Parker and Paschal will appear at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 4 with a show that promises to jump-start your holiday celebrations.  

Parker’s June 2003 song “It’s True” — the title song on one of Ivan’s CD’s — climbed to No. 2 on The Singing News top 10 list. Janet Paschal grew up outside of Reidsville in Caswell County. Her breakout hit came with her 1997 album The Good Road, which landed her numerous appearances on Bill Gaither’s Homecoming Concerts as well as the corresponding records. Since then, Paschal has released five more albums  and has received numerous awards including Dove and Grammy nominations and was named Christian Music’s top female vocalist for three consecutive years.

To purchase tickets go to GreatMountainMusic.com or call 866.273.4615. Tickets are also available at the box office or at Dalton’s Christian Bookstore in Franklin and Waynesville.

An original Christmas Cantata, “It Shall Be Fulfilled,” will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 5, at First Presbyterian Church in downtown Franklin.  

The cantata includes a narration of the birth of Christ as recorded in the Bible, accompanied by original songs based on the Scriptures and written in contemporary music styles including bluegrass, R&B, and soft rock.  The cantata will be directed by the composer, Franklin resident Lionel B. Caynon, and performed by a six-member vocal ensemble, C-Square & Friends, with narrator.

There is no admission charge; a light reception will follow the performance. First Presbyterian Church is at 26 Church Street in downtown Franklin.

Smoky Mountain Living magazine's February/March issue will be dedicated to love — not just in the romantic sense, but for place, work, family, animals, etc.

The magazine wants your images and interpretations of love for its photo spread. Submissions should be hi-resolution, digital images and include information about where and when the photos were taken and by and of whom.

Also, Smoky Mountain Living is looking for historic wedding portraits of couples from the Appalachians. Images should be from the 1930s and prior. Information about the couple pictured is required. Images submitted will be considered for the cover of SML. If a submitted image is selected, the couple featured therein will receive a small write up as part of SML's upcoming story about the history of Appalachian love, courtship and marriage. Submissions also should be hi-resolution, digital images and include information about where and when the photos were taken and by and of whom.

All submissions should be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. no later than 5 p.m. on Dec. 15.

Smoky Mountain Living magazine covers the southern Appalachians and celebrates the area’s environmental riches, its people, culture, music, art, crafts and special places. Each issue brings the Appalachians to life.

Become a fan at www.facebook.com/smliv.

The Museum of North Carolina Handicrafts at the historic Shelton House is sponsoring an Appalachian Christmas musical event that evokes nostalgic recollections of holiday celebrations evident in early settlements in the Appalachian Mountains.

Performed by noted folk and traditional musicians Anne and Rob Lough and the Trantham Family Band, the evening celebration of music, song and folklore will enable the audience to reminisce about the heritage that still emanates from the deep coves, the valleys, and the dwellings of this region. Both groups of musical entertainers are annual performers at the Smoky Mountain Folk Festival and have performed at Mountain Heritage Day in Cullowhee.  

Blue Ridge Books, Christmas Everyday and Olde Brick House have tickets for the Appalachian Christmas event scheduled for 7 p.m., Dec. 4, at HART’s main theater.  Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $5 for children 5 to 15, and free admission for children under 5.

Anne Lough is a nationally known traditional musician, highly acclaimed for her skill as a performer and educator. Dedicated to preserving traditional music, stories and folklore, Lough devotes her time to festivals, workshops, performances and school residencies. In addition to being a regular instructor of mountain and hammered dulcimer at the prestigious John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, Lough has taught at the Swannanoa Gathering, Western Carolina Dulcimer Week, Augusta Heritage Dulcimer Week and numerous other festivals and workshops throughout the country. Anne’s Lough’s husband Rob is a full-time insurance agent but accompanies his wife at special programs and is a capable and entertaining musician and vocalist.  

Jim Trantham, the first generation of the three-generation Trantham Family Band, has been collecting and performing traditional songs for 60 years. Trantham has performed in many of the schools and universities of the Southeast and in five European countries. Trantham holds awards from some of the most highly regarded folk stages in North Carolina. In addition to his musical skills, Trantham is a noted maker of musical instruments, crafting all of the instruments used by the family.  

Jim’s son Doug Trantham began performing with his father at an early age. Doug Trantham, like his father, is an accomplished musician and vocalist, specializing in banjo, hammered dulcimer, and guitar. Doug Trantham’s daughters Emily and Sara have, since early childhood, been performing with their father and grandfather in the award winning Trantham Family Band.

