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By Brent Martin

For those who have read Charles Frazier’s excellent Western North Carolina tale, Thirteen Moons, you will most likely remember his descriptions of the dark Nantahala Mountains and the vivid imagery associated with their empty night skies and spirit-filled forests.

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By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer

If all goes as planned, Haywood County will one day be home to a 4,500-acre mega-resort that could drastically change the face of tourism in Western North Carolina — and what it means to call Haywood County home.

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By Jennifer Garlesky • Staff Writer

Voters in Macon County rejected a $42.1 million bond that would have provided new funding to build new schools, leaving county officials no choice but to seek out alternative funding.

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By Chris Cooper

Every so often a few releases slip beneath the radar, or at least my radar. Massachusetts based Rounder Records released a few (honestly, more than a few) fine recordings over the last year, notably those by endearingly oddball pop veterans They Might Be Giants and the disarmingly talented NY duo Dean and Britta.

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By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer

It’s been more than a week since Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue raised some eyebrows with his atypical approach to getting rain to fall in the drought-ravaged state. With no rainfall in site and the lake supplying Atlanta’s water rapidly dwindling, Perdue joined 250 citizens in a last ditch effort to combat the drought — he bowed his head and prayed.

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By Brent Martin • Contributing Writer

I recently met with Merritt Fouts, a multi-generational resident of Macon County, to talk about his family’s syrup making that would take place the next day. Merritt is a retired school principal and editor of the weekly e-newspaper, The Burningtown News.

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By Jennifer Garlesky • Staff Writer

As Jackson County officials work to develop a plan to regulate commercial growth along U.S. 441, officials from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians say a partnership needs to be formed to ensure that the area’s economic development fits both parties’ needs.

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These days Americans aren’t known for making tough choices. To the contrary, our national reputation is one of being soft. We eat too many bad foods and complain about our health, sit around way too much instead of exercising, and continue to drive gas-guzzling, huge cars when we know they damage the environment and play into the hands of foreign dictators who control the oil.

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By Jennifer Garlesky & Becky Johnson • Staff Writers

An influential yet controversial figure in public policy is reclaiming a leadership post in the mountains three years after his forced departure as Haywood County’s manager.

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By Julia Merchant and Becky Johnson • Staff Writers

One of the consultants involved in pulling off Cataloochee Wilderness Resorts — a 4,500 acre development supposedly coming to Haywood County — has raised some eyebrows in the community.

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By Jennifer Garlesky • Staff Writer

Sylva town board member Danny Allen conceded his race against fellow board member Ray Lewis on Monday, settling the tie between the two candidates following the Nov. 6 election.

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By Michael Beadle

For the longest time, Buffy Queen and John Buckley wanted to share their love of movies with other people. As avid film fans, they’d see an amazing documentary and say to themselves, “People need to see this.”

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By Jennifer Garlesky • Staff Writer

Members of Jackson County Smart Roads Alliance are sifting through paperwork at the North Carolina Department of Transportation Division 14 office in Webster to find out how the Southern Loop road project suddenly appeared on the state priority list.

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“And they’re hanging their stockings!” he snarled with a sneer.

“Tomorrow is Christmas! It’s practically here!”

Then he growled, with his grinch fingers nervously drumming,

“I MUST find a way to keep Christmas from coming!”

— The Grinch

 

Most readers will recognize where those words are from, whether or not they have read the entire poem, seen the original movie or even the remake. Most of us can imagine a scene, a personal memory of what Christmas Eve and Christmas morning was like growing up, or what it’s like watching your own kids on Christmas morning. Most of those scenes are pleasant, memories that bring a smile to your face, make your heart a little warm?

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I was 22 years old in 1967. Although it’s become fashionable to downgrade the sweeping changes brought about by my generation to the meaningless antics of a bunch of spaced-out druggies and naive idealists, history confirms that we really shook things up in the 1960s. We advanced civil rights, women’s liberation, gay rights, and free speech; we became environmentally aware; we exposed and brought down the dark reign of Nixonian evil, we said no to an imbecilic war, blind conformity and government censorship. Yes we had our nut cases and, yes, we made our mistakes, but overall we made a real and positive difference. This great worldwide birth contraction was spearheaded by young people.

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By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer

Looking to start your own business? You should do well in Western North Carolina. Seeking a job in traditional manufacturing? Good luck, experts say — it won’t be easy to find.

