Asheville retailer Diamond Brand Outdoors has partnered with RootsRated.com to introduce a new, locally-sourced digital outdoor recreation guide for the greater Asheville area. 

Outdoor enthusiasts will be able to generate reviews of their favorite recreational areas and opportunities in the WNC region. The goal is to provide locals and visitors with first-hand, local knowledge of outdoor recreation in the area. The plan is to consolidate networks of conservationists, outdoor athletes clubs, sales representatives, guides, authors, photographers, and enthusiasts to provide people with easy access to information about outdoor recreation opportunities.

Diamond Brand Outdoors is part of Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, a coalition of the country’s independent outdoor retailers.

“Grassroots Retailers are already the hub of local knowledge for trails, crags, and put-ins in their respective markets. RootsRated will give us a way to capture, syndicate, share and constantly improve this knowledge, and most importantly, make it more readily available to break down barriers to participation in these sports,” said Sarah Merrell, marketing manager for Diamond Brand Outdoors. 

www.rootsratedcom.

An effort to re-establish a favorite local flower while also growing a scholarship fund at Western Carolina University is off to a blooming start.

Western Carolina University, as part of its Love Your Body Week, will hold a station run on campus at 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 13.

The Amazing Catamount Challenge will consist of teams of up to four participants who will be given clues to take them to locations around campus and complete activities based on various principles and concepts of loving your body. Some stations will include physical activities while others will examine positive and negative portrayals of beauty in advertising and building a healthy plate of food.

The event will end by 6 p.m. and is sponsored by the Intercultural Affairs, Campus Recreation and Wellness, Aramark, Counseling and Psychological Services, and Leadership and Student Involvement. Prizes will be awarded to the top two teams.

Check-in will begin at 3:45 p.m. In-person registration will be available on campus from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the week of Nov. 5-9 or participants can contact Sarah Carter at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Nov. 11.

A hiker stranded on the Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was successfully evacuated by rescuers last Friday after spending one night in the cold.

An air rescue operation was launched at 2 p.m. Nov. 2 in an attempt to locate and extract Steven Ainsworth, 56, who is from Washington, N.C. Ainsworth had become stranded the day before on a remote section of the trail as a result of the snowstorm that blanketed higher elevations of the park earlier in the week. Ainsworth had placed a 911 distress call from his cell phone to the Cherokee Police Department.

Salvation sought through moonshine 

Terry Roberts will present his new novel The Holy Ghost and Speakeasy and Revival at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. 

Jedidiah Robbins is a man on a crusade. From town to town, his Gospel train rides the rails of 1920s Appalachia, spreading the Good News with his daughter and a loyal group of roustabouts in tow. But, Jedidiah’s traveling revival company has a secret: in addition to offering the gifts of the Holy Spirit, it also delivers spirits of another kind. 

Prohibition is in full swing, but The Sword of the Lord train keeps the speakeasies in the towns it visits in business by providing the best that mountain stills have to offer. While beyond the gaze of federal agents, the operation eventually runs afoul of an overzealous small-town sheriff and a corrupt judge, setting in motion a series of events that could land them all in chains. 

Roberts is also the author of A Short Time to Stay Here and That Bright Land. Born and raised near Weaverville, Roberts is the director of the National Paideia Center and lives in Asheville. To reserve copies of his books, call City Lights Bookstore at 828.586.9499.

Evolution of the ‘Baby Beat’ movement

Writer/poet Thomas Rain Crowe will present his book Starting From San Francisco at 6:30 p.m. Friday. Sept. 21, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. 

In his book, Crowe explores the dimensions of a flourishing literary excitement that deserves to be better known: The Baby Beat’s movement. This movement was led by a whole generation of young poets who were nourished by their Beat predecessors. Starting From San Francisco provides many illuminating surprises for those who thought they already knew everything about what Beat was.

Excerpt from the book, “From the early 1970s through the early 1980s, for about a decade, San Francisco was often compared to Paris and the urban centers in Russia at the turn of the 20th century. ‘A renaissance’ some of us say, now, looking back. And even then, that word used to slip from our lips in moments of projected epiphany or outlandish optimism. Centered around City Lights Bookstore in North Beach, a fleur-de-lis had sprouted and bloomed, whose petals would eventually spread into the ethnic neighborhoods in San Francisco and out over the whole Bay Area, with leafy creative vines reaching other literary and artistic circles, further afield, in Berkeley, Bolinas, the Russian River and up along the coast and north — all the way to Mendocino and the North San Juan Ridge community in the Sierra foothills and as far south as Santa Cruz. Young poets, artists and musicians coming from all over the country, and in fact the world, were arriving almost daily to add their voices to the chorus of a growing community of Beat-inspired bohemian brethren creating what would become a full-blown Renaissance.”

To reserve copies of Starting From San Francisco, call City Lights Bookstore at 828.586.9499.

Role of railroads in Western NC

The Friends of the Library will be presenting a special edition of “How the West Was Won...Western North Carolina that is...” with Ray Rapp at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, in the Waynesville Library Auditorium. 

Rapp served five terms in the state legislature, where he served on committees that were charged with improving and expanding rail service in North Carolina. But, perhaps more importantly for this presentation, he lectures extensively on regional rail history and has a deep and abiding love for the role trains had in making Western North Carolina what it is today. 

His knowledge of the subject is more than matched by his love of the topic. No dry lecture, this will be a railroad lovers joy ride. No registration is required and all are welcome.

To the Editor:

Almost all actions of politicians have unintended consequences. In times of tragedies their mistakes are amplified. Last week, before, during and after “Super Storm” Sandy hit the northeastern United States, governors and attorneys general in that part of the country put out blanket warnings that violators of laws against price gouging laws (laws meant to protect consumers from “excessive” pricing of essential goods and services during emergencies) would be thoroughly investigated and brought to justice for violations. While these actions may be reasonable to the emotional observer, when one applies economic logic to the circumstance it is easy to understand how laws against price gouging have actually caused the current gasoline shortages in the Northeast.

In essence, anti-price gouging laws are price controls. That is to say, they prevent suppliers of goods from charging market prices if those prices are deemed excessive by government. Needless to say, since suppliers are not in the business of losing money, when the price of any good exceeds a government mandated maximum price, suppliers will stop supplying that good. They obviously are not going to sell an item at a loss, as that is a sure recipe to put yourself out of business.

Consequently, a shortage of that good develops. We have seen this happen time and again, most notably with beef during the Nixon price controls in the early 1970s and rental properties in New York City under rent controls.

