part in moving the region forward in a collective direction (See related story on page 7). “There’s a lot more planning being done in the region than we’ve ever done in the past,” Thompson said. Bringing high-speed Internet is another challenge being discussed by SWC. While the demand for broadband is high in the region, the challenge is getting private companies to invest the infrastructure to make it happen. “With the dispersed settlement pattern in Western North Carolina, we don’t have the density to put in costly infrastructure because the payback is 30 years down the road,” Sherby said. “Companies want a three-year payback. That’s a huge challenge, but if we can light up the region with high speed Internet, it would change everything.” Sherby will be the first to admit that one of SWC’s challenges is getting people involved in the process. While people often peek out when a controversial issue comes up, he would like to see more people involved throughout the planning process. “There’s a sense of apathy in the region — I don’t think there is enough civic engagement,” he said. “Local government affects us much more than federal government. We need the younger generation to run for office to bring a new energy into those entities — people with a willingness to explore and tackle the important issues.” Gibson agreed that the commission would stay relevant moving forward into the next 50 years only if the communities and the powers that be in Washington, D.C., continue to see the value in its services. He said SWC provides the two things needed to accomplish something — fiscal capital and relationship capital. “That’s what in my opinion the commission provides people, and it’s an organization everyone across the public policy spectrum trusts,” he said.

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For Russ Avenue redesign, Waynesville wants a Cadillac, DOT counters with a Buick BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER grandiose plan to remake Waynesville’s Russ Avenue commercial corridor into a tree-lined boulevard has gotten a little less grandiose. An $18 million redesign of Russ Avenue is about to enter the planning stages, but the town has been told by the N.C. Department of Transportation to pare down its wish list. “The state only gives us so much width to get the sidewalks and bike paths and medians and street trees in. We have to figure out how to squeeze it in,” Waynesville Mayor Gavin Brown said. A community-driven vision for Russ Avenue was crafted several years ago. It calls for the ultimate trifecta in smart road planning — to unsnarl congestion, improve visual appeal and make way for sidewalks and bike lanes. But the town has learned the design it commissioned for Russ Avenue with a $40,000 transportation planning grant has more bells and whistles than the DOT is willing to pay for, and the town would have to foot the bill for features the DOT deems to be extras. “The DOT said ‘Here are the elements you have shown us, but the problem is we will only put so many elements in,’” Brown said. The DOT met with town officials last month in hopes of getting on the same page before the design phase got underway. “Hopefully with a clear vision we won’t be chasing alternatives that people turn around down the road and say ‘that’s not what we had in mind,’” said Joel Setzer, assistant division engineer for a 10-county area that includes Haywood. However, that’s not to say the town’s Russ Avenue makeover plan was for naught. “It was a great precursor to the work we are getting ready to undertake,” Setzer said. “The planning document the town did for Russ Avenue is a valuable stepping stone for the development of this project.” Town Planner Elizabeth Teague said Waynesville is in a better negotiating position with DOT thanks to the plan it crafted previously. “Waynesville was very strategic in trying to get out in front,” Teague said. Having a plan has moved the needle closer to what the town wants than not having a plan at all. “It attempted to capture a vision,” Setzer

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September 2-8, 2015

said. “We felt like it was helpful in defining what the expectations of the project were.” Giving the local community a voice — let alone putting them in the driver’s seat — isn’t the old-school DOT some may remember. There’s been a gradual paradigm shift in how the DOT approaches road building, Teague said. “There was this whole trend of planning that asked DOT to do context sensitive solutions,” Teague said. “How a highway passes

As the DOT works to marry the town’s goals for Russ Avenue with what’s feasible under DOT standards, one thing has jumped out for Setzer. “You can see it is not so much a concern of congestion as a sense of place and safety,” Setzer said. Luckily, the same strategies deployed to give Russ Avenue a sense of place will do

from one place to another don’t have to come back out onto Russ Avenue only to turn off again. A grid system of side streets and a rear access road would be an escape valve for Russ. But town leaders were disappointed to learn the DOT didn’t see the grid system as something it could justify under the banner of a Russ redesign. So that vision will take longer to accomplish in piecemeal fashion, by encouraging businesses to connect their parking lots with each other. “It is incumbent on us as a community to find a way to create these connectors,” Brown said. Another goal is to make Russ Avenue more accommodating to bikers and walkers. “What we are looking at is overall connectivity of the whole town. This corridor is one piece of a larger puzzle,” Teague said. “And this project is an opportunity to look at the big picture and say, ‘What needs to happen right here that connects to our larger goals?’”

LET THE HORSE-TRADING BEGIN

A landscaped median is part-and-parcel to a future redesign of Russ Avenue, ending the many near misses caused by driver's making left-turns against oncoming traffic. Becky Johnson photo through a community affects the economy. It creates the streetscape that is either in character with the town or is not. I think DOT has really tried to adjust to that paradigm shift.” Teague said it is critical from a policy standpoint that DOT’s stated process gives deference to locally adopted plans like the one the town did for Russ Avenue. “You don’t always get an opportunity like this where DOT comes in and says ‘You’ve made a plan, we are going to try to accommodate it,’” she said.

“You don’t always get an opportunity like this where DOT comes in and says ‘You’ve made a plan, we are going to try to accommodate it.’” — Elizabeth Teague, Town Planner

A MEDIAN FOR RUSS

double duty to improve traffic flow, Teague said. One thing that’s universally agreed on by the town and the DOT: Russ Avenue’s middle turn lane has to go. It will be replaced by a median, preventing drivers from making harried left turns across lanes of oncoming traffic to satisfy their fast-food cravings. On one hand, a median would cut off access to businesses on the opposite side the road. But a series of designated U-turns at stop lights would instead allow drivers to double back — and ultimately be less nervewracking than camping out in the left turn lane waiting for a break in rush hour traffic. “There is a tipping point when it is too hard to get to a business you decide not to go there,” Teague said. Another strategy is creating a grid network, with a secondary parallel road running behind businesses, so drivers hopping

The biggest enemy in a Russ redesign is space: figuring out how to fit the features of a better road into essentially the same footprint as the old one. There’s a caveat. If the town is willing to chip in on the cost, it could get more of what it wants. But town leaders decided they weren’t willing to open their wallets, and would try to work within the allowed confines. The key to a compromise is whether the DOT is willing to be flexible with the footprint allowance. “Right now the town is trying to barter a little bit with the DOT to see how much we can get out of our cross section,” Teague said. In a two-hour conference between town leaders and DOT reps last month, DOT wanted to know what the town valued most if they couldn’t get everything that was in their plan. Town leaders had two weeks’ turn-around time to get back to the DOT — rather short notice compared to the construction timeline that’s still seven years out. The town’s new engineer and new planner went to work to develop schematics to show the town board the following week. “There is a discrepancy between the design we adopted and what the DOT can pay for,” Town Manager Marcy Onieal told the town board. “They need our feedback right away.” However, the town board ran into one conundrum after another as they hemmed and hawed over what they valued most.

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Youth Outright, Western NC’s leading advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ ) youth, will present a meeting for youth ages 14-20 from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Franklin. “Youth Outright has longed hoped to establish a presence in Franklin and other communities in Macon, Jackson, Swain, Clay, Graham and Cherokee counties,” said Executive Director Jim Faucett. “The Unitarian Universalists are providing us this opportunity by opening their space to us, and we’ve received funding from Mission Health that helps to underwrite our Franklin meetings.” Youth Outright is a youth advocacy and leadership program dedicated to providing affirmation, information, support and resources for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ ) youth in 18 counties in Western North Carolina. The meeting is free and refreshments will be served. Visit www.youthoutright.org.

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Enrichment courses offered through WCU institute A series of educational sessions for Western North Carolina residents 50 and older is being offered through LIFE@WesternCarolina, Western Carolina University’s lifelong learning institute. LIFE@WesternCarolina offers weekly sessions in both Cullowhee and Asheville focusing on a variety of topics including business, history, science, literature, politics and personal development. Sessions are offered weekly for 12 weeks during the fall and spring semesters. Fall semester programs will begin Tuesday, Sept. 8, in Cullowhee and Wednesday, Sept. 9, in Asheville. Cost of membership in the institute is $125 per year, including 24 engaged learning experiences with opportunities to take part in additional activities related to some of the topics. Participants may attend all or as many sessions as they like. To register, call 828.227.7397 or visit life@wcu.edu. A wider sidewalk versus a row of street trees? A separate bike lane and sidewalk versus a mashed-up multi-use path? Designated bike lanes versus a share-theroad approach?

AN UNRESOLVED ELEMENT

WHAT NEXT? The finish line for Russ Avenue’s makeover is years away. The timetable calls for right-of-way acquisition in 2020. It will be a couple of years before the DOT develops design mock-ups for the public to weigh in on. Brown said he is pleased that Russ Avenue made the DOT’s short list. “When I saw it had been approved I was absolutely taken aback,” Brown said. Russ Avenue rose to the top of road projects to be undertaken in the region during last year’s transportation ranking process. Road projects are awarded points for various criteria, from crashes to congestion. Local priorities are also factored into the ranking, and that’s what helped Russ win out. “There is a lot of folks that travel Russ Avenue,” Setzer said, citing a traffic count of 23,000 cars a day. “It serves so many citizens and there was strong local support to do something.” As for not getting the town’s dream Russ? “I am not going to leave half a loaf on the table because I can’t get the whole one,” Brown said.

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The town wants 8-foot-wide sidewalks, but DOT will pay for a only 5-foot sidewalk. If the town wants more than the basic 5 feet, it will have to pay for the additional width. Even if the town settles for 5-foot sidewalks, the DOT will still pay for only 70 percent of the cost, with the town forced to pick up the remaining 30 percent. The DOT will pay for the full cost of bike lanes, however, and that gave town leaders an idea. Could they wrest extra sidewalk width from the bike lane allowance, by combining them into a single multi-use path paralleling the road? Town leaders mulled that idea, but weren’t sure that the benefits of a wider sidewalk justified giving up a designated bike lane. Town leaders also contemplated stealing width from the buffer separating the edge of the road and the sidewalk. The DOT allows for a 5-foot buffer, which could feasibly be whittled down to make room for a wider sidewalk. But a narrower buffer strip has drawbacks. It wouldn’t be wide enough for a row of street trees, and Waynesville loves its street trees. Besides, the buffer strip provides critical separation between the cars zooming past and the sidewalk where people are walking. “As a walker, if I have something

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SIDEWALKS REMAIN

between me and traffic, I feel better,” Brown said. “At this point in time there are not a lot of pedestrians on Russ Avenue. But in 30 years there might be.” Landscaping will be a major area of negotiation as well. The DOT told the town that beautification elements like street trees lining the road and a landscaped median would come at a cost. The town would have to pay for street trees, and if it wants a landscaped median in lieu of a concrete one, the town would not only have to pay for it but agree to tend to it in perpetuity.

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Bryson City under new management BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR hen Josh Ward was earning his bachelor’s degree in environmental health, he never thought it would lead him to running a small town government. But as of last week, Ward, 36, found himself settling in to a desk at Bryson City Town Hall. Out of 25 applicants and extensive interviews, he was chosen to be the next town manager. “A good manager is supposed to make sure the town is run efficiently and make sure the town is kept in good financial standing while still looking for grants and funds to assist in infrastructure, repairs, streetscapes and other projects,” Ward said of his new role. Bryson City Alderman Rick Bryson said Ward knew the ins and outs of the manager's job before he got to his interview with the board. “He was composed and impressive, his answers to our questions were on-target,” Bryson said. “I am confident that Josh will make a smooth transition into the job of Bryson City manager.” Bryson City Mayor Tom Sutton said Ward was chosen because of his education, background and town government experience. Ward is replacing longtime manager Larry Callicutt who announced his retirement earlier this year.

Health Department. Ward is a fifth-generation Franklin native and still resides there with his wife and three children. Growing up in Western North Carolina, Ward has the added advantage of knowing the area and the issues facing the region. He hopes his experience in Highlands has better prepared him for his new position. “I felt like I had the experience and knowledge and it was just a logical progresJosh Ward settles into his new role as sion in my career. It’s a good Bryson City’s new city manager. Jessi Stone photo opportunity — that’s why I applied,” he said. “I know “Josh is very well spoken and energetic, how town operations work and what they’re and that’s what were looking for,” Sutton going through.” said. “He’s going to bring a new perspective Bryson said the best endorsement for — anyone in a job for a long time, you devel- Ward came from his former boss, Patrick op your own way and stick with it. I think Taylor, mayor of Highlands, “who jokingly Josh is going be the guy to lead the town into complained in an email to me that we had the next step.” stolen his right-hand man.” Ward joins Bryson City after working for Ward admits Bryson City is a different anithe town of Highlands for eight years in the mal than Highlands. While Highlands’ popuplanning and zoning department. For the last lation is about 950, its high property values two years, he has served as the planning and result in a $14 million annual budget for the director. Following graduation from Western town. Bryson City has a population of about Carolina University in 2001, Ward worked in 1,500 with an annual budget of about $2.5 environmental health at the Macon County million. Even with those differences, Ward

said the towns still face the same challenges. “Really a small town like Bryson City or Highlands everybody has to work together, from the manager all the way down the line on projects,” he said. “And I think that kind of experience helped me move to a manager’s position.” Callicutt stayed on for a week with Ward to get him acclimated and introduce him to the town’s 31 employees. Ward said his main goal at the moment was to meet everyone and become familiar with the town’s processes. “I want to have a good working relationship with town employees and the town board, advisory groups, planning board, TDA and even the county employees because everyone has to work together to make it the best town it can be,” he said. One thing he wants to do is update the town website. The town has a functional website but public information is scarce. The last town meeting agenda posted was from November 2014, and none of the meeting minutes are available for the public to view. Ward said he planned to follow Highlands’ example by creating a “sunshine list” so the media and members of the public can keep up with town events and news. Instead of having to go by town hall to pick up information, anyone who wanted to receive email alerts with meeting agendas and other news could get added to the email blast. Having a sunshine list like other local governments will help the town be more transparent and create a more informed community. As the new town manager, Ward will be making $73,000 a year plus benefits.

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BY HOLLY KAYS because it’s going to tell you exactly what STAFF WRITER we’ve been telling you for years. We need bid to make the Cherokee police more people.” chief ’s position an elected one isn’t Council Chair Terri Henry took issue dead, but Tribal Council has voted to with the “telling you for years” part of that complete a study examining the pros and statement. cons of such a move before making a “If you’re fighting for it, I don’t know if choice. Following a lengthy discussion at you’re fighting for it in this council chamtheir July meeting and a two-and-a-halfber,” she said. hour work session later that month, the “If it’s not there, it’s not there,” Reed council voted to embark on a feasibility replied. “We know how much is in the overstudy examining the possible effects of the all budget and we all try to get our allocaidea and needs in the police department. “It’s been a great discussion,” Councilmember Adam Wachacha, of Snowbird, said at the work session, thanking Birdtown council candidate Travis Smith for submitting the legislation. Smith had originally brought forward the idea of electing the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians police Chief Ben Reed. police chief — currently, he’s hired as a tribal employee reporting to the principal chief — in May, tions and argue for what we need.” arguing that a perceived lack of responsiveBut communication is part of the issue, ness in the department boils down to a Councilmember Perry Shell said, asking “management issue.” Reed to “answer when I call you.” “We’re trying to empower our people to When he’s calling, it’s not to ask for have a voice in what goes on,” he told counsome political favor or paint anyone into a cil at their July meeting. corner, Shell said. Rather, it’s to pass along Police Chief Ben Reed wasn’t present at messages from people who feel they aren’t that meeting, but when council scheduled a being heard. July 30 work session to discuss the issue, “They (Cherokee residents) called and Reed took the podium for a half hour explathey called and they called and they got no nation of his point of view. solution to their problem, so they start call“We’ve stretched as far as we can ing us, and that when I start calling you,” stretch,” he said. “We’re done. We can’t go Shell said. no further. We have to add manpower to Communication goes two ways. Reed our department.” said he wishes someone had told him that Reed, who has held his position since the concept of electing the police chief posi2006, recalls that the department’s struction was being discussed at the July council ture was “all messed up” when he took the meeting. No one did until a half hour after reins, and he spent nearly two years getting the meeting began, he said. everything straight. Meanwhile, Principal “No one talked to me about it, and I Chief Michell Hicks “quickly identified” that thought, That’s my position they’re talking the police department’s needs were too about,” he said. great to operate on a standard budget, Reed No decision’s been made about the posisaid. Hicks changed the budget to make the tion yet. Following the two lengthy July dispolice department’s share a percentage of cussions, councilmembers voted at their the total revenue that would grow with August meeting to get a study on the feasitime, rather than a static dollar amount. bility of electing a police chief done, with a “That was a great thing until the recesdeadline of Jan. 31, 2016. Before then, an sion hit in 2009 and no new positions came election in which all 12 council seats are up in for a couple of years,” Reed said. for grabs will take place. “I would welcome any efficiency study The resolution passed with only on our program,” Reed said at a different Councilmember Tommye Saunooke, of point in the meeting. “I would welcome it Painttown, opposed.

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Elected police chief question under review in Cherokee

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Folkmoot Center could be a longshot as stop-gap location for Shining Rock BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR hining Rock Classical Academy’s continued hunt for somewhere to temporarily house the fledgling charter school come Jan. 1 has inevitably landed on the doorstep of the Folkmoot Friendship Center, a seemingly natural choice since the Folkmoot Center was originally an elementary school. But confusion resulted after Shining Rock leaders told newspapers last week that they were considering the Folkmoot Center as an option. Folkmoot leaders say they haven’t yet decided whether they could accommodate the charter school. “We are an unlikely option,” said Folkmoot Executive Director Angie Schwab. “We are not ADA compliant. We don’t have sprinklers. There are some significant hurdles that they would have to get over with the state of the building. And we probably don’t have the room they are looking for.” The Folkmoot Center was abandoned as an elementary school in the 1990s, deemed functionally obsolete by the Haywood Public School system after a 70-year-run. The same

Smoky Mountain News

September 2-8, 2015

reasons it was abandon by the school system are many of the same challenges the charter school would face — from lack of handicapped access to exorbitant energy costs in winter. Schwab gave a tour of the Folkmoot building to Shining Rock representatives two weeks ago, something she does routinely for groups interested in leasing space. “We get looked at all Angie Schwab the time,” Schwab said. But it would be premature to call Folkmoot a real option at this point, as Folkmoot hasn’t gotten any sort of request or proposal from Shining Rock. “We don’t know it is an option until we know what they want,” Schwab said. She said she informed Shining Rock leaders that they needed to first submit a proposal of their specific needs to the Folkmoot Board of Directors before it can consider leasing space to the school.

Shining Rock, Haywood County’s first charter school, started classes Aug. 19 at The Wilson Children's Complex at Lake Junaluska. That location is only temporary while the charter school board works to find a permanent location for the school. Shining Rock’s lease at Lake Junaluska is only through December and the school board is not anticipating an extension of the lease into the spring semester, as the assembly will probably need the space for conferences and events. SRCA’s original plan was to have a perma-

nent site locked down by December, but several factors have made that goal unattainable. Shining Rock leaders said they haven’t yet decided whether Folkmoot would work on their end either. After touring the facility a couple of weeks ago, Shining Rock Board Member Nancy East said they need to do more research. “When we have conversations with properties we are vetting, it's beneficial to know as much information as possible up front before we spend any money determining its feasibility,” East said in an email.

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Parents drop off their children at Shining Rock Classical Academy, which is temporarily located at Lake Junaluska. Jessi Stone photo

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Olympian and WCU Alumni Manteo Mitchell will be the speaker at Harris Regional Hospital’s next Tuesdays to Thrive event entitled “Your Map to Outdoor Safety.” The event will take place at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 15 in the Harris Regional Hospital cafeteria. The cost to attend the event is $5 and includes a healthy meal. This informative session will focus on how to stay safe during popular outdoor activities such as running, biking and paddling. Space is limited for the event; call 844.414.DOCS to RSVP by Sept. 11. Tuesdays to Thrive is a series of events held the third Tuesday of each month. Visit www.myharrisregional.com or call 828.586.7734.

A Voter Rights forum, titled “Voter Rights in North Carolina: Barriers and Challenges 50 Years After Passage of the Voter Rights Act,” will be presented by the Macon County League of Women Voters at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, at the Franklin Town Hall. The 90-minute forum will include a presentation by Bob Hall, executive director of Democracy-NC, a non-partisan voting rights organization based in Durham, as well as several other speakers. Debbie George with the Macon County Board of Elections will clarify recent changes to the photo ID requirement. 828.524.8369.

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Olympian to speak at N.C. Voter Rights Forum Harris Regional Hospital comes to Franklin

August 15th - October 15th

September 2-8, 2015

“We want to talk to anyone who is interested in space — they (SRCA) certainly seem like nice people — there’s just a lot of moving pieces right now,” Schwab said. “When they submit a request we can evaluate it, but until then it’s just an idea.” In addition to looking for a temporary location, Shining Rock leaders are trying to work out issues with their proposed permanent site on Raccoon Road. The board signed a contract in July to purchase 32 acres of farmland on the corner of Raccoon Road and U.S. 276 on the outskirts of Waynesville, but a dispute with a farmer who leases the property halted progress. An environmental engineering firm hired by Shining Rock was surveying the area for soil testing and damaged the leaseholder Jeremy Wilson’s corn crop in the process. Wilson’s lawyer, Frank Queen, sent Shining Rock a letter asking them not to trespass on the land again until Wilson’s lease was up in May. The SRCA board hired local lawyer Burt Smith a few weeks ago to negotiate with Wilson so that site work can continue. The board hired Smith for $250 an hour to handle the dispute but capped the legal fees at $2,500. Board chairwoman Tara Keilberg said at the time that she thought it would take a couple weeks to reach an agreement. As of Tuesday, no agreement has been made and the $2,500 cap hasn’t yet been reached. “Regarding the Raccoon Road property, to date and despite repeated efforts to amicably agree on terms, we can't seem to reach an agreement with Jeremy Wilson, and it seems at this point our best option is to simply wait for his lease to expire,” East said. Shining Rock was able to extend its contract on the property until next August to allow for due diligence to be conducted. In the meantime, Shining Rock has another hurdle to clear to be able to operate the school on the Raccoon Road property. The Waynesville Planning Board denied the school’s application or a special-use permit for the site, and the charter school now has to go back to the drawing board and address those concerns before applying for the permit again. — Staff writer Becky Johnson contributed to this story

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“We will submit a proposal to the Folkmoot board if it makes good sense to do so.” Another issue for Folkmoot is whether leasing to the charter school would tie up more of its facility than it is willing to part with. “A lot of it is a thinking exercise for us,” Schwab said. “Our intent is to do year-round Folkmoot and while we are looking for partners to be in the building with us, we are looking for partners that help serve our mission, and we don’t have that much room.” School director Ben Butler said enrollment for the K-6 school was 226 during the first week of classes. While SRCA anticipated more students for its first year, Butler said he feels like recent “bad press” regarding the school led to lower numbers. The school originally estimated it would have 305 students its first year. Right now Shining Rock doesn’t know how much space it would need in the building either. “The possibility of eventually using the lower, less renovated part of the building was certainly discussed with Angie the day we visited, but it was all high-level, preliminary discussion and nothing more than that,” East said. Folkmoot has two wings — the main building that is ready to occupy has only five to seven classrooms, and the second building has 10 classrooms, but is currently undergoing renovations. Schwab said it has no heating, new windows need to be installed and a handicap ramp needs to be installed to meet ADA requirements. “There are some pretty serious needs there,” she said. Folkmoot has the funding available to get a gas line installed for heating and to insulate the pipes, but Schwab said there is no definite timeline to complete it at the moment. Folkmoot also has other organizations and groups interested in leasing space at the center, including the Haywood County Community Band, an afterschool program and an artist group. Leasing out space is a new concept for Folkmoot, and Schwab is also in the process of developing a rental agreement policy to present to the board so the organization can figure out how to operate in this new way.

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A grassroots proposal Whittier farmers float idea for vacant factory’s future BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER deas surrounding the fate of a vacant factory building in Whittier have been swirling since Jackson County commissioners started taking a serious look at its future earlier this year. Turn it into an agriculture center? Make it a recreation park? Deed it to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians? Demolish it? A group of Whittier farmers has hatched its own plan and hopes to get commissioners on board. “This site could provide a great facility for local farmers,” Joe Ward, a longtime Whittier cattleman, told commissioners at an August work session. The opportunities are many, the farmers told county leaders who came to tour the facility with them last week. The building could house packaging equipment to allow producers to get their crops ready for sale to large buyers, like grocery stores. It could hold commercial-size coolers, giving farmers more time after picking to sell the crop before it goes bad. It could provide storage space for bulk purchases of seed and fertilizer, allowing farmers to form a purchasing coop. “There’s potential there to enhance agriculture,” said William Shelton, a prominent Whittier farmer and former county commissioner who’s a proponent of the idea.

Smoky Mountain News

September 2-8, 2015

with no sign of another commercial occupant on the way. This isn’t the first time someone’s tried to make something out of the hulking steelframed building. Since 2013, the Southwestern North Carolina Resource Conservation and Development Council had been working to develop an agricultural center on the site. As the council’s executive director Lynn Sprague envisioned it, the 82,000-square-foot building could host everything from business incubation to product processing machinery to concerts. Rodeos, farmers markets, a commercial kitchen, collective marketing for small producers — the list of potential uses went on and on.

The grass grows long around the vacant Drexel factory building in Whittier, but a group of farmers have an idea to give it new life. Holly Kays photo

THE BACKSTORY The property, which housed the Drexel Heritage Furniture Plant for more than 30 years after its 1964 construction, has been county land for about a decade. The county purchased it in the early 2000s as part of an economic development initiative, briefly leasing it to Clearwood, LLC. Since that company moved out, the property has sat vacant,

would cost $1.7 million to bring the sturdy but aging building completely up to code, the building assessment results showed. Any other renovations to outfit the building for its new purpose would pile on top of that. Commissioners balked at the price tag and decided to abandon the ag center plan. “Given all the things already on our plate from a capital projects perspective, I can’t see how that building would rank very high among all the other projects,” County Commission Chairman Brian McMahan said at the time. That’s when commissioners began floating other options, among them the possibility of giving the land to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Before its destruction by Gen. Griffith Rutherford in the 1700s, the site was home to a major Cherokee town called Stecoah, which archeological finds show had been settled since 6,000 B.C. The grounds of the 21.5-acre property still hold

The idea progressed as far as a master plan, which a $10,000 grant from the Southwestern Commission paid for, followed by a $10,000 building assessment the Jackson County Commissioners ordered to get an idea of how much the renovation might cost. But that’s where progress stopped. It

artifacts, and to prevent their destruction it’s not permitted to pierce the ground deeper than 18 inches, which is the depth to which it’s already been disturbed as former farmland. That’s not the only restriction on the property. The Tuckesegee River runs right through it, placing the Drexel property squarely in the floodplain. That status severely limits what kind of construction is even allowed there and has been another factor in dampening commissioners’ enthusiasm for developing the property.

