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To the Editor:
In the Thursday, March 15, edition of The Asheville Citizen-Times, Jon Ostendorff takes issue with Hayden Rogers, who is a Demcorat running for the congressional seat vacated by Heath Shuler.
It appears that Mr. Rogers had made a commitment to the Macon County Democratic Women’s Club to attend its annual “Potato Supper,” which was March 22, the same date as the later-announced Democratic debate at Brevard College. Mr. Rogers could attend the debate only if he broke his promise to the Democratic Women’s Club in Franklin, which he chose not to do, and sent his regrets to the committee staging the debate.
Mr. Ostendorff is of the opinion that Rogers is avoiding the debate, and states that it would be “better for the voters” if Rogers attended the debate.
It is my opinion that Hayden Rogers will be shown to be a man of his word by attending the dinner to which he is promised, even with the imagined potential risk to his campaign by his foregoing the debate. A man who keeps his word has become rarity on the political scene in recent years.
Sue Waldroop
Franklin
To the Editor:
I have been a full time resident and small business owner in the Cashiers area since 1988 and value Cashiers as one of the best places to live in the world! I consider myself a moderate independent voter and prefer to pick elected officials, not just because of their party affiliation, but according to their perceived character and their ability to serve “all groups” rather than “special interests.”
In reading David Joy’s article, “Voters Keeping Up With the Jones” in the March 7 edition of the Crossroads Chronicle, I observed some very troublesome statements I would like to express my concerns. Some of these are:
• Many of the quotes found in this article were critical of Mark Jones and other commissioners who had the courage to address needed land use issues. I feel much of the criticism was exaggerated, manipulated and in some cases simply not true. These regulations did not have a serious negative impact on the economy of Jackson County as indicated by commission candidate Marty Jones. Most feel these addressed needed restrictions were designed to better control the safety factors in construction and other abuses having a negative impact on the natural assets of our beautiful mountain landscape.
• In no way were our Jackson County commissioners responsible for bringing a recession to Jackson County. Greed, irresponsible spending and out of control borrowing was the major cause of a recession that developed nationwide.
• Also, Marty Jones stated in the article the dollar volume of vacant land dropped 35 percent after land use regulations were implemented and blamed Mark Jones and other commissioners who created the land use regulations. It should be noted that Cashiers is in an area of the country where its attractiveness to investors and those desiring to own a home in one of the most beautiful areas of the country had gained widespread interest. However, land and homes values were highly inflated, in some cases over 100 percent of true value. Decrease in vacant land values, in my opinion, was attributed to unrealistic and inflated pricing of land. These are factors to consider and not caused by land use regulations. In addition, we were on the verge of a national economic crash.
I recognize change and development are inevitable; however, new growth should be accountable to those of us who value the wonders and pleasure of living in this special place in North Carolina.
I believe our commissioners are elected to serve all the people, not just the special interests of real estate companies, development and the construction industry. It is hoped the concerns of the true special interests(those of us who make up the majority of those living in southern Jackson County) will be considered. It is hoped those of us who value clean water, clean air, beautiful mountain scenes and wildlife will continue to have a voice in projects have an impact of our way of life.
John Edwards
Cashiers
To the Editor:
We’ve all heard the remark “Follow The Money.” It’s more important than ever to look behind all those proposals made by the current crop of presidential candidates. Who is paying how much? Why? Whose pocket will those PAC dollars ultimately benefit?
Current positions taken by these men about women’s health care are an abomination. We women need to look at the reasons for these remarks. Who is pulling the strings behind all the false, implausibly detrimental information.
President Obama’s health care law requires that new health insurance plans cover preventive services with no co-pay or deductible. In the last 18 months, a new provision of the Affordable Care Act has done exactly that for approximately 20.4 million women with private health insurance.
The requirement is that women’s insurance carriers include this protection, and importantly, do not discriminate against women. Women collectively already pay $1 billion more than men do for health care, according to a recent study by the Women’s Law Center.
Furthermore, this is not a war on religion! Women’s access to health care has nothing to do with religion — yours or theirs. It is only about women’s complete access to necessary and available health care. Access and availability are key! Rather it appears this contrived war on religion is actually a “War on Women”, solely motivated by political and financial gain.
No government entity is forcing unneeded benefits on you, and tax dollars are not paying for coverage within these insurances. Despicably, these candidates would not only impose their religious beliefs on all of us, but would actually have your tax dollars pay for unnecessary and often invasive medical procedures on women.
Peculiarly, no candidate calls for similar medical processes for men, denies men PSA tests nor speaks to the hypocrisy of covering costs for mens endlessly advertised (ahem) problems.
Women’s reproduction and health issues are not the business of men running for office, nor the business of men of the church.
The issues of our coming election are many and important. This is not one of them.
So who benefits? Who wins at the expense of women’s health care? Who wins if women are denied health insurance coverage for contraception, prenatal care, pregnancy related situations, cervical cancer tests, mammograms, ovarian cysts, - the list is long. Denying insurance coverage certainly won’t be a win for you, me, our daughters, or our granddaughters.
Look closely at claims made by every office seeker for town hall, state house, or the halls of Congress in D.C. Are they speaking to benefit you and me, or the “corporatocracy?” Will they advocate for our future, or the bottom line of company profits?
And you! Will you vote against your own best interest? Will you wake after the elections and realize you’ve ruined your own and your children’s future?
You’re told costs are too high? Really? For whom? You surely want needed benefits for your family. You’re told budget cuts will reduce the deficit? Seriously? How will that work when taxpayers must cover the cost of those whose only option will be to crowd emergency rooms, the welfare offices, and state institutions already seeing less income!
Just whose already bulging pockets will benefit? And finally, who is in charge in the U.S.A. these days? Us, or the beneficiaries of the Citizens United v. FEC decision?
Yes! Follow the Money.”
Shirl Ches
Franklin
After successful programs in Cashiers, Glenville and Sapphire, the Literacy Council of Cashier expanded its Dolly Parton Imagination Library to Cullowhee.