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“The Santaland Diaries”

If you’re reading this, you may already be too late — get thee right now to a phone and call the Asheville Community Theater to reserve tickets for David Sedaris’ short story turned play, “The Santaland Diaries.” Sedaris’ account of a season as an elf in the Macy’s department store bears the NPR favorite’s typical caustic wit, self-deprecation and tremendous observation skills. Tom Chalmers, former Artistic Director of NYC’s Gotham City Improv/Groundlings East, stars in this one-man show. The play has sold out for the past four years — you’d think with that success they’d add a few more shows, as it only runs Dec. 14-16. Note that the show is NOT recommended for children. Tickets are $10 and can be reserved by calling, 828.254.1320.

 

Making a Gift List

I’m a firm believer in never getting to old to make a list of what you want for the holidays. It clears up any confusion and helps ensure warm feelings all the way around for the gift giver and those on the receiving end. And if someone says that they really don’t want anything, make a donation in their name to a local charity and present them with a card stating such.

 

Godiva Chocolates

I’ve been a sucker for Godiva ever since my aunt introduced me to them (note that the phrasing is not the other way around) when I was about seven years old. These days they’re much more accessible, but remain special to my heart. There are full-on Godiva stores here and there, though none local to WNC, so instead head online to www.godiva.com. There’s a holiday collection featuring everything from nothing but white chocolate, a hot cocoa sampler, Hanukkah ballotins, truffles, chocolate Santas, cordials and absurdly large gift baskets. I know that we need more holiday treats like we need a hole in the head, but personally I’ve never let that stop me.

— By Sarah Kucharski

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Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park appear to have hit a home run with a new license plate design sporting the image of a black bear.

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Rumors have been circulating for years about the proposed mega-development in the Jonathan Creek area, the one with a thousand houses and a huge retail center that would take advantage of the area’s proximity to Interstate 40 and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Well, now that those plans are out of the bag, so to speak, the one thing people in the affected area should be reminded of is this: it’s going to take a grassroots effort that pulls out all the stops to prevent a development like this from getting under way.

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By Chris Cooper

It hardly needs to be said that the banjo has taken major leaps in the hands of certain talented players over the years. It’s job as the “rhythmic glue” in traditional bluegrass continues, but has also evolved and found a unique voice in the more complex harmonies of jazz, “newgrass,” and all points in between. And the award winning playing of Tony Trischka has been a major force in taking the instrument to these new places for some 40 years or so.

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By Jennifer Garlesky • Staff Writer

Kathy Sherrard and Anne Allison have dedicated their lives to educating the public about black bears.

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By David Curtis

Wool socks, silk long johns, cotton turtleneck, boots, down vest, wool jacket, Gortex insulated camo gloves. Deer hunting? No, Friday night high school football in late November, expected temperature at game time — 27 degrees.

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By Jennifer Garlesky • Staff Writer

Imagine having the flu and sitting in a folding chair in a crowded waiting room for five hours just to see a doctor. For those with no health insurance this is probably the best option when seeking care for minor illnesses. An office visit to a family physician could cost at least $100, and that’s not including prescription costs.

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By Jennifer Garlesky • Staff Writer

Macon County commissioners spoke in favor of committing nearly $40 million to fund school construction at their meeting Nov. 26 but stopped short of taking any formal vote on the projects.

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By Julia Merchant • Staff Writer

Sarge’s Animal Rescue has scrapped its plans to build a no-kill animal shelter in a location that was fiercely opposed by nearby residents.

The Haywood County non-profit originally won approval to build the shelter on Oct. 9 by asking the board of aldermen for a text amendment that would allow for animal shelters to be a permitted use in the Hall Top Road Rural District, a residential area located off Russ Avenue near K-Mart in Waynesville.

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By Garret K. Woodward • Staff Writer

If Norman Rockwell ever ventured out of New England, as the crow flies, he may have found himself in downtown Waynesville.

And if Rockwell had packed a blank canvas and a rusty toolbox of untouched acrylics into his vintage station wagon, he may have painted the scene that unraveled in front of the courthouse last Friday evening.

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By Garret K. Woodward • Staff writer

I had just finished my third steamed carrot when the yelling began.

It was a group of men, with faces of power and a seemingly euphoric rage. With backs to each other, their bodies pointed in every direction, chests being pounded to the point red hand marks emerged. Tongues stick out furiously in a unique and precise tribal fashion that would make even Gene Simmons question if he was doing it correctly when he was onstage.

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Dr. Dan Pittillo will explore the natural history of the southern Appalachians at 7 p.m. on Aug. 2 at the Highlands Nature Center as part of the Zahner Conservation Lecture series.