A PLAN WITH POTENTIAL The Whittier farmers believe that their plan could allow the property to become a resource for the county’s most productive agricultural area while dodging some of the issues that eventually sidelined the Smoky Mountain Agricultural Development Station project. “Basically, the cost of the improvements to bring it up to code was pretty much left up to the county, and that was when the county drew the line in the sand and said, ‘Hey, we’re not willing to spend that kind of money,’” Shelton said. “And that’s totally understandable. But if you had an organiza-

tion come in and the county were willing to lease at a nominal fee and that entity would assume responsibility for improvements, I don’t know the county would have a beef with that.” What the farmers are considering, he said, is asking for an inexpensive, long-term lease — Ward had put out the idea of leasing 20,000 square feet of the building for 10 years, at $10 per year — but taking care of all the improvements and liability themselves. The original $1.7 million estimate doesn’t scare them. “There’s some grants out there right now for this type of thing, and then there’s also agricultural low-interest loans, and we’ve got to put some money into it ourselves,” Ward said. “I don’t see any problem in coming up with the money to bring the building up to code for what we’re going to be doing with it.” A hefty portion of that $1.7 million estimate — $750,000 — was to install a new roof, and another $300,000 was to bring its structure up to current seismic standards. The full scope of work included in the $1.7 million estimate, said the county’s Building and Code Enforcement Director Tony Elders, would have brought the building completely up to current codes, but that’s above what county ordinance requires. “There’s a lot of old buildings in our county that don’t meet the current codes,” he said. Code requirements kick in piecemeal, triggered by certain kinds of repairs or alterations, Elders said. “They (the farmers) definitely could do it for a lot less money than what the commissioners were looking at,” he said. Besides the fact that the farmers are asking to use only about one-quarter of the building — the original estimate was for the entire structure — they could save money by patching the roof rather than replacing it and skipping the seismic reinforcements. They’d need to install only two restroom units rather than the 30 to 40 commissioners were planning when considering the site for holding large events. They would have to bring the plumbing and electrical systems up to code and patch the roof, but those jobs would cost far less than $1.7 million. Commissioners aren’t totally sold on the idea, but they’re interested. “I think it could work,” McMahan said. “It’s going to take some planning. It’s going to take some work on their (the farmers’) part.” “I’d say that the community that knows about this, 90 or better percent would like to see this developed,” Commissioner Charles Elders said. “We do have support to do what can be done to preserve this old building and put it to some use.” “If they could use it, it may come into something that would be better than what it is right now,” said Commissioner Boyce Dietz, a cattleman sensitive to the needs of agricultural producers.

LAYING OUT THE OPTIONS Some issues certainly remain, principal among them liability.

The Tenth Annual

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Congressman Mark Meadows speaks to a Waynesville gathering of law enforcement, fire, rescue and emergency personnel from around the region.

SEPT. 12 • 11 A.M.-5 P.M.

Bluegrass, Dixieland, Jazz & BBQ Featuring: Meadows addresses grant workshop Representatives from three dozen fire departments, rescue squads, law enforcement units and emergency service operations convened in Waynesville Monday for a grant writing workshop, hoping to find the key to unlock coveted state and federal funds. They came from the rural enclaves of Burningtown and Spring Creek to the urban cities of Hendersonville and Asheville. U.S. Congressman Mark Meadows, R-Cashiers, addressed the audience at the start of the workshop, the fourth of its kind he has organized to help the agencies dial in on federal grant applications. “It is such a competitive process,” said Meadows, who stopped in to the training to express appreciation. “We expect them to do a good job and don’t always say thank you.” — By staff writer Becky Johnson

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“No, we never said we’re going to do that. It’s an option.” Right now, he said, commissioners are in the process of “laying all the options on the table,” and as of yet, the proposal presented by Ward is the only one that’s actually been sent their way. Community members have expressed interest in other uses for the land, but none of those ideas have been formally presented. And even the current iteration of the farmers’ proposal doesn’t quite qualify as a formal presentation, Ward and Shelton agreed. It was pretty much a hastily throwntogether summary of an emerging idea, because the farmers had been under the impression that commissioners were actively pursuing an agreement with the Eastern Band. “We’re just saying, ‘We’re here as a possibility,’” Shelton said. “Before you unload it, take a look at it.” From the farmers’ perspective, this is hardly the time to sit down and come up with a detailed plan. Crops are ripening, the harvest rush is on and there aren’t too many minutes to spare for that kind of thing. The farmers would rather wait till the cold weather sets in before developing anything concrete. And even if commissioners were ready to strike a deal with the Eastern Band — which they’re not, not having even reached out to anyone in tribal government about the concept — it wouldn’t make sense to do so now. This week, Cherokee will elect a new chief, vice chief and Tribal Council. There wouldn’t be much point in pursuing anything until the new leadership is seated in October. “Over the next couple of months into the winter, I think from my viewpoint it would be time well spent as a group to sit down and say, ‘What do we want to do? What’s the first step?’” McMahan said.

September 2-8, 2015

Commissioners want to be sure that, if they did lease the property for this purpose, they wouldn’t be responsible for anything that went wrong on the site and wouldn’t see the project leaders come back with open hands if the undertaking proved more expensive than anticipated. Those are definitely concerns for Commissioner Vicki Greene, and while she said she’s open to talking with the farmers about their plan, she’s clear on her primary desire for the property. “I would like to give it back to the Native Americans,” she said. She said she doesn’t necessarily see the two ideas as mutually exclusive. The Eastern Band could own the land but still allow an agricultural packing facility to go in the building. Or, the county could own it but still allow the Eastern Band to develop some interpretive facilities there to showcase its cultural value. “To me it doesn’t matter who owns it,” Greene said. “If it could be used as a produce packing facility, I would think that the tribe could be interested in that, or the tribe could have other ideas of what the best use of that building could be.” McMahan had also expressed an interest in reaching out to the tribe, but support for exploring that option is not unanimous. Dietz, for instance, had a simple answer to a question about whether he’d be in favor of giving it away: “No.” “It’s taxpayers’ money that bought that, and we can’t just give it away,” he said. “If it is [given away], I’d say there’d be a lot of people standing in line.” But it’s important to remember that all the ideas floated thus far are just that — ideas. “One comment I keep hearing from people in the public is ‘Y’all are going to give away a piece of property,’” McMahan said.

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Jackson ABC board set to buy Cashiers store BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER t’s been just over a year since the Cashiers ABC store opened its doors, but the store’s renting days are almost over. ABC Board chairman David Noland paid a visit to both the Jackson County and Sylva town commissioners last month, asking for their blessing on an owner-financed purchase deal. “Nineteen years from now, whoever’s on the ABC board at that time would have to renegotiate a lease with either a new property owner or heirs to the current property owner,” Noland told county commissioners in a comment he echoed at the town meeting. “We (the current ABC board) wonder if that board at that time would not look back and say, ‘What was that board in 2015 thinking by not buying this property.’” Currently, the ABC board is in year two of a 20-year lease for the 4,000-square-foot building on 0.93 acres. For the first year, rent was $24,000 per year, and years two through nine carry a $32,000 rent. The lease agreement gives the store a chance to renew for years 10 to 15 at a 5-percent increase, paying $33,600 per year, and provides another renewal opportunity for the final five years

at another 5-percent increase, bringing annual rent to $35,280. By sticking with the rental contract, the store would pay $622,000 over 20 years. Instead, the board plans to buy the building for the equivalent of $700,000 with a 4.16 percent interest rate, representing a total investment of $1,008,000 to own the property by the time the existing lease would end. The property’s appraised value is $635,000 — its tax value, set to go down when the county completes its revaluation this year, is $722,000 — but Noland said it makes sense to pay a bit more than the appraised value because they’re getting a comparatively low interest rate, due to financing the deal through the owner rather than through a bank. He also sees potential for the property’s value to grow over the coming years. “Over the 18 years, we expect it in the Cashiers area to go up in value, especially that location,” he said. The ABC store is directly across from the Cashiers Ingles, the go-to grocery store for most people in the area. Noland, who brought with him the unanimous support of his board, met only encouragement from the Sylva and Jackson County boards. “I think it’s a good business transaction,” said Sylva Mayor Maurice Moody, himself a

all, sales increased. Jackson County brought in $986,000 — nearly $1 million — more in ABC sales in the 2014 fiscal year, after the Cashiers store opened, than it did in 2013 with just one store. Based on feedback from customers at the new store, Noland said, there are two main reasons for the increased sales. One, people in Cashiers had previously been going to Highlands in Macon County, not to Sylva, to buy their liquor. And two, those who are second homeowners and visitors had simply been bringing the alcohol with them across state lines. “They have exceeded our expectations,” Noland said of Cashiers’ sales. Of the $500,000 line of “Over the 18 years, we expect it in credit the county had offered new store, the ABC board the Cashiers area to go up in value, the drew $233,000. Of that, $24,000 has been paid back especially that location.” and another $100,000 pay— David Noland, ABC Board chairman ment is on the way. In just a bit over a year, the store will have paid back nearly half its debt to the county. would the second location merely eat up Commissioners were happy with those overhead expenses while countywide sales numbers. remained roughly the same? “It seems like they have the funds to pay Thus far, the numbers have shown that for the purchase of the property, and I see no concern unfounded. Sales in Sylva did drop reason why they shouldn’t move forward,” some — decreasing $364,000, from $2.63 million in 2013 to $2.27 in 2014 — but over- McMahan said. member of the ABC board. “In the long run, it makes sense to move forward with that purchase,” said Jackson Commission Chairman Brian McMahan. The support was partly influenced by strong revenues from the store’s first year of business. The Cashiers store opened in June of 2014, two years after a referendum approving countywide alcohol sales paved the way for a liquor store to exist in an unincorporated area like Cashiers. But uncertainty surrounded the potential success of a new store in Cashiers. One of the main concerns was this: Would a new store really mean an increase in revenue, or

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Waynesville handcuffed from running off carousing squatters occupying town park BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER here are few places in Waynesville folks are afraid to go after dark. But the sagging blue canopy slung beneath the trees at the far end of Chestnut Park is one of them. “Not many people are brave enough to come up here,” said Gary Lynn Warren, who goes by the nickname ‘Godfather.’ “My family has a history of violence.” Warren was at his usual post one afternoon last week, holding down the picnic table under the jerry-rigged canopy, a pack of cigarettes in front of him and a bugling five-gallon trash bag of beer cans nearby, overtopping the bag and spilling onto the ground. Come nightfall, the rough-and-tumble crew that haunts this corner of Chestnut Park would multiply, the booze would set in and the drunken loafing would spiral into mayhem. Neighbors routinely call the police to bring law and order to Chestnut Park — 165 times in the past 18 months alone. Officers crack down and try to break up the unruly scene, usually on the grounds of causing a

Smoky Mountain News

September 2-8, 2015

public disturbance or drunk and disorderly conduct laced with fighting. But the revelry quickly picks up where it left off by a roving band of squatters. “I can’t even count how many hang out here because it’s different every day,” Warren said. Over the course of a month, probably 50, he estimated, from his self-described violent kinfolk to the homeless population wandering up from the soup kitchen in nearby Frog Level. He was quick to note the lifestyle isn’t for everyone, reporters included. “I don’t like people coming around and asking a bunch of questions,” he said. “You don’t look like our type. We drink constantly. We drink all we want to. From the time we wake up to the time we go to bed.” Waynesville Police Chief Bill Hollingsed has been combatting the plague on Chestnut Park since his first week on the job 16 years ago. Hollingsed — and the rest of the neighborhood — would like to see the ruffians shooed off. “We would love to be able to trespass people off this property,” Hollingsed said. “It

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A corner of Chestnut Park in Waynesville is home to a rough-and-tumble band of partiers, who are causing disturbances in the neighborhood but can’t be run off due to confusion over who owns the land. Pictured here are Sonya Warren, Willard Warren and Gary Warren (sitting.) Becky Johnson photo causes quality of life issues for everybody else on this street, all day and all night.” But the town is powerless to arrest the squatters. Although the land has been a de facto town park for decades, the town doesn’t technically have a deed to the property. No one pays taxes on it. The town has always mowed it. And it’s listed on property plats as “Chestnut Park.” Under common law, it’s been treated like a public park. But lacking clear title, the town has no legal standing to clear out the partiers. “Right now, we don’t own this land,” Hollingsed said. “We can’t arrest someone for trespassing if we don’t have an owner. When people are camping and drinking on the property, we can’t arrest them.” That doesn’t mean police haven’t tried. Sonya Warren, the alleged ringleader of the pack, has been arrested 137 times alone, with countless more arrests against her comrades. But the charges don’t stick. “Obviously we are not arresting our way out of these problems,” Hollingsed said. The rest of Chestnut Park is a good, middle-class neighborhood. But many are afraid to report the nuisance crowd, let alone tell them to knock off their carousing when it gets out of hand. “There is a great deal of intimidation in the neighborhood by the people who congregate on that property,” Hollingsed said.

“People in the neighborhood want a peaceful neighborhood.” “They are fit to be tied about the situation,” Waynesville Mayor Gavin Brown added. Town Manager Marcy Onieal said the neighborhood residents regularly call and text her cell phone at all hours of the night to report the goings-ons at Chestnut Park. “It is getting to the point neighbors feel like they are prisoners in their own home,” Onieal said.

A LONG AND SORDID TALE

Who does own the property isn’t an easy question, and finding out took a trip back in time — way back — through the property deeds in the county courthouse. Brown, a real estate attorney by trade, has tried to find an official record of the property being deeded to Waynesville, but came up empty-handed. “That’s the irony of this. We don’t know,” Brown said. “We can’t go back far enough. Some things just happen because they happen. It was probably a handshake deal.” To Brown, there was only one way to solve the deed mystery: track down the last known official owner of the land and talk them into officially granting it to the town. “Until we legally own the property, we can’t walk up to a judge and say ‘This is the

“There is a great deal of intimidation in the neighborhood by the people who congregate on that property. People in the neighborhood want a peaceful neighborhood.” — Bill Hollingsed, Waynesville police chief

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September 2-8, 2015

Undo your contract. Learn more at uscellular.com/undo. Things we want you to know: Offer applies to current Verizon or AT&T customers on Shared Data Plans only and applies to the monthly recurring price plan only. Any applied discounts shall be valid for the first 24 months. Regular pricing applies thereafter. Must port in all lines of service on account. Offer valid on Shared Connect Plans up to 20GB. Offer valid only with the following devices: handsets, Tablets, routers, modems, hotspots and Home Phones. Customer must provide their current wireless bill for review. U.S. Cellular, at its sole discretion, has the right to deny an offer for any bill that appears altered or fraudulent. Shared Connect Plan and Retail Installment Contract required. Credit approval also required. A $25 Device Activation Fee applies. A Regulatory Cost Recovery Fee applies (currently $1.82/line/month); this is not a tax or gvmt. required charge. Additional fees, taxes, terms, conditions and coverage areas apply and may vary by plan, service and phone. Contract Payoff Promo: Customer will be reimbursed for the Early Termination Fee (ETF) or remaining device balance reflected on final bill. Offer valid on up to 6 consumer lines or 25 business lines. Must port in current number to U.S. Cellular and purchase new device through a Retail Installment Contract on a Shared Connect Plan. Submit final bill identifying ETF or final device balance owed within 60 days of activation date to uscellular.com/contractpayoff or via mail to U.S. Cellular Contract Payoff Program 5591-61; PO Box 752257; El Paso, TX 88575-2257. To be eligible, customer must register for My Account, purchase Device Protection+ and turn in the old device. Reimbursement in the form of a U.S. Cellular MasterCard® Debit Card issued by MetaBank,® Member FDIC, pursuant to license from MasterCard International Incorporated. This card does not have cash access and can be used at any merchant location that accepts MasterCard Debit Cards within the U.S. only. Card valid through expiration date shown on front of card. Allow 12–14 weeks for processing. $50 U.S. Cellular Promotional Card: If U.S. Cellular’s Shared Connect and Retail Installment monthly plan price cannot beat your current Shared Connect monthly plan price with AT&T or Verizon, you will be provided a $50 U.S. Cellular Promotional Card issued by MetaBank, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Valid only for purchases at U.S. Cellular stores and uscellular.com. One per account. To receive card, customer must go to beatyourplan.hit2c.com to register. Card will be received in 6–8 weeks. Device Protection+: Enrollment in Device Protection+ required. The monthly charge for Device Protection+ is $8.99 for Smartphones. A deductible per approved claim applies. You may cancel Device Protection+ anytime. Federal Warranty Service Corporation is the Provider of the Device Protection+ ESC benefits, except in CA and OK. Limitations and exclusions apply. For complete details, see an associate for a Device Protection+ brochure. Device Turn-In: Customer must turn in all active devices from their former carrier’s plan. Customer is responsible for deleting all personal information from device and removing any storage cards from devices. Devices must power on and cannot be pin locked. Device must be in fully functional working condition without any liquid damage or broken components, including, but not limited to, a cracked display or housing. Devices will not be returned to customer should they cancel transaction. Not eligible for U.S. Cellular’s in-store or mail-in trade-in program. To be eligible, customer must register for My Account. Kansas Customers: In areas in which U.S. Cellular receives support from the Federal Universal Service Fund, all reasonable requests for service must be met. Unresolved questions concerning services availability can be directed to the Kansas Corporation Commission Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at 1-800-662-0027. Offers valid at participating locations only and cannot be combined. Not available online or via telesales. See store or uscellular.com for details. Limited-time offer. Trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners. ©2015 U.S. Cellular

Smoky Mountain News

town of Waynesville’s and we want to keep people off it with tents,’” Brown said So Brown went back to county deed books from the early 1900s, when prominent Waynesville businessman R.D. Gilmer bought a 175-acre tract of land, named it Chestnut Park, and began developing it as a residential neighborhood. But Gilmer lost the property 15 years later to foreclosure by the Bank of Waynesville. “Some terrible financial bad times befell him,” Brown said, citing more than 100 lawsuits against Gilmer in the 1910s by local hardware stores, furniture stores, livery stables and sundry other merchants for unpaid debts. But in the 1920s, Gilmer’s daughter-in-law bought the land back from the Bank of Waynesville. She had two young children at the time, and Brown wagers it was an attempt to reclaim the family land. “She buys this property to protect her children’s property inheritance,” Brown said. In the 1940s, she deeded the land to her children, and that’s where the paper trail stops. The two children continued to sell off remaining lots in the neighborhood over the years, until the only parcel left in their name was the 3-acre tract known as Chestnut Park. It’s little more than a big grassy field, save a tattered wooden picnic shelter that’s seen better days. Off the beaten path in a dead-end neighborhood, it’s rarely used, but with a clear title, the town could turn it into a nice pocket park, Brown said. So Brown’s next step was finding out whether those children — who would be in their late 90s now — were still alive, and if so, where? A little more sleuthing, and Brown discovered the elder brother passed away earlier this year, but his sister — now the sole heir to the Chestnut Park property — was still alive. Her name is Maud Gilmer. She’s 97 now and lives with a caretaker in Asheville. She never had any children, nor did her deceased brother, so it’s unclear how the court would view ownership of the property if she passed away. Brown wants to stave off such a scenario. He plans to meet with Maud Gilmer soon and hopes to talk her into officially deeding the property to the town, formalizing the intended legacy of Chestnut Park as a public park. Meanwhile, the origin of how the squatters came to occupy Chestnut Park lies directly across the street from their claimed corner, a shack of a house a stone’s throw from the askance canopy that serves as their party headquarters. It’s the home of Granny Warren, and the revelers are her kinfolk. They periodically retreat inside her tiny home, but most of the time they overflow to the park across the street — which they claim Granny Warren owns. “My grandma owns this,” Sonya Warren said defiantly. “She lets us be here,” Gary Lynn Warren added. “This is our ground.” Charles Phillips — one of the regulars known as “Hoss” — said he’s always hung out there. “Shoo, all my life,” Hoss said. “There’s no way they could take this,” said Willard Warren. “You can tell the town I said ‘good luck.’” But Hollingsed said the town won’t quit until the conundrum is solved. “We are committed to addressing the quality of life issues that affect the residents of the Chestnut Park community,” Hollingsed said.

news September 2-8, 2015

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Smoky Mountain News

Awards presented at Maggie Valley Chamber dinner Maggie Valley Chamber of Commerce presented several awards recently at its annual dinner and awards banquet held at J. Arthur’s Restaurant. Claudia and Marion Smith received the award for Volunteers with the Most Hours; Gerri Krezek received the Most Enthusiastic Volunteer award and Emma Beckner received the Glenn Reetz Volunteer of the Year. The Event of the Year award was presented to Winterfest Smoky Style; the Business of the Year award went to Chamber director Teresa Smith (center) Joey’s Pancake House and Joann presents the Event of the Year award to WinterFest DeSimone accepted the Spirit of Maggie Smoky Style organizers Jim Blyth (from left), Award for her late husband and mayor Joann DeSimone and Kirk Wall. Jessi Stone photo of Maggie Valley, Ron DeSimone.

SCC opens Career Closet to help jobseekers Southwestern Community College is opening a Career Closet with the goal of ensuring students, graduates and others from the community look their best each time they interview for new employment. SCC’s Career Closet is seeking donations of gently used business professional and business casual attire for men and women to help job seekers get the professional clothing they need. All donations are tax deductible. Donations are accepted between 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays through Thursdays in Oaks Hall, room 104, on SCC’s Jackson Campus. 828.339.4322 or d_chambless@southwesterncc.edu.

New businesses come to Canton In the last month, Canton’s vision for economic renewal has resulted in two new busi-

• Allison’s Sales & Consignment in Canton is now a U-Haul neighborhood dealer. Located at 30 New Clyde Highway, Allison’s will offer UHaul trucks, trailers, towing equipment, support rental items and in-store pickup for boxes. 828.276.1159. • Jack the Dipper Ice Cream shops in Waynesville and Sylva have been sold by BCNC Investments to Mooresville Ice Cream Company. Mooresville has been manufacturing ice cream in the Piedmont since 1924 and operates two other parlors in Iredell County. Mooresville's products Deluxe and Front Porch brand ice creams will now be available at both Jack the Dipper locations.

nesses getting ready to open. Toki Tattoo and Kobe Express are both slated to open in downtown Canton in September. Emily Parworth, owner of Toki Tattoo located at 107 Main Street, was intrigued by the industrial vibe of Canton and the void of an artist presence in the downtown. She hopes her investment in the community will encourage other artists to also give Canton a look. Chi Nguyen of Kobe Express, who owns other restaurants in Waynesville, Asheville, and Sylva, has been eyeing an expansion in Canton for the past year. The new Canton location will be in the former Corner Sandwich Shop building on Park Street. For more information about Canton’s Economic Development Initiative, visit www.cantonnc.com or call 828.648.2363.

Grant Thornton CFO to speak at fall banquet Western Carolina University’s accountancy program will hold its annual fall banquet at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, at The Waynesville Inn in

• Papa’s Produce, a new business located at 1206 Dellwood Road in Waynesville, will feature the freshest local produce of what’s in season. The business, owned by Chris Almond, will also offer jams, jellies, honey, country ham, seasoning meat, National Park Service certified firewood and handmade crafts. 828.400.0376.

ALSO:

• HCC Small Business Center to Hold Free Seminar, “How to Start a Business” on September 8. A free seminar entitled, “How to Start a Business,” will be held by the Small Business Center at Haywood Community College from 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8 in the

Waynesville. Billy Moore, who was recently named chief financial officer of Grant Thornton, will be the featured speaker. WCU master of accountancy students and members of the WCU chapter of Beta Alpha Psi can attend the banquet free of charge. For all others, the cost is $35. The event is open to the public. For reservations, contact Liz Jones at 828.227.3567 or lizjones@wcu.edu by Friday, Sept. 11.

Teague named new animal control director Doyle Teague has been selected as the director of Animal Services for Haywood County following the retirement of Jean Hazzard. Doyle first came to work with Haywood County in Animal Services as the deputy director in 2002, and worked there until 2008 when he transferred to the Elections Office. He is active with nonprofits for animals and was on the founding board of Sarge’s serving as their president for three and a half years. Doyle is nationally certified by the National Animal Control Association.

Haywood TDA hires group sales manager Ron Bower has been hired by the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority to fill the new position of group sales manager. This new position will be directly responsible for the sales efforts promoting Haywood County as a premier destination for group business. The goal of this position is to research, prospect and solicit organizations, groups, companies and other potential markets that will result in booked business generating overnight stays and economic impact for the Haywood County. Bower has a B.S. In Business Administration and has also earned a Masters of Marketing and Communications in 2007 from Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio. He has been in the tourism industry for four years promoting Licking County and Grove City, Ohio.

HCC Auditorium. SBC.Haywood.edu or 828.627.4512. • A pair of free seminars to help area business owners better understand how to earn money through government contracting will be held Sept. 3 at Southwestern Community College’s Small Business Center. “Doing Business with the Government,” will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. and “System for Award Management” is set for 5:30 to 7 p.m. 828.339.4211 or t_henry@southwesterncc.edu. • Bryson City Shipping Center, located at 255 East Main Street, recently opened in Bryson City. The new business shares space with

Board Certified Pulmonologist Scott Skibo, M.D., received the prestigious Gold Award for his case presentation on Electromagnetic Navigational Bronchoscopy. Donated photo

Dr. Scott Skibo receives Gold Award

Board Certified Pulmonologist Scott Skibo, M.D., with Pulmonary Specialists of WNC in Clyde, received the prestigious Gold Award for his case presentation on Electromagnetic Navigational Bronchoscopy at the 9th Annual Navigational Bronchoscopy Summit in Las Vegas. Electromagnetic Navigational Bronchoscopy allows physicians to perform a minimally invasive procedure that achieves earlier diagnosis for patients with lung lesions.

Hospitals name the 2015 Mercy Award winner

Melanie Batchelor has been recognized by Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital as the hospital’s 2015 Mercy Award winner. The Mercy Award recognizes one employee from each of LifePoint Health’s more than 60 hospitals, including Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital, who profoundly touches the lives of others and best represents the spirit and values on which the company was founded. Batchelor is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator and true wellness advocate, playing a significant role in teaching community members how to manage diabetes and live a healthier lifestyle.

Eagle Tax Breaks. The center offers UPS and FedEx shipping as well as many other types of shipping. www.brysoncityshippingcenter.com or 828.488.6732. • A new Dollar General recently opened at 2621 Soco Road in Maggie Valley to offer residents a convenient new place to shop for everyday essentials at low prices. www.dollargeneral.com. • Amish Wagon Country Store recently opened in Franklin. Located at 228 NE Main Street, the store offers a large selection of premium Troyer meats and cheeses that come direct from Holmes County, Ohio, the largest Amish community in the country. 828.369.1566.