The annual Canton Christmas Tour of Homes is from 1-6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 5. The show features six homes and all proceeds will benefit the Canton Miss Labor Day Scholarship Fund.

Admission is $12, and children under 12 are free. Tickets will be on sale soon at the following sites: Polly’s Florist and Gifts in Canton; Nest in Waynesville; Clyde Florist in Clyde; Mountain Home Collection in Waynesville/ Smokey Park Antiques in Candler

For tour information or to purchase tickets contact Laura Simmons at 828.400.0699.

Tickets may also be purchased at any of the homes on the day of the tour. The following homes are on the tour.

The Harris and Courtney Clark Home

4350 Pigeon Road

(Bethel- Hwy 110 to traffic light then right)    

This Cape Cod style home was built in 1954 to serve as the farmhouse presiding over the 100 or so acres it overlooks in the valley behind. The 2,400-square-foot home combines both an open floor plan and modern use of space with a wonderfully rustic charm lent to the home by its many antiques, unique handmade furnishings and farm-life-inspired artwork.  

The Thomas and Amy Fitzpatrick Home

21 Pennsylvania Avenue

(Past Canton Public Library)

The previous owners were the Phillips family. This is a 1918 brick, craftsman style bungalow.  This home feels like a bungalow, but at the same time it is a very modern translation of an early 20th century house.  It has a very defined look — white walls with lots of wood, natural fibers, and family heirlooms.

The Patrick and Brianna Willis Home

24 Pennsylvania Avenue

(Past Canton Public Library)

The Willis house was built in 1932 in the craftsman style. Currently the homeowners are working to restore some of the original touches and have been delighted to uncover and restore the original brick fireplace, glass paned French doors, glass door knobs, and similar architectural features from the early 30’s. While renovations are still under way, the Willis’ are decorating with live greenery, touched with traditional “soap flake” flocking and metallic accents.

The James Giglio Home decorated by Clyde Florist and Judy Jones

134 Academy Street (Main Street to Academy Street near St Andrews Episcopal Church)

This is historic home built in 1900 in the classic style. The two-story home features a formal Victorian living room with a fireplace, a formal dining room, and a stately staircase leading to the upstairs bedrooms. Original hand crafted woodwork add charm and character. Victorian furniture and antiques are decorated with Christmas greenery, poinsettias, and an assortment of cherished Christmas treasures. Clyde Florist and Judy Jones have provided the decorating skills for celebrating an old fashioned Christmas in this home.

The Guest Home of Doug and Gail Mull

16 Division Street (Hampton Heights to Oakland Circle right on Division Street)

A three-story brick Tudor built in 1925. The gothic door opens into a large foyer featuring a beautifully crafted oak staircase. The large living room features a mullioned bay window and a corner brick fireplace decorated with greenery. A bright sunroom, formal dining room, a butlers pantry, and a country kitchen feature varied cottage Christmas themes

The David and Coleen Blaylock Home

127 Newfound Street (Main Street to Bridge Street right on Newfound Street)

This house is a Georgian Colonial Style home built in 1937. It features a square symmetrical shape with five windows across the front. The house is spacious and the floor plan allows for entertaining. The home is decorated in a traditional style that exhibits southern hospitality and graciousness.

The Haywood County Arts Council’s third annual show of “pint-sized” artwork titled, ”It’s a Small, Small Work 2010” is currently on exhibit at Gallery 86 now through Friday, Dec. 31, in Waynesville.

The show provides a unique opportunity to purchase original art at very modest prices—just in time for holiday gift-giving. Most artwork is priced between $20 and $80, with no work priced over $300. Artwork is sold off the wall in a “pay and walk away” style.

Participation in the annual small works has grown from 68 participating artists in 2008 to 118 artists in 2010. “There are over 500 pieces of art from which to choose—but folks better hurry because artists are limited to five pieces—and the work sells fast,” says Arts Council director Kay Miller, who started the show three years ago.

Artists must reside in one of the 25 counties that comprise the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area in western North Carolina. The show challenges artists to create works smaller than 12 inches in every dimension, including base, matting, and frame, etc.

For more information about “It’s a Small, Small Work 2010” visit the Haywood County Arts Council website at www.haywoodarts.org.

Want to make a Cherokee basket or Cherokee pottery bowl for that special Christmas present?

