CCC plans Canton clean-up

The Commission for a Clean County is planning a cleanup in Canton on April 27 at a site designated by Town Manager Bill Stamey. Commission members will meet at the Canton Town Hall at 9 a.m. Any Haywood County resident willing to help is invited. In May the CCC will do a cleanup in Maggie Valley and in June the group will move to Clyde. For further information about the group or the Canton cleanup call CCC Chairman Bob Phillips at 828.648.2864.

HAWA hosts fund-raising dinner

The Haywood Animal Welfare Association (HAWA) and The Sanctuary at Valley View will be hosting “Cruisin’ for Critters,” a fund-raising dinner and auction on Saturday, May 4. The event will take place at the Waynesville Recreation Center. This is the closing event to the Haywood Chamber’s “Cruise-In,” a ’50s and ’60s happening that Friday and Saturday. Catering will be provided by Connie's Kitchen, and Gene Ferguson will preside over an auction of items donated by area merchants and residents. Tickets are $15, which includes dinner and auction attendance. For more information, please contact Chris at 452.6242 or Eileen at 452.1329.

Philanthropist nominations sought

In preparation for its Second Annual Salute to Philanthropy to be held in October 2002, the Haywood County Community Foundation is accepting suggestions for its Philanthropist of the Year award. This award recognizes one or more individuals each year for their philanthropic achievements in terms of time and resources freely given for the benefit of Haywood County and its people. To suggest an individual for this award, a letter may be submitted stating the reasons why this person exemplifies philanthropy in this county. The award winner will be honored at this year’s Salute to Philanthropy to be held in October. Suggestions for posthumous recognition for this award may also be considered.

Suggestions letters must be post-marked or hand-delivered by May 8. They may be mailed to the following address: Haywood County Community Foundation, Attn. Sam Smith, P.O. Box 234, Waynesville, N.C., 28786. Telephone: 828.456.8113.

Jackson County rec program sign-up begins

Jackson County Recreation and Parks Department is taking applications for the Fun 4 Kids Program, a 9-week summer program for children 6-9 years old. Child must have completed kindergarten and cannot turn 10 years old before June. Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. at the new Recreation Center in Cullowhee. Cost if $450 for nine weeks, $400 for five weeks and $325 for four weeks. Starts June 3. Activities include pool, Poteet Park, East LaPorte park, Quin Theater, Thunder Ally Bowling and Young Harris College Planetarium. For information call 828.586.6333.

Re-enactment planned for June 8

The Waynesville Historical Society meets bi-monthly at the Waynesville Town Hall. Projects for the society include past publication of the Medical History of Haywood County book, sponsoring historic preservation projects in the schools, guest lectures and the annual Civil War Re-enactors. The day-long re-enactment is scheduled for June 8 at the Shelton House in Waynesville. For information about the historical society call 456.3923.

Biologist seeks volunteers

Volunteers needed to help aquatic biologist in the sampling of fish invertebrates in the Little Tennessee River watershed in Macon County. Adults or small groups of supervised children. Any time between May 15 and Aug. 15. Call now to register. 828.369.6820.

4/25

° Haywood County Board of Education will hold a public hearing on the 2002-2003 budget at 7 p.m. at the Education Center in Clyde.

4/26

° The Christian Women’s Club is sponsoring “The Great Race,” a program featuring: Fred Goldsmith, 1992 Sports Illustrated college Coach of the Year and 2001 WNC High School Coach of the Year at Franklin High School; Gerald Goodwin, TV personality and country music performer; and Steven Davis, a former member of Dale Jarrett’s pit crew. Waynesville Country Club from 6:30-8 p.m. $13.50 includes dinner. For reservations call 926.8519, 648.5521, or 648.2874.

° Kindergarten orientation at Riverbend Elementary School in Haywood County. 9 a.m. in the gym.

° Deadline for signing up for the Macon County Senior Games. Registration fee is $10, and forms are available at the county community building, the public library and the Department on Aging. Call Teresa Holbrooks at 828.349.2090 for information.

° Haywood County schools will dismiss at 1 p.m. Call 828.456.2400 for more information.