Opinion Tourism figures point to a post-recession recovery R Smoky Mountain News

ecently released figures on the impact of tourism in Western North Carolina are encouraging. More visitors are spending more money, and that means new jobs and increased sales tax revenue. But there’s even more relevant news for those of us who believe that tourism should be viewed as a long-term, viable industry for the region. A study conducted in Buncombe County found that successful tourism marketing leads to direct increases in more traditional manufacturing jobs. Those jobs are increasingly difficult to attract in this era of cheap overseas labor. First the overall picture: state tax receipts as a result of visitor spending neared the $1.1 billion mark in 2014. The figure represents a 4 percent hike over 2013’s figures. In our region, nearly every county had an increase in tourism spending. Haywood County, for instance, went up 4 percent from 2013 to $161.2 million in 2014, according to a report prepared for Visit NC by the U.S Travel Association. In Jackson County, tourism spending rose 5 percent to $171 million, Macon was up 5.6 percent to $148.7 million, and Swain had no increase this year but still topped the counties west of Buncombe with $187 million in tourism spending in 2014. The numbers alone are just benchmarks, a tool for gauging the overall impact of the hundreds of thousands of visitors who each year flock to Western North Carolina. But the report also included another figure: the tax savings per resident and the

Sanders has unique vision for U.S.A. To the Editor: Like many across America, I’ve become very tired of politicians of both parties talking out of both sides of their mouth. On the one hand, they promise voters that they will create jobs, bring about a better health care system, put laws in place to curb pollution and so on. Next thing you know, they‘ve become cozy with their corporate donors and the rich get richer and pay fewer taxes. Our country gets mired down in useless wars and the health care and criminal justice systems remain broken. But there is an alternative candidate for President who has a different view of things — U. S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent who is running as a Democrat. Unlike other candidates, Bernie refuses to align himself with any Political Action

local tax receipts per county. In Haywood County, for example, visitor spending brought in $5.97 million in local tax revenue, while it saved each resident $243 in taxes; in Swain County, the total taxes brought in was $11.25 million and each resident saved $1,033. The recession hit this area hard, particularly in tourism and real estate. So it’s just gratifying for the economy as a whole to see these kinds of numbers. Tourism critics say we should do more to attract professional and manufacturing jobs. Well, yes, we all like Editor those higher-paying jobs, and most anyone who studies and looks at the overall economic picture knows we need them as part of the mix. But in the 23 years I’ve lived in WNC, I’ve watched many young people who came here to take some of those low-paying tourism jobs — raft guides, bartenders, servers, art gallery clerks — become entrepreneurs and business owners themselves, or move up to become leaders of those same businesses where they may have started out making minimum wage. Adam Sacks, an economist who specializes in tourism, spoke two weeks ago to tourism officials in Asheville. His firm — Pennsylvania-based Tourism Economics — recently con-

Scott McLeod

Committee and instead relies on small individual donations. A self-described Democratic Socialist, Bernie wants to introduce America to a new way of looking at capitalism. While there are those who fear the term “socialist” and think it’s the next thing to a communist, Bernie isn’t interested in starting a red, Marxist-style revolution. He simply wants to bring about a more humane way of looking at capitalism. Bernie’s plan calls for a more equitable tax structure in which the rich are taxed more and corporations will pay significantly more for initiatives that will benefit the poor and middle class. This is only fair and equitable. Additionally, Bernie wants universal health care for all, a living wage, large investments in infrastructure that will create jobs and promotion of initiatives to promote sustainable energy programs to rid our nation of dependence on fossil fuels. Bernie recently appeared in Greenville, S.C., and a group of Jackson County support-

ducted two studies for Buncombe County. One finding was that attracting visitors who discover the quality of life amenities in a community often leads to investment in other sectors. Sacks said GE Aviation’s decision to invest $100 million in a Buncombe County plant that opened in 2014 and will eventually employ 340 was directly related to its executives’ love of Asheville’s vibrant downtown and the wide variety of outdoor activities it offers. Sacks told the Asheville Citizen-Times that tourism critics should realize that “it’s not a zero-sum game … investing in tourism doesn’t mean you can’t also invest in other industries.” As we head into what we used to refer to as the shoulder season — late August and September, the time between summer and fall — it’s a good time to consider how much tourism means to the economy of our region. Back in the early 1990s, the shoulder season could also have been called the “mid-season economic slowdown” because hotel rooms were vacant, downtowns were empty and retail shops needed customers. That’s just not the case anymore. Tourism marketing folks have worked for years to make WNC a year-round destination, and evidence points to the fact that they are succeeding. And all that investment in tourism spills over into every other facet of our economy. A rising tide lifts all ships. (Scott McLeod can be reached at info@smokymountainnews.com.)

ers attended the rally. There is a movement to get him to Asheville. To learn more about the local campaign to elect Bernie and to find out how you can get involved, join the Facebook page “Jackson County & Westward for Bernie 2016.” Betty Dishman Sylva

We need more veggie options in schools To the Editor: With the new school year just starting, parents’ attention is on school clothes, supplies and lunches. Yes, school lunches. In past years, the USDA had used our nation’s schools as a dumping ground for surplus meat and dairy commodities. Not surprisingly, one-third of children have become overweight or obese. Their early dietary flaws become lifelong addictions, raising their risk

of diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Gradually, the tide is turning. New guidelines mandated by President Obama’s Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act require doubling the servings of fruits and vegetables, more whole grains, less sodium and fat and no meat for breakfast. A recently released survey released shows the guidelines are supported by 86 percent of Americans. Sixty-four percent of U.S. school districts now offer vegetarian options. More than 120 schools, including the entire school districts of Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Oakland, Philadelphia and San Diego have implemented Meatless Monday. Some schools have dropped meat from their menu altogether. As parents, we need to work with school cafeteria managers and our own children to encourage the availability and consumption of healthy, plant-based school foods. Weston Madrigal Waynesville

what's your beef? All viewpoints are welcome for letters to the editor or guest columns. Send to Scott McLeod at info@smokymountainnews.com, fax to 828.452.3585, or mail to PO Box 629, Waynesville, NC 28786.

Lawmakers simply need to do more for education Editor’s note: The following letter was recently sent to all members of the North Carolina General Assembly

Taste the Mountains is an ever-evolving paid section of places to dine in Western North Carolina. If you would like to be included in the listing please contact our advertising department at 828.452.4251 AMMONS DRIVE-IN RESTAURANT & DAIRY BAR 1451 Dellwwod Rd., Waynesville. 828.926.0734. Open 7 days a week 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Celebrating over 25 years. Enjoy world famous hot dogs as well as burgers, seafood, hushpuppies, hot wings and chicken. Be sure to save room for dessert. The cobbler, pie and cake selections are sure to satisfy any sweet tooth. APPLE ANDY'S RESTAURANT 3843 Soco Road, Maggie Valley. 828.944.0626. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Serving the freshest homemade sandwiches, wraps, and entrees such as country fried steak and grilled flounder. Full salad bar and made from scratch sides like potato salad, pinto beans and macaroni and cheese. www.appleandys.com APPLE CREEK CAFE 32 Felmet St., Waynesville. 828.456.9888. Open Monday-Friday with

lunch form 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and family-style dinner 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Home to an extensive build your own sandwich menu as well as specialty salads, soups burgers and more. With local ingredients and made-from-scratch recipes using a variety of good-for-you ingredients Apple Creek Cafe is sure to become your favorite spot. BLUE ROOSTER SOUTHERN GRILL 207 Paragon Parkway, Clyde, Lakeside Plaza at the old Wal-Mart. 828.456.1997. Open Monday through Friday. Friendly and fun family atmosphere. Local, handmade Southern cuisine. Fresh-cut salads; slowsimmered soups; flame grilled burgers and steaks, and homemade signature desserts. Blue-plates and local fresh vegetables daily. Brown bagging is permitted. Private parties, catering, and take-out available. Call-ahead seating available. BOGART’S 303 S. Main St., Waynesville. 828.452.1313. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Carry out available. Located in downtown Waynesville, Bogart’s has been long-time noted for great steaks, soups, and salads. Casual family atmosphere in a rustic old-time setting with a menu noted for its practical value. Live Bluegrass/String Band music every Thursday. Walking distance of Waynesville’s unique shops and seasonal festival activities and within one mile of Waynesville Country Club.

September 2-8, 2015

Locals Love Apple Creek Café!

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Traditional Lunch: 10:30 A.M. - 3:00 P.M. Family-Style Dinner: 4:30 P.M.-8:30 P.M.

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308-72

Smoky Mountain News

s students and teachers start the new school year, instead of an exciting time for many, it’s a period of confusion, tension, fear and, in some cases, tears. We have traveled around the state talking with teachers, teacher assistants, and parents as they prepare for a new school year, and there is tremendous unrest about the future of public education and the impact recent public school setbacks are having on students, their families, and our communities. North Carolina cannot afford to lose a generation of students by continually disregarding the resources they need to help them be successful. Resources like modern textbooks, technology, and quality educators, including teacher assistants. Students are counting on you to use the valuable opportunity you have this year to make the right choices for their future. To help students be more successful, there are key outcomes from this year’s budget negotiations that we hope will pass: • Fully funding teacher assistants gives our students the opportunity for more oneon-one attention and will avoid sending classrooms and families into turmoil. • Holding firm on adding $48.3 million to the state’s textbook and digital resource fund would partially offset drastic cutbacks that have left our classrooms with old, few, or no textbooks. • A fair compensation package for all educators will help to recruit and retain quality teachers and other education personnel to our public schools. With a surplus budget of more than $400 million dollars, there is money on the table to make important investments in public education. You have the opportunity to counteract the systematic weakening of our public schools and the teaching profession that has been evident in recent years: • The possibility of spending more on private school vouchers than on textbooks for 1.5 million public school students. • A 30-year teacher being capped at a salary of $50,000 when that’s close to a starting salary in some states, in addition to the shortchanging of veteran teachers on pay increases. • Proposing to lay off 8,500 teacher assistants during a surplus budget year, after eliminating 7,000 teacher assistant positions previously. • Removing increased pay for teachers with a master’s degree. • Stripping away the most basic employment protections for educators. • Proposals to take away health insurance for new teachers after they retire. • Proposing legislation that could lead to termination for advocating for students

and public schools when it’s clearly part of the evaluation process. • Proposing TABOR laws that will permanently damage our public schools by tying your hands from making significant investments in our students. The unfortunate reality is the biggest casualty in the damage to our public schools is our students. North Carolina’s per-pupil spending continues to drop, ranking us 47th in the country. In addition, our local school districts don’t have enough teachers to fill the classrooms. Some districts were still looking for dozens of teachers just days before school started. The continual disrespect of the teaching profession has led the teacher turnover rate to escalate since 2009, with the number of teachers resigning to move to another state doubling and the number of teachers leaving the profession tripling during that time. This generation of students only gets one shot, which is why it was extremely frustrating to hear the announced budget spending agreement will once again throttle efforts for critical public education investments. What could be more important than investing in our kids? Erica Johnson, a teacher assistant from Alamance County, said it best. After she uses her $19,000 salary to take care of her family, she spends money out of her pocket, just like most other educators, to buy books and other supplies for her students. How will you invest your $445 million surplus? Public education is the lifeblood of our economic future; don’t snuff it out and extinguish the opportunities our kids deserve. Leaders in the business community agree with us on the importance of investments in public education. In a recent Raleigh News & Observer opinion column, CEOs said they worried about the kind of workforce North Carolina will be producing in the years ahead and the risk to the state’s business climate because of the weakening of a once strong public education system. By investing in textbooks, technology and teachers, not only will our economic future be more secure by providing students the best public education possible, but it will have an immediate positive impact on many of our state’s communities. The largest employer in nearly twothirds of North Carolina’s counties is the public school system, and they are in the top four employers in all 100 counties. Our families and communities are counting on you to do the right thing for the long-term success of our students and state by making critical investments in our public schools. We urge you to stand up for our students and stand up for our state. Rodney Ellis Sr., President North Carolina Association of Educators

tasteTHEmountains

tasteTHEmountains BREAKING BREAD CAFÉ 6147 Hwy 276 S. Bethel (at the Mobil Gas Station) 828.648.3838 Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturaday & Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Chef owned and operated. Our salads are made in house using local seasonal vegetables. Fresh roasted ham, turkey and roast beef used in our hoagies. We hand make our own eggplant and chicken parmesan, pork meatballs and hamburgers. We use 1st quality fresh not pre-prepared products to make sure you get the best food for a reasonable price. We make vegetarian, gluten free and sugar free items. Call or go to Facebook (Breaking Bread Café NC) to find out what our specials are.

September 2-8, 2015

BRYSON CITY CORK & BEAN A MOUNTAIN SOCIAL HOUSE 16 Everett St.,Bryson City. 828.488.1934. Open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday brunch 9 a.m. to 3p.m., Full Menu 3 to 9 p.m. Serving fresh and delicious weekday morning lite fare, lunch, dinner, and brunch. Freshly prepared menu offerings range from house-made soups & salads, lite fare & tapas, crepes, specialty sandwiches and burgers. Be sure not to miss the bold flavors and creative combinations that make up the daily Chef Supper Specials starting at 5pm every day. Followed by a tempting selection of desserts prepared daily by our chefs and other local bakers. Enjoy craft beers on tap, as well as our full bar and eclectic wine list. CATALOOCHEE RANCH 119 Ranch Dr., Maggie Valley. 828.926.1401. Family-style breakfast seven days a week, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. – with eggs, bacon, sausage, grits and oatmeal, fresh fruit, sometimes French toast or pancakes, and always all-you-can-eat. Lunch every day from 12 till 2 p.m. Evening cookouts on the terrace on weekends and Wednesdays (weather permitting), featuring steaks, ribs, chicken, and pork chops, to name a few. Bountiful family-style dinners on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, with entrees that include prime rib, baked ham and herb-baked chicken, complemented by seasonal vegetables, homemade breads, jellies and desserts. We also offer a fine selection of wine and beer. The evening social hour starts at 6pm, and dinner is served starting at 7pm. So join us for milehigh mountaintop dining with a spectacular view. Please call for reservations.

Smoky Mountain News

CHEF’S TABLE 30 Church St., Waynesville. 828.452.6210. From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday dinner starting at 5 p.m. “Best of”

Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator Magazine. Set in a distinguished atmosphere with an exceptional menu. Extensive selection of wine and beer. Reservations honored. CITY BAKERY 18 N. Main St. Waynesville 828.452.3881. Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Join us in our historic location for scratch made soups and daily specials. Breakfast is made to order daily: Gourmet cheddar & scallion biscuits served with bacon, sausage and eggs; smoked trout bagel plate; quiche and fresh fruit parfait. We bake a wide variety of breads daily, specializing in traditional french breads. All of our breads are hand shaped. Lunch: Fresh salads, panini sandwiches. Enjoy outdoor dinning on the deck. Private room available for meetings. CITY LIGHTS CAFE Spring Street in downtown Sylva. 828.587.2233. Open Monday-Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tasty, healthy and quick. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, espresso, beer and wine. Come taste the savory and sweet crepes, grilled paninis, fresh, organic salads, soups and more. Outside patio seating. Free Wi-Fi, pet-friendly. Live music and lots of events. Check the web calendar at citylightscafe.com. THE CLASSIC WINESELLER 20 Church Street, Waynesville. 828.452.6000. Underground retail wine and craft beer shop, restaurant, and intimate live music venue. Kitchen opens at 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday serving freshly prepared small plates, tapas, charcuterie, desserts. Enjoy live music every Friday and Saturday night at 7pm. www.classicwineseller.com. Also on facebook and twitter. CORK & CLEAVER 176 Country Club Drive, Waynesville. 828.456.7179. Reservations recommended. 4:30-9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Tucked away inside Waynesville Inn, Cork & Cleaver has an approachable menu designed around locally sourced, sustainable, farm-to-table ingredients. Executive Chef Corey Green prepares innovative and unique Southern fare from local, organic vegetables grown in Western North Carolina. Full bar and wine cellar. COUNTRY VITTLES: FAMILY STYLE RESTAURANT 3589 Soco Rd, Maggie Valley. 828.926.1820 Open Daily 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., closed Tuesday. Family Style at Country

Vittles is not a buffet. Instead our waitresses will bring your food piping hot from the kitchen right to your table and as many refills as you want. So if you have a big appetite, but sure to ask your waitress about our family style service. FILLING STATION DELI 145 Everett St., Bryson City, 828.488.1919. Open Monday through Wednesday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sundays (in October) 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Locals always know best, and this is one place they know well. From the high-quality hot pressed sandwiches and the huge portions of hand-cut fries to the specialty frozen sandwiches and homemade Southern desserts, you will not leave this top-rated deli hungry. FRANKIE’S ITALIAN TRATTORIA 1037 Soco Rd. Maggie Valley. 828.926.6216 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Father and son team Frank and Louis Perrone cook up dinners steeped in Italian tradition. With recipies passed down from generations gone by, the Perrones have brought a bit of Italy to Maggie Valley. frankiestrattoria.com FROGS LEAP PUBLIC HOUSE 44 Church St. Downtown Waynesville 828.456.1930 Serving lunch 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; Dinner 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday. Frogs Leap is a farm to table restaurant focused on local, sustainable, natural and organic products prepared in modern regional dishes. Seasonal menu focuses on Southern comfort foods with upscale flavors. www.frogsleappublichouse.com. GUADALUPE CAFÉ 606 W. Main Street, Sylva. 828.586.9877. Open 7 days a week at 5 p.m. Located in the historic Hooper’s Drugstore, Guadalupe Café is a chef-owned and operated restaurant serving Caribbean inspired fare complimented by a quirky selection of wines and microbrews. Supporting local farmers of organic produce, livestock, hand-crafted cheese, and using sustainably harvested seafood. J. ARTHUR’S RESTAURANT AT MAGGIE VALLEY U.S. 19 in Maggie Valley. 828.926.1817. Lunch Saturday and Sunday noon to 2:30 p.m., dinner nightly starting at 4:30 p.m. World-famous prime rib, steaks, fresh seafood, gorgonzola cheese and salads. All ABC permits

JOEY'S PANCAKE HOUSE 4309 Soco Rd Maggie Valley. 828.926.0212. Joey’s is a family style restaurant that has been serving breakfast to the locals and visitors of Western North Carolina since 1966. Featuring a large variety of tempting pancakes, golden waffles, country style cured ham and seasonal specials spiked with flavor, Joey's is sure to please all appetites. Joey & Brenda O’Keefe invite you to join what has become a tradition in these parts, breakfast at Joey’s. JUKEBOX JUNCTION U.S. 276 and N.C. 110 intersection, Bethel. 828.648.4193. 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday; Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Serving breakfast, lunch, nd dinner. The restaurant has a 1950s & 60s theme decorated with memorabilia from that era. MAD BATTER FOOD & FILM 617 W. Main Street Downtown Sylva. 828.586.3555. Open Tuesday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Wednesday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Hand-tossed pizza, steak sandwiches, wraps, salads and desserts. All made from scratch. Beer and wine. Free movies with showtimes at 6:30 and 9 p.m. with a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. Visit madbatterfoodandfilm.com for this week’s shows. MAGGIE VALLEY CLUB 1819 Country Club Dr., Maggie Valley. 828.926.1616. maggievalleyclub.com/dine. Open seasonally for lunch and dinner. Fine and casual fireside dining in welcoming atmosphere. Full bar. Reservations accepted. MOUNTAIN PERKS ESPRESSO BAR & CAFÉ 9 Depot St., Bryson City. 828.488.9561. Open Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. With music at the Depot. Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Life is too short for bad coffee. We feature wonderful breakfast and lunch selections. Bagels, wraps, soups, sandwiches, salads and quiche with a variety of specialty coffees, teas and smoothies. Various desserts. NEWFOUND LODGE RESTAURANT 1303 Tsali Blvd, Cherokee (Located on 441 North at entrance to GSMNP). 828.497.4590. Open 7 a.m. daily. Established in 1946 and serving breakfast,

UPCOMING EVENTS

Nutrition Facts

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serving size : ab out 50 p ag es Am ount per Serving Calories 0

% Daily Value * Tot al Fat 0g

Reg ional New s

100%

Op inion

100%

Outd oors

100%

Art s

100%

Entert ainm ent

100%

Classified s

100%

* Percent Weekly values b ased on Hayw ood, Jackson, M acon, Sw ain and Buncom b e d iet s.

and open year-round. Children always welcome. Take-out menu. Excellent service and hospitality. Reservations appreciated.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 5 Come visit us before & after the game!

WCU VS: MARS HILL 83 Asheville Hwy. Sylva Music Starts @ 9 • 631.0554

tasteTHEmountains

PASQUALE’S 1863 South Main Street, Waynesville. Off exit 98, 828.454.5002. Open for lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Sunday. Classic Italian dishes, exceptional steaks and seafood (available in full and lighter sizes), thin crust pizza, homemade soups, salads hand tossed at your table. Fine wine and beer selection. Casual atmosphere, dine indoors, outside on the patio or at the bar. Reservations appreciated.

RENDEZVOUS RESTAURANT AND BAR Maggie Valley Inn and Conference Center 828.926.0201 Open Monday-Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m and Sunday 7:30 a.m to 9 p.m. Full service restaurant serving steaks, prime rib, seafood and dinner specials. SMOKY MOUNTAIN SUB SHOP 29 Miller Street Waynesville 828.456.3400. Open from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday

SPEEDY’S PIZZA 285 Main Street, Sylva. 828.586.3800. Open seven days a week. Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday 3 p.m.-11 p.m., Sunday 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Family-owned for 30 years. Serving hand-tossed pizza made to order, pasta, subs, gourmet salads, calzones and seafood. Also serving excellent prime rib on Thursdays. Dine in or take out available. Located across from the Fire Station. TAP ROOM SPORTS BAR & GRILL 176 Country Club Dr. Waynesville 828.456.5988. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Enjoy soups, sandwiches, salads and hearty appetizers along with a full bar menu in our casual, smoke-free neighborhood grill.

Café Deli & So Much More

Greek Night

Soda Shop

SAT. SEPT. 12 • 6PM

Family Style • $24.95/person

LAST WEEKEND

Appetizers: Hummus w/ pita, Stuffed Grape leaves, Greek style salad. Entrees: Spanakopita (Spinach Pie) Moussaka (Eggplant + meat) Plaki (Greek Fish) Dessert: Baklava

Pretzels Smoothies

Hot Dogs Ice Cream

Limited seating By Reservations Only Call 648-3838 ASAP - 9/9 deadline Mon. - Fri. 8-3 Sat. & Sun. 9 - 3

& More!

11 Memory Lane • 828-454-6769 Game Room • Next to the pool

6147 Highway 276 S. Bethel (at the MOBIL Station) breakingbreadcafenc.com • 828.648.3838

Come discover

TWIN MAPLES FARMHOUSE 63 North Hill Street, Waynesville. 828.452.7837. Open for Sunday brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Located just two blocks from downtown Waynesville, Twin Maples is available for weddings, receptions, family reunions, birthday parties, showers, luncheons, corporate meetings and retreats.

Open All Weekend

VITO’S PIZZA 607 Highlands Rd., Franklin. 828.369.9890. Established here in in 1998. Come to Franklin and enjoy our laid back place, a place you can sit back, relax and enjoy our 62” HDTV. Our Pizza dough, sauce, meatballs, and sausage are all made from scratch by Vito.

EVEN ON LABOR DAY! 3 E JACKSON ST. • SYLVA, NC

www.CityLightsCafe.com

MEDITERRANEAN & ITALIAN CUISINE 1863 S. Main Street • Waynesville 828.454.5002 Hwy. 19/23 Exit 98 LUNCH & DINNER TUES. - SUN.

www.pasqualesnc.com

THE BEST PLACE TO EAT IN FRANKLIN.

828.349.9800

Open 7 Days

11a-9:30/10p

All You Can Eat

Lunch Buffet - $7.99 Dinner Buffet - $10.99 Sunday All Day Buffet • $10.99 To-Go Buffet Lunch $4.29/lb. • Dinner $4.99/lb.

828-456-1997 blueroostersoutherngrill.com

— Real Local People, Real Local Food — 207 Paragon Parkway, Clyde, North Carolina Monday-Friday Open at 11am

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Smoky Mountain News

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APPÉTIT Y’AL N L BO

September 2-8, 2015

PATIO BISTRO 30 Church Street, Waynesville. 828.454.0070. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Breakfast bagels and sandwiches, gourmet coffee, deli sandwiches for lunch with homemade soups, quiches, and desserts. Wide selection of wine and beer. Outdoor and indoor dining.

586.3555 located in beautiful downtown Sylva

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PAPERTOWN GRILL 153 Main St., Canton. 828.648.1455 Open 7 days a week 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Serving the local community with great, scratch-made country cooking. Breakfast is served all day. Daily specials including Monday meatloaf, chicken and dumplings on Thursdays and Friday fish.

SOUL INFUSION TEA HOUSE & BISTRO 628 E. Main St. (between Sylva Tire & UPS). 828.586.1717. Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday noon -until. Scrumptious, natural, fresh soups, salads, sandwiches, wraps and desserts. 60+ teas served hot or cold, black, chai, herbal. Seasonal and rotating draft beers, good selection of wine. Home-Grown Music Network Venue with live music most weekends.

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ORGANIC BEANS COFFEE COMPANY 1110 Soco Road, Maggie Valley. 828.668.2326. Open 7 days a week 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Happily committed to brewing and serving innovative, uniquely delicious coffees — and making the world a better place. 100% of our coffee is Fair Trade, Shade Grown, and Organic, all slow-roasted to bring out every note of indigenous flavor. Bakery offerings include cakes, muffins, cookies and more. Each one is made from scratch in Asheville using only the freshest, all natural ingredients available. We are proud to offer gluten-free and vegan options.

through Friday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. A Waynesville tradition, the Smoky Mountain Sub Shop has been serving great food for over 20 years. Come in and enjoy the relaxed, casual atmosphere. Sub breads are baked fresh every morning in Waynesville. Using only the freshest ingredients in homemade soups, salads and sandwiches. Come in and see for yourself why Smoky Mountain Sub Shop was voted # 1 in Haywood County. Locally owned and operated.

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lunch and dinner seven days a week. Family style dining for adults and children.

Dine-In & Carry-out Menu Selections 109 Commons Dr., Franklin Next to the new Super Walmart & Verizon

www.asian-king-franklin-nc.com

A&E

Smoky Mountain News

Proud past, progressive future Canton Labor Day celebrates 109 years BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER It is the heartbeat of a town and its people. While some communities pride themselves on their Christmas, 4th of July or Memorial Day festivities, the town of Canton showcases Labor Day — a time every year when any and all cheer the workingman, the blue-collar nature of a place as special and unique as its inhabitants. “The spirit of Canton can be summed up in one word — grit,” said Canton Town Manger Seth Hendler-Voss. “Today, our challenge is to reinvent ourselves to capture the imagination of a growing economy around us, and there is no doubt in my mind we will succeed if we are willing to stretch ourselves.” Coming into its 109th year, the Canton Labor Day Festival will be held Sept. 5-7 at Sorrells Street Park in downtown. Known as the “Oldest Labor Day festival in the South,” the event, which is getting a long-awaiting reboot, will host 20 bands over the course of three days, all of which is free and open to the public. And with the theme, “A celebration of all things made in Western North Carolina,” the festival will bring the essence of Canton and greater Haywood County into the regional spotlight. “What held true year after year was the opportunity to celebrate and honor the spirit of Labor Day,” said Tina Masciarelli, project coordinator for Buy Haywood, a nonprofit focusing on connecting and perpetuating local agriculture. “That meant acknowledging all the hard work that has kept our community alive through two crippling world wars, the Great Depression, the great recession, floods, and multiple industrial revolutions.” A nearby Bethel native, Masciarelli looks back fondly on what the Canton Labor Day meant to older generations, and how it serves not only as a window into the past but also an open door to the future. “My mother would retell what it was like growing up in downtown Canton in the 1930s and 40s, walking to school alongside my grandfather as he walked to work at the mill. There was no college or online learning. Men stood shoulder to shoulder and taught each other new skill sets needed in order to progress. Mothers took turns babysitting each other’s children while they took in washing or ironing or cleaned houses to earn a little more money,” she said. “Life was humble. Folks were grateful for what they had even during times of hardship — that was Canton Labor Day. It was more than a festival with music, clogging and rides. It was a glimpse into our past that made me grateful for the future that those who came before me made possible through their hard work.”

S EE LABOR DAY, PAGE 29

Want to go? The 109th Canton Labor Day Festival will be held Sept 5-7 at Sorrells Street Park in downtown. The three-day event will host 20 bands, with 2014 International Bluegrass Music Association “Entertainer of the Year” Balsam Range headlining. Popular regional acts like Porch 40 and Soldier’s Heart will also hit the stage. The music lineup is as follows: Saturday, Sept. 5 — “WNC Country, Rock & Roots Experience” • 3 p.m. — Aaron Burdett • 4:30 p.m. — Josh Noren • 6 p.m. — Soldier’s Heart (Americana/rock) • 7:30 p.m. — Joe Lasher Jr. (country/rock) • 9 p.m. — Porch 40 (rock/funk)

Top: the Canton Labor Day Festival, 1921. Above: Miss Labor Day 1906, the first year of the Canton celebration. Canton Area Historical Museum photos

“I deeply appreciate the spirit of innovation, grit and determination that is alive and well in Canton. Their residents are truly local stakeholders in every sense.” — Tina Masciarelli, project coordinator for Buy Haywood

Sunday, Sept. 6 — “Papertown Bluegrass Jamboree” • 1 p.m. — Danielle Bishop • 4 p.m. — Locust Honey String Band • 5:30 p.m. — Mangas Colorado • 7 p.m. — The Snyder Family Band • 8:30 p.m. — Balsam Range Also on Sunday, there will be a “Mountain Gospel Experience” from 1 to 6 p.m. with His Mercies, Land of Sky Boys and Ila Knight The “Canton Heritage Homecoming” will be held from 1 to 10 p.m. Monday, Sept. 7 at the recreation park. Performers include Vintage Grey Wolfe, Cold Mountain Bluegrass, Mile High, Mathew Curry Band, Renegades, and Running Wolf. There will also be vendors, food trucks and an array of activities. The festival is free and open to the public. For a full list of events, click on www.cantonlaborday.com.

