Macon commissioner candidates to participate in forum

The Macon County League of Women Voters will sponsor a public forum for Macon County commissioner candidates on Oct. 9. The forum will be at noon at Tartan Hall of the First Presbyterian Church in downtown Franklin.

In the Nov. 4 election, Robert (Bobby) Kuppers (Democrat) and James (Jimmy) Goodman (Republican) will compete for the County Commission District III seat.

Incumbent James Davis is unopposed for the District II seat.

Also participating in the forum will be candidates for the Macon County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor, Calvin Conley and Dennis Desmond.

The public is invited to come and meet the candidates and hear them speak on the key issues in the positions they seek.

Lunch will be available at noon, by reservation. Call 828.524.8369. The program will begin at 12:15.

College fair at SCC Monday

More than 50 admissions representatives from colleges and universities across Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia will be on hand to answer questions about their respective schools during the College Fair Monday, Oct. 6, on Southwestern Community College’s Jackson Campus. The public is invited to drop in from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the Balsam Center Auditorium and speak with these representatives and pick up information about their schools of interest. “It’s a good chance for current Southwestern students in the college transfer program to explore options for transferring to their respective institutions,” said Dominique Benson, SCC If you have questions about the college fair, contact Benson at 828.586.4091, ext. 217.

HCC offers seminar on marketing for artists

The Small Business Center of Haywood Community College will offer a free seminar entitled “Marketing for the Craftsperson & Artist”, from 6 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, October 7 in the Student Center first floor. It will aid the craftsperson or artist in developing a marketing plan aimed at increasing sales and profit. The workshop will focus on getting the word out, pricing, and selling through various mediums.

A follow-up workshop will be offered entitled, “Marketing for the Craftsperson & Artist...Part II,” from 6 to 9 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 13 in the same location.

The seminar will emphasize excellence in product as well as efficient ways to broaden public awareness through effective advertising. As a unique feature of the program, attendees are encouraged to bring samples of their product to the seminar. The workshop will focus on presentation, marketing tips and logo design.

The presenter is Linda Rozelle of Greensboro, NC. Rozelle has designed hundreds of corporate identity programs nationwide and has been nationally recognized for excellence in advertising. For more information or to pre-register for this free seminar, call the Small Business Center at 828.627.4512.

WCU homecoming this weekend

Western Carolina University fans and supporters will gather Oct. 3-5 to celebrate Homecoming 2008, themed “Catamounts...Our Time to Climb,” at events ranging from fireworks and football to the inaugural Last Lecture address.

Don Livingston, a political science professor for nearly 30 years, will deliver WCU’s first Last Lecture — the words a faculty member would share if the lecture was to be his last — at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, in the theater of A.K. Hinds University Center. Students selected Livingston to deliver the address based on his passion for teaching and ability to inspire others. His 50-minute address, titled “Political Wisdom Applied to a Layperson’s Life,” is free and open to the public.

Western will hold its 13th annual Homecoming parade Friday starting at 6:15 p.m. on Main Street in downtown Sylva. The parade features floats, WCU’s Homecoming court, athletes, cheerleaders and the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band.

Following the parade and the 6 p.m. women’s soccer game against Wofford College, a free Spirit Night pep rally featuring music and fireworks will be held in the Catamount Athletic Complex.

On Saturday, kickoff for the homecoming football game against the Samford University Bulldogs is at 1 p.m. Special tailgating parties begin at 10 a.m.

Relay to raise funds for mammograms

The Haywood Regional Medical Center Foundation and the Haywood County Health Department are partnering once again to provide free mammograms for underserved and eligible women.

The Power of Pink relay, race and walk raised nearly $9,000 last year, which can provide mammograms for as many as 90 women who would not normally have been able to afford the screening.

This year’s Power of Pink event will be held on Saturday, Nov. 1. The goal is to raise at least $20,000 and provide twice as many mammograms, organizers say.

A public rally to kick off the event will take place at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at the Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center.

Pisgah and Tuscola high schools are joining forces as the presenting sponsor of the event and cheerleaders from both schools will lead the rally. The public is invited to the kickoff event.