Children, from birth to age 5, can register to have a free age appropriate book mailed to them each month. Registration forms can be found at the Cashiers library, Southwest Child Development Center, the health department, and various doctor offices, preschools, daycares, churches and post offices in the Cullowhee area.
Data shows that children who are read to at home and are familiar with books before entering kindergarten are more successful in school.
The Literacy Council pays $30 per child each year for the books. Tax-deductible donations are appreciated and can be sent to the Literacy Council of Cashiers, P.O. Box 791 in Cashiers.
828.508.9384.
New Bethel restaurant opens its doors
A new restaurant called Breaking Bread Café has opened on Pigeon Road in the Bethel community of Haywood County.
Steven and Barbara Eaffaldano have operated a concession business at festivals and events from Knoxville to Raleigh. However, when a store front location around the corner from their own home in Bethel came available, they decided it was time to go back indoors.
Breaking Bread Café is a breakfast and lunch restaurant. Its menu features hoagies, wraps, pork meatballs, and eggplant and breakfast biscuits in addition to daily specials. Gluten-free, sugar-free and vegetarian dishes are available.
Open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.
The Eaffaldanoes have extensive restaurant experience, having both worked at Waynesville Country Club and Pasquales as well as other eateries. Barbara also attended the Restaurant School in Philadelphia. The couple moved to the area 20 years ago.
828.648.3838.
MedWest’s providers rank among the top
Fourteen physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants and three physician practices at MedWest-Harris/Swain/Franklin ranked in the top 10 percent of the nation’s providers for patient satisfaction, according to Professional Research Consultants, a consulting firm that benchmarks data from hundreds of hospitals around the United States.
The providers and practices both received a five-star award for quality care based on patient satisfaction feedback collected through patient surveys.
The top-ranking providers were Drs. Charles Toledo, Angela Connaughton, David Zimmerman, Clay Smallwood, Larry Supik, Steve Queen, Jennifer Bunnow, William Handley, Teresa Green, Bill Sims, Bill Ralston and Waverly Green. Hannah Hill, a physician assistant, and Jodie Wade, a nurse practitioner, also received awards. Physician practices were Mountain Regional Gynecology, WNC Pediatric & Adolescent Care and Sylva Orthopaedic Associates.
$400,000 donated for HRMC renovation
The Haywood Regional Medical Center Foundation donated $400,000 to MedWest Haywood for renovations to the hospital’s fourth floor, which is home to the Women’s Care Unit and the Progressive Care Unit.
Progressive Care Unit, or PCU, is a “step-down” from the Intensive Care Unit and acts as a bridge between the ICU and the medical unit. The Women’s Care Unit cares for GYN surgical patients, labor and delivery and OB triage for those expecting mothers who may need to be assessed if they think that they may be in labor.
MedWest-Haywood will receive half of the funds upfront; the remaining will come from proceeds from the Foundation’s annual Golf & Gala Aug. 27-28.
Haywood sheriff’s office extends hours
The Haywood County Sheriff’s Office has extended its hours to better meet the needs of the public. The new hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays.
Haywood County Sheriff Greg Christopher said too many people had to either leave work early or report to work late to take care of business at the sheriff’s office. Now there is more time to seek services such as applying for and purchasing gun permits, and making and getting copies of incident reports. The extended hours are being provided at no additional cost to taxpayers.
The Sheriff’s Office always provides emergency service to residents and visitors of Haywood County 24 hours a day, seven days a week year-round.
Lake Junaluska will hold its second-annual Beautification Day Thursday, April 12. Members of the community are asked to join the Lake Junaluska staff and residents in an effort to add to the natural beauty of Lake Junaluska through the completion of low-cost, high-impact projects, such as clearing brush, power washing signs and buildings and many more beautification projects.
Lake Junaluska Beautification Day will kick-off with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. in Kern Auditorium, where volunteers will receive work assignments. Lunch will also be provided.
At 2:30 p.m., volunteers will celebrate their accomplishments when they return to Kern Auditorium, where they will enjoy a slideshow of the beautification that has taken place.
Volunteer forms are available at www.lakejunaluska.com/beautification.
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Franklin Daybreak Rotary Club’s annual spaghetti dinner will be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday, March 30, in Franklin.
Money raised will help Rotary continue its support of worldwide and local programs such as Boy Scout Troop #235, New Century Scholars, Care Net, the Community Garden, FHS’s Interact Club and more. Tickets are available from club members and at the door. Adults $10; children under 10 years old $5. Take out is available.
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A Sibshops is set for 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, March 31, at New Covenant Church in Clyde. Sibshops are a support, information and recreational opportunity for siblings of children with special needs to come together to share concerns, to play games and make new friends. Sibshops offer peer support as well as an opportunity to learn more about their siblings’ disabilities. Pre-registration is required. 828.456.8631 ext. 39.
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The Bryson City Rotary Club is hosting a foreign exchange student at Swain County High School for the 2012-2013 school year. The club is currently seeking host families. As a host family you will provide room and board for three to four months, supervise the student just as you would your own children, involve the student in family activities and chores, and enrich the exchange experience by including the student in family, community, and cultural activities. Host families are not compensated financially. The program is run entirely by dedicated volunteers, which helps keep costs low.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 864.207.6507.
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The first annual Swain County Wedding Expo is scheduled for 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday, March 31, at the Nantahala Village Resort and Spa located on N.C. 19 West. Though the emphasis is to promote Swain County and Bryson City as a destination wedding experience, local brides can also benefit from the expo as many local bakeries, caterers, florists and more will be on-hand to showcase their wares. Admission is free and door prizes will be drawn throughout the day. 828.488.3681or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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The second-annual Wesley Golf Classic is set for 1 p.m., April 14, at the Lake Junaluska Golf Course. This will be a Captain’s Choice tournament, kicking off with a shotgun start. The entry fee is $50 for individuals and $200 for a four-person team. All funds raised at the event will benefit the ministry outreach of the Wesley Foundation at Western Carolina University. Registration forms can be found at www.wcuwesley.com under the “News and Information” tab.