Memories for a lifetime

And championing those hard work ethics over the years is festival headliners Balsam Range. The 2014 International Bluegrass Music Association “Entertainer of the Year,” the quintet is made up of Canton and Haywood County natives, each of whom work separates jobs all week and perform every weekend, all in effort to not only put food on the table, but also smiles on the faces of their friends, family and neighbors. “Labor Day was a huge thing for me when I was a kid — memories that I still have to this day. The parade, bands, sirens,

“As we grow and change, we don’t want to lose who we are. At the end of the day, we take pride in a day’s work. It’s that blue-collar swagger here.” — Zeb Smathers

Father and son, attorneys Zeb and Pat Smathers at the their office in downtown Canton. Garret K. Woodward photo

PS: The rebranding this year is a good thing. Labor Day, like everything else, you always have to have the change that reflects the times. If you go back and look at Labor Day, when it first began in the early 1900s, it was a Labor Day celebration that was instituted by the paper mill. The mill wasn’t unionized until the 1960s and Canton was a true company town, with a company store, company doctor and company housing. So, when we first began with the celebration it was a mill-sponsored event. It was athletic contests, live music, and so on. Then, in the 1960s, when I was coming along as a child, the role of the mill and Labor Day started declining and the town started picking it up, with more civic and church groups in the 1960s putting the event together. And as things have had to change, with regulations

perceptions about the town that we have to overcome. So, when an opportunity comes to bring new people in and showcase our community, that’s very important to us. We want to get people’s attention. If someone decides to eat at a restaurant here or open up a store, then we’re doing our job. It’s still providing music and entertainment like

July. In Canton, we celebrate Labor Day. And what does that say? It says we’re an industrial town, we’re proud to be an industrial town, and we will continue to be an industrial town. ZS: As it has been said in the past, “Canton is a town that works,” and that’s a theme that continues to this day. It’s about staying true to our traditions, to understand the importance of trying to new things and working together, where our future has huge opportunities, but it’s going to take us thinking outside the box in doing these things. A lot of people might say the mill, this town, this celebration, should not be here, but to last this long, and to keep trying new things, is a testament to the strong will to survive and prosper that is in the spirit of Canton to move forward.

horses and wagons, and Judy Gibson riding through, and the doll shows that my sisters loved,” said Tim Surrett, bassist for Balsam Range and a lifelong Canton resident. “For me, I loved the music. The old baseball field was like Madison Square Garden to me. I have a vivid memory of my dad playing that ballfield stage to what looked like an ocean of people to me as a small child.” Though the annual festival has always maintained a steady level of appreciation and support, it was the Canton Town Board, local organizations and members of the community this past year who felt the event was ready for some new blood. It was time to move it

away from the Canton Rec Park and bring it back to its origins in downtown — a decision meant to spur connectivity within the community, and at the same time project the ultimate trajectory of Canton. Add that to new economic and residential initiatives and you have a community vision aiming at a renewed sense of pride and purpose. “As an administrator who is tasked with resolving the revitalization puzzle that has stumped Canton for over a decade, this festival means shedding new light on the value of our economy,” Hendler-Voss said. “This festival means having a chance to enlighten visitors to the value and cultural richness of

Canton. At its core, this community is fiercely proud of its history and loyal to the people and institutions that paved the way before them. We also have a welcoming spirit — not just to other people, but also to new ideas. This year’s festival is a case-in-point.” “I deeply appreciate the spirit of innovation, grit and determination that is alive and well in Canton,” Masciarelli added. “Their residents are truly local stakeholders in every sense. They show up and come from a place of ‘yes’ rather than a place of ‘it can’t be done.’ It is a community who knows what they are and is willing to evolve to do more than stay alive — they want to thrive.” 29

“What the town is doing now I think is a continuation of what they’ve always done — change and evolve with the times.” — Pat Smathers

Smoky Mountain News

LABOR DAY, CONTINUED FROM 28

SMN: Does this rebranding also mirror the rebranding of the community, perhaps a litmus test for the trajectory of where Canton is going or could be going? ZS: I think there’s a sense in Canton, and on the town board, that to grow Canton, whether it’s economics or infrastructure, we have to bring in new people. Now, there are

September 2-8, 2015

Smoky Mountain News: When someone mentions the Canton Labor Day Festival to you, what comes to mind? Pat Smathers: First thing that comes to my mind, when I was growing up as a young kid, were the rides behind where the armory is, and then riding in the Labor Day parade in the 1960s. Our family business, Smathers Market, always had a float in the parade, throwing out candy to all the kids. It was always a big celebration — it was the biggest thing at that point in time. Zeb Smathers: For me, it’s nostalgia and memories. No matter what age you are, you always have great memories of the Canton Labor Day Festival. I can remember Phil Smathers, the fire chief and my cousin, and waiting around that Monday morning hoping for a telephone call from him to ride in the fire truck. It’s those memories of the rides, the food, and seeing people that’s intertwined with our town that gives us that goosebump feeling. It has that unique warm sort of feeling — it is that sense of belonging and memory.

SMN: Why the rebranding of the event for this year? ZS: I think the thought process has always been, “How can we do things better?” No matter whether a project is a success or a failure, it’s about evaluating it and finding ways to make it better. If you’re not asking that question, you’re not really doing your job, and I think for a long time we weren’t asking ourselves, “Where’s Labor Day going?” “What can we do better?” and “How are we evolving?” Last year was still a success in our eyes, but when we had a work meeting for this year, we wanted to know what more we could do with the celebration. If we don’t have the same sense of pride in the event, then we’re not giving those cherished memories to the next generation or people that have moved here. We’re not resting on our laurels of the past — we’re pushing ahead and making new memories.

always, we’re just changing the way of displaying the event with new types of people to expand upon it. And, as we grow and change, we don’t want to lose who we are. At the end of the day, hence the name “Labor Day,” we take pride in a day’s work. It’s that blue-collar swagger here. It’s not getting us too far away from that, it’s how do you evolve? How do you change and grow? It’s a foot in our past, with the other foot pivoting into the future. PS: Every town is unique. Some celebrate Christmas, some Memorial Day or the 4th of

arts & entertainment

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER itting down next to each other, it’s pretty apparent that Pat and Zeb Smathers are father and son. Besides the immediate physical resemblance (one of height, finely combed hair and hearty laughter), the two men, ages 61 and 32, are both attorneys who practice together, each with the exact same zest and passion for their hometown of Canton. Alongside that enthusiasm comes the political and economic pursuits of Pat, who himself has been involved in numerous business endeavors in the community, not to mention his tenure as mayor (19992011), chair of the Democratic party, and run for lieutenant governor. That ambition has also rubbed off on his son, who currently serves as an alderman on the town board. At their office in downtown recently, they spoke of the long and storied history of the Canton Labor Day Festival, what the event means to them, to their community, and to the future of a town ready to reclaim the economic and residential fruits of their future.

and such, those civic groups took over. What the town is doing now I think is a continuation of what they’ve always done — change and evolve with the times.

arts & entertainment

In her own words BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER trolling Main Street in downtown Canton mid-morning, the steam stacks of nearby Evergreen Packaging rise high into another bluebird sky day in Haywood County. Train cars shuffle to and fro in the rail yard surrounding the enormous paper mill. Stepping into the nearby Papertown Grill, I’m greeted by a friendly face, that of Edith Hutchins Burnette. At 79, “Edie” has spent her whole life in Canton, one filled with a bountiful career as an educator at Pisgah High School and a writer for the Asheville Citizen-Times. This is her town, and as I join her for a cup of coffee, she is rightly proud of where she grew up. To some, Canton might appear to be a town that has seen better days. To Burnette, it’s just as alive and vibrant as ever, with the endless possibilities of tomorrow twinkling from her optimistic eyes. And when asked about the Canton Labor Day Festival, Burnette lights up, as do many folks within this blue-collar community, when asked about just what makes this town

Smoky Mountain News

September 2-8, 2015

So, why Canton?

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER It’s a question I get a lot. “Why do you like Canton so much?” It is posed to me more than most would think. And, I find myself often defending the character of a town that holds a special place in my heart. On the outside, Canton might not seem like much. But, that’s the thing — the “outside” — for if you really want to see the true beauty of a community, you need to dive deep, and with a curiosity that will only breed the most incredible people, places and things. When I moved from Upstate New York to Waynesville in early August 2012, I didn’t know really anything about Canton, let alone Haywood County or Western North Carolina. All I knew was I needed work and The Smoky Mountain News took a chance on me. And I’ll never forget my first night in Haywood County — Aug. 10, 2012. I had just driven through the night, 16-plus hours by myself, with barely any sleep or food. As I parked at our Waynesville office and got my assignments for the weekend, my publisher Scott McLeod informed me my first “official” story for the paper would be to cover Balsam Range’s album release party that evening for their new record “Papertown.” It was to be held at the Colonial Theatre in downtown Canton. I had no idea who Balsam Range was, how to get Canton or where the Colonial

tick. When I reach for my coffee cup, taking a big gulp, Burnette launches into a collage of words, emotions and fond memories that are cherished and shared by those who lived the kind of moments many of us could only be so lucky to be part of. “I’ve lived in Canton all my life. Labor Day was a big deal. I remember being amazed at the numbers of people. Every community and every cove emptied out and came to town. The parade was heavily supported by the local businesses, including by the paper mill. They always had large, lavish floats, with many pretty girls in their long dresses. Everybody wanted their float to stand out. “The paper mill (originally Champion Paper & Fibre Company) was heavily involved, and they always had the most beautiful floats. Reuben Robertson, who ran the mill, would always cruise the parade in his convertible. It was the crowd’s reaction to him that I remember well — no president would have received such a welcome as big as he got. “I was a member of the square dancing club here and we had a float. The rides were Theatre is, or if I’d be able to write an adequate article on an event, people and genre of music I wasn’t that privy to at the time. But, with my entire truck still packed from New York, I headed for Canton. The front door of the Colonial was locked when I arrived. I went around back and found an open side door in the alley. I heard someone playing an instrument onstage, warming up for the show. It was Balsam Range mandolinist Darren

Garret K. Woodward photo

“I remember being amazed at the numbers of people. Every community and every cove emptied out and came to town.” — Edith Hutchins Burnette

crowd, people I had yet to meet who could (and did) become enjoyable fixtures in my daily existence. And I’ll never forget what I felt and wrote when bassist Tim Surrett addressed the audience during their set: “Stepping up to the microphone, Surrett saluted the crowd amid raucous cheers and applause. Outside, the tall steam stacks of the paper mill signal that there’s a lot more work left to do and tomorrow is new a day.

Evergreen Packaging in downtown Canton. Max Cooper photo

Nicholson. “Welcome,” he said with a handshake. Nicholson introduced me to the rest of the band — all sincerely jovial and heartfelt folks, who have become dear friends in my three years since relocating here. I remember that first night vividly. I remember standing backstage in awe of Balsam Range, in amazement of their musical talents and also fascinated by all those faces in the

‘We grew up here and we played ball here,’ he said. ‘We live here and we think it smells just fine here.’” That statement always stuck with me. When the show ended, I walked out the back door, into the warm, gentle air of a summer evening. I remember my slow footsteps back to my car. I inhaled the air deeply, as thoughts ricocheted around my mind. I didn’t know where I was, but I

always great, and put on by the Lion’s Club, so it was always someone familiar in the booth selling you tickets. It just made the community feel more connected. And even folks who moved away always came back because it meant so much to them. It is a source of pride, and it’s just a big deal for all of us. “I fully support all of effort that’s going into it this year. It all has to do with the labor force in Canton. It’s a celebration of the workingman. It’s the theme of this town. And it’s to celebrate what we are. We’re a mill town, and we’re proud of that. We are very fortunate. The people in this community are special, and they need to be celebrated. We were consumed by the celebration back then — we looked forward to it and planned for it each year for a long time. “They say it’s the longest-running Labor Day celebration in the Southeast, but I think if they did some research, I don’t know if they’d find a similar celebration around longer, anywhere. The town is still here, the people are still here, the mill is still here, the celebration is still here, and the pride is still here. The town today looks very attractive with the flowers and such in downtown, but you can also feel the life here. Now, I might not have said that a couple years ago, but I can feel it again.” already felt at home. You see, my hometown (Rouses Point, New York, population 2,200) was also an industry-run community. The economic center (and heartbeat) was a large pharmaceutical company that employed several generations of Rouses Point citizens, including many of my family members. If your mom or dad or relative wasn’t employed there, your friend’s mom or dad or relative was. It was a tight-knit circle of folks, just as it was for my father, who grew up the son, nephew and grandson of iron ore miners in a mining community deep in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains during the 1940s. Thus, it’s no coincidence that I would find myself attached to Canton. It reminds me of home, and of people I love and miss, hard working, blue-collar men and women who wake up every morning ready to seize their destiny. It also has provided me some of the most cherished friendships and interactions of my life, as a journalist and as a human being. While others may dismiss it as a ghost town or a place forgotten by time, I see a location full of determination, perseverance and heart. It’s going for endless cups of coffee and all day breakfast at the Papertown Grill. It’s the mesmerizing Balsam Range performances during their renowned winter concert series at the Colonial Theatre. It’s the thousands of spectators and players under the “Friday Night Lights” gridiron of Pisgah High School football. And, for me, as a writer and Haywood County resident, it’s those Canton folks who stop me in the street, in the grocery store or swing by our office and say, “Hey, thanks for thinking of us.” That is why I care about Canton.

This must be the place BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

ith the cornfields as high as an elephant’s eye, apples just ripe for the pickin’ and the last of the August sunshine still warming our glorious souls, it’s also time to harvest the innumerable records that have recently hit shelves and eager ears, ready to strike a fire in your heart. You see, each year, as a cold and unforgiving winter rolls around, musicians of every caliber take to the studio, whether it be within a cozy tropical bungalow, mystic backwoods shack or polished cosmopolitan abode. They fhunker down and let loose the juices of the relentless pursuit of their destiny, in search of what is rightly theirs, where late night shenanigans and early morning drives to destinations unknown are channeled and laid down into tracks spilling out the lyrical and melodic mastery of their existence.

HOT PICKS 1 2 3 4 5 The Seven Clans Rodeo will be held Sept. 4-5 at the intersection of U.S. 19/441 in Cherokee. Gates open at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 12:30 p.m. Sunday. Rodeos begin at 8 p.m.

The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will have The Blue Ribbon Healers (gypsy jazz/swankytonk) Sept. 4. Nantahala Brewing Company (Bryson City) will have The Dirty Soul Revival (rock/blues) Sept. 5. There will be a wine pairing dinner at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 8 at Evolution Wine Kitchen in Sylva.

The six-strings gone electric madness that is Patrick Sweany once again proves why he is one the most exhilarating acts out there, onstage and in the studio, and of any genre. Period. A intoxicating blend of

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This East Nashville troubadour plays in as many national tour bands as there are selections of this latest release. Tasjan is known not only for his intricate and calculated guitar playing, he also is, in many folks’ opinions (including mine), the finest singer-songwriter on the scene nowadays. He has a Dylan-esque output of material, where one could easily assume he gets up every morning and has two songs written before his third cup of coffee. But, the key here is, those creations contain within them words, phrases and chords that his peers would consider gold — for Tasjan, it’s another piece of his being broken off for all to immerse themselves in. It’s another day in the office for him, another mile down the road at the mercy of his talents, which are as limitless as his vision. Key Tracks: “The Trouble With Drinking” “E.N.S.A.A.T.” “$66 Blues”

Howlin’ Wolf, Bob Seger and Junior Kimbrough, Sweany is the modern day epitome of what rock-n-roll is supposed to be — seductive, manic and razor sharp, where you almost feel you have to tiptoe subconsciously around the broken bottles and hearts of this mesmerizing album. Honestly, there’s something so timeless about Sweany’s sound, and yet he’s always got one foot in creative progress, where the sands of times never seem to cover his intent and drive. Key Tracks: “First Of The Week” “Back Home” “Nothing Happened At All”

CHARLIE PARR — “STUMPJUMPER” Hailing from the frigid January winds and frying pan hot summers of Duluth, Minnesota, Parr is one man, but with a sound of a steadfast army. Modestly

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Smoky Mountain News

Eagle Fork

The masters of “catch me if you can.” Just when you think you can pin down or pigeonhole Jeff Tweedy and Co., the Chicago rockers slip through your grasp, only to pop up when you least expect it, and in their hands, the latest gift to a world of listeners jaded by pop radio airplay and a less than mediocre mainstream. This record is urgent and raw, as

AARON LEE TASJAN — “IN THE BLAZES”

September 2-8, 2015

PATRICK SWEANY — “DAYTIME TURNED TO NIGHTTIME”

WILCO — “STAR WARS”

if they took the recordings, strapped them to a rocket ship and shot them into outer space, all in an effort to absorb the sonic nature of the cosmos. Key Tracks: “You Satellite” “Where Do I Begin” “King Of You”

arts & entertainment

hunched over his guitar, he’s a force of change, as the depths of his mind howls out of his throat and shoot out of his fingertips like a lightning storm. His words speak hard truths of America, of mankind, and of an uncertain future we all face on this rock hurtling through the dark abyss. And yet, as much sorrow as Parr paints with his presence, there is this strong thread of mortal beauty and essential optimism running brightly through his magnetic tone. Key Tracks: “Over The Red Cedar” “Stumpjumper” The 14th annual RailFest will be held Sept. 5“Temperance River Blues” 6 at the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad depot in Bryson City.

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arts & entertainment

On the beat • Andrews Brewing Company will have Mangas Colorado (Americana/bluegrass) Sept. 5 and The Dirty Soul Revival (rock/blues) Sept. 12. Shows are $5 and begin at 7 p.m. www.andrewsbrewing.com. • BearWaters Brewing Company (Waynesville) will have SmokeRise at 7 p.m. Sept. 12. www.bwbrewing.com. • Big Wesser BBQ (Nantahala Outdoor Center) will have Max Gross Weight Sept. 4 and Dr. Paul Constantine 1 p.m. Sept. 5. All shows at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.noc.com. • Bogart’s (Waynesville) will have live bluegrass/string music with Eddie Rose & Highway 40 Sept. 3 and The Freight Hoppers Sept. 10. All shows are free and begin at 6:30 p.m. 828.452.1313.

ALSO:

• The Bryson City Train Depot “Music in the Mountains” concert series will have The Caribbean Cowboys (rock/reggae) Sept. 5 and Larry Barnett & Friends (bluegrass/Americana) Sept. 12. All shows are free and begin at 6:30 p.m. www.greatsmokies.com. • Canton Recreation Park will have “Pickin’ in the Park” from 7 to 10 p.m. on Fridays. www.cantonnc.com or 828.648.2363.

Mountain music, dancing and tradition will be on display once again as the 45th annual Smoky Mountain Folk Festival celebrates the culture and heritage of Western North Carolina Sept. 4-5 on the shores of Lake Junaluska. As in years past, spectators will be treated to performances by over 200 mountain dancers and musicians in the 2,000 seat historic Stuart Auditorium on the grounds of Lake Junaluska. Each night will feature open tent shows on the lawn beginning at 5 p.m., with main stage performances at 6:30 p.m. The entertainment will continue will into the night with the last shows ending around 11 p.m. Now a tradition with over 40 years of history, the festival has established itself as a family and community gathering with performers returning each year to see old friends and make new ones. Families return each year with new generations to enjoy what is one of the richest cultural events of the year.

Bluegrass, barbecue at Francis Mill The Francis Mill Preservation Society will celebrate the preservation of the 128-year-old mill during the 10th annual Music at the Mill from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, in Waynesville. The 1887 timber frame mill operated until 1976. More than just a place of business, the mill served as the mountain community’s social hub for many of its early years. The FMPS first pioneered Music at the Mill at the mill site in 2006. The bluegrass and barbecue celebration will include performance by Whitewater Bluegrass Co., Hill Country Band and The Frog Level Philharmonic Advance tickets are $7 per person and are available at Elements Salon in Waynesville or

Garret K. Woodward photo

Main show tickets are $12 at the door, $10 in advance, with children under 12 admitted free. Advance tickets can be purchased at the Haywood County Arts Council at 86 North Main Street in Waynesville or at the Administration Building at Lake Junaluska. For more information, call 828.452.1688 or 800.334.9036. For a full list of performers and times, click on www.smokymountainfolkfestival.com.

Mountain Dreams Realty in Maggie Valley. All proceeds from this event go to the continuing preservation of the Francis Mill and educational/heritage programs. 828.456.6307.

Doobies roll into Harrah’s

The Doobie Brothers play Harrah’s Cherokee on Sept. 11.

Legendary rock act The Doobie Brothers will perform at 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, at Harrah’s Cherokee. The Northern California’s four-time Grammy winning group’s sound has become part of America’s musical firmament, sampled on dance records, reinterpreted on “American Idol,” and a fixture on radio for-

mats from Top 40 to classic rock. With the release of their new record, “Southbound,” a collaboration with the top country stars of today, they are poised to introduce a new generation to their infectious, toe tapping, iconic sing-alongs. Tickets start at $35. www.harrahscherokee.com.

We are pleased to welcome Caroline Denwood, M.D. Dr. Denwood is practicing comprehensive ophthalmology. She performs surgery, consultations, medical eye exams and routine eye exams. Call any of our locations for an appointment with Dr. Denwood.

First Friday of each Month 6-9 p.m.

May through December

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Whitewater Bluegrass Company.

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Smoky Mountain News

September 2-8, 2015

• Boojum Brewing Company (Waynesville) will have an open mic night at 8:30 p.m. on Mondays in their downtown taproom. Free and open to the public. 828.246.0350 or www.boojumbrewing.com.

Folk Festival returns to Lake Junaluska

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On the beat

• Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will have The Blue Ribbon Healers (gypsy jazz/swanky-tonk) Sept. 4, Joe Cruz (piano/pop) Sept. 5 and 12, and Kevin Lorenz (Americana/jazz) Sept. 11. All shows are free and begin at 7 p.m. 828.452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com.

• Friday Night Live (Highlands) summer concert series will have Southern Highlands (Americana/bluegrass) Sept. 4 and Tallulah River Band (Americana/bluegrass) Sept. 11. All shows are free and begin at 6 p.m. www.highlandschamber.org.

ALSO:

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will have Steve Goldman & Ed Kelley (Americana/folk) Sept. 4 and The Maggie Valley Band (Americana/folk) 8 p.m. Sept. 5. All shows are free and begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.454.5664 or www.froglevelbrewing.com. • Haywood County Arts Council (Waynesville) will host the Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) during Art After Dark at 6 p.m. Sept. 4. Free.

• The Maggie Valley Opry House will have legendary banjoist Raymond Fairchild at 8 p.m. nightly through October. Admission is $12. www.raymondfairchild.com or 828.926.9336. • Marianna Black Library (Bryson City) will hold community music jam from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 3 and 17. Anyone with a guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, dulcimer, anything unplugged, are invited to join. Singers are also welcomed to join in or you can just stop by and listen. Free. 828.488.3030.

• Nantahala Brewing Company (Bryson City) will have Ogya (soul/Caribbean) Sept. 4, The Dirty Soul Revival (rock/blues) Sept. 5, Shannon Wurst (Americana/folk) Sept. 6, and The Ends (rock/funk) Sept. 11. All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m. www.nantahalabrewing.com. • No Name Sports Pub (Sylva) will have Heidi Holton (blues/folk) Sept. 4, 3 Sum Sept. 5, Rye Baby (Americana/bluegrass) Sept. 11 and Ethan Morse & Friends w/James Scott Stambough Sept. 12. All shows are free and begin at 9 p.m. 828.586.2750 or www.nonamesportspub.com. • Oconaluftee Visitors Center (Cherokee) will have an old-time music jam from 1 to 3 p.m. Sept. 5. All skill levels welcomed. www.greatsmokies.com.

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• The Pickin’ on the Square (Franklin) summer concert series will have New Bridge (bluegrass) Sept. 5 and Caribbean Cowboys (rock/pop) Sept. 12. Both shows begin at 7:30 p.m. An open mic starts at 6:30 p.m. Free. www.franklinnc.com.

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• Satulah Mountain Brewing (Highlands) will have Jimandi (folk/rock) every Wednesday at 7 p.m. and a rotating series of local performers on Fridays at 9 p.m. 828.482.9794 or www.satulahmountainbrewing.com.

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• Saturdays On Pine (Highlands) will host The Charles Walker Band at 6 p.m. Sept. 5 in Kelsey-Hutchinson Park. Free. www.highlandschamber.org. • The Stompin’ Ground (Maggie Valley) is now open for live mountain music and clogging at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. 828.926.1288.

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September 2-8, 2015

• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will have an Open Mic night Sept. 2 and 9, a jazz night with the Kittle/Collings Duo Sept. 3 and 10. All events begin at 8 p.m. www.innovation-brewing.com.

Sept. 5. All shows are free and begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 800.438.1601 or 828.359.6490.

arts & entertainment

• City Lights Café (Sylva) will have Karen “Sugar” Barnes & Dave McGill (Americana/blues) Sept. 12. Free. 828.587.2233 or www.citylightscafe.com.

• The Strand at 38 Main (Waynesville) will host Jacob Johnson (folk/funk) at 8 p.m. Sept. 4. Tickets start at $8. www.38main.com. • Tipping Point Brewing (Waynesville) will have James Stinnett (singer-songwriter) Sept. 4 and Ashli Rose (singer-songwriter) Sept. 11. Both shows are free and begin at 9 p.m. 828.246.9230.

• The “Music on the River” concert series (Cherokee) will have David Lambert Sept. 4, Amazing Grace Ministries Sept. 5 (noon to 6 p.m.) and Sept. 6, and An Evening with Elvis

• Tuck’s Tap & Grill (Cullowhee) will have DJ X 10 p.m. Sept. 3 and 10, The Freeway Revival (rock/jam) Sept. 12 and Heidi Holton (blues/folk) 11 a.m. Sept. 13.

@Smoky MtnNews

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Smoky Mountain News

• Mixers Bar & Nightclub (Franklin) will have Longshot (rock) Sept. 5 and Moonshine Creek (rock/country) Sept. 12. All shows begin at 9 p.m. 828.369.9211.

Smoky Mountain News September 2-8, 2015

arts & entertainment

On the stage

ONSTAGE IN CULLOWHEE The Golden Dragon Acrobats will bring the 2,000-year tradition of Chinese acrobatics to the stage at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, in the John W. Bardo Fine & Performing Arts Center at Western Carolina University. Tickets are $5 for students, $10 for adults. ace.wcu.edu or 828.227.2612.

Golf comedy at HART The comedy production of “The Fox On The Fairway” will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 11-12, 18-19, 25-26 and Oct. 2-3 and at 3 p.m. Sept. 13, 20, 27 and Oct. 4 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville. Bingham, president of the Quail Valley Country Club is in a difficult position; the golfer he thought would play for his club has switched sides, recruited by his counterpart and opponent, and the huge bet he had foolishly wagered is now likely to be lost. Fortunately, he discovers that a new hired hand is actually quite a good golfer. He just has a few problems. Tickets are $24 for adults, $20 seniors, $11 students, with a $7 matinee. www.harttheatre.org.