So how does this apply to the current gasoline shortages experienced by motorists in the Northeast?

Faced with threats by state officials including reductions in profits, fines, directives to set up reimbursement funds, and other penalties, merchants were intimidated to comply with the anti-price gouging laws. Consequently, a critically important market mechanism was prevented from kicking in – namely rising prices in the face of potential shortages caused by disruptions to market flow.

You see, in the free market something valued that is in short supply will always cost more than it does under regular market conditions. That is why the price of meat rises when there is a drought. Instead of a drought, the supply of gasoline to the Northeast has been disrupted by a storm.

Although they are different climatic events, the effect is the same. Yet governors and attorneys general prevented gas suppliers from raising gas prices to meet market conditions. Because of anti-price gouging laws, consumers were able to purchase gasoline before Sandy at below market prices. It’s no wonder this temporary price control on gasoline has caused shortages in their states. Demand was allowed to exceed supply. If the market were left to its own devices, prices would have been allowed to rise and there would be gasoline in New York City right now for emergency use.

But instead, state officials imposed a cap so every Tom, Dick, and Harry could fill up their tanks unnecessarily before the storm.

At the end of the day, anti-price gouging laws are indicative of how we have been running our economy for decades. All sorts of schemes have been implemented to help the poor, homeowners, consumers, students, the sick, the handicapped, etc, etc, etc… They all come with unintended consequences because they are based on emotions not logic. During normal times their consequences are bad enough. In times of tragedy they simply make things worse.

Kenn Jacobine

Haywood County

To the Editor:

Your correspondent William Fisher has written a constructive response to my recent letter about religion and politics, which deserves an explanatory reply.

To begin with, he has overlooked one important word in my letter — “among.” I said that the Mormon notions I cited were “among their beliefs” — thereby recognizing (though not stating) that there were others of a more familiar nature. No doubt adherents can make a strong case for the virtues of Mormonism. I readily acknowledge that they share with Christians general beliefs in God, Jesus, the Bible, salvation, eternal life, and other basic doctrines — though specific interpretations of these vary widely. But “the devil is in the details,” and to these we must also give attention.

It is natural that encyclopedias, needing to be concise, tend to present only the positive and widely accepted aspects of a topic. It is also understandable that websites and promotional materials, seeking to be enticing, tend to gloss over or ignore entirely elements they would rather not be known. For these reasons, my summary of some Mormon teachings focused on the latter kind, and drew primarily on original sources.

The sentences in what Mr. Fisher calls a “mishmash” are condensations of paragraphs in the following Mormon documents: Foreword to the Book of Mormon; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith by Joseph Fielding Smith; Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints; writings of Lorenzo Snow, Mormon president, 1898-1901; Sermon of Brigham Young, Deseret News, June 18, 1873; Journal of Discourses of Brigham Young; and Doctrine and Covenant Stories, a picture book for Mormon children (page references available on request). The only non-Mormon sources used were denominational pamphlets about Mormonism, published, no doubt, to warn their adherents against the tactics of Mormon home visitations.

Not being a scholar in these matters, I have been greatly helped in identifying these teachings and their sources by a friend and retired deacon in Florida who has researched them more fully than I.

The Bible, the Quran, and the Book of Mormon all contain both uplifting and less savory elements — as do the religions they inform. The Mormon website presents the positive side of its religion, but makes no mention of the aspects described in my letter. Hence, many may not even know of them.

However, adherents, supporters, and inquirers of any faith need to be aware of and acknowledge its “feet of clay” — and then decide whether the assets outweigh the liabilities. The intent of my letter was to point out the inconsistency of making fallacious charges about Obama’s religion while ignoring the more bizarre aspects of Romney’s. I don’t want to let people ignore the latter, or pretend they don’t exist, by just looking at the glossy print materials and website presentations.

For example, the Mormon website proudly asserts that the “Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints,” by virtue of its name, is a “Christian Church.” However, its name is not to be found in the list of 37 member denominations of the National Council of Churches, or the 349 member churches of the World Council of Churches, or the 12 members and 109 associates of the World Evangelical Alliance. Instead, they energetically seek to win people away from those churches and into their own. Within the community of Christian churches, this practice is considered unethical and is colloquially labeled “sheep-stealing.” (A congregation I once served was gravely upset by having some of our faithful members persuaded by home visits of Mormon missionaries to leave us and join their movement.)

I am sorry if some were offended by my letter. I only sought to get a fuller picture before us.

Doug Wingeier

Waynesville

To the Editor:

I am writing this letter in celebration that the elections are now over.

I will not miss the never-ending supply of politically charged letters and opinions to the editor that have been inundating your publication over the past few months. It’s like having a bad case of poison oak flare up every time there is an election. While I am glad to see my fellow countrymen and women participate in the political process, I am often taken back by the general belief that publishing one’s political views in such a one-sided format has any effect other than irritation to others. 

So it occurred to me, what will the plethora of political one-hit wonder writers do with all their free time until the next election cycle? May I suggest the following: find a worthwhile humanitarian project to support; volunteer at a church, soup kitchen, homeless shelter, nursing home or hospital; cut some fire wood for someone who needs help with heating this winter; collect some can goods and support a local food pantry; be a mentor to some children who might need a positive role model in their life. The list goes on and on.

I have personally found that taking this approach creates a sense of individual responsibility and respect that begins to eclipse the need to focus so boldly on what politicians stand for and more importantly the need to publish such views in a paper. True hope and change begins within ourselves and how we act upon meeting the needs of others. God Bless. 

Kevin Sandefur

Waynesville

To the Editor:

As a nearly 50-year-veteran of the tourism industry and one of the “authors” of the Florida accommodation tax legislation in the 1970s I must underscore the importance of preventing politicians from having anything to do with the execution of any marketing plans.

Commissioner Jack Debman insists on referring to the monies derived from tourists who pay the bed tax as being “local taxpayer monies” and thus should be under the oversight of the local county commissioners.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Except in a very rare instance, a resident of Jackson County will not be paying the bed tax. It is a tax levied nearly 100 percent on out-of-county, out-of-state visitors and therefore is not a tax accountable to local politicians.

How many of the local commissioners are experts or even marginally knowledgeable about tourism marketing? One that I know of, and his business caters more to the affluent visitors, unlike the rest of Jackson County.

The county government should, like most counties, be a conduit for collecting and dispersing funds only in accordance with the approved expenditures by the tourism board. In other words, let the board operate without political influence. The money should be in a separate account managed by the tourism board and spent according to the best interest to expand tourism expenditures within the borders of the county.