Come to the Museum of the Cherokee Indian Dec. 11 and create your own white oak basket with plain and dyed splints, or your own stamped pottery bowl. Or give the workshop itself as a special gift to someone who would like to learn these traditional crafts.

Master artists Ramona Lossie and Bernadine George, members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, will be teaching hands-on workshops for a limited number of participants. Cost is $50 for each workshop, plus materials fee. Basket materials cost $25 and pottery materials $5, with an extra fee for firing if you choose.  (Discounts apply to museum members and members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.)

From 9 a.m. to noon, Ramona Lossie will instruct on making a small square white oak basket. Bring a sturdy knife and scissors to work with and a piece of leather to spread on your lap.  Participants will complete a basket by noon.

From 1 to 4 p.m., Bernadine George will instruct in making a cazuela pottery bowl with traditional stamped Cherokee patterns. This tradition dates back three thousand years in the southern Appalachians. Participants may take your bowl home and fire it yourself, or arrange with Bernadine to fire it at an additional cost.

The annual Cherokee Christmas Bazaar will be going on Dec. 11 at the Cherokee Indian Fairgrounds next door to the Museum, featuring hand-made items by dozens of Cherokee artists.

Museum workshops are limited to the first 20participants to register and pay their fee. Call the Museum Store at 828.497.3481 or visit at 589 Tsali Blvd. (Highway 441) in Cherokee. Credit cards and cash are accepted. For more information, contact the Museum Store.

Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center will host a Craft Fair from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. in the gymnasium on Saturday, Dec. 11.

Members can purchase a 6-foot table to display their items for $10. Non-members can purchase a 6-foot table for $20. Tables and chairs are provided. Crafters may purchase more than one table.

Each crafter will be responsible for the set-up, break-down and clean-up of the area around their booth.  Set up will begin at 7 a.m. on Dec. 11, the morning of the craft show. Booth information and applications are available at the front desk. For more information, call 828.452.8080.

The Gateway Club in Waynesville is currently hosting an exhibit of the The Haywood Snapshot Project. The exhibit, recently displayed at Haywood Arts Repertory Theater, uses historic photographs to bring Waynesville’s history to life. Images, ranging from an 1886 photograph of Main Street to a picture of The Gateway Club building during its construction in 1927, are a rich sample of Haywood County’s photographic heritage.

The project was developed under the auspices of the Historic and Genealogical Society of Haywood County. It seeks to involve the community in locating, preserving and sharing irreplaceable images and stories from the past. 

The exhibition is open to the public and is free. For information call 828.456.6789 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Waynesville Gallery Association presents Art After Dark from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 3, 2010 from 6 to 9 p.m.

Take a stroll through working studios and galleries on Main Street, Depot Street and in Frog Level. Festive flags identify participating galleries such as: Art on Depot; Blue Owl Studio and Gallery; Burr Studio and Gallery; Earthworks Gallery; Grace Cathey Sculpture Garden and Gallery; Haywood County Arts Council’s Gallery 86; Ridge Runner Naturals; Textures; The Jeweler’s Workbench; TPennington Art Gallery; and, Twigs and Leaves Gallery.

Burr Studio is hosting an opening reception with artist Courtney Tomchik and her raku storytellers, mirrors and other items to purchase just in time for holiday gift-giving.

Textures will be having a beer tasting with the Frog Level Brewing Company during December’s Art After Dark. Enjoy soft pretzels and other Holiday treats from “It’s Simply Delicious” while listening to music by Karen “Sugar” Barnes.

Visit Twigs and Leaves Gallery — named “Haywood County’s Best Gallery” by Mountain Xpress for the second year in a row. Enjoy music by the Signature Winds, Haywood County’s resident woodwind quintet, along with piano accompaniment for seasonal favorites.

The Waynesville Gallery Association’s Art After Dark takes place on the first Friday each month May through December 2010. For more information about Art After Dark visit the web site at www.waynesvillegalleryassociation.com or call 828.452.9284.

Art After Dark

What: The Waynesville Gallery Association presents December Art After Dark

When: Friday, December 3, 2010 from 6 – 9 pm

Where: Downtown, Historic Frog Level, and Depot Street in Waynesville

The next Sylva After Dark will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 3, in downtown Sylva. This will be the last Sylva After Dark until May 2011.  