Haywood County will again honor its men and women who have served in the military with a Memorial Day Parade at 11 a.m., May 28, on Main Street in downtown Waynesville.
The parade will feature several National Guard and Reserve Units, as least one color guard, Civil War reenactors and Veteran organizations in Haywood County. In addition the 440th Army National Guard Band of North Carolina will participate, as will the ROTC Units from Pisgah and Tuscola high schools. Vintage military vehicles and motorcycles are also welcome.
Any veteran who wants to be in the parade should contact the Veterans Office. Veterans can walk or ride on a float in the parade. Bleachers will also be set up in front of the courthouse for disabled veterans who cannot walk or ride in the parade.
828.452.6634.
A workshop designed to help businesses develop and market their products and services is set for 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 19, at the Fryemont Inn in Bryson City.
The North Carolina Division of Tourism and the Blue Ridge National Heritage are sponsoring the session.
Representatives from the division will be on hand to discuss services they can provide businesses including strategic planning, assistance with identifying funding sources and serving as liaisons with other local, state and federal agencies.
919.733.7502 or Eleanor Talley at 919.733.0869.
Western Carolina University will throw open the doors to campus and invite residents in on Thursday, March 29.
“Community on Campus” is designed to provide residents of Western North Carolina a chance to discover the range of entertainment, cultural, health and learning opportunities available at WCU. The event are part of a week of activities surrounding the installation of David Belcher as WCU’s new chancellor.
The event will include self-guided tours that will allow participants to visit new campus facilities, learn about the region’s Cherokee heritage and review the scholarly and creative achievements of WCU faculty.
Visitors also will be able to take advantage of a $4 all-you-can-eat dinner at the Courtyard Dining Hall, receive free health screenings and pick up discount coupons for an upcoming movie screening.
The evening will conclude with a free concert by the WCU Wind Ensemble and Symphony Band at the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m.
David Belcher will be installed as chancellor of Western Carolina University during a traditional ceremony, capping a week of activities in late March designed to highlight and celebrate the accomplishments of the university’s students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners.
Thomas W. Ross, president of the University of North Carolina system, will preside at the installation ceremony, scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 29, in the Liston B. Ramsey Regional Activity Center.
The installation ceremony is the traditional academic ritual at which the chancellor takes the oath of office. The event is typically attended by UNC system officials, state legislators and other elected state and federal officials, academic delegates from other institutions across the nation and around the world, representatives of professional organizations and honor societies, and members of the campus and surrounding communities.
Learn how to deal with debt in a free money-management class for women only being held from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at City Lights Cafe in downtown Sylva.
Mountain BizWorks is hosting the program, which is sponsored by OnTrack Women’s Financial Empowerment Center.
The class addresses the financial and emotional impact of being in debt and discusses the options for managing your debt.
Space is limited and pre-registration is required.
828.631.0292 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The political season is in full swing with a slew of campaign forums and meet-and-greets taking place.
The biggest event will feature candidates running for U.S. Congress from 7 to 9 p.m. April 4 in Haywood Community College’s Charles Beall Auditorium. Eight Republicans hoping to take U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler’s seat in Congress have committed to the forum.
Of the three Democratic candidates, Cecil Bothwell and Thomas Hill both have said they will attend. Presumed front-runner for the Democratic ticket, Shuler’s chief of staff Hayden Rogers, has not said he will attend.
Mountaineer Publishing is spearheading the forum. The forum will be videotaped and broadcast multiple times on the government access channel in Haywood County. Those with specific topics or issues they would like considered as candidate questions are asked to email them to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Here are other opportunities to meet candidates:
• At 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 29, come to Nutmeg Bakery in Maggie Valley to meet three Republican candidates running against each other in the primary for the state House of Representatives. Michele Presnell, Ben Keilman and Jesse Sigmon are squaring off in the Republican primary for N.C. House seat 118. The winner will go on to face Rep. Ray Rapp, D-Mars Hill, in the general election. Other Republican candidates who will be there include Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, and N.C. House 119 candidate Mike Clampitt of Bryson City.
• Joe Sam Queen, a Democratic candidate for N.C. House 119, will host a Bluegrass Brunch with waffles and all the fixins’ from 9 am until noon on Saturday, March 31, at The Banquet Hall behind Dominos in Sylva. Music will be provided by The Smoky Mountain Highlanders. 828.452.1688 or joesamqueen.com. A meet-and-greet with Queen will also be held from 5 until 6:30 pm on Thursday, March 29, at the Lake Junaluska Golf Course Clubhouse.
The town of Dillsboro will host its 24th annual Easter Hat Parade on April 7.
The parade, a Dillsboro tradition, begins at 2 p.m. and showcases a variety of interesting hats atop participants of all ages, including pets.
Judges select the best hats in more than 20 categories, including: biggest, smallest, funniest, best smelling, “poofy-est,” most creative, most spring-like and most outrageous. Last year, there were nearly 250 entrants in the contest.
In addition to an array of colorful hats, the parade features vintage cars provided by the Old Timers Model A Club and the Mountaineer Antique Auto Club. The Easter Bunny makes an appearance as well, riding in antique convertible car.
Folks are encouraged to arrive early and spend the day. Easter egg hunts for children begin at 10:30 a.m., along with hat-making sessions at Dogwood Crafters.
Dogwood Crafters will also present an English tea at the famous Jarrett House Inn. Tea and food will be served on fine china, with the artisans from Dogwood Crafters showcasing their cooking skills. There will be two seatings — 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. — and cost for the tea is $12 per person.
Dillsboro is a walkabout mountain village featuring an array of unique shops, arts & crafts studios, restaurants and inns.
800.962.1911 or www.visitdillsboro.org.
The Creative Thought Center is hosting its monthly Colossal Garage Sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 31 on Pigeon Street in Waynesville.