Unfortunately, what I see is too many political hands stirring the pot locally. Appoint the tourism board, let them make the decisions for expenditures and the county pay the bills accordingly from the tourism fund.

As one on the sidelines and having dealt with many, many forms of “boards” in the tourism industry, we are making it a complicated issue to the detriment of the local businesses who either rely on or cater to out-of-county visitors.

While I respect what the county officials are responsible for in the daily operations of Jackson County, this is not a place for them to have control or final say so.

David Redman

Sylva

Orthopedic physical therapist Todd Watson will speak at a free Dine and Learn seminar that addresses the links between physical therapy and back pain from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, at the MedWest Rehabilitation Service office on the MedWest-Harris campus in Sylva.

Watson is a professor of physical therapy at Western Carolina University and board certified as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist. Watson will help attendees learn how physical therapy techniques can be used to treat lower back pain. The seminar will focus on the importance of early physical therapy treatment to maximize daily function and prevent future episodes of back pain.

Attendance is limited so advance reservations are required to attend.

828.586.7235.

The Waynesville Recreation Center recently had a new design placed on the basketball courts.

This was the first time the lines had to be removed so the Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department decided to go with a new layout. The courts now have a wider baseline, darker wood in the three point area, and each court has the department’s logo at center court. Carolina Hardwood of Clyde completed the work.

“The new design adds a lot of color and we think everyone will be very proud of it,” said Rhett Langston, director of the Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department.

828.456.2030.

Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont (GSCP2P) has opportunities for volunteers who are committed to helping girls develop courage, confidence and character.

Volunteers are the heart and soul of Girl Scouting – whether you have an hour, a day, a weekend or more. Specifically, Jackson County Girl Scouts is in need of dedicated adults to take on the role of troop leaders. Each troop is led by at least two registered leaders.

There is a need for troops leaders able to meet in the evening or on weekends to fit the schedules of working families. Volunteers can serve long-term or short-term roles. They can lead a troop that meets for the entire school year, or run a program that finishes in a couple of weeks.

No previous Girl Scout experience is necessary. To volunteer, one must be at least 18 years of age or older, be a positive role model and must become a member of the Girl Scouts for $12 per year.

www.girlscoutsp2p.org or 828.488.6537 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Western Carolina University is seeking applicants for the next class of its University Participant Program, which offers a two-year, on-campus living and learning experience for college-age persons with intellectual disabilities.

The goal of the UP Program is to facilitate the transition from secondary school to adult life through education, employment and independent living. WCU undergraduate students are recruited and trained to provide paid and unpaid support services, such as attending classes with program participants, engaging them in social and recreational activities, and helping them with on-the-job training.

UP Program participants must be between 18 and 25 years old and also have been enrolled in a high school special education program.

Applications for fall 2013 are due by Saturday, Dec. 1. The application fee, which is nonrefundable, is $50.

www.up.wcu.edu or 828.227.3297 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Macon County Public Health and Angel Medical Center are hosting a Ladies Night Out talk Nov. 13

The topic will be Diabetes Awareness, and the guest speaker will be Jennifer Trippe, a registered dietician with Macon County Public Health. She will discuss ways to reduce risk for developing Type II diabetes.

The program will be held two times that day in the cafeteria at AMC. One will be at 4 p.m. and one will be at 6:30 p.m. The same presentation will be given at both meetings.

Ladies Night Out is a free monthly program on various health topics for women with an emphasis on the importance of regular health screenings. The Franklin Bi-Lo and Fatz of Franklin are corporate sponsors of the program and provide snacks and door prizes. Dodge Packaging Specialties, Inc. provides paper products.

828.349.2426.

Mountain Shapes and Colors Art and Craft Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, in the Swain Center at Southwestern Community College.

Haywood Community College Professional Crafts Wood graduate Samantha Mallard and current student Brandon Skupski won the Design Emphasis contest at the International Woodworking Fair.

The Arts and Cultural Events Performance Series continues with The Strivers Row Poetry Show at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University.

Documentary series continues Nov. 13 at WCU

Western Carolina University’s next film in its series from the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers will be 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, in the theater of the A.K. Hinds University Center.

“Bag It,” a documentary about plastic bags, evolves into an investigation into plastic and its effect on the environment and people’s bodies. While directors Michelle Hill and Suzan Beraza are unable to tour with the film, “Bag It” narrator and front man Jeb Berrier, an actor and host for a morning television show on Plum TV, is scheduled to appear on their behalf.

WCU’s Arts and Cultural Events series, or ACE, in collaboration with South Arts, sponsors the tour of independent films and filmmakers that provides communities across the South access to smaller films and opportunities to join film directors in discussion. All events are free and open to the public. Refreshments and a question-and-answer session will follow.

828.227.3622 or ledavis.wcu.edu or www.ace.wcu.edu.

Veteran’s Day ‘dinner and a movie’

The community is invited to attend “Dinner and a Movie” with a showing of “Courageous” from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11 (Veteran’s Day), at the High Street Baptist Church in Canton.

Dinner will be served in the fellowship hall from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. The kid-friendly menu features pizza, nachos, cookies and assorted soft drinks.

The movie begins at 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

www.HighStreetBaptist.org or 828.648.8830.

An array of films showcased at library

A handful of films will be shown at the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City.

Two films by Japanese filmmaker Makoto Shinkai will headline the anime program from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10. The program of anime, or Japanese animation, begins with a morning session featuring several popular Japanese-language TV shows. Then, after a brief intermission, the movie program begins at 1:20 p.m.

A 1937 musical comedy featuring Fred Astaire will be shown at 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10. When a rumor spreads that young and wealthy Joan Fontaine will elope to marry an American, everyone assumes that it must be Astaire. While one schemer plots to bring them together, another plots to drive them apart and he has no idea why.

At 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13 Charlie Brown in a pickle as his erstwhile friends impose upon the hapless would-be-host to provide a memorable and traditional Thanksgiving feast. The library will also be giving away one free movie check out voucher to each patron who attends the movie.   

All movies at the library are free and open to the public. The films are projected onto an 8-by-10-foot screen, with a theater-style sound system. Free popcorn and refreshments are provided by the Friends of the Marianna Black Library.

828.488.3030.

Decorate your cake, and eat it, too

A basic cake decorating class will be offered every Monday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 28 through March 4, at the Southwestern Community College campus in Franklin.

The basic cake decorating class is designed to teach the fundamentals of cake decorating, step by step. Students will learn how to use cake decorating tools, cake preparation and basic decorating techniques. Attendees will also be able to take the cake home.