The cost for a five-woman relay team for the Power of Pink is $200 or $250 if registered after Oct. 24. The cost to enter the Real Men Wear Pink four-mile race, open to men and women, is $25 or $30 after Oct. 24. The Bubble Gum Fun Run/Walk is $10; $5 for children 12 and younger.

A map of the event, a brochure, sponsorship opportunities and a link to the online registration for the event are available on the HRMC Web page at www.haymed.org. For more information, call the HRMC Foundation office at 828.454.9340.

‘Bark in the Park’ in Sylva Oct. 5

“Bark in the Park” will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday (Oct. 5) at Mark Watson Park in Sylva. Western Carolina Dog Fanciers Association and the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department are sponsoring this event in conjunction with the American Kennel Club’s Responsible Dog Ownership Day.

Bark in the Park will include games and contests for you and your “best friend,” including a costume contest for dogs, and a dog/owner Look Alike contest. This event will also feature vendors and the local humane society and rescue organizations from the area. Admission is free, and games and contests, fun for both dogs and their owners, may be entered for a small fee.

Mental Illness Awareness Week

The Haywood County chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness with observe a day of prayer at noon on Oct. 7 at the cross at Lake Junaluska as part of Mental Illness Awareness Week. The public is invited, and Rep. Ray Rapp (D-Mars Hill) will attend.

Mental Illness Awareness Week was officially established by Congress in 1990 and runs from Oct. 5-Oct. 11 this year. Mental health advocates across the country use that time to raise awareness of the one in four adults who live with depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental illnesses and promote recovery.

NAMI Haywood meets at 7 p.m. the third Thursday of each month at the First United Methodist Church of Waynesville. Meetings include special speakers, current concerns and issues, legislative updates, and one-on-one support and group time, and are open to all.

For more information, call Suzanne Gernandt, 828.627.3838; Patricia Meyer, 828.456.6897; or Judy Sipes, 828.452.1068.

Flu shots available in Haywood County

The Haywood County Health Department will begin giving flu shots from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 2 and Friday, Oct. 3. The Saturday clinic on Oct. 4 will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. No appointments are necessary for these three days. The clinics will be held each day at the Health Department located at 2177 Asheville Rd. in Waynesville.

The cost of the vaccination is $28.00. Beginning Monday, Oct. 6, the Health Department will continue to give flu vaccines by appointment only, if any vaccine remains available after the flu clinics.

Some insurances, such as Medicaid and Medicare, are accepted, and patients should bring their card. Cash and checks are also accepted.

For more information, call the Haywood County Health Department Flu Hot Line at 828.356.1111. To schedule an appointment call 828.452.6675.

Vets to honor Iraq, Afghanistan soldiers

The Vietnam Veterans of America Smoky Mountain Chapter 994 is hosting Smoky Mountain Vet Fest to honor Iraq and Afghanistan veterans Saturday (Oct. 4) at 2 p.m. at the South Macon Elementary School, 855 Addington Bridge Road.

Veteran organizations and citizens from across Western North Carolina will gather to honor Iraq and Afghanistan veterans from North Carolina. Family members that have lost loved ones in the wars are encouraged to attend.

All Western North Carolina veterans, veteran organizations, community leaders and citizens are encouraged to attend.

Vietnam veteran and Franklin High School Principal Gary Shields will be the master of ceremonies for the event and retired Army Gen. F. B. Bodenheimer and Mr. Graham Fields of Senator Elizabeth Dole’s office are scheduled to speak at the event.

The names of each North Carolina casualty of the Iraq will be read, and a color guard will fire a 21-gun salute.

A barbecue dinner will be available for $7.

Earlier in the day a motorcycle poker run will be held from 9 a.m. to noon.

The poker run will begin at 9 a.m. at the Long View Cycle Shop on U.S. 441 South and end at 12 noon at the South Macon Elementary School.

For poker run information call 828.524.8043. For Vet Fest information call Keith Shope, 828.524.7733 or Mickey Stockton, 828.524.8733.