In a geological discussion, Pittillo will go back to the theory of plate tectonics and consider how mountain building took place here in the southern Appalachians. Did we have peaks pushed up to 15,000 to 20,000 feet or might it have been less dramatic? He will use case studies in the Flat Laurel Gap at Pisgah, Craggy Gardens, and Panthertown Valley to get clues of how these processes have been contributing to our very biodiversity.

Dr. Andrew Methven will discuss “Highlands Fungi: The good, the bad, and the deadly” at the next lecture, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Aug. 9.

The southern Appalachian Mountains are world-renowned for an incredibly rich diversity of fleshy fungi, especially mushrooms.  This lecture will introduce participants to some of the common and unusual fungi that can be encountered on a walk through the woods in the vicinity of Highlands. Attendees are encouraged to bring mushrooms for identification before or after the lecture! 

All Zahner lectures take place at the Highlands Nature Center. www.highlandsbiological.org or call 828.526.2221.

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A Farm to School project will provide food awareness and better nutrition education for students and staff at five Haywood County school while also helping local farmers.

The project — funded by a $22,000 grant from the Community Foundation and its affiliate Fund for Haywood County — is designed to address concerns about nutrition and health and the disappearance of small farms. The program supports farmers by increasing sales and diversifying markets. Students, teachers and staff at Bethel Elementary, Jonathan Valley Elementary, North Canton Elementary, Riverbend Elementary and Waynesville Middle School are taking part in the project. In addition to local healthy food served in cafeterias, the program includes farm field trips, cooking demonstrations, nutrition education and school gardens.

The project will serve about 3,000 students and staff at the five school sites, comprising nearly 40 percent of Haywood County Schools’ enrollment.

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Volunteers are being sought for a workday at Cataloochee Ranch in Haywood County that will enhance the habitat for migratory birds and improve water quality.

The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) and Nature Valley are partnering with the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy to coordinate the workday, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 28.

The schedule of activities for the day includes:

• 8:45-9 a.m.: Volunteers arrive, sign in, waivers.

• 9:10 a.m.: Intro and welcome, recognize partners, share plan for day.

• 9:20 a.m.: Split into project groups, head to project site.

• Bird group: led by Chris and Margot.

• Trail group: led by Hanni and Allison.

• 9:30 a.m.: At worksite: work for three hours, snacks provided.

• 12:30 p.m.: Bird habitat group finishes work.

• 12:50 p.m.: Trail crew finishes work, hikes to top of Hemphill Bald.

• 1 p.m.: Catered lunch all together at top of Hemphill Bald. Informal presentation/discussion on conservation from a landowner’s perspective and what SAHC is doing in the Smokies focus area.

• 1:50 p.m.: shuttle ready to take people back to parking area.

• 2 p.m.: program officially ends

To register call 828.253.0095, ext. 212, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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 A $20,000 reward is being offered for information about the recent killing of three elk near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the Mount Sterling area of Haywood County. 

Last month, the North Carolina Wildlife Federation offered a $5,000 reward. The conservation organization has pledged up to the new amount to a person who provides information about the elk killings that directly leads to an arrest, a criminal conviction, a civil penalty assessment, or forfeiture of property by the subject or subjects responsible.



The three elk were killed around May 18, one bull with a .22 caliber firearm, a cow with a birdshot from a shotgun, and a pregnant cow with a undetermined gunshot.

“We feel strongly that this malicious and cowardly act of illegal activity has no place in North Carolina,” said Tim Gestwicki, executive director of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation. “We are upping the ante to hopefully entice anyone with information to come forth.”

The poached elk were part of a reintroduction program by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that began in 2002.  Initially, 25 elk were brought to Cataloochee Valley where the herd has grown to 140 but have now spread beyond the park boundary. People come from far and wide to view the elk, significantly supporting local tourism.



Anyone with information is encouraged to call the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission toll free wildlife violations number at 800.662.7137. Any awarded monies do not have to be made public..



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out cleanupWhile heavy rains have washed wayward trash into creeks in recent weeks, kids from Whitehouse, Tenn., helped scoured the banks of Richland Creek in Waynesville for litter as part of a summer youth project for Whitehouse First United Methodist Church.

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out starlabSeveral all-day Space Science Labs for adults or kids will be held on various dates in late July and early August at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute, led by working astronomers and engineers.

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out horsesTreading lightly on the land isn’t always easy if you’re sitting on top of 1,000 pounds and four stout hooves, but backcountry horsemen in the Smokies have been learning new practices for minimizing their impact to the environment while trail riding and camping with horses.