The class is $35 per person and will take place in Room 102 of the Macon Annex.

www.southwesterncc.edu.

‘Fire & Ice’ exhibit comes to Gallery 86

An exhibition “Fire & Ice: Pottery, Glass, and Metalwork” will make its debut at the Haywood County Arts Council’s Gallery 86 in downtown Waynesville on Wednesday, Jan. 16, and stay up through Saturday, Feb. 9.

The exhibit celebrates the heating and cooling process involved in the making of pottery, glass and metal work. An artist’s reception will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25.

Artist’s featured in the show include Brad Dodson (pottery), John Nickerson (pottery), Bob Brotherton (pottery), Cathey Bolton (pottery), Terance Painter (pottery), Grace Cathey (metal work), Teresa Sizemore (metal work), Susan Hutchinson (metal work), Dianne Lee (glass), William and Katherine Bernstein (glass), Fitzallen Eldridge (glass), Aaron Shufelt (glass), Judy McManus (glass) and Tadashi Torii (glass).  

Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free.

www.haywoodarts.org or www.facebook.com/haywoodarts.

Lego building contest stacks up Feb. 2

A Lego Extravaganza building contest for children ages 5 to 15 will debut at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, in Waynesville. It is put on by the Haywood County Public Library.

Participants are asked to think of a favorite book and then create an original Lego design related to the book. Then bring your Legos and build your creation on the day of the contest. Participants in the older age divisions (9-11 and 12-15) will compete for prizes and will be judged on the originality and creativity of their construction, and on the quality of their poster presentation/oral report. Ages 5-8 will not be in formal competition. Register this week to participate.

The contest will be held at the Haywood County Co-operative Extension Office on Racoon Road.

828.356.2511 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or www.haywoodlibrary.org.

HART presents Charlie Brown “all-grown-up”

“Dog Sees God – Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead” will be hitting the stage at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 1 and 2 and 3 p.m. Feb. 3, at the HART Theatre in Waynesville.

Oh, good grief! The Peanuts gang has grown up, and it turns out that life is not a comic strip after all. Ten years removed from childhood, Charlie Brown, Pigpen, Lucy and the others are grappling with the issues of teens today. They include a stoner, a homophobe, an arsonist, a Goth performance artist, a couple of slutty, booze-swilling clique leaders and an outcast who finds happiness only at a keyboard. Turning Charles Schulz’s pleasant world into a scathingly funny psychological disaster area, “Dog Sees God” will turn childhood on its head and take you through all the happiness and pain that is the institution of high school.

Tickets are $10 per adult and $6 per student. Holdover dates will be Feb. 8-10.

828.456.6322 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or www.harttheatre.com.

Jackson County Arts Council offers grants for art programs

Jackson County Arts Council is now accepting grant applications for art programs for the coming year.

Theater groups, galleries, choruses, arts educators and other nonprofit organizations are encouraged to apply. Public schools may apply if the proposed program supplements education in the arts. Colleges and universities may apply for funding if the proposed program will serve the broader countywide population.

Applications are due by Jan. 20.

www.jacksoncountyarts.org or 828.507.9820 or 828.507.9531.

Workplace comedy group comes to WCU

Music/comedy group the Water Coolers will take the stage at Western Carolina University at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27, at the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center on campus.

The group will present its unique blend of comedy, original songs and parody. Mining the workplace for laughs, the Water Coolers satirically celebrate everyday water cooler chatter – work, spouses, kids, vacations and more. From pretending you understand what the IT guy is saying to fending off parents hawking things for their children’s schools to the inflated inner dialogue of the office hottie, the Water Coolers reveal the underpinnings of workplace life in humorous and insightful songs and sketches performed by Broadway veterans.

The event is part of WCU’s 2012-13 Galaxy of Stars Series. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for WCU faculty and staff, and $5 for students and children.

828.227.2479 or bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.

Jackson County over-achievers yoga

“Yoga for Over-Achievers” with Chad Hallyburton will be from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at the Jackson County Recreation Center in Cullowhee.

Are you motivated? “Type A?” Do you sometimes bite off more than you can chew? Spend a morning learning how to channel your “drive” in positive directions, rather than being “driven crazy” by a never-ending need to achieve and succeed. The class will include lots of movement, but also plenty of time for meditation, reflection and processing.

Free for members. $5 for non-members. Space limited. Pre-registration suggested.

828.508.2501 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Global peace initiative offered in Sylva

A “Winter Feast” group observing a 40-day period of spiritual practice open to all faiths and spiritual paths will meet bi-weekly at the Open Door Center for Spiritual Living and at Sylva Yoga.

The group will meet at 6 p.m. on Mondays at the Open Door Center and at noon on Wednesdays at Sylva Yoga.

The premise for the “Winter Feast” is derived from the idea that when people spend time each day focusing on stillness, they will discover a new landscape of inner peace.

828.226.6645 or www.opendoorcsl.org or 828.331.8994 or www.corinapia.com/YOGA.

Tickets for the Madrigal Dinners at Western Carolina University are now on sale. The event will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 1, in the Grandroom of the A.K. Hinds University Center.

Two award-winning classically trained artists will perform traditional and contemporary works at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11, in the main hall of the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.  

Guitarist Brad Richter and cellist Viktor Uzur have earned rave reviews in solo settings, as a duo, and with ensembles and orchestras in North and South America, Europe, and Asia. Richter is a former US National Finger-Picking Champion and Uzur is former principal cellist and soloist with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra. The event is supported by the Grassroots Arts Program of the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources.  

828.524.7683 or www.artscouncilofmacon.org.

Luminaries will light the way on Friday, Nov. 9, during a special candlelit Sylva Art Stroll. Candles will light up the streets outside participating merchants to welcome strollers to shop, dine and explore the historic downtown.

Amid numerous businesses, Gallery 1 invites the public to a reception for a special art exhibit titled “The Square Foot Show” featuring art work no larger than one square foot, It’s By Nature will host demonstrations by three area artists in the mediums of clay, fiber and paper, Skinny Gallery will feature works by recent Western Carolina University art graduate Tom Pazderka, City Lights Cafe will showcase the exhibit “Southern Scenic Photography” by Karen and Chris Mobley, Nichols House Antiques and Collectibles will present select pieces by fine art painter Audrey Hayes of Dillsboro, Survival Pride Clothing Store and Art Gallery will display art work by Smoky Mountain High School students, and Signature Brew Coffee Company will feature new art exhibits.