Some of the events planned for Dec. 23 include:

• It’s by Nature will be hosting a one-man show during the month of December for Cullowhee watercolor painter Craig Forrest. The show will be titled, “Downtown Sylva in Detail-Urban Subjects, A New Direction.” An opening reception will be held at the gallery on Friday, Dec. 3.

• Heinzelmannchen Brewery will have a food and beer pairing from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Brewery. Partake samples of beer and fine cuisine.

• Annie’s Naturally Bakery (506 W. Main St.) will be showcasing holiday breads (German stollen and Italian panettone) and pairing them with egg nogg.

• Gallery One will have its Winter Members Show running through December.

• Signature Brew will feature the drawings of Mary Jane Ellsworth of Cullowhee for Sylva after Dark in December. Ellsworth, a member of “The Silent Generation” at William and Mary College, the American Aesthetic Society and the Blue Ridge Watermedia Society, has had juried exhibits at the Biltmore Estate, HART Theatre, the Armory and other venues.

• The Village at Sapphire Mountain Brewing Company will have live music during Sylva After Dark. 

• “The Downtowner Building” offices are having a holiday open house the evening of Dec. 3 during Sylva After Dark. (upstairs in the building to the right of Sapphire Brewing Company). Included are The Tuckaseegee Reader (tuckreader.com), Aurora Professional Design Guild, Jim Smythe, painter, Jackson County Real Estate, The Wilderness Society, AWAKE, and Insure America. All are welcome to drop by for music, food, beverages, and holiday cheer.

The radio version of a classic holiday ghost story, “A Christmas Carol,” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9, at the Fine and Performing Arts Center at Western Carolina University.

A 30-minute preshow concert will start the evening off with holiday music until the 8 p.m. live broadcast begins.

The show is organized and produced by three WCU faculty members who collaborated two years ago on their first radio re-creation, “The War of the Worlds,” and last year’s award-winning “On the Home Front, Nov. ’44.”

Steve Carlisle, associate dean of the Honors College, is the show’s director; Bruce Frazier, Carol Grotnes Belk Distinguished Professor of Commercial and Electronic Music, is the musical director. Don Connelly, associate professor and head of the Department of Communication, is producer of the show.

The broadcast is a re-enactment of the Campbell’s Playhouse adaptation of “A Christmas Carol,” from 1938.

“The audience is watching a radio production. We don’t play to the audience. We play to the microphone,” Connelly said. “It’s a fun thing to do. What’s neat is to expose people to this unique form of storytelling.”

The one-time performance stars Arthur Anderson, who will reprise his role as the Ghost of Christmas Past from the original Orson Welles 1938 radio production. Anderson was 16 years old at the time.

The Dec. 9 performance is being produced with permission of the show’s original sponsor, Campbell’s Soups.

The audience will get the feel of the holiday spirit as vintage Christmas card images from the archive collection of Hallmark Cards of Kansas City are projected onto a large screen at the back of the stage, said Connelly. The Hallmark artists selected cards from the late 1930s specifically for the WCU show.

“A Christmas Carol” will be performed exactly as it was originally done, including live sound effects, a 20-piece orchestra and an eight-person choir, Connelly said.

Frazier has created his own musical scores for the performance. The original 1938 musical director was Bernard Herrmann, who used a variety of music for the original show, such as traditional Christmas carols and folk music to accompany the festive scenes, and an original musical underscore to play during the dramatic moments.

“We are using a small orchestra and a chorus of carolers and will highlight School of Music faculty vocal soloists Mary Kay Bauer and Dan Cherry,” said Frazier. “‘A Christmas Carol’ is a ghost story with a happy ending and the music reflects the contrast of spine-chilling creepiness and unbridled joy.”

Prior to the start of the show at 7:30 p.m., the Biltmore Company will host a display of its first-edition copy of  “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, on loan to WCU from the library in the Biltmore House.

The evening’s events are part of the university’s Quality Enhancement Program, enabling students to experience a practical application of what they are learning. The lobby area of the Fine and Performing Arts Center will feature English students displaying a synopsis of papers on Dickens and his Christmas story. The evening’s printed program will feature papers written this semester by students in a 19th-century English literature class taught by Brent Kinser, associate professor of English.

A number of other students in various departments across campus are involved in this professional collaboration.

For tickets, contact WCU’s Fine and Performing Art Center at 828.227.2479 or visit tickets.wcu.edu. All seats are $10. Advance tickets are suggested.

The Mast General Store has once again invited Sarge’s volunteers to wrap holiday presents at their store on Main Street in Waynesville.