4/26-4/27

° Smoky Mountain 9-ball Shootout, including categories for wheelchair players. At the Haywood County Fairgrounds. Billiards afficionados from across the country make this event great fun for the entire family.

° KARE will hold a candlelight vigil to remember victims of child abuse. Begins at 4 p.m. at the Haywood County Courthouse and lasts for 30 hours, one hour for each victim. Call KARE at 828.456.8995 if you would like to help.

4/27

° Greening Up the Mountains Festival in downtown Sylva. A celebration of Earth Day and Appalachian culture. Music, food, crafts and fun from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Larry Keel and Curtis Burch lead Main Stage performers. 5k road race at 10 a.m. New Jackson County Museum, housed in the recently renovated Hooper House, will officially open during the festival. For more information call 828.586.1577.

° Kathy Van Kleeck of Bryson City will be teaching a one-day Precious Metal Clay (PMC) workshop at the Nantahala Village Mountain Resort and Meeting Center. Precious Metal Clay (PMC), is a new way to create pure silver jewelry or just about anything else you can imagine. Pieces are shaped with the same techniques as potters clay. But when fired in a kiln, the object is transformed into precious metal. Everything needed to create and finish unique jewelry components will be provided. This workshop is for all levels of experience and everyone will go home with finished pieces. The workshop fee is $90 and includes 1oz of PMC, a polishing kit and lunch. The hours of the workshop will be 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information or to enroll in the class, call Kathy Van Kleeck at 828.488.6395.

° Relay for Life 2002 will be held at the Qualla Civic Center from 6-8 p.m. The Native American Culture Celebration will include singing, storytelling, flute playing, hoop dancing, food and raffles. $3. For information call 828.497.5316.

° Western Style Square Dance hosted by the Pisgah Promenaders at the Waynesville Recreation Center on Boundary Street at 7 p.m. Ken Perkins is the caller and Walt Puckett will be cuing lines. For information call David Porter at 828.586.1633.

° The Creative Thought Center will hold a large garage sale on Saturday in front of Queen’s Farm on Dellwood Road in Waynesville from 7 a.m.-noon. This sale is to benefit the center’s Sunday school. Come early for the best selection. Call 456.9797 if you have items to donate.

4/27

° America’s Clogging Hall of Fame Workshop. Maggie Valley’s Stompin’ Grounds hosts competition and tribute that attracts participants from across the nation. Call 926.1288 for information.

° Commission for a Clean County will host a cleanup day in Canton. Meet at town hall at 9 a.m. Any resident willing to help is invited to take part. For more information call Bob Phillips at 648.2864.

4/30

° The Macon County Public Health Center staff will commemorate Public Health Month by sponsoring an open house event at the Human Services Building on Lakeside Drive from 2–6 p.m. Planned events include free blood pressure screenings, free body fat testing, free hemoccult tests, free blood sugar checks, and free carbon monoxide testing for smokers. A number of displays have been planned including the Emory Medical Air Ambulance Helicopter, the Fire Safety House, the HAZMAT Team Trailer, and the Glo-Germ Detector, to name a few. Activities for kids will include face painting, visits with “Buckle Bear,” KID CARE child Identification cards, and free bike helmets for kids ages 6-13 (while they last). For more information call 349.2081.

5/1

° Body Alive Stretch and Strengthening Class starts at Misty Payne Shearer’s Massage Therapy Clinic in Sylva. Call 828.293.0613 for details.

5/2

° “The Past, Present and Future of Southern Appalachian Dance Traditions,” a program at the Mountain Heritage Center at Western Carolina University. Facilitated by Barbara Duncan, the folklorist and education and the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. Part of the Folk Heritage Celebration Series to celebrate 75 years of the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival scheduled for Aug. 1-3 at the Diana Wortham Theater at Pack Place in Asheville.7 p.m. Free.

° GED and Beginning Readers’ classes at the jackson County Family Resource Center in Webster. Childcare and dinner provided for all who attend. Stipend may be available for transportation costs. Dinner at 5:30 p.m. Classes 6-8 p.m. Call 828.586.2845 for information.