Dr. Gary Chapman, world-renowned speaker and author of The 5 Love Languages will headline “Spice Up Your Marriage: Date Night,” will hit the stage at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. The event is designed to equip and encourage married couples in a fun, engaging evening of Dr. Gary Chapman music, comedy and inspiration. Joining Chapman for this unique event will be Michael O’Brien, former lead singer of Newsong, as well as national speakers and humorists, Jeff & Debby McElroy. O’Brien will kick-off the evening with a dose of engaging humor and compelling music, while also sharing the story of why and how he left Newsong during the pinnacle of the band’s popularity. The McElroys, a husband and wife duo, known for their comedic approach, have spoken to millions around the world on the topic of marriage and relationships. Their ability to weave humor, drama, teaching and music has proven invaluable in engaging audience members. Proceeds from the event will go to the var-

ious marriage and family ministries of Forever Families, including their military and first responder ministry, which is designed to help families involved in those professions who struggle from the stress of their work. Tickets are $22.50. www.greatmountainmusic.com or 828.524.1598.

arts & entertainment

CHINESE ACROBATS

Want to spice up your marriage?

St. Clair brings storytelling to Marianna Master storyteller Charlie St. Clair will perform at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, at the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City. The North Carolina Storytelling Guild has a dream to bring tellers into a library in each of the 100 counties in the state. St. Clair has been telling stories to family and friends all his life. He has been telling stories publicly for the past eight years and performed improvisational theater with Living Story Theater for eight years. He is currently the Treasurer of the Asheville Storytelling Circle. St. Clair has appeared at the Toe River Storytelling Festival, Blue Ridge Storyfest, The Laurinburg Bald Face Liars Showdown, Tales of Union County at The Rose Hill Plantation, Tellabration! and at the Grove Park Inn. Free. 828.488.3030 or www.fontanalib.org/brysoncity.

308-86

We can help Understanding new benefits 401K Rollovers

September 2-8, 2015

Changing Employers?

Signing up for new 401K

Friday 9/4 8 p.m.

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

Larry East, CFP® Vice President - Investments

J. Chad Muri, CRPC

Saturday, 9/19 8 p.m. SHANA TUCKER

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Jack Webb, Financial Advisor Shannon E. Carlock

Senior Registered Client Associate

Financial Advisor

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Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Member SIPC, is a registered broker-dealer and a separate non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.

Smoky Mountain News

JACOB JOHNSON BAND Johnson sounds like Norman Rockwell paintings and the open road.

38 N. MAIN ST. • WAYNESVILLE 828.283.0079 52 Walnut St., Suite #6 Waynesville, NC 28786 Next to Haywood County Chamber of Commerce

TUES.-FRI. 3 P.M. SAT. 11 A.M.-11 P.M. • SUN. 1 P.M.-6 P.M.

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arts & entertainment

On the wall

Wildlife photo exhibit in Macon

Smoky Mountain News

September 2-8, 2015

There will be a wildlife photography exhibit showcasing the works of Ed & Cindy Boos through the month of September at the Macon County Public Library. The “Wild Critter Adventures” photography exhibit features photos and video a variety of different wildlife behaviors and images taken by the Boos. Critters displayed include mammals such as grizzly, bears, lions, jackals, and bobcats. Many species of birds are also

included in the exhibit from several Florida birding hot spots, Bosque del Apache in New Mexico, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in Utah, Yellowstone National Park and locations in Kenya. The Boos primary focus is capturing avian and other wildlife behaviors. They have traveled to many locations throughout the United States and Canada in pursuit of their photography interests. With Ed’s primary focus on still photography and Cindy’s on video photography, they have developed wildlife programs for presentation to birding groups in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.

Quilting, upholstery display at HCC

House, with Bohemian Jean (rock/pop) providing live music in the gallery. www.downtownwaynesville.com.

Haywood Community College’s Creative Arts Department currently has a display in the Cornwell Gallery called “A Conversation Piece” on their campus in Clyde. The show consists of art from the Creative Arts Quilting and Upholstery classes in the gallery as well as throughout the building. Students in the class represent a wide range of experience. The pieces incorporate a comprehensive approach to quilting techniques. The show will end with a closing reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24. Light refreshments will be served. Artists and instructors will be on hand. creativearts.haywood.edu.

Paint Your Park! program at the Smokies

Art After Dark in Waynesville Art After Dark will continue from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, in downtown Waynesville. Enjoy a stroll through working studios and galleries on Main Street and Depot Street. Festive Art After Dark flags denote participating galleries. Local painter Karen Zimmerman will be demonstrating her whimsical bird artwork at ReMax, which is a combination of paint and collage materials. Painter Rick Hills will be demonstrating his craft at The Mahogany

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park invites visitors to join the park’s artist-inresidence, DJ Berard, for an interactive painting program from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 8-9 at the Clingmans Dome Visitor Contact Station. Visitors can observe and interact with the award-winning painter at work in this inspiring setting. Program attendees can create a self-made souvenir reflecting their own experiences in the Smokies. Berard will provide a “direction to go,” encouraging participants to let their gorgeous surroundings serve as an incentive for creative interpretation. Program materials will be provided by the artist. 865.436.1265.

On the street The 14th annual RailFest will be held Sept. 5-6 at the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad depot in Bryson City. Activities include live craft and railroad demonstrations, train rides, live Appalachian music and dance, storytelling, railroad food, and more. Music will be provided on Saturday by the Mountain Youth Talent Contest (10 a.m.), The Cockman Family (1 p.m.), J. Creek Cloggers (2:30 p.m.) and Dusk Weaver (3:45 p.m). Sunday will feature The Boys From Tuskasegee (noon), Dakota Waddell (1:30 p.m.), Betty Brown (2:45 p.m.) and Highway 74 (3:30 p.m.) The event is produced by Catch the

DAZZLING DAHLIAS The fourth annual Dazzling Dahlia Festival will be Saturday, Sept. 12, at the Highlands Rec Park and Civic Center. The event, benefiting the Highlands Historical Society, will showcase local enthusiasts’ prize-winning dahlias. Public admission is $5. Patron ticket is $125. Exhibitor fee is $10. www.highlandschamber.org.

The program “Beneath the Still Waters of Fontana: Remembering the Lost Community of Judson” will be held at 7 p.m. Sept. 10 at the Historic Jackson County Courthouse in Sylva. As part of the Jackson County Genealogical Society’s September program, the speaker will be Swain County and Great Smoky Mountains National Park researcher, Wendy Meyers. From oral interviews and written histories, Meyers has collected family memories and community stories throughout the area. She is the author of the online blog “Reflections of Olde Swain.” Free. 828.631.2646.

ALSO:

• The Rotary Club of Highlands Craft Beer Festival will be Thursday, Sept. 10, at The Farm at Old Edwards Inn. www.highlandschamber.org.

• The PAWS wine tasting and silent auction will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, at Land’s Creek Cabins in Bryson City. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the

door. They can be purchased at the PAWS thrift store or at www.pawsbrysoncity.org. • Family Fun Night will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Snacks, crafts and “Minute to Win It” snowman stacking competition. 828.586.2016 or www.fontanalib.org. • The Thunder in the Smokies fall rally will be 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sept. 11, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sept. 12 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. • The High Mountain Squares will host their “Greenway Dance” from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6, at the Macon County Community Building in Franklin. Jim Duncan will be the caller. Western Style Square Dancing, mainstream and plus levels. All skill levels welcomed. 828.371.4946 or 828.342.1560 or 828.332.0001 or www.highmountainsquares.com.

• Coach’s Bistro will have its grand opening from 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 3 in Dillsboro. The restaurant and lounge is adjacent to The Jarrett House. • There will be a farm-to-table dinner at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, at the Hidden Valley Farm in Clyde. There will also be live music. Tickets are $50 per person. 828.450.2232 or www.hiddenvalleyfarmnc.com. • The “End of the Summer Dive In” will be held at 7 p.m. Sept. 4 at the Sylva Pool and Sept. 5 at the Cashiers Community Pool. Open swim followed by a PG or G film at 8:30 p.m. $5 gets the whole family in, $3 for individuals. Concession stand will other pizza, drinks, candy, and more. 828.293.3053. • The second annual Fire & Rescue Day will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, at Riverfront Park in Bryson City. 828.736.1859.

schedule, click on www.showclix.com. www.visitcherokeenc.com 800.438.1601.

Wine dinner at Evolution There will be a wine pairing dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8, at Evolution Wine Kitchen in Sylva. Wendy Dunn from Mutual Wine will be on hand to educate and serve while the kitchen will pair their favorite menu items. You’ll taste eight different wines paired with five of our small plates. $27.50 per person. www.evolutionwinekitchen.com.

• The Flea Market at the Fairgrounds will be from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 5 at the Haywood County Fairgrounds in Lake Junaluska. www.haywoodcountyfairgrounds.org or 828.400.1704. • The LakeALooza Labor Day celebration will be Sept. 4-6 at Fontana Village Resort. Live music, dancing, cookouts, family activities, and more. 800.498.2258 or www.fontanavillage.com.

Smoky Mountain News

• The “Stars of Center Stage” local talent competition will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. The event includes singers, dancers, musicians, variety acts and more. Experience the magic of the spot light while the audience votes for their favorite act and the winner of a cash prize. Tickets are $10. www.greatmountainmusic.com or 866.273.4615.

The Seven Clans Rodeo will be held Sept. 4-5 at the intersection of U.S. 19/441 in Cherokee. Gates open at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 12:30 p.m. Sunday. Rodeos begin at 8 p.m. Between the broncos that will be busted, the bulls that will be bucking, and the rodeo clowns looking to avoid getting stomped in the head, there will be all sorts of skills competitions and top-name riders in this SRAsanctioned event. All performances are included in the price of the ticket Single day tickets are $12 for adults ($15 at gate), $6 for children ($8 at gate). For more information, tickets and a full

Spirit of Appalachia, a nonprofit organization. For a full schedule of events, times and train ticket information, click on www.gsmr.com. 800.872.4681.

September 2-8, 2015

Beneath the waters of Fontana

Seven Clans Rodeo rides into Cherokee

arts & entertainment

RailFest returns to Bryson City

• The “Way Back When” trout dinner will be held at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 4 at the Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley. The dinner showcases a recreation meal, music, storytelling and atmosphere of a 1930s Appalachian trout camp. Enjoy a wagon ride across the ranch property amid the authentic re-creation of Mr. Tom and Miss Judy Alexander’s first fishing camp. Tickets for the event also includes food and beverage. 828.926.1401 or 800.868.1401 or www.cataloocheeranch.com. 37

Books Collection manages to combine horror and comedy T 38

Smoky Mountain News

Gary Carden

here aren’t many successful horror fiction writers who are described as comical and/or whimsical. The terms seem incompatible. You don’t expect to discover that your vampire tale is full of snickers and puns. Besides, it is a rare gift to find a writer who can combine humor with gore; terror and giggles. Well, Robert Shearman can. In fact, he have a half-dozen popular titles out in England, and now his reputation has spread to America. Saddle up, folks! This is going to be fun. Remember Why You Fear Me is a collection of what is considered “the best of Robert Shearman’s Writer Short Stories.” That must have been a difficult decision, and, indeed, some of England’s most noted authors were the judges. There are frequent comparisons to Shirley Jackson (The Lottery) and Angela Carter (The Bloody Chamber) and Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), but in the final analysis, the judges all agree that Robert Shearman is eerie, unique and wonderful. However, some of Sherman’s tales are disturbing because he sometimes moves into a literary form that the English call “nasty.” In short, he breaks some taboos and moves into forbidden territory. More about that when we get there! I am partial to Ben, the kid in “Cold Snap” who wakes on Christmas morning to find Santa Claus in his room. Ben doesn’t believe in either Santa or Jesus, and notes that his “belief in Santa had outlived his belief in God” because Christ on the cross is simply too fantastic. When Ben woke to a white Christmas (rare in London), he found that his unhappy parents had signed some kind of pact with Santa. Could it be that Ben had unwittingly betrayed his father for a new bike? Had his mother traded Ben for a new husband? So, it begins with a long, solitary walk through a heavy snowfall into a deep forest to a place where Santa’s weary reindeer and the sleigh

dent, July 28, 2015. 9:15 p.m.” Simple and direct. The intent is, once we know with certainty, we can live more orderly lives. The narrator of this tale is the only person who does not receive an announcement since it is his job to deliver the messages. My favorite is probably the one is called “Mortal Coil.” This is the story of Martin, who dies and goes to hell where he discovers that Satan’s domain has housing that is much like a standard college dorm... and that he has a roommate. The only problem is, the roommate is a dog....a dachshund who has ended up in the Infernal Region, not because of what he did in his earthly life, but because of who owned him. Adolf Hitler. His name is Woofie and he is a nice dog who readily gives Matin the top bunk. Ah, but there are problems ... especially after the dead return to the earth and further complicate Martin’s existence. “Road Kill” is a true enigma. The atmosphere is still quirky and strange, but it is resembles a grim parable as well. The story follows an adulterous, mismatched couple: He is planning a marriage, but first, he wants a weekend of wild abandon with an “experienced” partner; she is a bored, barren wife, trapped in a bad marriage and wants to feel loved again. Neither of them is likely to find any fulfillment together. Armed with a guide to Britain’s historic towns, the two set forth on what is Remember Why You Fear Me by Robert Shearman. meant to be a wild, sexual adventure Chizine Publications, 2012. 338 pages. (and in a sense, it truly is!). However, their plans change when the man (who is a pathetic twit) hits “something” on a dark denying us specific knowledge about our road .... At first, they think the mangled creadeaths. As they have watched mankind struggle to avoid their demise (plastic surgery, diet- ture is a pregnant rabbit with great, leathery wings. They “rescue” it and put it in the trunk ing, jogging, heart transplants, etc.), the of the car, but as their journey continues, they Immortals have decided to try a different are distracted by the thumping noise from the approach: just tell each of us the specific date trunk. Is the wounded creature a miraculous and hour of our demise. The news comes by discovery that will bring them fame, or is it an letter ... a tasteful vellum envelope and a simple card delivered by “a trusted employee.” An omen? Should they “put it out of its misery,” or rush it to a medical facility? You need to example would be: “Roger Simpson, car acciwait. What then? This reviewer has no intention of providing “spoilers.” In “Damned If You Don’t,” the inhabitants of the Earth awake one morning to find media announcements from “an alien power” that has been monitoring life on this planet for thousands of years. However, “they” have come to feel that they have made a mistake in

Ringo to present new mystery Author J.T. Ringo will discuss his book Investment in Murder at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville. Normally, Buck Creek, North Carolina and Tampa, Florida, would not have much in common. Not so in the case of the murder of Jefferson Comstock Jr. of Comstock Land Developers headquartered in Tampa. Shot and killed while acquiring property in Buck Creek for the Logan Lake Condominiums, Junior’s influential father insists on the Tampa PD sending help to the local sheriff, Roy Harper, in Buck Creek. As the body count rises in the Tampa Bay area, PI Taylor McCann, his assistant David Hathaway, and Detective Thea Mikos,

unravel the jigsaw puzzle of clues in both the Tampa Bay area and North Carolina. www.blueridgebooksnc.com or 828.456.6000.

‘English on the Ides’ discussion series Western Carolina University’s Department of English is sponsoring a series of informal public discussions, “English on the Ides,” focused on research being conducted by members of WCU’s English faculty at 1 p.m. on select Sundays at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. “Bringing examples of in-progress and recent research into the

read this one. I need to note that there are 20 short stories in this collection, and I have only discussed a few. However, let me assure you that if you can be offended, Robert Shearman will not only make you uncomfortable; he will be downright “nasty.” You may find yourself throwing Remember Why You Fear Me into the trash. You have been warned. There are stories of cannibalistic angels, incestuous grandmothers and a clutch of vampires, werewolves and zombies that will make your gorge rise. What is interesting about these offending passages is that they are offenses against our most treasured rituals: Christmas, family gatherings and the rules that govern our sexual identifies. Perhaps the most offensive story in this collection is “Alice Through the Plastic Sheet.” It begins with Alan and Alice, their son Bobby and their dog, Sparky, discovering that they have new neighbors. However, although there are moving vans and furniture, there are no people. Determined to meet their new neighbors, Alan and Alice keep vigilant watch and Alice even visits, taking a cup of sugar to the new folks as a part of the welcome ritual. No one is home. Since it is the Christmas holidays, the new neighbors play loud music (Christmas carols, Bing Crosby, etc.), but no one seems to be home. As time passes, the situation becomes ominous and Alan and Alice come to hate their new neighbors. Sparky barks constantly, seems frightened and eventually dies. Alan and Alice come to hate each other and the new neighbors never emerge. Many of Sherman’s characters are hapless victims and although they perceive themselves as socially adjusted, successful and sexually fulfilled, they become increasingly maladjusted as their story progresses. This is the kind of book that would provoke interesting discussions in a book club. Ah, but I doubt it would ever be selected for reading by any book club in which the members select the books to be discussed. It will be interesting to see what happens to Robert Shearman in America! (Gary Carden is a writer and storyteller. He lives in Sylva. Gcarden498@aol.com.)

community, these talks create a forum for academic knowledge that highlights how English as a discipline and the humanities in general intersect with everyday, non-academic life,” said Paul Worley, a WCU assistant professor of English who worked with bookstore staff to organize the series. The series will continue Sept. 13 when Worley discusses “Maya Book Arts on Exhibit at the WCU Fine Art Museum.” Laura Wright, associate professor and head of the English department, will talk about her book The Vegan Studies Project on Oct. 11, and English professor Annette Debo will present “Poets are Lyric Historians: The Necessary Past for African-American Poets” on Oct. 25. For more information about the series, contact Worley at pmworley@wcu.edu or the bookstore at more@citylightsnc.com.

Brown releases new cookbook Bookstore

books

Leanne Brown will present her new cookbook Good and Cheap: Eat Well on $4 a Day at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. Her book is designed for those on the strictest of budgets, particularly those on the U.S. food stamp budget. This book is great, though, for anyone wanting to eat really well cheaply. Good and Cheap features tips on shopping and kitchen equipment, and more than a hundred easy, flexible recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 828.586.9499.

308-102

FRIDAY, SEPT. 4 • 6:30 P.M.

Leanne Brown will present her cookbook, Good and Cheap: Eat Well on $4/Day 3 EAST JACKSON STREET • SYLVA

828/586-9499 • citylightsnc.com

New Crawford book, reception There will be a reception for writer Ruth Pangle Crawford at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. The event will celebrate the release of her book, The Story of Cinder. In her book, Crawford remembers a time in her childhood when living by a railroad track, she grew up listening for the train whistle, running down the hill to wave at the conductor and brakeman, who waved back. And then one cold December day, as she waited on her rock, watching the steam of the locomotive some closer, the train began to slow down. Something strange was happening, and so the story of Cinder began. 828.586.9499.

Written by members of the First United Methodist Church in Waynesville, Journeying toward Reconciliation will be presented at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville. These stories explore the writers’ experience as gay and lesbian Christians and as parents and friends of gay and lesbian persons. Members of the group will be present to share some of the stories and talk about the experiences behind the book and the process that produced it. www.blueridgebooksnc.com or 828.456.6000.

Sylva author Mary Joyce will present her latest book Underground Military Bases Hidden in North Carolina Mountains at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. The book compiles information gathered by Joyce over several years about secret military facilities in North Carolina. The information about the secret bases is mostly from those with military, law enforcement and high security backgrounds plus citizens who have stumbled upon evidence. Joyce is also the author of Cherokee Little People Were Real and Tangible Evidence of Jesus. www.citylightsnc.com.

Smoky Mountain News

Hidden military bases in N.C. mountains

September 2-8, 2015

Christians share stories about homosexuality

Outdoors

Smoky Mountain News

Make mud, not war A good time had by all at Waynesville Mud Run BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER ’ve never been a huge fan of any sport that hinges on an ability to run swiftly or handle a ball with any measure of skill, and for that reason I’ve managed to maintain a remarkably clean life record when it to athletic accomplishments. Mud is another matter. When word reached my ears last year that an event involving mud pits, climbing nets and creek splashing would be held less than a mile from my front door, the fact that I’d never entered an organized race before — and had in fact spent most of my life as an evangelist for not running — didn’t deter me. I had to do it, and I did, creating memories of muddy bliss achieved while splashing through pits of opaque gooeyness and bragging rights earned from the crazy rope burn resulting from an ill-fated shimmy over yet another patch of delightful grossness. When the 2014 race ended, it was a foregone conclusion that I’d be taking yet another drain-clogging shower as summer in the Smokies gave way to fall. But foregone conclusions can be dangerous temptations of fate, as demonstrated by the fact that the Monday before the 2015 Building Bridges Mud Run in Waynesville, I took my dog out for her morning pee, stepped into the yard and turned my ankle on a root. The rest of the week, I was forced to drive rather than walk, keep the ankle wrapped and ice it regularly. The day before the race, I arrived at the dog park clearly favoring my wrapped right ankle, much to the chagrin of my teammate Tanya, there with her own canine. “Is that mud run-worthy?” she asked doubtfully. “Don’t worry,” I told her, more confidently than I felt. “I’m definitely doing it.” After all, I reasoned, in the annals of history, what would be most remembered? A Saturday spent watching Netflix on the couch, or a heroic assault on Happy Hill and the glorious pits of mud contained therein? All that’s assuming that history contains an annal dedicated exclusively to the weekend exploits of people in Waynesville during the year 2015, of course, which, while doubtful, is nice to think about. When morning came, I was ready. Though feeling slightly silly about bringing my notquite-sprained ankle to the Lord’s attention given all the more weightly ills in the world, I prayed for that joint to stay strong through the race. I woke up early to spend a few minutes icing the thing and wrapped it up tight in an Ace bandage. Then, figuring I was as ready as I’d ever be, I set out to rendezvous with the team and pull on the sweet 60s-themed shirts our

teammate Emily, a graphic designer, had made for us — team name: Make Mud, Not War. It was time. No-so-competitively placed last in the lineup for release to the course, we set out jogging up the hill from the Waynesville Recreation Center, along Howell Mill Road and then up the horrendously steep and ironically named Happy Hill Road. A pair of yellow-shirted volunteers laid into us with squirt guns as we neared our first obstacle — a pair of parked cars to climb across. I carefully picked my way over the SUV, selectively positioning that right ankle, while my teammate Arielle vaulted, in true Dukes of Hazzard style, over the sedan beside it, a graceful-looking tumble that nevertheless resulted in a nasty bruise. That’s when we reached the mud. There was a large pit made all the deeper by the thrashing of the many who’d crossed it before us, a slippery slog up a bare-earth slope, and a neurocenter of obstacles greeting us at the top: a pit covered with a blue tarp, an elevated pipe to crawl through, a cargo net to climb and then a series of muddy pits impossible to cross daintily. I was as happy as a 4-year-old version of myself playing in a rain-filled drainage ditch, and as I faced the second half of the course I became more and more confident that I’d be able to cross the finish line with a still-intact ankle. Before that, however, came a downhill run back to the Rec Center, a splash across Richland Creek, a whole strip of muddy ground to run across, a mud mogul to leap and a marathon mud crawl through pits covered with logs, forcing the unfortunate (or fortunate, depending on your perspective) mudder to lean down low. Then it was back across the creek, up the Rec Center hill again, over a 10-foot-high pile of hay bales and then — finally — the finish line, marked by a well-soaped slip-n-slide and a fire hose to spray off the mud. From there, my ankle supported me, with barely a protest, all the way over to the beer garden for a refreshing pale ale, where my teammates and I basked in muddy glory — already casting a 2016 return as a foregone conclusion. Of course, as previously established, foregone conclusions can be dangerous, so if next year you see a girl in a full-body cast attempting to thrash through a mud pit on Happy Hill, it’s probably me. In that case, do her a favor and tell her to quit while she’s ahead. Now in its second year, the Building Bridges Mud Run takes place in Waynesville and raises money for the Canton Lions Club and Lions Club International, supporting programs in Haywood County and service for the blind. www.buildingbridgesmudrun.com.

The Building Bridges Mud Run this year fulfilled its purpose of making mud enough for all. Clockwise from top: Mudders navigate one of the last obstacles, lengthy mud pit with laid-over logs forcing a low crawl. Participants run between obstacles. A four-person team screams down the slip-n-slide toward the finish line. SMN’s Holly Kays emerges from the muck. Donated photos

Competitors work their way through the gates at the Old Cullowhee Canoe Slalom. Donated photo

Paddling competition coming to Cullowhee A family-friendly paddling competition featuring a variety of categories will be held on a flatwater portion of the Tuckasegee River near Western Carolina University at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 12. The Old Cullowhee Canoe Slalom, now in its sixth year, will present competitors with a series of nine gates to negotiate, with multiple canoe and kayak categories, including parentand-child canoe and kid’s kayak for children 12 and under, and a stand-up paddleboard category. Canoes and flotation devices will be provided, but kayakers and paddleboarders should bring their own equipment. The race will be held just upstream of the Old Cullowhee Road bridge on the back

side of campus. The course will be erected by 1 p.m. Sept. 11 and available the rest of that day for practice. All proceeds will benefit the Parks and Recreation Management Club and PRM Fund at WCU. Students from the parks and rec program are organizing the event along with Base Camp Cullowhee. A fundraiser for a proposed river park in the area will follow (see page 44). $5, with pre-registration requested at WCU’s Base Camp Cullowhee office in the Campus Recreation Center. Maurice Phipps, 828.227.3844 or phipps@wcu.edu. Base Camp Cullowhee, 828.227.3633 or basecamp@wcu.edu.

A cleanup of the Little Tennessee River in Franklin will be held 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, with a call to the community of “all volunteers on deck.” Land Trust for the Little Tennessee is heading up the BigSweep event, coordinated by Guy Gooder for the 10th year in a row. “I hate the thought of someone enjoying a day on the river kayaking or fishing and looking down to see a beer can or tire,” the Franklin native said. Volunteers should meet in the lower parking area at Big Bear Park along the greenway. Canoes and boats will be helpful but not required, and gloves and bags will be provided. 828.349.4097.

Give litter the boot Haywood County’s Big Sweep, a longstanding initiative to “sweep” local waterways across the state for litter every fall, is inviting volunteers to weild gloves and a trash bag on Saturday, Sept. 12.

Haywood Community College and Haywood Waterways Association are organizing the event. ■ Volunteers to clean up of Richland Creek will meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Bi-Lo parking lot in Waynesville, led by Shannon Rabby, instructor at HCC. Long pants and close-toed shoes are required, and waders

outdoors

Volunteers needed for Franklin river cleanup

The BigSweep in Franklin. Donated photo

will be helpful. ■ A cleanup of Lake Junaluska will start at 9 a.m., leaving from the pool area of the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center and led by Christine O’Brien of Haywood Waterways. The work should take two to three hours, with trash bags and gloves provided. RSVP for either event by contacting O’Brien at christine.haywoodwaterways@gmail.com or 828.476.4667.

Cherokee trout tourney offers $20K in prizes

Fall race season is here

Cycle through fall in Franklin Take in the sights and sounds of Appalachian fall from a bicycle seat with a ride in the 10th Annual Tour de Franklin on Saturday, Sept. 26, organized by Smoky Mountain Bicycles. Participants can choose from a 30-mile route with 2,624 feet of elevation; 55-mile route with 4,554 feet of elevation or a 66-mile route with 6,367 feet of elevation. BBQ, music and beer will wait at the finish line. Proceeds will benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Ride starts at 9 a.m. $35 through Sept. 14 and $45 afterward. Sign up at www.active.com.