Best Buy at Waynesville Loop near the new WalMart Super Center has also invited Sarge’s volunteers to wrap presents at their store.

“Gifts from other stores may be brought to either location for wrapping.  There is no charge for gift wrapping but a donation to Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation will be happily accepted!” said Rosa Allomong, coordinator of wrapping at The Mast General Store.

“Sarge’s needs more volunteers to help with the gift wrapping and  would love to have people in our community  register with Sarge’s to help wrap presents at either or both locations,” said Barbara Buck, Best Buy gift- wrap coordinator. Information to register is on Sarge’s website at www.sargeandfriends.org or may be obtained by calling 828.246.9050.

Stoltzfus Bread Basket recently opened at 291 Everett Street (beside Watershed Trading Company) in Bryson City. Stoltzfus is an Amish style bakery featuring fresh baked breads, muffins, bagels and cakes and desserts by the slice or uncut. It also offers bulk foods, deli meats, cheese, and candy.

828.488.5942 or 828.508.9698.

The Franklin Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon cutting celebrating the opening of Finally Home Staging and Redesign, located in the Rusty Wagon of the Whistle Stop Mall in Franklin recently held a grand opening.

Janine Peak and Carol VanderWoude are the owners. After researching the current national staging industry, the pair discovered Home Staging Resource, the only accredited staging certification program in the United States. Home staging uses limited funds, practical creativity and extraordinary expertise to professionally prepare a home to sell. The goal of staging is to transform a house so that it becomes more attractive to potential buyers, sells quickly and for more money.

1281 Georgia Road, Franklin, N.C., 28734. 828.367.4139 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Hardee’s in Canton has converted its restaurant at 16 New Clyde Highway to a dual-branded Hardee’s/Red Burrito location. The newly-converted Hardee’s/Red Burrito celebrated with a grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce.

The addition of the Red Burrito menu gives Hardee’s a new line of Mexican fare. The dual-branding program began at sister chain Carl’s Jr. in 1994, when the first Carl’s Jr./Green Burrito restaurant was opened in Carson, Calif. It proved very successful, increasing both average unit volumes and profits. Hardee’s was soon to follow suit and now has more than 180 dual-branded restaurants across the Midwest and Southeast and has plans to expand the program at both chains going forward.

Western Carolina University, Wake Forest University and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians have reaffirmed their partnership to promote Native health initiatives.

Since 2006, the three institutions have collaborated to support the Culturally Based Native Health Program, or CBNHP. The CBNHP has two components: a graduate and undergraduate Native health certificate offered through WCU; and a Native youth-to-health careers initiative summer camp that takes place at Wake Forest.

“We are recommitting ourselves to initiatives we started four years ago,” said Lisa Lefler, a professor of medical anthropology and director of the WCU component of the program.

Principal Chief Michell Hicks of the EBCI, WCU Chancellor John Bardo and Provost Jill Tiefenthaler of Wake Forest formally updated the agreement at a meeting Nov. 16 on the WCU campus. Provisions of the new agreement include an extension of the terms through August 2015 and for Wake Forest to support qualified EBCI applicants. WCU agrees to “provide in-kind technological support and consultation to promote these collaborative efforts and support of American Indian students in education and career development.”

Bardo stressed the partnership’s strength and value. Tiefenthaler, citing the economy, said institutions are “in the age of partnerships.” Hicks said the tribe is interested in expanding the relationship to include other fields, such as architecture or accounting, for example.

The Native health certificate was developed with tribal community members and health professionals to provide a curriculum based on culture to inform providers about the unique nature of Indian health policy and the historical and cultural contexts of heath. This 12-hour, fully online program is one of the first in the nation to include a partnership with a Native community.

The second component of the CBNHP, the medical career counseling and technologies program, also called MedCat, responds to the universal need for more Native health care workers by recruiting high school students interested in medical careers and related technologies.

The CBNHP works in other ways to heighten awareness of Native health issues. A public lecture series featured its second speaker this fall semester, and a concert and free symposium in October raised raise awareness of the intersection of environmental, health and indigenous issues related to the destruction of mountain land.

A wreath was recently hung at Haywood County Animal  Services to kick off a special animal adoption event called Home for the Holidays.

“We recruited Jamie Powell, executive director of Sarge’s, and Tammy Watford, news anchor from WLOS-TV who is a long-time supporter of Sarge’s and participates in the annual Downtown Dog Walk, to hang the wreath to officially kick off an adoption promotion that will enable people to adopt a shelter pet for a lower than usual adoption fee,” said Connie Hewitt, promotion coordinator.

Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation and Aidan’s Fund will pay a portion of the adoption fee through Jan. 2, reducing the price to $60 for dogs, $37.50 for female cats and $27.50 for male cats.

Each adopted animal will have its name placed on a stocking hung on the wall inside the shelter.  

“We already have Tater’s stocking hung,” said Hewitt. “Tater is a 10-month-old Australian Cattle dog who was adopted the day after the promotion began.”

“The majority of animals surrendered to the shelter or turned in as strays are loving, great animals that will make wonderful pets,” said Hewitt. “We hope that our reduced adoption fees will encourage people who are looking for a pet this time of year, to look at the shelter first.”

The Haywood County Animal Shelter is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturdays; and noon-4 p.m. on Sunday. It is closed on Thanksgiving and Dec. 24-25.

For more information call Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation at 828.246.9050

An evening of great food, great beer and fine wines was attended by 45 people on Nov. 18. 

The event was the Community Harvest Dinner, a fundraiser for The Community Table. Annie’s Bakery, Heinzelmannchen Brewery, Mill & Main, Papou’s Wine Shop and Yellow Branch Farm worked together to put on a three-course meal paired with a glass of wine and a glass a beer. Those attending were delighted with the evening requesting the organizers do this event again. 

“It was a wonderful evening with great food, drink, and friends,” said Amy Grimes, executive director of The Community Table. “This thoughtfulness means so much, especially during a time when The Table is growing rapidly, and our budget is struggling to keep up. It is only with the support of caring folks in our community that we are able to continue to feed our neighbors in need in a welcoming environment.” 

Proceeds from the dinner totaled $620 and have been given to The Community Table to help them move to a new location.

Small farmers fighting against being lumped with large agribusinesses in a federal food-safety act have received a measure of possible protection.

At the behest of small farmers, U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan D-N.C., and Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., pushed through a provision to exempt small farms from new reporting requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Last month, commissioners in Jackson and Haywood counties joined their counterparts in Macon County in requesting the protection. The distinction between big and small will be those farmers making less than $500,000 in gross income and who sell directly to consumers.

This includes sales made at farmers markets, community-supported agriculture drop-sites, roadside stands and other similar direct-market venues.

“Everyone agrees we must overhaul our food-safety system,” Hagan said, “as millions of people have become sick from foodborne illnesses. But unfortunately, this bill threatens the ability of small producers … to stay in business.”

Hagan noted more than 3,700 farmers in North Carolina sell directly to consumers, generating $29 million in economic activity through sales at 200 farmers markets and more than 100 community-supported agriculture organizations.

A Christmas Bazaar will be held Sat. Dec. 4 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Sylva, at the Jackson County Community Services Building on Hospital Road below Harris Regional Hospital. 

This will benefit the Community Table. There is no admission, but food for the Community Table will be gratefully accepted. There will be various arts and crafts, such as trout flies and shadow boxes, gift baskets, pottery, wood turnings, jewelry, gourds, honey, rock candle lamps, watercolors, Indian crafts and more.

A Civil War Round Table Christmas Gala will be held at the Holiday Inn Express in Dillsboro on Dec. 13.

The event is open to members and the public. Refreshments and social hour begin at 6 p.m., followed by a buffet dinner and program.  Attire is “period dress” or “Sunday best”.  The cost is $ 25 per person and reservations may be sent to WNCCWRT, Box 3709, Cullowhee, N.C. 28723, or call Chris Behre at 293-9314 by Dec. 4.  A cash bar will be available.  

The speaker will be Brian Steele Wills, professor of history and philosophy at Kennesaw State University in Georgia.  His topic is “Solid as a Rock: George Henry Thomas.”  Wills will talk of Pap Thomas’ Virginia roots and his loyalty to the Union. Thomas was a critical component of Union success and one of its highest regarded generals.  

Wills is director of the center for the study of the Civil War era, and is tenured at the University of Virginia at Wise. He is the author of numerous articles and books relating to the Civil War, including “A Battle From the Start:  The Life of Nathan Bedford Forrest.” This book was chosen as both a History Book Club selection and a Book of the Month selection. His most recent work is “Gone for Glory: The Civil War in Cinema.”