The sale is held indoors and offers a diverse range of items from clothing at 2 for $1 and books at 50 cents to furniture and kitchen accessories, all priced for any budget. Among these items are a glass dining room table, an L-shaped office desk set, three antique saddles and a dresser
The Creative Thought Center is located at 449 Suite D, Pigeon St.
828.246.2794.
Frank Brannon Jr., proprietor of SpeakEasy Press in Dillsboro, will demonstrate “How to Make and Print Photopolymer Plates” at 6:15 p.m. on April 3 at Swain County Center for the Arts in Bryson City.
Anyone who is interested is invited to attend the demonstration free of charge.
Photopolymer plates is a contemporary process of image-making that Brannon uses in the printing courses he teaches at the Oconaluftee Institute for Cultural Arts in Cherokee. The demonstration will include how these plates are made and printed and how they can be combined with metal printing type to print text in English or in Cherokee. Those in attendance will have the opportunity for some hands-on experimentation if time permits. Information will be given on where the plates can be bought and how to make and print them in your home studio using the sun, a piece of mylar and a sharpie pen.
The limited edition letterpress books that Brannon produces are held in several special collections in libraries in the United States and in England as well as in private collections.
828.488.7843 or www.swain.k12.nc.us/cfta.
Dancers and musicians in colorful traditional costumes from New Zealand, France, Belgium, Indonesia, Peru, Philippines, Serbia, Puerto Rico, Ukraine and Hawaii are expected to appear in more than 70 performances during this year’s 29th annual Folkmoot Festival.
The two-week event will take place July 18-29 in Western North Carolina. Folkmoot performances can be seen in 14 cities, including Maggie Valley, Clyde, Waynesville, Asheville, Hendersonville, Franklin, Burnsville and now Cherokee. Cherokee has been added to as a new venue this year.
Other changes in 2012 include a date change for International Festival Day to July 21, the first Saturday of the Folkmoot Festival. The date had formerly fallen on the last Saturday of the Folkmoot event. However, Haywood County Arts Council, who has run International Festival Day even longer than Folkmoot has existed, decided to make the switch to draw a larger audience. The same weekend, Waynesville will host the Parade of Nations on July 20 and Waynesville’s Friday Night Street Dance that evening..
The Folkmoot 4K Race and Kids Fun Run is scheduled on July 14 this year — a full week before the Folkmoot Festival begins. The course is also changing to include Waynesville’s Main Street.
Maggie Valley’s Stompin’ Ground will hold the Gala Preview Performance and Reception for donors and sponsors of the festival on July 19. Anyone can attend this exclusive all-group performance.
Folkmoot was designated North Carolina’s Official International Festival and has been “One of the Top Twenty Events in the Southeast” by the Southeast Tourism Society for 21 years. Folkmoot USA attracts 100,000 visitors to Western North Carolina, helping local communities receive more than 4 million tourism dollars each year.
www.FolkmootUSA.org or call 877.365.5872.
Nearly 700 students from local elementary schools filled the seats of Western Carolina University’s John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center on March 15 for a performance aimed at educating and entertaining children.
The show consisted of a reading of Jean de Brunhoff’s “Story of Babar” by WCU junior musical theater major Jonathan Cobrda, with music by Francis Poulenc and projected illustrations accompanying the reading.
Included in the performance was a demonstration and lesson in the woodwind instrument family. Members of the quintet explained and introduced their individual instruments as the children listened intently.
Brad Martin, associate professor of music, said that he would like to do another performance in the Asheville area, though nothing has been planned.
“All in all, it was a great field trip,” said April Ferguson, a second-grade teacher at Cullowhee Valley School, who added that she would take her class to future events like this performance.
828.227.3726 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
ActionFest returns to Asheville on April 12-15 to once again showcase the most exciting action films from around the globe and feature live stunt performances.
The festival will also continue to pay tribute to Hollywood’s stunt men and women, fight choreographers, and 2nd unit directors.
Haywire star Gina Carano will be the recipient of the inaugural Chick Norris Award at the 2012 festival. The Chick Norris Award honors the Best Female Action Star of the year, in a play off the attitude, spirit, athleticism and grit of Hollywood legend Chuck Norris, who was awarded ActionFest’s inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010. This year, that honor goes to the legendary stuntman Mickey Gilbert.
ActionFest is the only international film festival devoted exclusively to action cinema and its unsung heroes, the men and women who put the action into action films. The 2012 film line up, information about celebrity attendees, and badge sales are upcoming at www.actionfest.com.
The HART Studio Season will conclude with a return of the popular improvisational comedy troupe The Oxymorons at 7:30 p.m. on March 30 and 31. Tickets are $10 for all adults and $6 for students.
The audience plays a major role by throwing out suggestions, and the troupe invents scenes and situations based on what they hear. The Oxymorons have built a strong reputation for keeping their audiences in stitches. The group includes John Bardinelli, Sarah Felmet, George Heard, Forrest Livengood, Graham Livengood, Kristen Pallotta and Strother Stingley.
With the close of the studio season, HART will begin gearing up for the opening of its main stage season, which begins with the local classic “Look Homeward Angel” on April 27.
828.456.6322 or www.harttheatre.com.
The Haywood Arts Regional Theatre will hold auditions for its May production of the musical “The Marvelous Wonderettes” at 6:30 p.m., April 1 and 2.
The show has leading roles for four women, ranging in age from teens to 30, who will comprise a 1950’s rock ‘n roll girl group. The first act of the production takes place at a 1958 high school prom, and the second act is the 10th reunion. Each act features hit songs from the era.
Mark Jones will direct the production, which will run for three weeks beginning May 25. 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.
The HART Theatre is located on Pigeon Street in Waynesville.
The newest brewery on the block is whittling down its homebrew recipes in the hopes of pinpointing its four flagship beers.
Staff at Headwaters Brewing Company on Frazier Street in Waynesville served up 10 different recipes — everything from a light, crisp beer to a dark, creamy brew — to more than 60 people at a private tasting Saturday, March 26.