WED. SEPT. 9 • 9 A.M. SCALY MOUNTAIN 4 miles out and back. This segment of the Bartram Trail is strenuous with an elevation gain of 1100 Ft. in just 2 miles. The views of Blue Valley to the South and of Tennesse Valley to the North make this trek well worth it.

WED. SEPT. 16 • 9 A.M. JOYCE KILMER LOOP A 2-mile trail leads to the Joyce Kilmer Memorial and loops through giant trees.

Smoky Mountain News

With summer stickiness subsiding toward crisp autumn weather, it’s the time of year when running becomes a pleasurable pastime rather than a sweaty chore. Several half-marathon offerings will come to Western North Carolina this fall. Take your pick and get running. ■ The Cherokee Harvest Half-Marathon and 5K will be held Saturday, Oct. 3, beginning at the Acquoni Events Center in Cherokee. Both races are USATF-certified. All finishers will receive a medal, with special awards given to top finishers. Half-marathon is $50 through Sept. 30 and $55 afterward; 5K is $30 through Sept.

30 and $35 afterward. ■ The Bethel Half-Marathon and 5K will be held Saturday, Oct. 10, winding through the rural Bethel community in Haywood County. Pre-registration is $25 for the 5K and $40 for the half-marathon; day of is $30 for the 5K and $45 for the halfmarathon. ■ The Conquer the Mountain HalfMarathon will be held Saturday, Nov. 7, in Franklin. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Smoky Mountain Pregnancy Care Center for medical care at the center’s clinics as well as other needs. Individual and two-person team registrations are available. $30 to $45 per person, depending on registration date and team status. Registration for all races available at www.active.com.

Join Us for Our Fall Hiking Series

September 2-8, 2015

The year’s biggest cash prizes are on tap for fishermen in this year’s Qualla Country Trout Tournament, slated for Sept. 4-6 in Cherokee in Cherokee Enterprise waters. Prizes totaling $20,000 will be handed out to anglers who buy in with the $11 entry fee, with stocked fish bearing tags indicating their monetary value — some as much as $5,000. Anglers must hold a fishing permit from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, sold online and at a variety of Cherokee businesses for $10. Organized by the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce. www.fishcherokee.com.

ALL HIKES ARE $5/MEMBERS, $7/N0N-MEMBERS

WAYNESVILLE

RECREATION CENTER 550 Vance St. • Waynesville • 828.456.2030 www.townofwaynesville.org 308-07

outdoors September 2-8, 2015

Hiker’s death likely a suicide, autopsy says The death of a prominent Sylva hiker whose body was found in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in June was likely a suicide, according to an autopsy just returned from the Sevier County Medical Examiner’s Office. She was found sitting in Porter’s Creek, off-trail in the Greenbrier area off the park. While hypothermia is the official cause of death, the autopsy showed a toxic level of diphenhydramine — a compound found in sleeping pills — which was “a significant contributing factor in her death and points towards an intentional overdose,” according to a press release from the park. “This is another very sad day for Jenny’s friends, family, and for the SMHC,” says a post on the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club’s Facebook page published after the report’s release. “At least we know now a little more of what happened,” the post continues. “We are relieved that the wait for the report is finally over.” Bennett, 62, was an active and respected member of the club, well-known for her blog, www.streamsandforests.wordpress.com. She had also authored two books set in the Smokies, the most recent of which was titled The Twelve Springs of LeConte. Bennett had been on the verge of a move to Vermont to live closer to her sister, her apartment all packed up and ready to go, when she left to do one last hike at Porter’s Creek, a favorite place of hers and the setting of her novel, Murder at the Jumpoff. It was also the site of a memorial service for a close friend of hers held in the early part of the year. She was reported missing about a week later, when her landlord realized she had never moved out as planned. Her friends and family remember an adventurous, optimistic, one-of-a-kind person who is — and will continue to be — heartily missed. — By Holly Kays, staff writer

Spectacular fall color predicted for WNC Drier-than-normal conditions during 2015 will translate into one of the best shows of fall color in years, according to Western Carolina University’s prediction expert Kathy Mathews. “This fall could be one of the best leaf color seasons in Western North Carolina in recent memory,” said Mathews, an associate biology professor. “Three words explain it — unusually dry weather.” Mathews bases the fall color forecast on both past and predicted weather conditions. She believes that the formation of high pigment levels in leaves correlates with dry weather throughout the year, especially as fall gets closer. This year, rain has been plentiful enough to avoid drought and keep trees healthy, but low enough that sugar concentrations in the leaves have increased, as they do during dry

Astronomy institute celebrates another year of science An evening of guided tours, nature trail exploration and behind-the-scenes looks at what goes on at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute will all be part of the Friends of PARI annual meeting beginning 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11. The event — open to anyone with some level of membership at PARI — will include access to PARI activities not normally open to the public, one-onone interaction with scientists and tours such as one of PARI’s recently enlarged meteorite and mineral gallery, which houses hundreds of North Carolina museum-grade minerals and meteorites gathered from around the world. At 6:30 p.m., presentations from students who have completed research projects at PARI will commence. Join PARI or register to attend online at www.pari.edu. Memberships start at $50. 828.862.5554 or ksteiner@pari.edu.

Bird flu info session in Morganton A meeting to give backyard poultry owners the scoop on avian influenza will be held 1-3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, in Morganton. The highly pathogenic virus is carried by migrating birds and therefore expected to reach North Carolina this fall. The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer

FREE LUNCHEON SEMINAR Smoky Mountain News

Services is leading the Morganton meeting as one of five statewide to give an overview of the outbreak currently unfolding in the United States and how North Carolina is planning to protect its poultry. Veterinarians with the department and from N.C. State University will give the presentation, also covering information about the state poultry registry and how to protect flocks from infection. The flu, though not found to affect human health or food safety, has wreaked

havoc on poultry farms in the 21 states where it’s been found so far. At this point it hasn’t reached the East Coast, but as it’s thought to be carried by migratory fowl officials area bracing for possible introduction during fall migration. Pre-registration available at www.ncagr.gov/avianflu. The meeting will be held at the Burke County Center, 130 Ammons Drive in Morganton. Spring Williams, 828.439.4460.

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disappear for the winter. El Niño is another piece of good news for fall color. Meteorologists are predicting a light hurricane season this year, which reduces the chance of heavy rain and windstorms in the mountains during August and September, Mathews said. As always, peak color is dependent on decreasing sunlight hours and the eleKathy Mathews. WCU photo vation of a particular location. Peak color often weather when trees don’t take up as much arrives in elevations above 4,000 feet in the water through the roots. More sugar means first half of October and arrives during the more production of the red pigment that third week at mid-elevations of 2,500 to becomes visible when green chlorophylls 3,500 feet, Mathews said.

28 Maple St. • Sylva

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Shopping at Mast General Store will raise funds for a good cause on Saturday, Sept. 12. On Mast General Friends Day, stores in Waynesville, Asheville, Hendersonville and various other locations in the region will donate 10 percent of sales revenue to the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. The foundation is a non-profit dedicated to raising money for needed projects along the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway. The Waynesville store is located on Main Street and open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays.

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“A Walk in the Woods” movie hits theaters

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Smoky Mountain News

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September 2-8, 2015

A movie chronicling the adventure of a pair of middle-aged men attempting to hike the Appalachian Trail hits the theaters this week (Sept. 2), and Western North Carolina’s tourism and environmental groups are preparing for the impact. The movie, “A Walk in the Woods,” stars Robert Redford and is based on a first-person book of the same name by Bill Bryson. It’s expected to produce a bumper crop of A.T. thru-hikers in 2016 and to spur tourism to the places mentioned in the book — Franklin, Fontana Lake and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park among them. ■ A special screening of the movie will be held at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2, at Carolina Cinemas in Asheville. Co-hosted by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and the Carolina Mountain Club, the showing will feature presentations from Morgan Sommerville, regional ATC director, and Lenny Bernstein, CMC president. Advance purchase of the $7 tickets is required. 828.254.3709. ■ The Swain County Chamber of Commerce has launched a new web page showcasing some of the best area day hikes for visitors wanting their own “walk in the woods.” www.greatsmokies.com/appalachian-trail.html. ■ The Appalachian Trail Club has posted a series of funny, one-minute videos promoting low-impact enjoyment of the outdoors, a set of ethics known as Leave No Trace. The reel of 17 videos is online at http://bit.ly/1Ubwhmp. ■ A social media movement called #ProtectYourTrail is designed to encourage trail users to show how they’re helping to preserve the A.T. The idea is to use the hashtag to mark photos on social media showing trail protection.

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A fundraiser to support the effort to create a river park along the Tuckasegee River in Cullowhee will be held 4-8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, at Tuck’s Tap and Grille, following the Old Cullowhee Canoe Slalom. The event is organized by the Cullowhee Revitalization Endeavor, CuRvE, which has spent two years working to develop a site plan for the park. The group commissioned a study from an engineering consultant outlining the tasks, tests and permits necessary to moving toward creating a river park. A 2014 economic impact study of the

Meet the herb lady A workshop about harvesting and preparing herbs will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Becky Lipkin, a certified aroma therapist known as “The Herb Lady of Cedar Creek Farms,” will discuss what to do with herbs grown in the garden, and she’ll give a fragrant demonstration by preparing a fresh batch of pesto during the class. Participants will receive handouts, herb samples — and a bite of pesto. Free. 828.586.2016.

Explore the wilderness Haywood Gap A 9-mile hike on Wednesday, Sept. 9, will jump off from the Mountains-to-Sea Trail in the Middle Prong Wilderness to be the next installment in a series of wilderness hikes presented by the Carolina Mountain Club and The Wilderness Society. The hike will begin from the Blue Ridge Parkway near its intersection with N.C. 215

View from the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. SMN photo

potential effect in Cullowhee showed that developing the park would add $1.2 million of annual spending in Jackson County, 16 new jobs and $145,000 in tax revenue. The evening will include a 6 p.m. drawing for raffle prizes, including football tickets, a golf package and membership at the Cullowhee Recreation Center, and plans for the proposed Cullowhee River Park will be on display. Raffle tickets are available by contacting cullowheerevitalization@gmail.com. www.gocullowhee.org.

on the Haywood-Transylvania county line, following the MST, the Buckeye Gap Trail

and the Haywood Gap Trail in the Middle Prong Wilderness, with a total ascent of 1,500 feet. Because this is a wilderness hike, group size is limited to 10. RSVP to hike leader Laura Frisbie, 828.337.5845 or laurafrisbie@gmail.com.

Birders to flock towards Parkway Birders around Highlands will make their annual pilgrimage to the Blue Ridge Parkway on Saturday, Sept. 12, in hopes of spotting migrating raptors, warblers, vireos and thrushes. The Charlie Davis Memorial Blue Ridge Parkway outing will leave at 7 a.m. from Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park in Highlands, and the group will spend the day through mid-afternoon cruising the Parkway. Organized by the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society, the trip honors Charlie Davis, a long-time member of Audubon who loved the Parkway. Sign up with Romney Bathurst, 828.526.1939.

WNC Calendar COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS • A Webster history tour is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 2. Starts at Webster Methodist Church’s parking lot. • Bingo will be held at 5:45 p.m. Sept. 3 in the pavilion next to Maggie Valley Town Hall. $50 coverall prize each week. Sponsored by the Maggie Valley Civic Association. For info, call Beverly Stone at 926.7630. • LakeALooza is Sept. 4 at Fontana Village Resort at Lake Fontana. 800.498.2258 or fontanavillage.com/calendar-of-events.html. • An “End-of-Summer Dive In” will be presented by the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department on Sept. 4 at the Sylva Pool and Sept. 5 at the Cashiers Community Pool. Both evenings will feature an open swim from 7-8:30 p.m. followed by a PG or G-rated movie with popcorn starting at 8:30 p.m. $5 for the family or $3 for an individual. Concessions also available. 293.3053. • The second-annual Fire & Rescue Day is from 8 a.m.5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5, at Riverfront Park in Bryson City. 736.1859. • Old Time Community Jam will be at the Waynesville First Baptist Church Ministry Activity Center September 6 from 3 PM - 5 PM. Beginners and advanced acoustic musicians, singers and listeners welcome. • “Spice Up Your Marriage Date Night” by Heart For Families is set for 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10, at Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. Featuring music by Michael O’Brien and teachings by Dr. Gary Chapman (author of “The Five Love Languages”) and national speakers and humorists Jeff and Debbie McElroy. $22.50 per person. 866.273.4615 or greatmountainmusic.com. • Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts hosts its annual talent show at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, in Franklin. Tickets: $10. 866.273.4615 or greatmountainmusic.com. • The Macon County Fair, featuring the theme “A Wealth of Tradition,” will be held Sept. 16-19 in Franklin. To obtain an application for an educational booth, call 349.2046 or go to the Macon County Extension Office at 349.2046. • Oconaluftee Indian Village, which replicates 18thcentury Cherokee Life, is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday through Oct. 17 in Cherokee. More info at visitcherokeenc.com.

BUSINESS & EDUCATION • Lecture by Sarah Sneed on “Federal Indian Health Policy and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians” will be held Sept. 2 at 6:30 p.m. at Western Carolina University in room 204 of WCU’s Health and Human Sciences Building. 227.2164 or llefler@wcu.edu • A Cashiers Chamber of Commerce “Members After Hours” event is scheduled for 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3, at 553 Chattooga Ridge Trail in Cashiers, across from the Ingles Plaza. 743.5191 orinfo@cashiersareachamber.com. • Free seminars on government contracting will be offered by Southwestern Community College’s Small Business Center on Sept. 3 at the Jackson Campus. Area business owners learn how to earn money through government contracting. “Doing Business With the Government” is from 2-4 p.m.; “System for Award Management” is from 5:30-7 p.m. For info or to register, contact Tiffany Henry at 339.4211 or t_henry@southwesterncc.edu. • A professional office management course will meet

Smoky Mountain News

456.3021 or info@haywoodchamber.com.

Visit www.smokymountainnews.com and click on Calendar for: ■ Complete listings of local music scene ■ Regional festivals ■ Art gallery events and openings ■ Complete listings of recreational offerings at regional health and fitness centers ■ Civic and social club gatherings from 4:30-7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays from Sept. 15 through Jan. 12 at Southwestern Community College’s Macon Campus. Designed to help participants find employment in an office environment or enhance skills in their current jobs. $185 plus textbooks; scholarship opportunities for those who qualify. 339.4296 or scotts@southwesterncc.edu. • A free program on “Marketing Your Business” will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 8 from 5:30-8: 30 p.m. at Southwestern Community College’s in Room 305 of the Burrell Building on the college’s Jackson Campus. 339.4211 or t_henry@southwesterncc.edu • A free, 90-minute workshop entitled “Saving Money Using Technology” will be held at 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Register by calling 586.2016. Co-sponsored by Friends of the Jackson County Public Library. • Mast General Store in Waynesville will donate 10 percent of its Sept. 12 sales to the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. • Successful Entrepreneurship Series will be offered from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesdays through Nov. 17 at Western Carolina University’s Biltmore Campus in South Asheville. Free. 712.5918, wendy@cmtcoatings.com or 712.5918. • Western Carolina University’s Board of Trustees holds its quarterly meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 4, in the boardroom of the H.F. Robinson Administration Building in Cullowhee. Committee meetings and discussions begin at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3, on the fifth floor of the Robinson Building. • A Wilderness First Responder medical course is scheduled for Sept. 5-13 in Cullowhee. It’s the national standard for outdoor trip leaders. 293.5384 or main.landmarklearning.edu. • A seminar entitled “How to Start a Business” for early stage entrepreneurs will be offered by the Haywood Community College Small Business Center from 6-9 p.m. on Sept. 8 in the 1500 Student Center Auditorium in Clyde. Online registration is encouraged: sbc.haywood.edu or 627.4512. • A condensed, accelerated phlebotomy program will be offered by Southwestern Community College starting Sept. 14 in Sylva. Classes meet from 12:30-3:30 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays through Nov. 5; clinical training is from Nov. 9-Dec. 30. $185 plus books, insurance, background checks, immunizations, drug screening and uniforms. 339.4426 or ldowns@southwesterncc.edu. • College Night is scheduled for 6-7:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 14, in Haywood Community College’s Auditorium in Clyde. More than 50 regional universities, colleges and trade schools will have representatives available. All juniors and seniors as well as their teachers and counselors are welcome. 565.4095. • Applications are being accepted for the Leadership Haywood Class of 2015-16, which begins Sept. 16. Daylong programs are scheduled the third Wednesday of each month through May. Tuition is $650 for Haywood Chamber members and $750 for nonmembers.

• A seminar entitled “Marketing Your Business” will be offered by the Haywood Community College Small Business Center from 9 a.m.-noon on Sept. 15 in the 1500 Student Center Auditorium in Clyde. Online registration is encouraged: sbc.haywood.edu or 627.4512. • A seminar entitled “Financing Your Business” will be offered by the Haywood Community College Small Business Center from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Sept. 16 in the 1500 Student Center Auditorium in Clyde. Online registration is encouraged: sbc.haywood.edu or 627.4512. • Reservations are being accepted for the fall banquet of Western Carolina University’s accountancy program, which is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18, at the Waynesville Inn. Billy Moore, the chief financial officer of Grant Thornton, will be the featured speaker. WCU master of accountancy students and members of the WCU chapter of Beta Alpha Psi attend for free. Cost for others is $35. For reservations, contact Liz Jones at 227.3567 or lizjones@wcu.edu by Friday, Sept. 11.

FUNDRAISERS AND BENEFITS • Tickets are now available for the 12th annual Wine/Beer Tasting and Silent Auction, which benefits Swain County’s P.A.W.S. Animal Shelter and is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5, at Lands Creek Log Cabins’ Harmony Hall. Advance tickets are $20 and available at P.A.W.S Thrift Store; tickets at the door on the event date are $25. Directions at www.landscreek.com. Info: 333.4267 or pawsbrysoncity@yahoo.com. • A fundraiser for the Arboretum with the theme of “Big Hug Super Saturday” is scheduled for 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sept. 5 at Loretta’s Café at the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville. Info: http://tinyurl.com/p94c3fd. • The ninth-annual fundraising banquet for the Smoky Mountain Pregnancy Care Center is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 12, at Franklin Covenant Church. 349.3200. • Cullowhee Revitalization Endeavor will hold a fall fundraising event from 4-8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, at Tuck’s Tap and Grille in Cullowhee. Raffle items include football tickets, a golf package, membership to the Cullowhee Recreation Center. CullowheeRevitalization@gmail.com. www.gocul lowhee.org

HEALTH MATTERS • Al-Anon, a fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholics who believe their lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking, meets at 10 a.m. on Saturdays at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. 356.2800. • The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at the SCC Macon Campus and Macon County Public Library in Franklin. For info or to schedule an appointment, call Sandy McMahan at 524.3600. • The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at the Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 800.733.2767 or www.redcrossblood.org. • The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10, at WestCare Health in Sylva. 386.7130. • A Brain Health Workshop will be offered from 1-3 p.m. on Mondays from Sept. 14-Nov. 22, at the Haywood Senior Resource Center. Older adults are invited to participate in stimulating trivia-inspired games, brief informational sessions and other activities designed to

All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted. encourage communication, teamwork and a strong mind. Free. Contact Michelle Claytor at mclaytor@mountainprojects.org or 356.2813. • The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 14, at Junaluska Fire Department in Clyde. 456.9934. • Olympic silver-medalist Manteo Mitchell, a Western Carolina University alumnus, will speak as part of Tuesdays to Thrive on Sept. 15 in the Harris Regional Hospital cafeteria. Other featured speakers are physical therapist Todd Watson, DPT, and orthopaedic specialist Robin Pope, Ph.D., PA. Meal starts at 5:30 p.m. $5 cost includes meal. Reserve a seat by calling 844.414.DOCS. www.myharrisregional.com or 586.7734.

RECREATION AND FITNESS • The second round of open play bubble soccer will be held from 7-9 p.m. on Thursdays through Sept. 24 at the Cullowhee Recreation Center. Must be 18 or older. All females from 7-7:45 p.m.; co-ed from 7:45-9 p.m. $1 per person. 293.3053 or jenniferbennett@jacksonnc.org. • An organizational meeting for a fall adult co-ed volleyball league in Haywood County is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at the Waynesville Recreation Center. League is open to all players who are 18 and older as of Sept. 1. Games are Wednesdays from Sept. 23-Dec. 16. 456.2030 or dhummel@waynesvillenc.gov.

POLITICAL CORNER • Occupy/WNC General Assembly meets from 7 to 8:30 p.m. every second and fourth Tuesday at Dogwood Wellness Center. GPS address is 114 West Hemlock Street, Sylva NC 28779 but location in Dillsboro. 7439747. • Mountain High Republican Women’s Club Luncheon Meeting is at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at Wildcat Cliffs Country Club in Cashiers. Featured speaker is Susan Tillis, spouse of Senator Thom Tillis. Lunch reservations: 743.3380 or mtnrepublicanwomen@yahoo.com. • Macon County League of Women Voters will present a forum on “Voter Rights in North Carolina: Barriers and Challenges 50 Years After Passage of the Voter Rights Act” at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10, at Franklin Town Hall. 524.8369.

THE SPIRITUAL SIDE • A retreat for women with Dr. Lauren Winner is scheduled for Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 17-19, at the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center. For info or to register, visit www.lakejunaluska.com/signatureseries or call 454.6682.

AUTHORS AND BOOKS • J. Ringo will present “Investment in Murder” at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5, at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville. • Members of First United Methodist Church of Waynesville will present their book “Journeying Toward Reconciliation” at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville. Stories in the book explore writers’ experience as gay and lesbian Christians and as parents and friends of gay and lesbian persons. 456.6000.

wnc calendar

• Paul Worley, a WCU assistant professor of English, will discuss “Maya Book Arts on Exhibit at the WCU Fine Art Museum” at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 13, as part of the “English on the Ides” series at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. The series is co-sponsored by WCU’s Department of English and City Lights Bookstore. pmworley@wcu.edu or more@citylightsnc.com.

SENIOR ACTIVITIES • LIFE@WesternCarolina, Western Carolina University’s lifelong learning institute, will begin its second year with a series of educational sessions for WNC residents 50 and older with a session on Tuesday, Sept. 8 in Cullowhee and a Sept. 9 session in Asheville. Longtime Asheville Citizen-Times reporter Tony Kiss will open the first sessions with a presentation on “Breweries in Western North Carolina.” Membership for the institute is $125 per year, including 24 engaged learning experiences. 227.7397 or life@wcu.edu. • A weekly manipulation card game group is forming through the Haywood County Senior Resource Center. If interested, contact Michelle Claytor at mclaytor@mountainprojects.org or 356.2813. • Senior croquet for ages 55 and older is offered from 9-11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Vance Street Park in front of Waynesville Recreation Center. Free. For info, contact Donald Hummel at 456.2030 or dhummel@waynesvillenc.gov. • An iPhone/iPad user group meets from 2-3 p.m. on Tuesdays at Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2813.

@SmokyMtnNews September 2-8, 2015

308-53

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• Senior Sale Day is on the third Friday of every month at the Friends of the Library Used Bookstore. Patrons 60 and older get 20 percent off all purchases. Proceeds benefit the Sylva Library.

KIDS & FAMILIES • Girl Scout Sign-Up Night on Wednesday, Sept. 2 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Macon County Public Library. 524.3600. • Anime Club members will watch movies and television shows and have some group discussion and activities from 4-6 p.m. on Sept. 3 and the first Thursday of every month. • Family Fun Night is scheduled for 6-7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3, at Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Snacks, crafts and activities. 586.2016. Sponsored by Friends of the Jackson County Public Library. • Charlie St. Clair will present a storytelling program at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3, in the Community Room of the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. 586.2016. Sponsored by Friends of the Jackson County Public Library. • Shoe Box Cities is set for 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4, at Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. 586.2016. • Master storyteller Charlie St. Clair will be featured at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10, at Marianna Black Library in Bryson City. 488.3030. • Youth Outright, a regional advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth, will present a meeting for youth ages 14-20 from 6-8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Franklin. Free; refreshments will be served. Youthoutright.org. • Art Day for Kids is from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Sept. 18 at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. For ages seven and up. $35 per child/session or $90 for all three sessions (Oct. 20 and Nov. 11 are the others). Registration includes lunch; scholarships available. http://tinyurl.com/ok83zlj. • Registration is open for Haywood County Youth Recreation Basketball League. Age divisions range

from 5-6 through 13-14. Age cut-off is Aug. 31. Registration fee is $60 for the first child, and $55 per sibling. Games are Nov. 14-Jan. 23 on Saturdays. Register at the HCRP Office in Waynesville from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Monday through Friday; Canton Rec Park Shelter from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8; Bethel United Methodist Church parking lot from 3-6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10; from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12 at Allens Creek Park. 452.6789, drtaylor@haywoodnc.net or www.haywoodnc.net. • Fun Factory is presenting a Fall Family Fun Night from 3-8 p.m. every Tuesday from Sept. 8-Nov. 17 in Franklin. Double your bonus, and $5 pizza buffet. 349.8888 or thefactory.bz. • Maria Greene will teach a class for parents, grandparents, aunts and other family to work with a child on clay projects from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays throughout September, skipping Sept. 23, at Cowee Pottery School five miles north of Franklin on NC 28. Registration fee is $7 per class meeting per student plus the cost of clay at $17 per 25 pounds. 524-7690, info@CoweePotterySchool.org or www.coweepotteryschool.org. • Sign-ups are under way for the Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) after-school program, which provides young people with instruction and performance opportunities in Mountain Heritage Music on traditional Appalachian instruments. Such as the fiddle, guitar, mandolin and string band. Open to all Jackson County Students. $95. Class meets after school on Thursdays at Cullowhee Valley School. For info, contact Dusk Weaver (984.999.0594 or weaverdusk@gmail.com) or Heather Gordon (586.4009 or heather_gordon@ncsu.edu). • A class combining music, movement and community will be offered as a high-energy dance party for children ages 4-11 from 3-3:45 p.m. on Thursdays from Sept. 17-Nov. 5 at the Jackson County Recreation Center in Cullowhee. Register by Sept. 15. $30 for members; $45 for nonmembers. 293.3053 or rec.jacksonnc.org. • A “Nature Nuts” program on raccoons is scheduled for 9-11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 25 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Pisgah Forest. Story time, craft and game. For ages 4-7. 877.4423 or lee.sherrill@ncwildlife.org. • Children’s Storytime is Fridays at 11 a.m. and Saturdays at 1 p.m. at Jackson County Public Library. 586-2016. • Rock and Read is Tuesdays at 11 a.m. at Jackson County Public Library. 586-2016. • Teen Coffeehouse meets Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. at Jackson County Public Library. 586-2016.

KIDS MOVIES • “Home” – a Dreamworks animated film – will be shown as a free kids movie at noon and 2 p.m. on Saturdays in September at The Strand in Waynesville. PG. 1:34. • A family movie will be shown at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City. Puppy love takes on a new meaning in this animated film. Popcorn will be served. Free. For info, including movie title, call 488.3030. • A classic drama/romance starring Jean Arthur and Robert Cummings will be shown at 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11, in the Macon County Public Library Meeting Room. A tycoon goes undercover to ferret out agitators at a department store but gets involved in their lives instead. 1:32. For info, including movie title, call 524.3600. • Children’s movie time, 1 p.m. Mondays at Jackson County Public Library. Call for title of movie. 586.2016. • Family movie time Thursdays, 3:45 p.m. at Albert Carlton, Cashiers Community Library. Free with popcorn. Call for title. 743.0215.

• Rotary Reader Kid’s Story time, Mondays 11 a.m. at Jackson County Public Library. A rotary club volunteer reads stories with children. 586.2016.