Presented by the Jackson County Visual Arts Association (JVCAA) and the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, the Sylva Art Strolls continue through December on the second Fridays of each month.

828.337.3468 or www.mountainlovers.com.

Band invited to perform at championships

Western Carolina University Pride of the Mountains Marching Band will attend the Bands of America Grand National Championships as a featured-performance exhibition band Nov. 8-10 in Indianapolis.

Each year, the top 90 high school marching bands in America convene at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts, to vie for the title of the National Marching Band Champion. This year, the Pride of the Mountains was invited to perform at this prestigious event viewed by more than 25,000 participants, family members and enthusiasts. The band will perform at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9 during the second round of preliminary competition and again Saturday, Nov. 10 at the conclusion of the national semifinal round.

www.prideofthemountains.com.

Percussion ensemble to perform at WCU

Western Carolina University Percussion Ensemble will perform at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 19, in the recital hall of the Coulter Building on campus.

Under the direction of Mario Gaetano, WCU professor of music, the percussion ensemble consists of 15 music majors from Gaetano’s percussion studio. The group performs works specifically composed or arranged for percussion instruments, including drums, xylophones, marimba and timpani. 

The concert will include “Blue Rhythm Quintet” by Anthony Korf, “Mother Earth, Father Sky” by Ney Rosauro, “Essences of the Four Signs” by David Long, “Teamwork” by Lynn Glassock and an arrangement of Bach’s “Jesus, Joy of Man’s Desiring.”

The event is free and open to the public. 828.227.7242.

Renowned variety group The Lowe Family will be performing at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

The unique group offers a blend of show stopping classical, Broadway, Irish, jazz, bluegrass and gospel music, which they bring to life with an amazing six-part harmony that has pleased audiences around the world for over 25 years.

Versatile on more than 50 instruments, The Lowe Family has distinguished themselves as supreme performers across the globe and has earned the honor of being known as America’s Most Talented Family. Their music is accompanied by spectacular dance routines and a high-energy, fast-paced variety show.

www.GreatMountainMusic.com or 866.273.4615.

Tickets for Little Big Town in Cherokee are now available through Ticketmaster. The renowned country group will be performing at 7:30 p.m. March 2 at Harrah’s Cherokee Event Center.

A Western Carolina University lunch speaker series is drawing to a close for the fall with a talk about community agriculture Wednesday, Nov. 14. Philip E. Coyle, professor of anthropology, will discuss “Community Gardening as Intensive, Sustainable Agriculture: The Sylva Community Garden in Comparative Perspective.”

Coyle will compare the Sylva Community Garden with Robert Netting’s intensive, sustainable agricultural type. Netting was a famous academic who helped established cultural ecology as a respected discipline.

WCU Department of Anthropology and Sociology Brownbag Series is a lunchtime series, which is free and open to the public. It is an opportunity for faculty and students associated with the department to share research and ideas with the community.

All events are held in Room 110 of the McKee Building at WCU from 12:10 to 1:15 p.m.

828.227.3837 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Historic Haywood Farmers market will move indoors starting this weekend, with Saturday’s market held from 8 a.m. until noon at the Shelton Barn House in Waynesville, just in time to get out of the snow. The site is just above the HART theater parking lot where the market is held during summer and fall months.

This year’s indoor lineup will feature a mix of vendors selling fall greens, roots, vegetable jams, jellies, pickles, scones and cracker mixes. Also seafood will be available each Saturday as well and customers can special order cakes and breads. The market will run through Dec. 8 and remain open Nov. 24.

The Jackson County Farmers Market in Sylva will also move indoors starting this weekend, to the Community Table building near the playground. 

For only the second time in its history, Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley will be open for skiing in October, with lifts ready to roll on 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31.

Cataloochee will continue to operate for day skiing only (until 4:30 p.m.), as long as conditions allow.

The ski slope has been making snow around the clock since Oct. 29 to be added to the four inches of natural snowfall from superstorm Sandy. Cataloochee Ski Area’s snowmaking technology allows it to be consistently one the first areas in the country to open for skiing each season.

Cataloochee will be opening with three slopes this season. The current base of snow on these slopes is eight to 12 inches.

Lift tickets will be $25 per person with reduced rates for children and seniors.

As a Halloween promotion, guests purchasing a lift ticket on opening day will have the opportunity to enter a drawing for a season pass.

www.cataloochee.com. 

The U.S. Forest Service is discouraging people from backcountry camping of bringing food into the Panthertown Valley area outside Cashiers in the Nantahala National Forest, following several bear encounters.

Recently, backpackers in Panthertown experienced three separate bear encounters.  A bear damaged tents and stole food even though some of the food was properly hung in trees, according to the backpackers reports to rangers. No injuries were reported. The incidents occurred in the vicinity of the Mac’s Gap, Green Valley and the Little Green Mountain area. 

The alert comes on the tails of a backcountry camping closure in the Pisgah National Forest in Haywood County. Last week forest officials closed overnight camping in the Shining Rock Wilderness, Graveyard Fields and Black Balsam areas because of bear encounters. The bears entered campsites and went after food, and campers had a hard time scaring them away.

Campers are encouraged to not store food in tents and instead hang food high in a tree far from the trunk or put it in a secure bear canister away from the campsite. Also, campers should clean up food scraps and handle food away from the campsite.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park plans to implement changes to its current backcountry reservation and permitting process in early 2013.

As reported last March, the National Park Service approved the park’s proposal to begin collecting fees for use of the park’s backcountry campsites and shelters. The changes include a $4 per person per night fee for backcountry camping. The money collected will fund the salaries of new backcountry rangers to help with backcountry trip planning, reservations, permits and the backcountry experience.

However, any plans could be derailed or delayed pending a potential lawsuit by park advocates. The organization Southern Forest Watch has warned the park that it, and many other outdoor enthusiasts, oppose the fees. The group said in a letter to the park’s superintendant in September that it would go so far as to take them to court over it.

Yet, the park claims the price will allow them to improve service to backpackers and law enforcement in the backcountry areas. The park listed some of its so-called improvements to the backcountry camping experience that would come along with the fee. In addition, park rangers assigned exclusively to the backcountry will attempt to increase enforcement for issues such as wildlife violations and food storage.

An online reservation and permit system will allow backcountry campers to make reservations and obtain permits 24/7. Reservations may be made at any time up to 30 days in advance. 

 “It is anticipated the online reservation and permit system will be available to the public  within the first few months of 2013,” said Superintendent Dale Ditmanson. “We will provide notification of a specific implementation date later this year.”

www.nps.gov/grsm or 865.436.1297.