° The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources will conduct a public hearing at 6 p.m. at the Swain County Administration Building, 101 Mitchell Street, Bryson City to receive public comment on the proposed reclassification (from Class C to Class B) of a section of the Little Tennessee River. The Class B designation is assigned to freshwaters that are used for primary recreation purposes such as swimming or any other use involving human body contact. Classification as Class B requires new wastewater discharges to comply with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) standards. There are currently no NPDES discharges in the reach of river proposed for reclassification. There is one planned discharge in this stretch of river that meets Class B standards. No buffers will be required as a result of reclassification and forestry, animal, mining, development, transportation, dam/water resource and farming activities will not be affected. Verbal and/or written comments will be accepted at the hearing and the comment period for written comments will continue until May 16. For more information contact Elizabeth Kountis at 919.733.5083.

° Jackson County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing at 5 p.m. in courtroom #1 of the Justice and Administration Building on a proposed Jackson County Industrial Development Ordinance and the extension of the moratorium on asphalt plants.

5/3

° Third annual “Taste of Chocolate,” a benefit for the Haywood County Volunteer Center. Local chefs will bring chocolate creations. 7-9 p.m. at the Grace Episcopal Church in the Mountains in Waynesville. Theme this year is “Swing into Spring.” Anyone interested in helping or participating should call 828.456.6456.

° Pickin’ in the Park at the Canton Recreation Park. Bring blanket and chair and enjoy music and dance by the river. Free. 7 p.m. For information call the Canton Papertown Association at 828.648.5145 for email info@cantonpapertown.com.

° Ticket office opens in Cashiers for the 15th annual Symphony Under the Stars concert sponsored by the Cashiers Valley Rotary Club. Annual concert by the Charleston Symphony usually sells out and attracts 3,500 attendees. Ticket are $25 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under, and the office is located at office of CPA Tom Sawyer at 9 Chestnut Square. Patron packages are available. For ticket office hours and other information call 828.743.2525.

° A work day has been planned to help in the process of converting the old Hazelwood Elementary School into the Folkmoot Friendship Center. Volunteers are needed for painting, cleaning and other smaller tasks. For more information call the Folkmoot office at 452.2997 from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

5/3-5/4

° First annual Haywood Cruise-In, a festival featuring cars, music, fun and games of the magical ‘50s and ‘60s At the Waynesville Recreation Center. For details call the chamber at 828.456.3021 or 877.456.3073.

° First annual Chalk the Walk at the Waynesville Recreation Center. Sidewalk chalk art contest and fun draw for all ages and ability. Pre-register to guarantee space at Chalk the Walk. Competition limited to school-age children. Cash prizes awarded in the following age categories: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12. Call 456.3021 to register.

5/3-5/5

° Rhododendron Festival in North Georgia at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds. Located along the shores of Lake Chatuge. Craft Village will also be open. Collin Raye and lee Greenwood will appear at the Anderson Music Hall. For information call 706.896.4191. or email gamtnfair@alltel.net, or visit the webpage at www.georgia-mountain-fair.com.

5/4

° Haywood Animal Welfare Association and the Sanctuary at Valley View sponsor “Cruisin’ for Critters” at the Waynesville Recreation Center form 6-9 p.m. dinner and a live auction. Proceeds benefit both HAWA and the Sanctuary. $15, seating limited. For information call Christ at 828.452.0563 or eileen at 828.452.1329.

5/5

° Macon County commissioners will hold a public hearing at 9:15 a.m. to receive comments from the general public on transferring the half-cent Article 44 Sales Tax from the state to the county. Fourth floor of the Macon County Courthouse.

° American Legion in Waynesville will hold its annual Ramp Festival at the legion grounds located behind Bogarts from noon to 5 p.m. Events include live music, entertainment, ramp eating contest and more.

° Jackson County Arts Council will hold its annual members meeting at 7 p.m. in Gallery One, located at 604 W. Main Street in Sylva. New board members will be elected. Public is invited.

5/7

° Communities Together Toastmaster’s Club meets at the Jackson County Family Resource Center in Webster. Come and learn how to improve your leadership and communication skills. 4:15-5:30 p.m. Call 828.586.2845 for information.