Attendees ranked the beers name, look, tasted and said how tempted they would be to buy a particular ale.
Business partners and brewers Kevin Sandefur and Heidi Dunkelberg plan to debut their concoctions to the public later this year.
The Haywood County Arts Council’s Quilt Trails project will dedicate the “Grandmother’s Dream” quilt block at 11 a.m. on March 31 at the Dawson Family barn at 200 Feather Lane in Waynesville. The public is invited to attend.
The Haywood County Quilt Trails project consists of quilt patterns painted on wooden blocks and installed on barns, buildings, shops and homes around the community.
Raymond and Kathy Dawson selected the “Grandmother’s Dream” quilt pattern to honor the memory of Kathy’s great-great grandmother, Anna Schneider — a hard-working, generous and gallant lady who loved sewing and working with her hands her entire life.
828.452.0593 or www.haywoodarts.org.
Tickets for this year’s Taste of Chocolate Plus are now on sale at Fun Things Etc., Quilter’s Quarters, Blue Ridge Books and Maggie Valley Club.
The event is now expanded to include non-chocolate bakers this year, and it’s not too late to sign up to bake your favorite chocolate or desert recipes. The Taste of Chocolate Plus will be at Maggie Valley Club from 6-9 p.m. on April 21 with Ray Lyon at the piano, silent auction and lots of chocolate.
Proceeds from the event go to connecting volunteers in the community as well as helping people on Medicare through the North Carolina SHIIP program.
828.356.2833
Cherokee resident Darrin Bark will represent Southwestern Community College and the Oconaluftee Institute for Cultural Arts at the North Carolina Excellence in Community College Awards ceremony on April 19 in Raleigh.
Bark graduated in December with his associate in fine arts degree from OICA and will be honored as one of the state’s top community college students.
“OICA has given me the insight of how important the arts are to a culture,” Bark said. “I wanted to be a part of an exciting new school, which promotes Native American culture.”
Since he was a kid, Bark has been interested in art and used it as a form of escape for him. Most of his artistic ideas come from life experiences, focusing on inspiration from history, music, other artists and from emotions and the need to express them.
Bark will continue his education this fall at Western Carolina University.
A workshop on “Dynamic Warm Ups for Every Runner” begins at 9 a.m., Saturday, March 31 at Jus’ Running on Merrimon Avenue in Asheville.
Dynamic stretching can enhance performance, decrease risk of injury and takes little time before that big or small run. Cost is free, classes fill up early.
To RSVP, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
A new handicapped-accessible boat dock will be built at Lake Junaluska this spring thanks to the efforts of an avid Haywood County fisherman and the North Carolina Wildlife Commission.
The dock will be located at Fulbright Park, a popular fishing spot on the west side of Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center just inside the main entrance, across from the Bethea Welcome Center.
The 40-foot dock will be built by the state Wildlife Commission and paid for with boat registration fees, said John Macemore, the commission’s mountain region boating supervisor.
Work on the dock will start in April once the lake’s water levels are back up following a winter drawdown to perform clean-up and silt removal.
“This is great news,” said Tyree Kiser, a 62-year-old retired Haywood County educator, who requested the dock from the state Wildlife Commission. “Lake Junaluska is full of catchable fish and is a great lake to teach young people how to fish.”
Lake Junaluska is open for fishing from dawn to dusk. There is no charge to fish at the lake, but all state fishing regulations apply.
The popular WNC Orchid Society’s Annual Show opens from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., March 31 and continues through April 1 at the N.C. Arboretum.
Thousands of orchids fill the education center of the arboretum in this show, which is one of the largest in the Southeast. This year’s theme, “The Secret Garden of Orchids,” has been billed as an “adventure of the imagination.”
World-class orchid growers from around the country and regional orchid societies will fill the exhibition hall with dazzling color, exotic scents, and hints of faraway lands in carefully crafted displays.
Vendors will offer orchid supplies and plants for purchase, including the rare and hard-to-find. WNC Orchid Society members will be available to answer questions and provide orchid-growing advice, and educational programs will be offered throughout the weekend.
Programs also are scheduled, ranging from information on certain types of orchids to how not to kill your beloved flowers.
Shows and events are free for Arboretum Society members or are included with the standard parking fee of $8 per personal motor vehicle.
828.665.2492 or www.ncarboretum.org.
A daylong beekeeping school will be held Saturday, April 14, at the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service office west of Bryson City.
Topics include beekeeping basics, like how to get started, as well as topics of interest to advanced beekeepers. There will also a roundtable discussion and demonstrations from local beekeepers on building bee boxes.
Pre-registration fee is $15 per person and $25 per couple before April 1. Cost goes up $5 after that date. The fee covers lunch, reference materials and Smoky Mountain Beekeeper membership. Cost for Smoky Mountain Beekeeper members is $5.
Make check payable to Smoky Mountain Beekeepers Association (SMBA) and mail to SMBA, Attention Shirley Lindsey at 775 Barkers Creek Road, Whittier NC 28789.
828.586.5490.
A shiitake and oyster mushroom cultivation workshop will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 30, at the Albert Carlton Community Library in Cashiers, sponsored by the Jackson-Macon Conservation Alliance.
Christine Bredenkamp, a horticulturist with the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service, will present tools and tips for growing edible mushrooms. Bredenkamp will help attendees inoculate their own log.
The hands on portion of the workshop will entail drilling the mushroom logs, plugging the holes with mushroom spawn, and sealing them with hot wax. Tools and supplies will be provided, and participants can purchase additional logs that have been pre-inoculated.
Each log, if properly cared for over time, will produce several pounds of mushrooms, more than paying for themselves, according to organizers.
Space is limited; cost is $20 per person.
828.526.0890 ext. 320.
Tours of DuPont State Recreational Forest where The Hunger Games were filmed will be the site of upcoming tours by a commercial outfitter offering fans a taste of the action.