The upcoming International American Ginseng Expo in Western North Carolina will be an opportunity for local ginseng retailers to learn how to promote their ginseng overseas, meet wild forest ginseng experts and to network with state officials, harvesters, buyers, sellers and dealers.

The event will be held on Dec. 7 and 8 in Mills River. It is put on by The North Carolina Natural Products Association and will take place at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center.

American ginseng has been a major export crop for nearly 250 years and North Carolina Ginseng is regarded as a state and national treasure. 

The program will include recognized experts in the ginseng field from Southern Appalachia. Program highlights include presentations on the current status of wild and wild-simulated ginseng, industry rules and regulations, parameters of ginseng quality, ginseng production and poaching issues, marketing, a ginseng root auction and opportunities for value-added products.

Cost to register varies from $65 to $140, depending on timeliness. www.ncnaturalproducts.org.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Kristin Bail, forest supervisor of the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests, warned would-be ginseng poachers last week that law enforcement officers are cracking down on the illegal act.

A special presentation of the fall night sky and the first public display of new space shuttle artifacts will be held at 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 9, at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute. 

A new, environmentally friendly ranger office will be opening in Mars Hill in Madison County Nov. 13 to serve the public. The office will host staff from the Appalachian Ranger District in the Pisgah National Forest.

The existing district office located in Burnsville will close Nov. 5. All services will be moved to the new Mars Hill office at that time. The Forest Service plans to sell the office in Burnsville. 

The Forest Service designed the facility to meet standards required by the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification. Additional environmentally friendly design elements were included in the building that may allow it to achieve the higher gold-level certification. The Forest Service will apply for LEED certification in the coming months.

The address of the new facility is 632 Manor Road, Mars Hill, located just passed Madison Manor. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or www.fs.usda.gov/nfsnc. 

The Benton MacKaye Trail Association has announced this fall the completion of the new Benton MacKaye Trail Guide — Smokies Section. The guide completes the series of three trail guides, including the Georgia section and Tennessee/North Carolina sections. 

The 275-mile trail starts in Spring Mountain, Ga., like the Appalachian Trail. But, it veers more westerly, skirting the Tennessee state line along the edge of Cherokee, Graham and Swain counties, reaching from the southern tip of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and all the way to Georgia.

The Benton MacKaye Trail is named for the visionary behind the Appalachian Trail. It follows MacKaye’s original vision for the AT, which consisted of a more westerly route. It has been in the making for 30 years thanks to a loyal trail association that has diligently pursued its construction.

The new guide was authored by Association Board Members Richard Harris, Ernest Engman and Kim Hainge. Each section’s guide can be purchased at the Association’s online store for $10.

www.bmta.org.

Public submissions are being accepted for a statewide outdoor photography contest. The Friends of the Mountain to Sea Trail are offering cash prizes, gift cards for outdoor gear and the chance to have participants’ photographs published. Photos must be related to the trail and will be judged in three categories: The View from the Trail; People on the Trail; and Youth Photographer (17 or under).

The deadline for submitting photos in this second annual contest is midnight on Wednesday, Oct. 31. To enter the contest, read the rules and submit photographs visit www.ncmst.org/get-involved/photo-contest.

Author’s works come to life

The Touring Theater of North Carolina will present “Look Back the Maytime Days: From the pages of Fred Chappell” at 2 p.m. Nov. 15 in the Haywood Community College Auditorium.

Chappell was born in Canton and is the author of over two dozen books of poetry, fiction and criticism. He was the Poet Laureate of North Carolina from 1997-2002 and a N.C. Literary Hall of Fame inductee in 2006.

Audiences will meet wise, eccentric, playful and profound members of Fred Chappell’s fictional family as they converse, expound, and exaggerate. This production is an Appalachian rhapsody of voices taken from the ridges and hollows of the mountains of North Carolina and woven together with traditional mountain music. At the close of the event, Chappell will be on hand for a book signing.  

www.haywood.edu.

Mississippi writer’s to discuss new works

Two Mississippi authors, Angela Jordan and Molly Walling, will be showcased at 3 p.m. Nov. 3 at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville.

The account of maverick governor Kirk Fordice and his family, Jordan’s We End in Joy: Memoirs of a First Daughter offers an perspective on public life in an intimate account from the daughter of a controversial Southern governor and a widely beloved first lady.

Walling, author of Death in the Delta: Uncovering a Mississippi Family Secret, is a non-fiction book about the shooting death of two returning black soldiers on the Mississippi Delta just after World War II. It also beings into light the suspected involvement of her own newspaper editor father, a returning bomber pilot, during a time of roiling change in the deep South.

Jordan now lives in Haywood County and Walling resides in Buncombe County. The event is free and open to the public.

828.456.6000 or www.blueridgebooksnc.com.

To the Editor:

Do you wish that your child got less attention from the teacher because teachers and their aids are getting laid off while enrollment increases? Do you wish that you could subsidize other peoples’ tuition at private schools? Do you wish that your child’s college tuition would continue to go up because of cuts to higher education budgets?  

Do you wish that your friends or relatives with asthma would have more and worse attacks because regulations on ozone producing air pollution have been relaxed? Do you wish that emergency responders response time would slow down because so many have been laid off? Do you wish that you and your children would have more salmonella and listeria infections because there are fewer inspectors of the food supply? Do you wish that your children would have more sickness from playing in the river because water treatment plant maintenance and inspections have been reduced?  

Do you wish that your medical insurance premiums would continue to be higher because hospitals must charge you for the uninsured patients that show up in the emergency room?  

Yes, these things cost money, but if these are the things that you wish for, vote for the Tea Party Republicans. They’ve already delivered on some of these and more are promised. If these are not what you wish for your family, friends, community and state, then vote Democratic.

John Gladden

Franklin

To the Editor:

During the 11th District Congressional debate at Brevard College, Hayden Rogers clearly distinguished himself from his Republican opponent Mark Meadows.  In my opinion, Rogers made the best connection with the audience, but I think the most important point in the debate occurred when the candidates were asked (if elected) who they would support as the leader of the U. S. House of Representatives. Without hesitation, Hayden said his choice would be Steny Hoyer – a highly respected  Democratic statesman who nurtures friendly relationships with many top Republicans and is widely recognized for his willingness to reach across the aisle to promote civility and collaboration.   