KIDS STORY TIMES HAYWOOD

• Kids story time, Tuesdays and Fridays 11 a.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. at Jackson County Public Library. Story time includes books, puppets, finger plays, songs and crafts. 586.2016.

• Family Story Time, 11 a.m. Wednesdays at the Waynesville Public Library. Stories, songs, crafts. 452.5169.

• Pre-school story time, second Wednesday, 11 a.m. at Cashiers Community Library. 743.0215.

• Movers and Shakers story time is at 11 a.m. every Thursday at the Waynesville Library. For all ages. Movement, books, songs and more. 452.5169. • Family storytime with crafts, second Saturday of the month at 10:30 a.m. at the Waynesville library. 4525169. • Family Story Time at 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays for children ages 1-5, themed stories, music, and a craft. Canton Library, 648.2924. • Mother Goose Story Time at 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays for babies ages 5 months to 24 months with rhymes, songs, stories, and free play. Canton Library, 648.2924. • Rompin’ Stompin’ Story Time, Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. for children ages 1-5 — children get to sing, dance, and get out all their energy during this movement-filled story time. Canton Library, 648.2924.

JACKSON • Baby Storytime is at 11 a.m. on Thursdays at the Jackson County Public Library. Songs, fingerplays and stories for infants through toddlers. 586.2016 • Between the Lines is held at 6 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at Jackson County Public Library. A writing, art and creativity workshop for teens ages 12 and up. 586.2016 • Kid’s story time Saturdays, 11 a.m., all ages at City Lights in Sylva 586.9449.

A&E

SWAIN • Preschool Story time, Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m., Marianna Black Library. After a book or two is read, the children participate in games, songs, finger plays, puppet play and make a craft to take home. 488.3030.

MACON • Sing and Sign Story Time, second and fourth Mondays, 10 a.m., Macon Public Library. Designed for children 0-24 months, but all ages are welcome. 524.3600. • Paws 4 Reading, a family story time, will be held from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. second Thursday of the month at Macon County Public Library. Children can read to a therapy dog. (grades K-6). 524.3600. • Toddlers Rock, first and third Mondays, 10 a.m., Macon Public Library. Music, movement and instruments (Designed for children 0-24 months, but all ages are welcome). • Family Story Time for ages 0 to 5 years is held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday and Thursdays at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. 524.3600. • Bilingual Story time – 6 to 6:30 p.m., second and fourth Wednesday. Program reads a children’s book in English and Spanish at the Macon County Public Library. 526.3600. • Paws 4 Reading, a family story time, will be held

FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS • The 45th annual Smoky Mountain Folk Festival is from 6:15-11 p.m. on Sept. 4-5 at Stuart Auditorium at the Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Tickets available at Lake Junaluska Bethea Welcome Center, 452.2881 or www.smokymountainfolkfestival.com. • The third-annual Seven Clans Rodeo is Sept. 45 adjacent to the Oconaluftee Island Park in Cherokee. Both days, the event starts at 8 p.m. $12 for adults in advance; $15 at the gate. Children 12 and under are $6/$8. Purchase tickets at Alan’s Jewelry & Pawn in Asheville and Cherokee and at the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce. Cash only. 254.8581. • “Way Back When” trout dinner will be held at 5:30 p.m. Friday Sept. 4, at the Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley. Featuring food and storytelling of a 1930’s Appalachian trout camp. Purchase tickets at 926.1401 or 800.868.1401 or www.cataloocheeranch.com. Final date: Sept. 25. • Canton’s Labor Day Festival is Sept. 5-7 at the Canton Recreation Park and downtown area. Cantonnc.com or 648.2363. • Great Smoky Mountain Railroad’s 14th annual RAIL-

FEST, featuring mountain music, is scheduled for Sept. 5-6 in Bryson City. Produced by Catch the Spirit of Appalachia, a non-profit organization. Featured entertainment on Sept. 5 includes a youth talent contest, the Cockman Family, the J. Creek Cloggers and Dusk Weaver. On Sept. 6, featured acts are The Boys from Tuckasegee, Dakota Waddell, Betty Brown and Highway 74. 631.4587. • High Mountain Squares will host their 13th annual “Greenway Dance” from 2-4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 6, at the Macon County Rec Park Pavilion in Franklin. Western-style square dancing, mainstream and levels. 342.1560, 332.0001, 371.4946 or www.highmountainsquares.com.

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• Mother Goose Time, a story time for babies and toddlers (5 months to 2 years) and their parents/caregivers, is held at 11 a.m. on Tuesdays at the Waynesville Library. 452.5169

from 3:30-5:30 p.m. every Tuesday at Hudson Library in Highlands. Children (grades K-6) practice early reading skills by reading to a canine companion. Info: www.fontanalib.org, www.readingpaws.org or 526.3031.

• Thunder in the Smokies Fall Rally is Sept. 11-13 at Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. Handlebarcorrall.com. 246.2101. • The 10th annual Music at the Mill will be held from 11 a.m.-5 pm. on Sept. 12 at Francis Mill in Waynesville. Event is hosted by “Francis Mill Preservation Society.” Bluegrass, Dixieland and jazz. $7 advance tickets are available at Elements Salon in Waynesville, at Mountain Dreams Realty in Maggie Valley or by calling 456.6307. Proceeds go to continuing preservation of the mill as well as educational and heritage programs. • Art After Dark is from 6-9 p.m. on the first Friday of every month in Downtown Waynesville and Historic Frog Level. Stroll through participating galleries. Waynesvillegalleryassociation.com.

VENDORS AND VOLUNTEERS • Volunteers are needed for a Brain Health Workshop that will be offered on Monday afternoons from Sept. 14-Nov. 22, at the Haywood Senior Resource Center. Contact Michelle Claytor at mclaytor@mountainprojects.org or 356.2813.

September 2-8, 2015

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• Crafters are being accepted for Dillsboro’s Arts & Crafts Market, which is from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sept. 19. Chogan4196@gmail.com.

ON STAGE & IN CONCERT • Tickets are now on sale for the Steve Miller Band’s upcoming performance at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. The show is at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3. For tickets, visit ticketmaster.com. • Award-winning bluegrass gospel band The Farm Hands Quartet will perform at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5, at Faith Baptist Church in Sylva. 586.5626 or 502.262.0428. • The musical “Company” will be presented by HART through Sept. 6 at HART in Waynesville. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 4-5; and at 3 p.m. on Sept. 6. Tickets are $26 for adults, $22 for seniors and $13 for students. 456.6322 or harttheatre.org. • Jacob Johnson (acoustic folk funk) performs at 8 p.m. on Sept. 4 at The Strand in Waynesville. Tickets: $8-15. • Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman performs at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5, at Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. Tickets range from $25-35. 866.273.4615 or www.greatmountainmusic.com.

September 2-8, 2015

• A Patriotic Concert will be presented by the Cherokee Community Chorus at 6 p.m. on Sept. 7 in downtown Cherokee. Public is invited. 788.1196, 497.3671 or 736.1256.

W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center located at Western Carolina University at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9. Ticket prices are $5 for students and $10 for all others. bardoartscenter.wcu.edu or 227-2479.

rock’n roll) will perform from 6:30-8 p.m. on Sept. 5 at the Depot in Bryson City. Part of the Music in the Mountains free concert series. www.greatsmokies.com.

• Joe Cruz performs songs of the Beatles, Elton John, Simon and Garfunkel and James Taylor starting at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5, at the Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. 452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com.

• Four-time Grammy-winning artists the Doobie Brothers will perform at 9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11, at Harrah’s Cherokee Event Center.www.ticketmaster.com.

• “Music on the River” concert series will feature Amazing Grace Ministries from 12-6 and An Evening with Elvis at 7-9 p.m. on Sept. 5 in the riverside area of downtown Cherokee. Free. 800.438.1601, 359.6490 or travel@nc-cherokee.com; or contact Frieda Huskey at 359.6492 or friehusk@nc-cherokee.com; or Angela Hernandez at angehern@nc-cherokee.com or 359.6473.

• Guitarist Kevin Lorenz plays at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11, at the Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. 452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com. Kevinonguitar.com.

• Fox on the Fairway will be presented on weekends from Sept. 11-Oct. 4 at HART Theatre in Waynesville. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; 3 p.m. on Sunday. Harttheater.org or 456.6322. • Karen “Sugar” Barnes and Dave MaGill perform Sept. 12 at City Lights Café in downtown Sylva. • The Arts and Cultural Events Performance Series will feature “She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry” – the Southern Circuit Film Series’ first film of the season, at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 15, in Western Carolina University’s University Center Theater in Cullowhee. www.shesbeautifulwhenshesangry.com. • The Isaacs will perform acoustically at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18, at Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. Tickets are $15-20 per person. 866.273.4615 or greatmountainmusic.com.

OUTDOOR MUSIC • The last Pickin’ in the Park is from 7-10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4 at the Canton Rec Park. Free. Cantonnc.com or 648.2363.

• The Arts and Cultural Events Performance Series opens with a performance by the Golden Dragon Acrobats at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9, in Western Carolina University’s John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center in Cullowhee. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for all others.

• “Music on the River” concert series will feature David Lambert from 7-9 p.m. on Sept. 4, in the riverside area of downtown Cherokee. Free. 800.438.1601, 359.6490 or travel@nc-cherokee.com; or contact Frieda Huskey at 359.6492 or friehusk@nccherokee.com; or Angela Hernandez at angehern@nccherokee.com or 359.6473.

• The Golden Dragon Acrobats will perform at the John

• The Caribbean Cowboys (Reggae, calypso, and

• “Music on the River” concert series will feature Amazing Grace Ministries 7-9 p.m. on Sept. 6, in the riverside area of downtown Cherokee. Free. 800.438.1601, 359.6490 or travel@nc-cherokee.com; or contact Frieda Huskey at 359.6492 or friehusk@nccherokee.com; or Angela Hernandez at angehern@nccherokee.com or 359.6473. • Larry Barnett & Friends (bluegrass) will perform from 6:30-8 p.m. on Sept. 12 at the Depot in Bryson City. Part of the Music in the Mountains free concert series. www.greatsmokies.com. • The Pickin’ on the Square (Franklin) summer concert series will have Caribbean Cowboys (Great Variety) Sept. 12 at 7:30 p.m. Free. An open mic jam session begins at 6:30 p.m. www.franklinnc.com/pickin.html

NIGHTLIFE • The Blue Ribbon Healers perform Swankytonk to jazz vocals to gypsy music at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4, at the Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. 452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com.

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• The Fall Arts & Crafts Fair, presented by the Rotary Club of Cashiers Valley, is scheduled for Sept. 5-6 at the Village Green in Cashiers. More than 70 exhibiting artisans will be featured. Admission is free; donations

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• A demo of oil painting techniques in a landscape will be held at 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3, at Swain County Center for the Arts in Bryson City. Stern will discuss the medium of oil painting. Free. Sponsored by Swain County Center for the Arts and Swain County Schools. 488.7843.

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• The Swain County Genealogical & Historical Society will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 3 at the SCGHS Library in Bryson City. Presentation will be on dating and preserving old photographs.

Celebrating THE Southern Appalachians

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CLASSES AND PROGRAMS • DJ Berard, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s Artist-in-Residence, will present interactive painting programs throughout September at various locations throughout the park: Oconoluftee Visitor Contact Station (10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sept. 2); Clingman’s Dome Visitor Contact Station (10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sept. 8-9); Sugarlands Visitor Center (10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sept. 19); Cades Cove Visitor Center (10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sept. 22).

bi-monthly magazine that covers the southern Appalachian mountains and celebrates the area’s environmental riches, its people, culture, music, art, crafts and special places. Each issue relies on regional writers and photographers to bring the Appalachians to life.

SORGHUM | WATER ADVENTURES | CRAFT SCHOOLS | ELK RUT SEASON AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015

• The Pickin’ on the Square (Franklin) summer concert series will have New Bridge (Bluegrass) on Sept. 5 at 7:30 p.m. Free. An open mic jam session begins at 6:30 p.m. www.franklinnc.com/pickin.html

• Joe Cruz performs songs of the Beatles, Elton John, Simon and Garfunkel and James Taylor starting at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, at the Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. 452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com.

866.452.2251

are accepted. For info, contact Mary Alice Grant at 743.8350 or artsandcrafts@cashiersrotary.org.

• A multi-generational, hand-building pottery class entitled “Play for All Ages” will be taught by Molly Suminski from 4-5:30 p.m. on Mondays from Sept. 526, at Cowee Pottery School five miles north of Franklin on NC 28. Registration fee is $7 per class meeting per student plus the cost of clay at $17 per 25 pounds. 524-7690, info@CoweePotterySchool.org or www.coweepotteryschool.org. • An Intermediate digital photography class will be taught from 3-4:50 p.m. on Tuesdays, till Sept. 15 at Jackson County Department of Aging, Senior Center, in Sylva. Must be at least 50. $50. For info, contact Tony Wu at 226.3840 or tonywuphotos@hotmail.com. • Cowee Pottery School will offer a class on centering, throwing, trimming and glazing a variety of forms from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Tuesdays through Sept. 29 five miles north of Franklin on NC 28. Instructor is Lydia Patillo. Registration fee is $7 per class meeting per student plus the cost of clay at $17 per 25 pounds. 524-7690, info@CoweePotterySchool.org or www.coweepotteryschool.org. • A hand-building class will be taught by Hank Shuler from 6-9 p.m. on Wednesdays throughout September, skipping Sept. 9 at Cowee Pottery School five miles north of Franklin on NC 28. Registration fee is $7 per class meeting per student plus the cost of clay at $17 per 25 pounds. 524-7690, info@CoweePotterySchool.org or www.coweepotteryschool.org. • A hand-building pottery class entitled “Advanced Doowhockers” will be taught by Hank Shuler from 1-5 p.m. on Sundays from Sept. 13-27 at Cowee Pottery

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• The Maggie Valley Labor Day Weekend Arts and Crafts Show is set for Sept. 5-6 at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. Event is from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. both days. Free. 926.1686 or www.maggievalley.org.

School five miles north of Franklin on NC 28. Registration fee is $7 per class meeting per student plus the cost of clay at $17 per 25 pounds. 524-7690, info@CoweePotterySchool.org or www.coweepotteryschool.org. • A hand-building pottery class entitled “Hand Building for Gifts” will be taught by Hank Shuler on Thursday afternoons in September at Cowee Pottery School five miles north of Franklin on NC 28. Registration fee is $7 per class meeting per student plus the cost of clay at $17 per 25 pounds. 524-7690, info@CoweePotterySchool.org or www.coweepotteryschool.org. • A pottery wheel class will be taught by Doug Hubbs from 8:30-11:30 a.m. on Fridays from Sept. 11-Oct. 2 at Cowee Pottery School five miles north of Franklin on NC 28. Registration fee is $7 per class meeting per student plus the cost of clay at $17 per 25 pounds. 524-7690, info@CoweePotterySchool.org or www.coweepotteryschool.org.

ART SHOWINGS AND GALLERIES • “The Wild Critter Adventures” photography exhibit featuring the work of Ed and Cindy Boos will be on display throughout September at the Macon County Public Library in September. 524.3600. • Haywood County Arts Council will hold an opening reception for its September exhibit “Raising Fun with Monarch Butterflies” from 6-9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4, during ART after DARK. • A display by Haywood Community College’s Creative Arts Quilting and Upholstery classes entitled “A Conversation Piece” is on exhibition through Sept. 24 at HCC’s Creative Arts Department. A closing reception with light refreshments is scheduled for 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24.

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• Savage Gardens is on display through Sept. 7 at the Arboretum in Asheville. www.ncarboretum.org. • A photography exhibit featuring the work of Cathryn Griffin, professor of photography at Western Carolina University, will be on display through Friday, Sept. 25, at WCU’s Fine Arts Museum in the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center in Cullowhee. Admission to the museum is free. Open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays, and until 7 p.m. on Thursdays. 227.3591. Orchids and Irises in the Garden: The Works of Jamie Kirkell will be on display through Oct. 4 at the Arboretum in Asheville. www.ncarboretum.org. • Second Glance: The Quilt Art of Janice Maddox is on display through Oct. 4 at the Arboretum in Asheville. www.ncarboretum.org. • Western North Carolina pottery pieces on loan from the collection of Rodney Leftwich are on display from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Tuesdays through Saturdays at the Shelton House in Waynesville. www.sheltonhouse.org.

FILM & SCREEN • The Appalachian Trail Conservancy and Carolina Mountain Club will hold a screening of the new Robert Redford Film “A Walk in the Woods” at 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at Carolina Cinemas in Asheville. • “Far From the Madding Crowd” will be shown on Sept. 2-3 at 7 p.m., Sept. 5 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Sept. 6 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., and Sept. 8-10 at 7 p.m. at The Strand in Waynesville.

September 2-8, 2015

• A new biographical drama starring David Oyelowo and Carmen Ejogo will be shown at 2 and 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3, in the Meeting Room of the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. The movie chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965 when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., led a campaign to secure equal voting rights. PG-13; 2:08. Film is being shown in collaboration with the League of Women Voters of Franklin’s “NC Voter’s Rights Forum,” which is from 6:30-8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10, at the Franklin Town Hall. • A classic drama starring Gregory Peck and Mary Badham will be shown at 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4, in the Meeting Room of the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. Based on Harper Lee’s 1961 book about a lawyer in a racially divided fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama. 2:09.

• Qualla Country Trout Tournament is scheduled for Sept. 4-6 in Cherokee. $20,000 in prizes will go to winning anglers. Event is in Cherokee Enterprise waters, excluding catch-and-release waters, from 6 a.m. Friday until 5 p.m. Sunday. Entry fee is $11; permit required to fish in Cherokee streams and ponds is $10 to each person 12 and older. 438.1601 or travel@nc-cherokee.com. • A beginner’s walk is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 5 meeting at the 5th Street side of Kelsey Hutchinson Founders Park in Highlands. No experience necessary; Russ Regnery will lead. • Becky Lipkin, a certified aromatherapist, presents a harvesting herbs workshop at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 8, in the atrium of the Jackson County Public Library Complex. Free. Sponsored by Friends of the Jackson County Public Library. 586.2016. • A bird walk along the greenway is scheduled for 8 a.m. on Sept. 9. Parking is off Fox Ridge Road, just south of Franklin Flea Market on Highlands Road. Sponsored by Franklin Bird Club. 524.5234. • Friends of Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute will host its annual meeting on Friday, Sept. 11 in Rosman. Tour PARI’s recently enlarged Meteorite & Mineral Gallery. Register at www.pari.edu or by contacting Ken Steiner at 862.5554 or ksteiner@pari.edu. • Big Sweep, a county-wide stream clean-up event, is scheduled for Sept. 12 in Haywood County. One cleanup opportunity starts at 8:30 a.m. by meeting at the BiLo parking lot. The other meets at 9 p.m. at the Lake Junaluska pool area. RSVPs requested: Christine.haywoodwaterways@gmail.com or 476.4667. • The Charlie Davis Memorial Blue Ridge Parkway outing begins at 7 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, from the Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park in Highlands. 526.1939.

• “Ferguson: A Report From Occupied Territory” will be shown at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at Western Carolina University’s University Center Theater. Free. 227.2276.

• The Land Trust for the Little Tennessee (LTLT) is hosting a Little Tennessee River BigSweep on Saturday, September 12 from 10 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. 349.4097.

• The Radical Reels Film Tour is set for 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 14, at Regal Grand Stadium in Asheville. $15 for tickets; $30 for VIP tickets. Mountaintrue receives all proceeds.

• The sixth-annual Old Cullowhee Canoe Slalom, a family-friendly paddling competition on a calm section of the Tuckaseigee River near Western Carolina University’s campus, is scheduled for the morning of Saturday, Sept. 12, in Cullowhee. $5 per person. Preregister at the offices of WCU’s Base Camp Cullowhee. 227.3844, phipps@wcu.edu.

• Adult movie time, 6:30 p.m. Mondays at Jackson County Public Library. Call for title of movie. 586.2016.

Smoky Mountain News

Outdoors

• “Monarch Butterflies: How We Can Maintain Their Remarkable Migration” is the topic of a presentation Dr. Alfonso Alonso will offer Sept. 3 at the Nature Center at the Highlands Biological Station. Alonso is director for field programs for the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. 526.2221 or www.highlandsbiological.org.

• An information session about planting a certifiable Monarch Waystation in Haywood County is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at the Canton Public Library. www.monarchjointventure.org or 648.2924.

COMPETITIVE EDGE • SuMMit CrossFit, in partnership with Unbroken Series, announces a call for individual to participate in “Battle to the SuMMit” – an individual CrossFit competition with multiple divisions. $90 registration fee. Event is Sept. 5 at SuMMit CrossFit in Asheville. www.unbrokenseries.com/battle. Volunteers needed; write summitcrossfit@gmail.com to volunteer or for more info. • Registration is under way for a long-distance (25K and 50K routes) trail race that’s scheduled for Oct. 10 in Franklin. Proceeds benefit the North Carolina Bartram Trail Society to assist with trail maintenance and promotion. Register at Outdoor 76 in Franklin or at www.active.com. info@outdoor76.com. • Sign-ups are under way for Haywood Community College’s Freedlander 5K, which is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19. The race will celebrate HCC’s 50th anniversary and is named for the college’s founder. A half-mile fun run for kids is also on tap. Registration fees are $30 for the 5K; $15 for the fun run. www.haywood.edu/freedlander-5k.

• Sign-ups are under way for the Red Wolf Run, a 5K fundraiser for Haywood Christian Academy’s senior class mission trip to Costa Rica. Participants will complete the mostly flat course through Clyde on Sept. 26 in original wolf costumes. Awards available for top finishers and best costumes. $25 entry fee or $10 for ages 10-under. www.active.com.

• Cowee Farmers Market is from 3:30-6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays through Oct. 28 at the Old Cowee School in Franklin. info@coweefarmersmarket.com , 524.8369 or www.coweefarmersmarket.com. Special demo by Dorothy Mitchell from Mitchell Farms on Sept. 1 about making fresh grape juice and other vegetable recipes.

• A Mountains to Coast ride – starts Sept. 26 in Waynesville. 1,100 cyclists will start the seven-day ride across the state. Cyclenorthcarolina.org.

• The Franklin Farmers Tailgate Market is from 8 a.m.-noon on Saturdays on East Palmer Street across from Drake Software in Franklin. 349.2049 or alan_durden@ncsu.edu.

• The 10th annual Tour de Franklin is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26 in Franklin. Proceeds benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. $35 registration fee through Sept. 14; $45 after. www.active.com.

FARM & GARDEN • A seed-saving class for beginners will be held from 10:30-11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, in the Waynesville Library Auditorium. Sign-up is required: 356. 2507. Sponsored by Friends of the Library.

FARMERS MARKET • Haywood Historic Farmers Market is held from 8

• Swain County Farmers Market will be open from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Fridays at the barn on Island Street in Bryson City. Special Tuesday hours from 5 to 8 p.m. during peak months through Sept. 15. 488.3848 or Christine_bredenkamp@ncsu.edu. • Cherokee Farmers Market is from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Fridays through Oct. 30 at 876 Acquoni Road next to the Easter Band of Cherokee Indians Cooperative Extension Office. For info, contact Sarah McClellan at 359.6935 or saramccl@nc-cherokee.com. • The Farmstand at Cherokee Indian Hospital is open from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Thursdays till Sept. 24. For info, contact Nilofer Couture at nilofer.couture@cherokeehospital.org.

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• Haywood Community College’s Department of Arts, Sciences, and Natural Resources and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission will offer Hunter Safety courses from 6-9:30 p.m. on Sept. 1415 in Building 3300, Room 3322, at HCC in Clyde. Participants must attend two consecutive evenings to receive their certification.

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MarketPlace information: The Smoky Mountain News Marketplace has a distribution of 16,000 every week to over 500 locations across in Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties along with the Qualla Boundary and west Buncombe County. For a link to our MarketPlace Web site, which also contains a link to all of our MarketPlace display advertisers’ Web sites, visit www.smokymountainnews.com.

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828-456-5387

308-65

FORMER ESTATE LIQUIDATIONLate Model Aggregate & Construction, Aerials & Telescopics, Support, Attachments, Real Sharp Equipment! (Low-houred) Wednesday, Sept. 2 @ 4pm. York, SC (Near Charlotte, NC). Address: 6247 Campbell Road York, SC 29745. 3 SCREENING PLANTS: 2012 Powerscreen Warrior 1800, 2012-2011 McCloskey R155, 3 CONVEYORS & STACKERS: (2) 2012 Telestack TC421, 2012 McCloskey 80x36, 10 Excavators: 2014-2012 Demo Cat 320EL, Unused Cat 312EL, Unused Cat 312EL, (2) 2011 Doosan DX350LC, 2011 Doosan DX140BLC, 2012 Doosan DX80R, Tool Carrier: Cat IT28G, Loaders: 2012 Cat 908H, 2012 Cat 906H, 3 Crawler Tractors: 2012 Case 850LWT, 2011 Case 650LWT, Vibratory Rollers: (2) Unused Dynapac CA2500D, 4 BACKHOES: (3) 2012-2010 Case 580 Super N (4x4), Rollers, 5 Skid Steers: 2012 Cat 252C, Forklift, 3 Air Compressors, Attachments, New Support Equipment. Site Phone: 262.903.6269. SC Auctioneer License: Jack Lyon # AUC.4070, SC Auction Firm: #AF3799. CITY OF CHARLOTTE Mecklenburg Co. Surplus Rolling Stock Auction-Sept. 26, 10am. 5550 Wilkinson Blvd. Bldg A, Charlotte, NC. Rogers Auction Group. 336.789.2926. RogersAuctionGroup.com. 5% Min Fee. NCAL#685

BUILDING MATERIALS

HAYWOOD BUILDERS Garage Doors, New Installations Service & Repairs, 828.456.6051 100 Charles St. Waynesville Employee Owned.

CONSTRUCTION/ REMODELING

ACORN STAIRLIFTS. The Affordable solution to your stairs! **Limited time -$250 Off Your Stairlift Purchase!** Buy Direct & SAVE. Please call 1.800.291.2712 for FREE DVD and brochure. ALL THINGS BASEMENTY! Basement Systems Inc. Call us for all of your basement needs! Waterproofing, Finishing, Structural Repairs, Humidity and Mold Control. FREE ESTIMATES! Call 1.800.698.9217 DAVE’S CUSTOM HOMES OF WNC, INC Free Estimates & Competitive rates. References avail. upon request. Specializing in: Log Homes, remodeling, decks, new construction, repairs & additions. Owner/Builder: Dave Donaldson. Licensed/Insured. 828.631.0747 or 828.508.0316 SAFE STEP WALK-IN TUB. Alert for Seniors. Bathroom falls can be fatal. Approved by Arthritis Foundation. Therapeutic Jets. Less Than 4 Inch Step-In. Wide Door. Anti-Slip Floors. American Made. Installation Included. Call 800.807.7219 for $750 Off. FIND THE RIGHT CARPET, Flooring & Window Treatments. Ask about our 50% off specials & our Low Price Guarantee. Offer Expires Soon. Call now 888.546.0135 SAPA SULLIVAN HARDWOOD FLOORS Installation- Finish - Refinish 828.399.1847. SAWMILLS From only $4397.00- Make & Save Money with your own bandmill- Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship. FREE Info/DVD: www.NorwoodSawmills.com. 1.800.578.1363 Ext.300N

PAINTING JAMISON CUSTOM PAINTING & PRESSURE WASHING Interior, exterior, all your pressure washing needs and more. Specialize in Removal of Carpenter Bees - Cedar or Log Homes or Painted or Siding! Call or Text Now for a Free Estimate at 828.508.9727

CARS A-1 DONATE YOUR CAR For Breast Cancer! Help United Breast Foundation education, prevention, & support programs. Fast Free Pickup - 24 Hr Response Tax Deduction - Call for more info 855.306.7348 SAPA TOP CASH FOR CARS, Call Now For An Instant Offer. Top Dollar Paid, Any Car/Truck, Any Condition. Running or Not. Free Pick-up/Tow. 1.800.761.9396 SAPA

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES ATTENTION FACEBOOK & TWITTER Users! Earn 3K+ per month for just using what you already use for free! For details follow this link: tinyurl.com/MoneyOnSocialMedia SAPA $500 - $1000 DAILY Returning Phone Calls! No Selling. No Explaining! Not MLM! Call 1.866.854.1068 SAPA ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS And reach 1.7 million readers with a classified ad in 100 N.C. newspapers! A 25-word ad is only $375. Call this newspaper or 919.516.8009 for details. AVIATION GRADS Work With Jetblue, Boeing, Delta, And Others- Start Here With Hands On Training For FAA Certification. Financial Aid If Qualified. Call Aviation Institute Of Maintenance 1.866.724.5403 SAPA

WNC MarketPlace

EMPLOYMENT

MANAGER - THRIFT STORE: Outgoing energetic individual to manage day to day activities including staffing, inventory, stocking and donations. Must be customer oriented, a self-starter, dependable, and able to lift 60lbs. Competitive salary with benefits. Please send resume and cover letter to, Disability Partners, 525 Mineral Springs Dr., Sylva, NC 28779 or phone 828.631.1167 and ask for Barbara or Gale.