The movie opens March 23.
Both day trips and weekend adventure trips are being offered, with the latter offering hands-on survival skill classes in addition to tours of the film locations.
Participants will be able to master fundamental survival skills such as orienteering, camo-face painting and shelter building.
Hunger Games Fan Tours will offer day trips and weekend adventures. Cost is $79 per person for day trips. www.hungergamesfantours.com or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 949.610.5570.
Cataloochee Valley Tours begins its second season of guided hikes and eco-tours next month in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Cataloochee Valley is one of the most beautiful and remote parts of the Smokies, and the tours provide in-depth, personally guided excursions by Esther Blakely, a certified master naturalist. Blakely focuses on the natural and cultural history of the valley and the Smokies, with an emphasis on the elk reintroduction.
Tours operate seasonally through October. Cost is $40 per person, with a minimum of two people required and a maximum of five per tour. Eco-tours include round-trip transportation and refreshments.
www.cataloocheevalleytours.com or 828.450.7985.
A kick-off meeting for vendors and others interested in participating this year in Haywood’s Historic Farmers Market will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 28, at the N.C. Cooperative Extension office on Raccoon Road.
The market’s board of directors will answer questions vendors may have regarding 2012 guidelines or other matters. Extension service representatives, and USDA officials, will also be present.
This will be an opportunity for vendors to submit applications for the season if they have not already done so. The 2012 season will run on Wednesdays and Saturdays from April through the end of October. The fee for the season is $50, the same as last year. The day vendor fee will again be $10 per set up. Vendors from Haywood and adjoining counties in North Carolina are welcome to participate.
Opening day will be, Saturday, April 14, from 8 a.m. to noon, at the HART Theater parking lot on Pigeon Street in Waynesville. The board decided to close each market day at noon rather than 1 p.m. this year because many vendors had voiced a preference for the earlier closing time. This will be the market’s fourth full season of offering locally grown produce, farm-fresh eggs, baked goods, cheese, preserves, honey, local meat, culinary herbs, perennial plants, fresh North Carolina seafood and heritage crafts.
Haywood’s Historic Farmers Market is affiliated with the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP) and is a member of the Mountain Tailgate Market Association. These organizations benefit farmers and consumers by promoting farmers markets and making the public aware of the availability of fresh, locally grown fruit and vegetables.
828.550.4748; or, visit www.waynesvillefarmersmarket.com.
Get a barrel of fun out of helping the planet by buying 55-gallon rain barrels converted from repurposed pickle containers.
The program is through Haywood Waterways, the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce and the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service.
Rain barrels can catch rain running off your roof and be used to water your yard. Each barrel has connections for a garden hose, overflow pipes or to connect several of them in a series. The barrels also have a screen to prevent mosquitoes from getting in, along with tops that can be removed for easy cleaning and maintenance.
Each barrel is being sold for $75 plus tax, with proceeds benefiting the organizations involved. Display models can be seen at the chamber, the cooperative extension office and the Waynesville Fly Shop.
828.631.2823 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Students in Haywood Community College’s Photovoltaics class recently got real-life, hands-on experience installing solar PV panels at the college’s Regional High Technology Center.
These students worked with local company Balls Machine and Manufacturing Company to set up four arrays totaling 8kW. These panels will serve several functions including increasing public awareness of solar energy and saving on the center’s electric bill all while giving the students an excellent item to add to their portfolios.
“It is such a great opportunity to allow our students and the community to learn about solar energy while being able to partner with a local business,” said Deborah Porto, HCC department chair of advanced technologies. “HCC strives to move forward with green initiatives such as photovoltaics, while working with businesses that are right here in our community.”
Balls Machine and Manufacturing works with homeowners to install solar panels for them, as well as with other companies and builders. In addition, they sell do-it-yourself kits.
Improve your outdoor photography skills at a free program scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., March 24, at the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education.
The program is suitable for ages 12 and older. Wildlife educators will cover the basics of outdoor photography, including how to compose shots effectively.
The outdoor photography program coincides with a turkey-hunting program also hosted by the Pisgah Center on March 24.
“We intentionally scheduled the photography and turkey-hunting programs to overlap to appeal to families with diverse outdoor interests,” said Lee Sherrill, wildlife education program coordinator for the Pisgah Center. “Whether people want to take on the challenge of turkey hunting or learn to shoot photos in a variety of outdoor situations, they all will learn about safely and responsibly enjoying wildlife recreation.”
Call to reserve a spot. The center is located on U.S. 276 in Transylvania County.
828.877.4423 or www.ncpaws.org/reservations/pisgah/CalendarView.aspx.
Author and publishing consultant Renea Winchester will be at the public library in Sylva at 7 p.m. on March 27 for a discussion about gardening, friendship and building relationships in the publishing business.
Winchester’s first book In the Garden with Billy: Lessons about Life, Love and Tomatoes deals with both gardening and friendship. Winchester will read excerpts from the book and then discuss how she published and sold her book during uncertain economic times.
Winchester is a native of Western North Carolina who has won multiple awards, including the Wilma Dykeman essay award. She is currently working on another book In the Kitchen with Billy and recently formed Make Your Mark Publishing, a company that represents emerging southern authors.
8282.585.2016.
City Lights Bookstore will host a double book launch at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 23.
FutureCycle Press will unveil its annual anthology of poetry and flash fiction as well as a new poetry collection from Scott Owens titled For One Who Knows How to Own Land. Owens and a few of the contributors to the anthology will read some of their work. Featured writers include Glenda Councill Beal, Robert S. King, Scott Owens, Mary Ricketson and Carole Richard Thompson.
828.586.9499.
To the Editor:
There seems to be a bent in this publication about taking away the gun rights of decent citizens. All this because some psycho is shooting people somewhere. The state finally made a good decision in allowing responsible permit holders to carry concealed weapons on state lands. Waynesville leaders are being unreasonable in their attempt to prevent responsible citizens from protecting themselves in town parks. Anti-gun advocates are always shouting that people are running around carrying guns and that is simply not true. Only psychos and criminals have guns because they really don’t care what the law is. In North Carolina, less than 10 percent of the population has a permit to carry a concealed pistol.