In contrast, Meadows identified House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, a Tea Party favorite who is responsible for much of the infighting within the Republican Party and, by his own admission, identifies Newt Gingrich as his leadership model. Cantor has been described as the “classic Republican obstructionist who has become the face of the current do nothing Congress.“ If we have any hope of improving the current gridlock in Washington, you cannot vote for a candidate who chooses “Can’t Do” Cantor as his leader. I urge you to vote for Hayden Rogers.

Nancy Fish

Maggie Valley

To the Editor:

Do our politicians that run for public offices really care about our future, or are they just thinking of theirs? Just over two years ago Swain County had the golden opportunity to land a construction project — the North Shore Road — that would have created almost 1,000 construction jobs and well over $14 million dollars in retail sales alone. Not to mention the associated benefits of trickle down jobs. On the national average, one construction job touches no less than three to five other professions. 

All of this because of our elected officials and candidates in this election are not standing up for Swain County and Western North Carolina. Politicians like John Snow, Joe Sam Queen, Hayden Rogers, and Walter Dalton are only interested in their election and selfish interests. Now, these same individuals that are running for public office in this election are asking us to trust them, when they have turned their backs on us and our region. 

Who are these guys kidding? There would have been a huge economic windfall for the years of the construction and the rest of the future. This project would have given many opportunities for individuals to access our county, our region and our state into the future. We lost these jobs and retail sales because they were and are not supportive of us, the people they say they want to represent. Their records speak for themselves, regardless of the rhetoric they constantly spout. 

Raleigh Grant 

Bryson City

To the Editor,

Recently a friend of mine said to me: “Mormonism sure is a strange religion.” How so, I asked, and was shown Doug Wingeier’s letter in your Oct 24 issue.

Mr. Wingeier makes a fine point that we should not base our vote solely on a candidate’s religion. Yet one’s religious beliefs often determine how one leads his life and what is his or her world view, and these are valid considerations in determining how one votes.

I then read Mr. Wingeier’s synopsis of Mormon tenets and was shocked. I am not a Mormon, but this was far removed from what little I did know about them. What to do? I went to the World Book Encyclopedia and looked it up. There were the tenets I had expected to see in stark contrast with the mishmash presented by Mr. Wingeier.

He strongly objects to “spreading misinformation” when it comes to the president, but, it seems, not so much regarding his opponent. The discrepancies between Wingeier’s Mormonism and that of the World Book is so great that it is either a case of willful ignorance or deliberate malice. It only took a moment to get the truth, but how much damage was done to those who just believe what they read?

William Fisher 

Franklin

To the Editor:

I was born January 1933, and I have been a student of our state and our nation’s political and legislative scenes for some 70 years and counting. During those many years I have been able to evaluate, for myself, many political figures and legislators. And there is a difference, in my view. 

One of the very best is Rep. Ray Rapp. Due to space restrictions, I’ll limit my superlatives here. In my 70 years, I can not recall a harder worker. Even when he had a close family member with a serious and mysterious illness, Ray kept going, night and day, to care for his kin and his elected job. He is very capable, honest, fair and dedicated to helping any and all of his constituents. Now, the N.C. Republicans and his opponent, Michelle Presnell, want to paint him as “being out of touch” with North Carolina. I say no way.

Because Ray supported keeping a 1 cent sales tax for schools, his opposition changed this to a “15 percent increase” that sounds worse. He rightfully says “if we do not adequately fund education, we are eating our seed corn.”

Meanwhile these no-tax people quietly let a state gas tax increase go in to effect. Of course, the gas tax increase did not punish the North Carolina Association of Educators, as the 1 cent sales tax did.

I would encourage anyone concerned about our children and our citizens’ futures to look past these mudslinging ads paid for by billionaires that do not care squat about you and I, the common folk, and reelect a fine upright man that fits the mold of a Democrat as defined by the late Sen. McGovern, “Above all, being a Democrat, means having compassion for others and it means standing up for people that have been kept down.”

May God continue to bless America.

 John C Scroggs

Clyde

To the Editor:

I am writing to ask for your support for Hayden Rogers for Congress. When I look at the two candidates running for the 11th Congressional District, I see a definite difference that does not relate to their political parties. Mark Meadows states his positions with “I believe” or other “I” statements, while Mr. Rogers uses “you” or “the district.” 

Mr. Rogers wants to do what’s best for the district and says he will work with both political parties to get that done. I have listened to Mr. Meadows. He hasn’t said anything about working with both parties, especially in the presidential election. It takes a strong person who truly cares about the people of his district to say that they will do what is best rather than pushing their own ideas.

 Mr. Rogers has experience in Washington but still embodies the best of our district. He is a family man who believes in education and bettering the people of this area. He supports the Lily Ledbetter Act, which maintains equal pay for women for equal work. As a woman, I do not know how any women could support a candidate like Mr. Meadows who is against this act. Remember, Mr. Rogers is here to support you — Democrat or Republican. Please support Mr. Rogers, whether you are a Democrat or Republican, on Election Day!

Stephanie Edwards DeBruhl

Bryson City

To The Editor: 

Both parties have some valid points that need to be examined.

But very simply, one party has spent the past four years doing all it could to disrupt the people’s business and thereby extend the recession, causing the unnecessary suffering of millions of Americans.

That party has wrongfully and in my mind unlawfully punished the American people solely for voting a “black man” into the presidency.

From top to bottom, that party should not get a single vote from the American people.

Bill Lyons

Cullowhee

To the Editor:

Neither of our presidential candidates has reached the stage of perfection. Neither has all the answers to all the challenges. But when I see a foreign policy of arrogance and unilateralism replaced by a policy of openness and cooperation; when I see a national economy moving from the brink of collapse toward stable recovery (though moving slowly); when I see people who were once without health insurance, now with coverage (although the plan needs perfecting); when I see the American automobile industry rising from near death to a flourishing industry, saving millions of jobs; when I see Wall Street now having to abide by some rules that may save us from another debacle there; when I look at the recovery of much of my pension losses; then I think I would like to give President Obama a chance to build on the remarkable achievements of his first four years.

I do not agree with all his policies and statements, but I like his broad vision and he is consistent about what he believes. He is not as liberal as some would like. He is not as conservative as others would prefer. I believe this country will be better off with him at the helm and I enthusiastically and hopefully cast my vote for President Obama.    