During this busy holiday season, WestCare Hospice invites the community to take a moment and remember loved ones who have shaped your memories of this special time of year.

The public can express their memories by making a gift to the hospice program now serving families in Jackson, Haywood, Macon, Swain and Graham counties. Their gifts will make the Tree of Remembrance come alive with decorations and lights for all to enjoy. Gifts will also support the vital work of hospice as it provides care and support to individuals and their families who are coping with cancer or another life threatening illness.

The WestCare Home Health & Hospice office tree will be displayed Nov. 29 through Dec. 3 at Sylva Plaza. Butterfly ornaments will be available for purchase/donation in the office from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Drop by the lobby of MedWest-Harris or MedWest-Swain and see the Tree of Remembrance decorated with butterflies from Nov. 29 through Christmas. The name of a loved one will appear on every butterfly.

MedWest and family members will remember all past and present loved ones during a special ceremony at 6 p.m. Dec. 2 in the MedWest-Harris lobby.

For more information on any of these events call 828.586.7410.

Southwestern Community College is offering two holiday baking project classes in early December at its Jackson Campus.

Learn to make Cookie Bouquets from 6-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 9. Instructor Raquel Moore will show participants how to create festive cookie arrangements for any celebration. Learn the basics in this 2.5-hour class. Cost is $10 dollars.

Then from 6-9 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 13, Moore will demonstrate how to make Ginger Bread Houses. Moore, who has had a series of very successful cake decorating classes at SCC this fall, said participants will “learn everything they need to know to make a spectacular gingerbread house or impressive centerpiece for the season.” Cost is $12 dollars.

To pre-register for these classes, call Continuing Education at 828.339.4000, or to learn more about the classes and instructor, call Michael Rich at 828.339.4497.

Learn what you need to know now about paying for college during a free workshop scheduled 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2, on Southwestern Community College’s Jackson Campus.

The workshop, titled How to Pay for College, includes three concurrent sessions that will be held in the Balsam Center Auditorium.

One session presented by SCC Director of Financial Aid Melody Lawrence will focus especially on seniors and their parents.

Another session for all other parents will feature Laura Misner, Western regional representative of the College Foundation of North Carolina, who will tell about resources available to start planning for financing a college education.

The third session scheduled that evening is for all other high school students to focus on what they can do now to make a difference in paying for college.

Sponsored by SCC’s College Access Programs, the workshop will be hosted by Upward Bound. For more information, contact Annette Kesgen, Upward Bound director, at 828.631.2671.

Area women will have a chance to learn more about health issues, while growing in mind, body and spirit during the day-long Flourish Women’s Expo, on May 21, 2011, at Harrah’s Cherokee Resort Events Center. The highlight of the event, sponsored by MedWest health system, will be the keynote speaker, Maya Angelou.

The list of Angelou’s published verse, non-fiction, and fiction includes more than 30 bestselling titles. A trailblazer in film and television, she wrote the screenplay and composed the score for the 1972 film “Georgia, Georgia.” Her script, the first by an African-American woman ever to be filmed, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

She has appeared on television and in films, including the landmark television adaptation of Alex Haley’s Roots (1977) and John Singleton’s Poetic Justice (1993). In 1996, she directed her first feature film, “Down in the Delta.” In 2008, she composed poetry for and narrated the award-winning documentary “The Black Candle.”

Angelou has received more than 30 honorary degrees and is Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University.

The Flourish Women’s Expo will offer several educational sessions throughout the day, booths and health screenings. Physicians and other medical professionals are scheduled to discuss a variety of women’s health issues, such as nutritional health, mental wellness, plastic surgery, aromatherapy, cancer and heart health.

“The expo will focus on educating women about the importance of healthy lifestyles, and the purpose will be to introduce women to the services, physicians and staff of MedWest Health System in order to serve as the primary health care provider and an ongoing resource for them,” said Teresa Reynolds, MedWest Chief Operating Officer.

Tickets are $45 and include lunch, participation in any or all of the educational sessions, lunch, a gift bag and chance to win a door prize. Twelve elite tickets will be available for $1,000 and will include an autographed personalized copy of Angelou’s latest book, “Letter to My Daughter,” and select seating for Angelou’s presentation. Dedicated to the daughter she never had but sees all around her, “Letter to My Daughter” reveals Maya Angelou’s path to living well and living a life with meaning.