A study will show that those in this group are among the most highly responsible citizens we have. What is not widely known is that, because of severe restrictions in North Carolina, hardly any of them ever carry a concealed pistol. My guess is far less than 1 percent. If you have a “carry permit” you cannot carry a pistol to the bank, the ATM, the VA, the post office, DMV, any school, any government building or office, the movie theatre, a ballgame, or anywhere that someone else is drinking alcohol. As a former NYPD detective, I can tell you that you are probably in the most danger when you go to an ATM at night. If there was a transient drug user that was desperate for cash to get a fix, he’ll be there.
This has to be the most ridiculous and impractical law that North Carolina has. Most states will issue pistol carry permits to business people based on their need to take receipts and cash to the bank. I have never heard of one case in the U.S. where a permit holder has held up a bank, or has ever committed a crime with their pistol. These are our most responsible citizens and they always want to protect their right to their permit to carry.
I’ve researched every mass shooting and it is always a psycho who was the shooter, absolutely never a pistol permit holder. In all these unfortunate incidents there was never a citizen present with a concealed pistol who could have stopped the shooter. This is because people with carry permits never actually carry a pistol! They may take it in the car on trips, or when camping, or hiking through the forest, but they seem never to take it with them on their daily chores. Just too many restrictions.
The shooting of the congresswoman and so many others in Arizona is an example. There were hundreds of people in that shopping center and none had a pistol to stop the shooter. And in Arizona you don’t even need a permit to carry a concealed pistol!
The psycho knows that he can walk into any school or army base and because of restrictions no one will be carrying a pistol.
Personally, I would not hike in the woods without a pistol in my pocket. There is no cell phone service out there and no law enforcement available. Read the newspapers: we’ve had numerous people killed in the forests in this area and a recent rape also.
Last year, in Macon County, they found a young man (a psycho) carrying an unloaded rifle in the county park. The liberal publisher of the local newspaper, who is from (anti-gun) California, immediately called for a law to prevent legal permit-holders from carrying in the county park. This was ridiculous! Responsible permit-holders are not known to shoot anyone or misuse their pistol. In fact, all the more reason they should carry a pistol in their pocket to protect their children and grandchildren from the psycho in the park!
In North Carolina you need to have eight hours of instruction on the firearms laws and restrictions, and you must demonstrate safe proficiency with the pistol at the firing range before you can even apply for a pistol carry permit. I teach the pistol carry permit classes and I am impressed by the quality of the citizens who attend. In fact, I have refused to issue certificates to several people, so far, who appeared to be “unstable.”
After a citizen gets a certificate from me, they then apply to their county sheriff and they undergo an investigation not just for criminal background but evidence of mental problems. Only a responsible citizen can get a permit to carry. Creating more firearms restrictions on responsible citizens will have no effect at all on the unfortunate acts of psychos and criminals.
Jim Sottile
NC Certified Firearms Instructor
Franklin
To the Editor:
For the sixth time since the end of the 2011 legislative session in North Carolina, the state is once again making national headlines for its inability to adequately protect dogs in commercial breeding facilities, known as puppy mills.
Eight hundred. That’s how many dogs were rescued from North Carolina puppy mills since June. It is good news for those dogs, but for countless others who continue to spend their breeding in the estimated 250 to 300 inhumane, commercial breeding facilities in the state, these rescues have not helped.
About 150 dogs were rescued from a Stokes County puppy mill earlier this month. The owner was allegedly selling his puppies over the internet, allowing him to escape federal regulation. Since there are no state laws regulating breeders in North Carolina, he was not required to have a license at all.
The conditions at the Stokes County operation were grim. The dogs that managed to survive were malnourished, matted, caked in dirt and feces, and suffering from medical problems from being crammed into tiny cages for their whole lives and forced to breed continuously without sufficient food and water. The only reason officials were able to rescue these dogs, and others in previous raids, is because the situation rose to the level of animal cruelty. It should have been stopped long before.
As tragic as all of these situations are, it is my sincere hope that this will help facilitate change in our state. For too long, commercial breeders have operated unchecked, which has allowed situations, like this most current one, to occur. It is time for lawmakers in our state to stand up and pass legislation to prevent this from happening again.
Beth Cline
Bryson City
To the Editor,
It is not my norm in life to write letters to a newspaper. However, I feel that after reading Carol Ramsey’s letter in your March 14 issue I have a civic duty to respond.
First, lets set some things straight. Motorcyclists are not going anywhere. We live in what is often coined as the Motorcycle Capital of the East. Folks come from all over the world to experience riding here. This area is covered by media of all forms around the globe for the world-class riding that is offered here.
Second, what Mr. Cochran (whom I have personally met) means by “recreational riders” is that the folks who attend these events have jobs (money) and enjoy being a part of motorcycle culture which has a long and beautiful history in America and elsewhere. The people who will come to this event are good, honest, hard-working Americans who will choose to spend their vacation time and money here in Western North Carolina.
Sounds good so far, huh?
Next, yes, many bikes are loud, and as a biker I agree that some are downright obnoxious, but to say that has a negative impact on quality of life? Well if that is so let us also put the roadblock up for tractor trailers, airplanes, locomotives, and any other form of travel that is powered by an internal combustion engine.
Or maybe to level the playing field, Carol Ramsey and others who object to this rally would like to give up using the goods and services brought to them by these vehicles. Hmmm.
OK … I promised myself I would hold the sarcasm in this letter so let’s move on, shall we? What struck me most in this letter is the objection to this rally being “tendered in good faith.” Uhhh, excuse me?
How many things are brought into our lives that are “tendered in good faith?” Well, our founding fathers had no idea if heading to the New World would be a good idea but they went ahead and did it. No one really knew if the automobile was a good idea but they went ahead and built it.