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park is recruiting volunteers to help staff the visitor contact station at Clingmans Dome through Nov. 30.            

The visitor station at Clingmans Dome sits at an elevation of 6,300 feet and is a point source of information for the national park and the high elevation spruce fir ecosystem, in particular. Volunteers are needed to assist in educating visitors about the Park while also providing recreational, trip planning, and directional information.

The information center, constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, originally served as a comfort station but was converted into a seasonal information center in 2010. It also includes a bookstore area managed by the Great Smoky Mountains Association.

“In the past, visitors to this popular destination did not have a chance to obtain information on their high elevation visit or have questions answered,” said Park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson. Volunteers will work alongside Association employees and are asked to work at least one four-hour shift per week through November. The hours will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Interested persons will be provided with an orientation and training before beginning at the contact station. Training is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 14.

To sign up for training, call 828.497.1906.

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Learn about the early locomotives and logging railroads that once wound their way through mountain hollers and hillsides during the annual Train History Day at the Cradle of Forestry on Saturday, July 28.

Western North Carolina train historian Jerry Ledford will give a talk at 10:30 a.m. and again at 2 p.m. featuring historic photos of logging trains and their crews, and footage of steam engines in action. After his talk, Ledford will lead the group to see the narrow-gauge Climax locomotive on exhibit at the Cradle of Forestry.

A hands-on railroad yard and miniature replica of a scale switching layout will be set up by the Asheville Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, showing how railroad cars moved within the yard using switch tracks. See pictures from Southern Railway in the 1950s, old railroad lanterns and other railroad memorabilia.

Admission to the Cradle of Forestry is $5 for adults and free for youth under 16 years of age. Located on U.S. 276 four miles south of the Blue Ridge Parkway. 828.877.3130 or go to www.cradleofforestry.org.

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Kids can get up close and personal with wolves and their owner, Trapper Rob, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 27.

Rob Gudger and his program “Wolf Tales” is so popular that it is returning for a repeat performance. The free program, which “sold out” when it first came to the Jackson library last month, lasts about an hour.

Topics include the hunting and social behaviors of wolves, the benefits of protecting wild wolves in natural ecosystems, conservation efforts, dispelling myths and misconceptions, and, of course, the chance to interact with a wolf. The wolves are gentle, and Trapper Rob encourages participants to pet them.

While the program is free, due to high demand and limited space, “tickets” will be handed out to the first 75 people in line starting at 1:30 p.m. Anyone who received tickets at the previous Wolf Tales program but could not attend due to space limitations will be given first priority and should bring the tickets they were originally given.

828.586.2016. 

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A class for people who have an interest in the benefits of raising their own chickens and/or turkeys will be held at the Stecoah Valley Center from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 6.

Raising poultry can provide fresh homegrown food and free fertilizer for flowers or vegetables.

Topics covered are breed types, purchasing and raising chicks, housing, food and water, breeding and broodiness, a discussion on butchering, diseases, and manure control. This class will also include a heritage turkey dinner with all the fixings and a tour of a small-scale poultry flock setup. $50.

The Stecoah Valley Center is located on N.C. 28 about 30 minutes west of Bryson City. www.Stecoahvalleycenter.com or call 828.479.3364.

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out frBy Melanie Threlkeld McConnell • Correspondent

A rolling stone gathers no moss, so says the proverb, but it would if Annie Martin had her way — and be the better for it.

Martin, also known as Mossin’ Annie, is leaving her mark on the world — literally — with moss, and she’s hoping others will too, after they see her signature moss garden at the Highlands Biological Station.

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Curtis Sikes and Sheena Kohlmeyer will present their new children’s book, The Heart of a King, at 11 a.m. on July 28 at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.  

The Heart of a King tells the story of a young lion prince named Leo and his journey to find his roar. Along the way he receives help and advice from some of the animals in his father’s kingdom. To reserve a copy of the book call City Lights Bookstore at 828.586.9499.

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The Jackson County Public Library in Sylva will host author Dennis Murphy at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 31, for an introduction to his novel, Brain Waves, and a discussion of the process of publishing a novel.

The book deals with near-death experiences, and his program at the library will also address whether such phenomena should be considered as primarily physiological or supernatural. Set in Colorado, Costa Rica and on the fringe of heaven, Brain Waves is an inspirational medical suspense novel. A tale of revenge and intrigue turns into a story of forgiveness as protagonist Mark Farrell struggles to avoid entering heaven too soon.

This program is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Jackson County Public Library. 828.586.2016.