5/9-5/12

° Gem and Lapidary Wholesalers Gem Show at the Watauga Center in Macon County. Call 601.879.8812 for information. Mother's Day Gemboree during the same days at the Macon County Community Building. Call 828.524.3161 or 800.336.7829.

° Haywood Arts Repertory Theatre, Performing Arts Center, Waynesville; Steven Lloyd, executive director; box office 828.456.6322

° Highlands Playhouse, Highlands; box office 828.526.2695

° Licklog Players, Peacock Playhouse, Hayesville; 828.389.8632

° Smoky Mountain Community Theatre, Bryson City; 828.488.3030, ext. 28

° Spotlights Youth Theatre of Haywood County, Waynesville; Bebe Abel, director; 828.456.8983

° Chatterbox Players Youth Theatre of Jackson County, Sylva. 828.586.2155

° University Players, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee; 828.227.7491

° “Unto These Hills,” outdoor summer drama about Cherokee Indians; performances during the summer at the Mountainside Amphitheater in Cherokee. Pre-show entertainment at 7:45 p.m., shows begin at 8:30 p.m. nightly except Sundays. Box office — 828.497.2111.

° Asheville Community Theatre, Asheville; Peter Carver, executive director; box office 828.54.1320

° Theatre UNC-Asheville; box office 828.232.2291

Currently on stage

° Haywood Arts Repertory Theater in Waynesville presents the musical “Cyrano” on its main stage theater at the Performing Arts Center on U.S. 276. Shows are 7:30 p.m. April 25, 26, 27, May 2, 3 and at 3 p.m. April 28 and may 5. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $8 for students with half price student tickets on Thursday and Sunday performances. Call the HART box office from 1-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday for reservations.

° B.l.i.s.s. kicks off its debut season with the heart-tugging one-woman production of Green Grows the Kudzu, An Evening with Maola Woody featuring Vianne Payne in the title role. The show will run April 26, 27 and May 3, 4 at 7:30 p.m. and April 28 and May 5 at 2:30 p.m. at the Kudzu Players theater on the second floor of the old Sylva Courthouse. Tickets are $9 for adults and $5 for students and may be paid for with cash or check at the door. For reservations, call 828.488.0694. You may also leave a reservation request at blissplays@yahoo.com. Green Grows the Kudzu contains some adult material and therefore may not be appropriate for young children.

° The University Players will present “I Hate Hamlet,” a play about a young man having second thoughts about attempting one of Shakespeare’s most demanding roles, will play April 23-27 at 7:30 p.m. and April 28 at 2 p.m. in the Hoey Auditorium on the campus of Western Carolina University. For information call 227.7491.

° Spotlights Youth Theater presents Agatha Christie’s “The Unexpected Guest” at the Haywood Community College auditorium. Shows are 7 p.m. May 3-4 and 3 p.m. May 5. Tickets are $3.50 at the door for adults and $2 for students and are available at the door. Call 456.8983 for information.

Western Carolina University will continue its “Friday Foreign Film Series” with free screenings during the months of March and April of films produced overseas. All films will be shown at 3 p.m. on Fridays, in the auditorium in the Natural Sciences Building. Films for the remainder of the spring semester are:

° “Ordet,” by Carl Theodor Dreyer (April 25)

The films are open to the public free of charge. For additional information, call Jim McLachlan, WCU associate professor of philosophy and religion, at 828.227.3940.

° Mountain Writers Group meets first Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. in the Wesley Classroom of the First United Methodist Church in Waynesville. Asheville Author Sallie Bissell will be the gust speaker and sign copies of her books, In The Forest of Harm and A Darker Justice. Copies available at Waynesville Book Co. prior to the event. Anyone interested in fiction or non-fiction writing is invited to attend. For information call 452.0899.

° The Writers’ Workshop in Asheville is offering these classes, open to writers of any level. Financial assistance is available to needy students. Registration is in advance only by calling 828.254.8111 or emailing WritrWkshp@aol.com.

— April 27, Fiction Workshop/Brenda McClain; meets at St. Justin’s Annex, 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. $60/$55 members.

— May 4, Writing and Revising Your Memoirs/Karen Ackerson; meets at St. Justin’s Annex, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. $60/$55 members.