In fact, most folks have no clue how projects, inventions and any other thing in there life will work, but it is “faith” that moves people to go ahead and try something new. Such as that new restaurant in town: I don’t know if I will like it, but I am willing to gamble the 20-some dollars it takes to find out. Just as the city of Franklin is willing to bet that the grant they “conveniently” gave to the promoters of this event will offer them and the town of Franklin a healthy return on investment.
You see, not only am I a motorcyclist, I also own a local business which caters to bikers. And though we welcome locals, transplants and tourists, I will say without the thousands who come here to ride our roads every year I do not know how our business would survive. I suspect but have no hard numbers to gather that there are many other businesses in Western North Carolina who can say the same.
Yes, we live in a tourist economy and as a result we must welcome the tourists with open arms so we can continue to live here. You know, I am really not a fisherman, a crafter, a kayaker, or mountain biker but I welcome those folks who come from all over to participate in these events here in our lovely mountains. I also know that these folks buy meals, hotels, gas, and other goods and services.
But I do not begrudge their right to do so. I welcome them. Part of the attraction here is that we have such an open and welcoming community with a wide range of interests that bring many many gifts to these mountains — money spent with the local merchants is only one of them.
David W Landes
Owner, Precision Cycle Motorsports
Sylva
The Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department will reseed both dog parks located in the recreation park in Waynesville. However, each of the two parks will be seeded at different times so there will always be a dog park available.
Dog park No.1 will be closed from March 1 to March 30 and dog park No.2 will be closed April 1 to May 1.
828.456.2030 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The Haywood County Historical and Genealogical Society will meet on in March 30 in the dining hall of the First Baptist Church on Haywood Street in Waynesville.
Dinner will start at 6 p.m. followed by a program presented by Curtis Wood, emeritus professor of history at Western Carolina University, entitled “The Scotch-Irish Then and Now.”
Wood’s program will cover immigration of people from Scotland and Ireland who migrated to many parts of the Southeastern U.S. states, with the primary focus on Western North Carolina, and in particular, Haywood County.
The meetings are open to the public.
828.627.0385.
Job seekers can participate in an event from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, March 29, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Haywood Community College’s Student Services building lobby and auditorium.
Those participating will be given extra professional preparation before the event, on how to showcase themselves and their abilities to prospective employers.
Pre-registration, by March 27, is required.
828.564.5093
Bridges in Jackson, Macon, Swain and Cherokee counties will be replaced under a $2.8 million contract with a Georgia company.
Work could begin as early as April 2 and is scheduled for completion by Nov. 1, 2014.
The contract includes replacing the following bridges:
• Dicks Creek on Dicks Creek Road in Jackson County.
• Fisher Creek on Fisher Creek Road in Jackson County.
• Poplar Creek on Poplar Cove Road in Macon County.
The contract is among 17 to be let by June 2012 using a new concept called express design-build, which can go from zero to construction in eight months.
Southwestern Community College will hold a job fair from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Thursday, March 29, on the Jackson Campus in the Balsam Building auditorium. More than 50 employers will be represented at the free event. Those attending the job fair can learn about future openings, as well as co-op or internships.
828.339.4212.
Learn how to download free e-books or audio books onto your digital device at one of two events.
The Macon County Public Library in Franklin will be hosting a drop-in e-reader and e-book workshop 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., March 22.
Drop in workshops are informal. Simply arrive and stop by the meeting room. Bring Kindles, Nooks, iPads, tablets, laptops or any other e-reading device. Staff will walk through the process of navigating the library e-iNC website, browsing and searching for books, connecting your device and downloading e-books.
The library will also have examples of some popular e-readers that will be available to try.
The Canton library will hold a North Carolina Digital Library Workshop from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on March 27.
At the workshop, Participants will be walked through the download process and have the opportunity to ask questions regarding their individual devices. The workshop is free, but registration is required. When registering, please indicate the type of digital device you own.
The North Carolina Digital Library offers thousands of free downloadable e-books, audio books and e-videos to its member libraries’ patrons.
Fontana Regional Library is migrating to a new automated library system on March 29 and will be closed that day.
Some changes are coming to comply with the policies of all NC Cardinal libraries.
Books, audiobooks and music will check out for 3 weeks; new books will check out for two weeks; DVDs and videos will check out for one week. One renewal is available for most books, new books, audiobooks and music. DVDs and videos cannot be renewed.
Overdue fees on late items will be $0.25/day for books and audiobooks, and $1/day for DVDs and videos. There will be a maximum overdue fee of $10 per item.
Anyone owing more than $5 in fines or bills will not be able to check out library materials; this includes library computers.
Barbara Taylor Woodall will visit City Lights Bookstore to read from her memoir It’s Not My Mountain Anymore at 2 p.m., March 31.
Woodall was born and raised in the Appalachian Mountains of North Georgia. Her book gives insight to first hand experiences in mountain living.
“The mountains I once knew are not the same,” she said. “Inevitable changes both to the landscape and its inhabitants clash dramatically with cherished memories of a passing era.”
FutureCycle Press will unveil its annual anthology of poetry and flash fiction as well as a new poetry collection from Scott Owens titled For One Who Knows How to Own Land at 7 p.m., March 23, at City Lights Bookstore.
Owens and a few of the contributors to the anthology will read some of their work. Featured writers will be Glenda Councill Beal, Robert S. King, Scott Owens, Mary Ricketson and Carole Richard Thompson.
828.586.9499.
“Chicks! It’s All Gone to the Birds” opens at The Bascom on March 31 and runs through June 17.
The exhibition’s opening reception will be from 6-8 p.m. on March 31 featuring a presentation from artist Susan Taylor Glasgow. Other avian-related events will be held in the coming months.
The March Winter Barn Dance at The Bascom will also take place on March 31.
The event begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 per person and can be purchased at the door. Food and libations will be available for purchase.
The Bascom is open year-round — 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m., Sunday.
828.526.4949 or www.TheBascom.org.