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The Haywood Arts Regional Theatre will hold auditions for its October production of the hit Broadway musical “The Light in the Piazza” at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 5-6.

The production is being directed by Charles Mills and opens on Oct. 5 for a three-weekend run.

The show with music by Adam Guettel and a book by Craig Lucas tells the story of a woman from Winston-Salem who journeys in the 1950s to Florence, Italy with her learning impaired daughter. The daughter finds romance, and the mother must make some hard choices. There are leading roles for four women and four men with additional supporting roles and chorus.  

Actors auditioning as professionals should come with a headshot and resume, as well as a prepared audition piece. Community theater actors should come with sheet music and a prepared song. All actors will be given the opportunity to read from the script. Anyone interested in working backstage on the production is also encouraged to come by during auditions to sign up. Auditions will be held in the Feichter Studio of the HART Theatre, 250 Pigeon St. in Waynesville.

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Two-time Emmy winning comedian, Grammy nominee and best-selling author Kathy Griffin will appear at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 11.

Griffin is a multi-faceted performer with rapid-fire wit. She has been making audiences laugh for years discussing Hollywood gossip and celebrity blunders. Griffin has had recurring roles on ER, Seinfeld, Suddenly Susan and Law Order SVU, plus numerous HBO and Bravo comedy specials.

Tickets available at www.ticketmaster.com.

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Local actress Barbara Bates Smith will star in a one-woman benefit performance titled “Go, Granny,Go: A Walk to Washington to Set’em Straight,” at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 4 at the HART Theater.

The play is the memoir of Doris “Granny D” Haddock. Jeff Sebens of Cana, Va., will provide musical accompaniment. As an added attraction, Men on a Mission, a Haywood County gospel choir, will sing.

In February 2000, 90-year-old Doris “Granny D” Haddock became a national heroine when she completed her 3,200-mile, 14-month walk from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., to bring attention to the issue of campaign finance reform.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. They may be purchased at Haywood County Democratic Headquarters, located at 286 Haywood Square, in Waynesville. The headquarters is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.

828.452.9607 or haywooddemocrats.org.

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art gemboreeGem and mineral dealers and rock hounds from across the country will converge on Franklin for the 47th Annual Macon County Gemboree July 26-29.

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art interviewsThe hour-long radio show “Stories of Mountain Folk” airs every Saturday at 9 a.m. on Jackson County’s WRGC Radio at 540 AM.

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art rollergirlsKrista Robb of the Smoky Mountain Roller Girls will give a program and slide show presentation on modern Roller Derby at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 26, in the community room of the Jackson County Public Library.

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The Macon County Library in Franklin will hold two programs on July 26.

Avid coin collector Paul Biery will present a program on American Coins at 11 a.m. in the meeting room.

Biery has been collecting coins for more than 35 years and is an expert in the field of the history of American coinage and in the evaluation of old and rare coins. He will describe historic American coins, where they were minted, and how U.S. coinage has evolved over the years. Feel free to bring old coins for Biery.

Later, at 7 p.m., Becky Lipkin will host a program titled “Let’s Make Soap.”

At this “make-and-take” workshop, participants will be able to create their own soaps.

For more information call 828.524.3600 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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A class teaching beginning faux finish instruction will be held from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Aug. 4 at the Leapin’ Frog Gallery in Waynesville.

Instructor is Teir Siewert of Wallchemy, and the cost is $75.

Siewert was trained in designer wall finishes at the internationally renowned Faux Effects Studio in Vero Beach, Fla. and is a PDRA Certified Faux Consultant.

828.456.8441.

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Local artists and artisans in Swain and surrounding counties are invited to submit up to four original works of art for the annual community art exhibit at the Swain County Center for the Arts.

Artwork for this nine-week exhibit will be received in the lobby of the Center for the Arts from 8-11 a.m. on Monday, July 30, or earlier by appointment. All artwork should be available for display through the end of September and can be priced to sell.

The artwork can be done in any medium of any appropriate subject — sculptures, paintings, drawings, photographs, needlework, etchings, batiks, weaving, wall hangings, pottery, baskets, jewelry or other original handcrafted items. Artwork for the wall should be ready to hang with wire attached. Works on paper should be framed under glass or plexiglas or they can be matted and shrink-wrapped without a frame.

Each submitted piece should have a 3-by-5-inch card attached with name, address, and phone number. Also, identify the artwork by title, the medium you used to create it, and the price if you wish to sell it. Write “NFS” if the piece is not for sale.

828.488.7843 or www.swain.k12.nc.us/cfta.

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