CENTER SUPERVISOR KNEEDLER CHILD DEVELOPMENT WCU CAMPUS Must Have BS Degree in Early Childhood Education or Related Field and Administrative Level III Credentials, Basic Computer Knowledge, 2-3 Years Experience in NC Day Care regulations, 2-3 Years Supervisory Experience and Good Judgment Skills. This is an 11 Month Position with Full Time Benefits. Applications Will be Taken at Mountain Projects, 2251 Old Balsam Rd., or 25 Schulman St,. or You May Go to Our Web Site: www.mountainprojects.org and Fill Out an Application on line. Pre-Employment Drug Testing is Required. EOE/AA.

AVIATION GRADS Work with JetBlue, Boeing, Delta & others - start here with hands-on training for FAA certification. Financial aid if qualified. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance. 877.300.9494. BEST OF WNC WINNER 2015 Mad Batter Food & Film, Located in Beautiful Downtown Sylva is Hiring for Line Cooks, Servers & Food Truck Operators. Join our Growing Team. Call or Come by Between 2 - 4, Mon. - Sat. 828.586.3555.

NEED MEDICAL BILLING TRAINEES! Doctors & Hospitals need Medical Office Staff! No Experienced Needed! Online Training gets you job ready! HS Diploma/GED & Computer needed. Careertechnical.edu/nc. 1.888.512.7122

EMPLOYMENT DRIVERS: NO-TOUCH! Get Home, Get Paid! Excellent Pay Per/Wk! Strong Benefits Package Including Bonuses! CDL-A 1yr Exp. 855.454.0392 ATTN: DRIVERS Great Pay and Bonuses. Clean Truck w/APU’s and Investors. Family Company w/401k. $2,000 Loyalty Bonus. CDL-A- Required. 1.888.592.4752 www.drive4melton.com SAPA GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAIN RAILROAD IN BRYSON CITY We're Hiring! 2015 Fall/Winter Job Fair & On-Site Interviews Wednesday, September 9, 2015 11am-1pm At the Smoky Mountains Train Museum, 100 Greenlee Street, Bryson City. Available Positions: Concessionaire, Cook, Customer Service Rep - Sales, Parking Attendant, Reservationist, Retail Sales, Special Event Staff, Ticket Agent and Train Cleaning. Applications available online at www.gsmr.com/jobs

September 2-8, 2015

WEEKLY HOME TIME For SE Regional Drivers! Earn up to $0.45 CPM with bonus pay! Call 866.291.2631 or SuperServiceLLC.com

ROOKIE A 4-MONTH-OLD TEENAGE KITTY, WHO LOVES EAR SCRATCHES AND PETTING. HE ALSO ENJOYS THE COMPANY OF OTHER YOUNG KITTIES.

www.smokymountainnews.com

MIKEY A 3-YEAR-OLD BLEND OF CHIHUAHUA AND MAYBE PUG? HIS UNUSUAL LOOKS GIVE HIM CHARACTER! HE IS A SWEET, AFFECTIONATE LITTLE GUY WITH A BIG PERSONALITY.

ATTN: DRIVERS Great Pay and Bonuses. Clean Truck w/ APUs and Invertors. Family Company w/ 401k. $2,000 Loyalty Bonus. CDL-A Req 877.258.8782 www.drive4melton.com AVIATION GRADS Work With Jetblue, Boeing, Delta, And Others- Start Here With Hands-On Training For FAA Certification. Financial Aid If Qualified. Call Aviation Institute Of Maintenance 1.866.724.5403 SAPA CAN YOU DIG IT? Heavy Equipment Operator Career! We Offer Training and Certifications Running Bulldozers, Backhoes and Excavators. Lifetime Job Placement. VA Benefits Eligible! 1.866.362.6497

FTCC Fayetteville Technical Community College is now accepting applications for the following positions: Coordinator for Military Business Center. Grounds Technician. Medical Office Administration Instructor. Coordinator of Interdisciplinary Health Programs. For detailed information and to apply, please visit our employment portal at: https://faytechcc.peopleadmin.com/. Human Resources Office. Phone: 910.678.8378 Internet: http://www.faytechcc.edu. An Equal Opportunity Employer DRIVER TRAINEES Paid Cdl Training! Stevens Transport will cover all costs! No Experience Needed! Earn $800 per week! Local CDL Training! 1.888.748.4137 drive4stevens.com HELP WANTED!! Make up to $1000 A WEEK!! Mailing Brochures From Home. Helping Home Workers Since 2001! Genuine Opportunity. NO Experience Required. Start Immediately. www.mailingcorner.com SAPA HIGH-TECH CAREER With U.S. Navy. Elite tech training w/great pay, benefits, vacation, $ for school. HS grads ages 17-34. Call Mon-Fri 800.662.7419

FINANCIAL BEWARE OF LOAN FRAUD. Please check with the Better Business Bureau or Consumer Protection Agency before sending any money to any loan company. SAPA REDUCE YOUR PAST TAX BILL By as much as 75 Percent. Stop Levies, Liens and Wage Garnishments. Call The Tax DR Now to see if you Qualify 1.800.396.9719 SELL YOUR STRUCTURED Settlement or annuity payments for CASH NOW. You don't have to wait for your future payments any longer! Call 1.800.316.0271. SOCIAL SECURITY Disability Benefits. Unable to work? Denied benefits? We Can Help! WIN or Pay Nothing! Contact Bill Gordon & Associates at 1.800.371.1734 to start your application today! 308-59

Mountain Realty

Ron Breese Broker/Owner

2177 Russ Ave. Waynesville, NC 28786 Cell: 828.400.9029 ron@ronbreese.com

www.ronbreese.com 52

EMPLOYMENT

Each office independently owned & operated.

REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCEMENT LEASE TO OWN 1/2 Acre Lots with Mobile Homes & Empty 1/2 Acre + Lots! Located Next to Cherokee Indian Reservation, 2.5 Miles from Harrah’s Cherokee Casino. For More Information Please Call 828.506.0578

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention, to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18 This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All dwellings advertised on an equal opportunity basis. A RIVER RUNS THRU IT In NC. 3 acres w/2bed 2bath log cabin. $159,900. Huge screened porch, fpl, one-level. Hurry! 866.738.5522

REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCEMENT LAKE LURE, NC. New log cabin on 3.03 wooded acres w/lg. creek, $159,900. Huge screened back porch, 2bed/2bath, vaulted ceilings. 828.286.2981.

HOMES FOR SALE BRUCE MCGOVERN A Full Service Realtor, Locally Owned and Operated mcgovernpropertymgt@gmail.com McGovern Property Management 828.283.2112.

HOMES FOR RENT UNFURNISHED WAYNESVILLE - UNFURNISHED: 2-Story House, 2/BR 1/BA, Walking Distance to Town and Shopping. Available 9-1-15. Wood Floors, W/D Hookup, Wood Burning Stove, Deck on Large Corner Lot. $725 + Util., First & Sec. Dep., No Pets. Suitable for 1-2 Adults. Call 828.508.7155 or 340.473.8617 for Appointment.

VACATION RENTALS FLAGLER BEACH FLORIDA Oceanfront Vacation Rentals Tripadvisor Award, Furnished Studio, 1-2-3 BR’s, Full Kitchen, WiFi, TV, Pool. Seasonal Specials 1.386.517.6700 or online at: www.fbvr.net

NICOL ARMS APARTMENTS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS Offering 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments, Starting at $400 Section 8 Accepted - Handicapped Accessible Units When Available

OFFICE HOURS: Tues. & Wed. 10:00am - 5:00pm & Thurs. 10:00am- 12:00pm 168 E. Nicol Arms Road Sylva, NC 28779

Phone# 1.828.586.3346 TDD# 1.800.725.2962 Equal Housing Opportunity

STORAGE SPACE FOR RENT 1 Month Free with 12 Month Rental. Maggie Valley, Hwy. 19, 1106 Soco Rd. For more information call Torry

maggievalleyselfstorage.com GREAT SMOKIES STORAGE Conveniently located off 19/23 by Thad Woods Auction. Available for lease now: 10â&#x20AC;&#x2122;x10â&#x20AC;&#x2122; units for $55, 20â&#x20AC;&#x2122;x20â&#x20AC;&#x2122; units for $160. Get one month FREE with 12 month contract. Call 828.507.8828 or 828.506.4112 for more info.

LAWN & GARDEN HEMLOCK HEALERS, INC. Dedicated to Saving Our Hemlocks. Owner/Operator Frank Varvoutis, NC Pesticide Applicatorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s License #22864. 48 Spruce St. Maggie Valley, NC 828.734.7819 828.926.7883, Email: hemlockhealers@yahoo.com

PETS HAYWOOD SPAY/NEUTER 828.452.1329

SCOTTISH TARTANS MUSEUM 86 East Main St., Franklin, Open 10am- 5pm, Mon - Sat. Come & let us find your Scottish Connection! 828.584.7472 or visit us at: www.scottishtartans.org. SWITCH & SAVE EVENT From DirecTV! Packages starting at $19.99/mo. Free 3-Months of HBO, STARZ, SHOWTIME & CINEMAX Free Genie HD/DVR Upgrade! 2015 NFL Sunday Ticket Included with Select Packages. Some exclusions apply - Call for details 1.800.421.2049 SAPA

www.sunburstrealty.com/amy-spivey

â&#x20AC;˘ Margie MacDonald - margie@4smokys.com

Committed to Exceeding Expectations

MEDICAL ACORN STAIRLIFTS. The Affordable Solution to your stairs! **Limited time -$250 Off Your Stairlift Purchase!**Buy Direct & SAVE. Please call 1.800.211.9233 for FREE DVD and brochure.

Marilynn Obrig

LIFE ALERT. 24/7. One press of a button sends help FAST! Medical, Fire, Burglar. Even if you can't reach a phone! FREE Brochure. CALL 800.316.0745.

www.Beverly-Hanks.com

Beverly Hanks & Associates â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘

Residential Broker Associate

(828) 550-2810

mobrig@Beverly-Hanks.com

â&#x20AC;˘ Amy Spivey â&#x20AC;&#x201D; sunburstrealty.com

jsmith201@kw.com

Haywood Properties â&#x20AC;&#x201D; haywoodproperties.com â&#x20AC;˘ Steve Cox â&#x20AC;&#x201D; info@haywoodproperties.com

828-734-8765

CHAMPION SUPPLY Janitorial supplies. Professional cleaning products, vacuums, janitorial paper products, swimming pool chemicals, environmentally friendly chemicals, indoor & outdoor light bulbs, odor elimination products, equipment repair including household vacuums. Free delivery across WNC. www.championsupply.com 800.222.0581, 828.225.1075.

WANTED TO BUY CASH PAID For older Fender, Gibson, Gretsch, Martin, Mosrite, National Guitars. Paying $500-$25,000+ Please Call Crawford White in Nashville, 1.800.477.1233 or email NashvilleGuitars@aol.com SAPA

ERA Sunburst Realty â&#x20AC;&#x201D; sunburstrealty.com

Keller Williams Realty kellerwilliamswaynesville.com â&#x20AC;˘ Ron Kwiatkowski â&#x20AC;&#x201D; ronk.kwrealty.com â&#x20AC;˘ Jerry Smith www.kw.com/kw/agent/jerrysmith201

434 Russ Ave. â&#x20AC;˘ Waynesville

Office: 828-926-5155 kellerwilliamswaynesville.com 214-64

Lakeshore Realty â&#x20AC;˘ Phyllis Robinson - lakeshore@lakejunaluska.com 308-51

James R. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Randyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Flanigan Broker, Licensed Auctioneer, RealtorÂŽ

FOR SALE BORING/CARPENTER BEE TRAPS No Chemicals, Poisons or Anything to Harm the Environment. Handmade in Haywood County. 1 for $20, 2 or More for $15 each. 828.593.8321

â&#x20AC;˘ George Escaravage â&#x20AC;&#x201D; gke333@gmail.com

Jerry Smith 308-52

HAYWOOD BEDDING, INC. The best bedding at the best price! 533 Hazelwood Ave. Waynesville 828.456.4240

beverly-hanks.com Michelle McElroy - MichelleMcElroy@beverly-hanks.com Marilynn Obrig - MarilynnObrig@beverly-hanks.com Mike Stamey - MikeStamey@beverly-hanks.com Ellen Sither - EllenSither@beverly-hanks.com Brooke Parrott - BrookeParrott@beverly-hanks.com Randy Flanigan - RandyFlanigan@beverly-hanks.com Pamela Williams - PamelaWilliams@beverly-hanks.com

Emerson Group

OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR InogenOne - Regain Independence. Enjoy Greater Mobility. NO more Tanks! 100% Portable Long-Lasting Battery. Try it Risk Free! For Cash Buyers Call 1.800.514.4896 SAPA

FURNITURE

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Lifestyle Properties â&#x20AC;&#x201D; vistasofwestfield.com Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Mountain Home Properties mountaindream.com â&#x20AC;˘ Sammie Powell â&#x20AC;&#x201D; smokiesproperty.com

McGovern Real Estate & Property Management Experienced in auctions, conventional listings and vacation home sales.

101 S. Main St. Waynesville

rflanigan@beverly-hanks.com Cell:706.207.9436 Office:828.456.2227

#! ! #! " " # # " $ $ # # #

$#"! # $ " $" # ! #"! ! #! " " !# # # " " " # # # # # "! #

â&#x20AC;˘ Bruce McGovern â&#x20AC;&#x201D; shamrock13.com

Realty World Heritage Realty realtyworldheritage.com â&#x20AC;˘ Carolyn Lauter realtyworldheritage.com/realestate/viewagent/7766 â&#x20AC;˘ Martha Sawyer realtyworldheritage.com/realestate/viewagent/7769

RE/MAX â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Mountain Realty â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘

remax-waynesvillenc.com | remax-maggievalleync.com Brian K. Noland â&#x20AC;&#x201D; brianknoland.com Mieko Thomson â&#x20AC;&#x201D; ncsmokies.com The Morris Team â&#x20AC;&#x201D; maggievalleyproperty.com The Real Team â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the-real-team.com Ron Breese â&#x20AC;&#x201D; ronbreese.com Dan Womack â&#x20AC;&#x201D; womackdan@aol.com Catherine Proben â&#x20AC;&#x201D; cp@catherineproben.com

smokymountainnews.com

ENTERTAINMENT

828.506.7137

aspivey@sunburstrealty.com

September 2-8, 2015

Hours:

Tuesday-Friday, 12 Noon - 6 pm 182 Richland Street, Waynesville

Haywood County Real Estate Agents

147 WALNUT STREET â&#x20AC;˘ WAYNESVILLE

DISH NETWORK Get MORE for LESS! Starting $19.99/month (for 12 months.) PLUS Bundle & SAVE (Fast Internet for $15 more/month.) CALL Now 1.800.405.5081.

COMPARE QUALITY & PRICE Shop Tupeloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, 828.926.8778.

Prevent Unwanted Litters! The Heat Is On! Spay/Neuter For Haywood Pets As Low As $10. Operation Pit is in Effect! Free Spay/Neuter, Microchip & Vaccines For Haywood Pitbull Types & Mixes!

SFR, ECO, GREEN

308-71

828.734.6500, 828.734.6700

DIRECTV Starting at $19.99/mo. FREE Installation. FREE 3 months of HBO SHOWTIME CINEMAX, STARZ. FREE HD/DVR Upgrade! 2015 NFL Sunday Ticket Included (Select Packages) New Customers Only. CALL 1.800.849.3514

WNC MarketPlace

CLIMATE CONTROLLED STORAGE FOR YOU

ENTERTAINMENT

The Sellerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Agency â&#x20AC;&#x201D; listwithphil.com â&#x20AC;˘ Phil Ferguson â&#x20AC;&#x201D; philferguson@bellsouth.net

find us at: facebook.com/smnews

TO ADVERTISE IN THE NEXT ISSUE 828.452.4251 | ads@smokymountainnews.com 53

www.smokymountainnews.com

September 2-8, 2015

WNC MarketPlace

Super

CROSSWORD

FELINE FINDER ACROSS 1 To’s counterpart 4 Nukes and the like 8 Ball club’s leading hitter 14 Writer - Lee Masters 19 Cariou of “Sweeney Todd” 20 Prefix with sol or space 21 From scratch 22 Society peon 23 OR hookups 24 Start of a riddle 27 Riddle, part 2 29 Model Campbell 30 Caesar’s “I came” 31 Architect’s drawing 32 To the extent that 35 In chains 37 Reddish-orange dye 39 Gilbert and Sullivan’s “When I Was -” 41 LI times two 42 Like 1, 3 or 5 43 Riddle, part 3 53 Ballpoint tip 54 Pants length measures 55 1040EZ pro 56 - Martin (car make) 57 “Exile” New Age singer 59 State, in Nice 60 It spins to let people in 62 Geller of mentalism 63 Pas’ counterparts 65 Slippery like a fish 68 Toyed (with) 71 Riddle, part 4 75 “Diff’rent Strokes”

family name 77 Plow pullers 78 Hustled 79 Long groove 80 Model Cheryl 82 Actress Thompson 85 Taste tests 89 Result 92 Gobbled 93 Leaves stranded 96 Backwoods “uh-uh” 97 End of the riddle 100 Punk/folk singer DiFranco 101 Org. with bag inspectors 102 Ditty 103 President Garfield’s middle name 105 Architecture, painting, etc. 110 Coffee shop worker 115 Hugging pair 116 - about (close to) 117 Rub down 119 Start of the riddle’s answer 121 End of the riddle’s answer 125 Pacific tuna 126 Part of TWA 127 Gas in crude petroleum 128 Lyricist Ebb 129 Squeal 130 Troop’s drill leader 131 Passes out 132 Banks on many covers 133 Holy ones: Abbr. DOWN 1 Motorola Razr, e.g. 2 Relished

3 Waiting in the wings 4 Baba - (Radner role) 5 Conductor Zubin 6 Barrel scrapings 7 “- Flubber” (film sequel) 8 Wolf’s howl 9 Uncertainties 10 Shows a smile to 11 Dracula player Lugosi 12 Request from 13 Herb of the mint family 14 DDT-banning gp. 15 Movie house alternatives 16 One impaling 17 Coeur d’-, Idaho 18 Overhauled completely 25 NYC bus org. 26 Obstacle 28 “Anderson Cooper 360” airer 33 Chicago mayor Emanuel 34 “Oh, woe!” 36 - knot (finish lacing up) 38 He fought Foreman 40 Webster’s, e.g.: Abbr. 44 Not recurring 45 Fast jet retired in ‘03 46 No-calorie drink 47 No-calorie drink 48 Pointy-eared, stocky dog 49 Actress Shire 50 Take - for the better 51 Additional 52 Oklahoma city 58 Like most car radios 60 New Year’s song word 61 Race hopeful

64 Bread-filled dispenser 66 Braggarts’ problems 67 Not careful 69 Rondo or Rio 70 Millennia 71 One-up 72 ‘40s computer 73 “- Billy Joe” 74 Slow to react 75 Three, in Berlin 76 Ladder piece 81 British fellow 83 Do the lawn 84 Me, in Paree 86 Behind on payments 87 Jipijapa-leaf headwear 88 Bikinis, e.g. 90 Pronouncing 91 Tuscan city 93 “Every - king” 94 PC brand 95 “- Na Na” 98 Bust officers 99 Bundt cake vessel 104 Beer offerer 105 Pays, as the bill 106 Start for red or structure 107 Six-time All-Star Garciaparra 108 Robber 109 Annual toy toter 111 “Every dog has day” 112 Reposition 113 Crying 114 Al Capp’s “Li’l” guy 118 J preceders 120 Abbr. on a meat stamp 122 Seattle-to-L.A. dir. 123 Suffix with exist or insist 124 Scale steps

answers on page 39

WANTED TO BUY CASH PAID FOR BABY FORMULA All Major Brands Accepted. Highest Prices Paid! Visit www.SellFormula.com Call NOW 1.866.817.7355(SELL) SAPA

PERSONAL A UNIQUE ADOPTIONS, Let Us Help! Personalized Adoption Plans. Financial Assistance, Housing, Relocation And More. Giving The Gift Of Life? You Deserve The Best. Call Us First! 1.888.637.8200. 24 Hour Hotline. SAPA MAKE A CONNECTION. Real People, Flirty Chat. Meet singles right now! Call LiveLinks. Try it FREE. Call now 1.888.909.9978 18+. SAPA YOUR AD COULD REACH 1.6 MILLION HOMES ACROSS NC! Your classified ad could be reaching over 1.6 Million Homes across North Carolina! Place your ad with The Smoky Mountain News on the NC Statewide Classified Ad Network- 118 NC newspapers for a low cost of $330 for 25-word ad to appear in each paper! Additional words are $10 each. The whole state at your fingertips! It's a smart advertising buy! Call Scott Collier at 828.452.4251 or for more information visit the N.C. Press Association's website at www.ncpress.com

SCHOOLS/ INSTRUCTION AVIATION GRADS Work with JetBlue, Boeing, Delta & others - start here with hands-on training for FAA certification. Financial aid if qualified. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance. 877.300.9494. FTCC Fayetteville Technical Community College is now accepting applications for the following positions: Coordinator for Military Business Center. Grounds Technician. Medical Office Administration Instructor. Coordinator of Interdisciplinary Health Programs. For detailed information and to apply, please visit our employment portal at: https://faytechcc.peopleadmin.com/. Human Resources Office. Phone: 910.678.8378 Internet: http://www.faytechcc.edu. EOE HIGH-TECH CAREER With U.S. Navy. Elite tech training w/great pay, benefits, vacation, $ for school. HS grads ages 17-34. Call Mon-Fri 800.662.7419

SERVICES 19.99/mo. DIRECTV HD Channels + Genie HD DVR + 3 months FREE HBO, SHOW, MAX & STARZ + FREE NFL Sunday Ticket! Call Now 888.437.6598 SAPA HEALTH INSURANCE IS REQUIRED. You might be paying too much. It’s time to stop wasting money. Get great coverage for less. Call today 888.679.2426 SAPA

SERVICES DIRECTV Starting at $19.99/mo. FREE Installation. FREE 3 months of HBO SHOWTIME CINEMAX, STARZ. FREE HD/DVR Upgrade! 2015 NFL Sunday Ticket Included (Select Packages) New Customers Only. CALL 1.800.849.3514 DISH NETWORK Get MORE for LESS! Starting $19.99/month (for 12 months.) PLUS Bundle & SAVE (Fast Internet for $15 more/month.) CALL Now 1.800.405.5081. ACE PRESSURE WASHING Providing pressure washing for driveways, gutters, siding & decks (sealed or stained). We can also help with plumbing; such as installing toilets, garbage disposals, dishwashers and faucets. Call Steve today at 828.476.1097. SWITCH & SAVE EVENT From DirecTV! Packages starting at $19.99/mo. Free 3-Months of HBO, STARZ, SHOWTIME & CINEMAX Free Genie HD/DVR Upgrade! 2015 NFL Sunday Ticket Included with Select Packages. Some exclusions apply - Call for details 1.800.421.2049 SAPA

YARD SALES ESTATE SALE Fri. & Sat., Sept. 4th & 5th, at 495 Pulsifer, Maggie Valley. Near Catoloochee Ranch. Last named Rd. on the Right before Ranch. Glassware Pictures, Furniture, Kitchen Items & More. 828.926.1357

WEEKLY SUDOKU Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine. Answers on Page 50

The naturalist’s corner BY DON H ENDERSHOT

Of bears and bees I am not nearly so frustrated with my black oil sunflower seed-addicted bruin neighbor as I was after his little escapade last Friday morning around 2 a.m. I was trying to finish some writing before I left for my pre-dawn “day job” when I heard some noise on the deck. I had chased a raccoon away the night before and figured it was back. But the noise had a little more substance to it. Bear, I thought. We had had one a couple of months ago that had come on the deck and taken a full can of black oil sunflower seeds in its mouth and sauntered off into the yard. I went out and yelled at it and it ran into the woods, leaving the bird food behind. We brought all the food and feeders in every evening for about a week afterwards, and it appeared that buddy bear had forgotten about our buffet. But last Friday he was back — I’m assuming it was the same bear and I’m assuming it’s a “he,” because it was solo. I figure a female would have cubs in tow. And, as if remembering what happened last time, Buddy didn’t waste time in the yard — just snatched the can of seed and high-tailed it for the woods. I made a quick search around

the perimeter of the yard — no can and no bear to be seen. So, I headed off to work. The next morning Denise walked out into the woods along a dim trail that follows the creek that cuts across our property. She discovered the birdseed can along the trail about 200 feet or so into the woods. Buddy had not mashed or mangled anything. It looked like he just helped himself to about 10 pounds of black oil sunflower seed and staggered off into the woods to sleep it off. He even left the scooper, undamaged, in the can. So we are, once again, left with bringing seed and feeders in every evening and putting them back out every morning. And every evening and every morning I’m grumbling about that “damn” bear. Well, yesterday I was working in the yard, doing some weed eating and burning some debris. I scooped a pile of limbs from a stack that had been established earlier in the spring and felt that hot sharp pain on my hand that could only mean one thing — yellow jacket. It has been a banner year for yellow jackets in my yard. I know of at least four nests. And while I don’t go out of the way to destroy nests, if they are in heavily trafficked areas they have to go. The sting reminded

What’s left of a yellow jacket nest after a visit from a bear. Don Hendershot photo me of a nest I had seen near the garden, and I decided to go over and check on it. When I got to a place where I could see where the nest was, I could see exposed dirt. I approached closer and the nest was gone. The dirt in front looked like it had been moved by a tiny excavator — a cut about 8 to 10 inches wide and 12 to18 inches long — revealing the empty bottom portion of the yellow jackets’ paper nest – all the juicy larvae gone. These larvae are a nirvana of fat and protein, and bears seem to think the

trade-off in stings is well worth it. Other animals, like raccoons and skunks will also dig up yellow jacket nests. But this nest was gone in one fell swoop — no little paws digging around; no pieces of nest scattered about — I am confident this was Buddy’s handiwork. I will continue to bring the birdseed in but it’s OK with me if Buddy wants to patrol for yellow jacket nests at night. (Don Hendershot is a writer and naturalist. He can be reached a ddihen1@bellsouth.net.)

September 2-8, 2015

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