Garland Young

Lake Junaluska

To the Editor:

Some 30 years ago about 33 national broadcast companies existed.  Today approximately five provide an extremely limited and controlled source of information for a population of more than 360 million. These broadcast companies know their audience and “frame” their message to appeal to their particular populations.  While the presentation varies, when we look beyond the framing, the message stays amazingly consistent across networks. As a result, we Americans remain largely in the dark as to the ramifications of many of the laws and policies that directly affect us but have an overblown sense of being well-informed. It might be safe to say that we the American public are high on confirmation bias and on fixation of our preconceived notions, overconfident in our opinions, and rigidly persistent in our beliefs — without much evidence to support most of our conclusions.

We watch with feverish attention, staged and carefully scripted debates. The so-called “non-partisan” Commission on Presidential Debates tightly controls the content but never fails to deliver up a well-orchestrated but low-on-substance theatrical extravaganza.  Though the commission strictly forbids any voice other than the narrow and well-rehearsed perspectives of the GOP and Democratic parties, we believe because we are told to believe, that these spectacles provide us with a broad and informed perspective. 

The statement, “He who owns the news, makes the news” holds true for our current times. To find a developed nation more propagandized than today’s USA, we have to step several decades back in time. Propaganda is made of lies that are framed to look like truths. 

Blinded by our propaganda, we have become a nation that believes these truths to be self-evident, that all humans are created unequal, and that some more than others are endowed by their Creator with the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In this great nation, many believe the ludicrous assertion that class warfare is perpetrated by the powerless and disenfranchised poor upon the privileged and influential wealthy. We are provoked to love Jesus but hate our neighbor if he or she is different. We can patriotically wave the flag for God and Country but can- not enjoy the freedom to assemble non-violently in protest. Pseudo-scientists are popularly supported, while valid scientific evidence is deemed ridiculous. It is the moon that shines by day, the sun by night and we believe because our favorite ideology says it is so.   

Somewhere, though, there is truth but it is not to be found in the well-framed propaganda of our selected network or our favorite polarized website. Truth is always elusive and even more so in an environment where it is deliberately and methodically obviated.  Though allusive and challenging to ascertain, truth is always here to be unearthed.

Truth does not support one party or another. Truth informs and educates. It is often inconvenient. We discover truth when we challenge our bias, when we let go of imbedded two party fixations, and when we question the reliability of our propagandized opinions.

Allen Lomax

Sylva

The Haywood County Chamber of Commerce Women in Business and the Young Professionals of Haywood have launched the “Partners in Leadership” mentoring program. 

“Partners in Leadership” is designed to prepare Haywood County Young Professional Women (YPW) to become future business leaders by connecting them with seasoned Women in Business (WIB) professionals (Leadership Coaches) in their field. Through a formal mentor-mentee relationship, Leadership Coaches (WIB) will guide Young Professional Women (YPW) through the process of developing professional/career goals, helping them gain the skills necessary to achieve them.  

828.456.3021 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or www.yphaywood.com.

A “net zero home” constructed in Haywood County will have an open house from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 3 and 10.

Located in Beaverdam Valley, the structure strikes an elusive balance between work and play. It produces all the power it needs on site to operate and in the future will produce much of the food — meat, eggs, vegetables and fruits — its occupants will need to thrive. It also sports a brass firepole and a hidden room for a kid’s getaway. The 2,000-square-foot home of Val Lamberti and Mark Bondurant was completed in July 2012 by Rare Earth Builders Inc. 

The metal standing seam roof supports a 4.8-kilowatt solar array and will also be used to gather rain water for irrigation. A ground-based high efficiency heat pump heats and cools the passive solar home. Wall and roof cavities are insulated with sprayed open cell foam. An energy recovery ventilator brings fresh, filtered air into the house.

Bondurant and Lamberti are gradually installing the elements of a permaculture site plan that includes a large vegetable garden, tilled and fertilized by free range chickens, a greenhouse, a fish pond, honey bee hives and fruit and nut trees. The driving principle for the home’s interior was lots of curves, brilliant color and finely crafted trim and built-ins from local hardwoods. All of the trim wood — cherry, birch and poplar — was cut by the Rare Earth Builders crew, three miles away, then kiln dried and milled locally. 

From Beaverdam Road, turn right on Smathers Cove Road. Cross bridge, turn left onto first gravel road (house will be visible on left after crossing bridge on Smathers Cove Road).

Microchip your pet to ensure safety

Haywood Spay/Neuter is holding a pet microchip clinic 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3 in Waynesville. 

Many dogs and cats end up in shelters because they lack proper identification to be returned to their owners. A microchip can help identify a lost pet. For a fee of $15, a pet can be permanently registered. If the owner moves, changes phone number or gives the pet away, registration information can be easily and quickly updated anytime with no additional fee. The microchip is a permanent form of identification, the size of a grain of rice, and is injected into the space between the pet’s shoulder blades.

828.452.1329.

Silent auction to benefit K.A.R.E.

The newly formed Haywood Area Wholistic Integrative Practitioners group (HAWIP) is throwing a silent auction and reception at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10 at Where Angels Gather, a holistic retail store and education center at 124 Miller Street in Waynesville.

HAWIP members are actively gathering donated items and gift certificates from local businesses and service providers/practitioners. Donations will be accepted until Thursday, Nov. 8.

All funds raised will go to Kids Advocacy Resource Effort (K.A.R.E.), a local organization dedicated to relieving the suffering of abused and neglected children through counseling, education and compassion.

828.558.4139 or 828.246.2682 or 828.550.7685.

WCU planning committee to hold community forum 

A steering committee overseeing the creation of a comprehensive master plan to guide development and improvements of Western Carolina University’s Cullowhee campus will hold its first public forum from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5 at the Cullowhee Valley School.

A direct outgrowth of the university’s recently approved strategic plan, titled “2020 Vision: Focusing Our Future,” the campus master planning process will address issues related to new building needs, utilization of existing space, parking and transportation, technology infrastructure, sustainability, safety and security, preservation of campus heritage and integration of the campus with the surrounding community. 

828.227.3082 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

WCU presents ‘Love Your Body Week’ 

 Programs and events centered on nutrition, fitness and developing a positive body image will be hosted at Western Carolina University as part of an annual celebration of “Love Your Body Week” from Monday, Nov. 12 to Thursday, Nov. 15.

Events include nutrition assessments 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 12 and Nov. 15, a clothes swap from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 12, a race across campus at 4 p.m. Nov. 13, an introduction to weights session from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13, “Celebrate! A Belly-Dancing Workshop” from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 13, and “The Secrets of Powerful Women” leadership class from 12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. Nov. 15.

To register a team of two to four people for the race across campus (Amazing Catamount Challenge), email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or register in Room 331 of A.K. Hinds University Center by Sunday, Nov. 11. 

828.227.2617.