Special sponsorships are available for the event. Sponsorship levels include the Great White Trillium, $5,000; Blue Ridge, $2,500; Elk Heart, $1,500; and Whipoorwill, $1,000. A limited number of vendor packages will be available for $500. Smaller sponsorships are available for families or groups of women.

Tickets for the Flourish Women’s Expo are available online at www.flourishwomen.com. For more information, complete a contact form on the Web site or call Peggy Manning, Corporate Communications Specialist for MedWest health system, at 828.452.8883.

It’s that time of year. Now that Thanksgiving has arrived, so have holiday events — lots of them. If you have an event you want listed, send it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Parades

• Franklin’s Christmas Parade. Nov. 28. The town of Franklin welcomes the holiday season with the parade through downtown with Santa and Mrs. Claus and much more. 3 p.m. 524.1598.

• Canton Christmas Parade. Dec. 2 in downtown Canton. 648.2363.  

• Highlands Olde Mountain Christmas Parade in downtown Highlands will be Dec. 4 at 11 a.m. 526.2112.

• 36th Annual Bryson City Christmas Parade. Dec. 4. Billed as the “biggest little” Christmas parade in the Smokies, complete with clowns, an old time oompah band, floats, marching bands, Santa and more. 2 p.m. 800.867.9246.  

• Sylva Christmas Parade. Dec. 4. The Downtown Sylva Association puts together a parade complete with floats representing a broad spectrum of the community pictures with Santa Claus and more. This year’s theme is “The Wonder of Christmas Morning.” 3 p.m. on Main Street. 586.1577.

• Maggie Valley Christmas Parade. Dec. 4. Parade begins at 6 p.m. on Highway 19 in downtown Maggie Valley. 926.0866.      

• Evening Christmas Parade in Downtown Waynesville. Dec. 6. Parade starts at 6 p.m. on Main Street and features floats, music, Santa and Mrs. Claus and more.

• Cherokee Christmas Parade. Dec. 11. A theme-based parade featuring floats, music, Santa Claus and more. Parade begins at 5:30 p.m. in front of the Big Bear Exxon and ends at the Cherokee Indian Fairgrounds. 800.438.1601.

• Cashiers Christmas Parade. Dec. 11. Annual parade through downtown Cashiers. 1 p.m. 743.7710.

Holiday Activities

• Holiday Open House in downtown Waynesville. Nov. 21. A Holiday Tradition on Main Street. Enjoy the sights, scents and sounds as the holiday season begins in festively decorated shops and galleries. 12 to 9 p.m. 456.3517.

• Festival of Lights in Cherokee. Nov. 22-Jan. 11. View the Holiday Lights and visit in Cherokee’s many specialty shops. 866.433.6700.

• Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony in Franklin. Nov. 26. Tree lighting on the Square in Downtown Franklin with free cider, cookies and music at 7 p.m. 524.2516.

• Christmas Time in the Mountains. Nov. 26-Dec. 23. A shopping event at the Inn at Half Mile Farm in Highlands. 526.8170.    

• Hard Candy Christmas at Western Carolina University. Nov. 26, 27. An arts and crafts show in the WCU Ramsey Center. Admission is $3 for adults. 524.3405.

• Annual Mistletoe Magic in Macon County. Nov. 26, 27. Event featuring quality artisans, strolling carolers, Santa Claus and elves, Christmas trees for sale, horse drawn wagon rides and more. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday at the Wayne Proffitt Agricultural Center.

• The Greater Cashiers Area Merchants Association will sponsor a Meet Santa Claus event at the Village Green on Nov. 27. Cider and cookies will be available. Bring a camera to take photos with Santa. 1 to 4 p.m. 743.1630 or www.visitcashiersvalley.com. 

• Town Tree Lighting in downtown Highlands. Nov. 27. Gather together to light the Highlands Christmas tree at 6:30 p.m. 866.526.5841.

• The public is invited to cast their votes for the Bascom gingerbread House contest from Nov. 30-Dec. 10, on Tuesdays – Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The winners will be announced at 10 a.m. Dec. 11. 526.4949 or visit www.thebascom.org.

• Christmas at Lambuth Inn at Lake Junaluska. Nov. 30 – Dec. 3. A special seasonal program for adult groups or individuals who wish to experience a meaningful preparation for celebrating the Christ in Christmas. www.lakejunaluska.com/christmas-at-lambuth.aspx.

• Window Wonderland in Downtown Franklin. Dec. 3-10. A holiday celebration on town hill in Franklin that features “living” window displays of the season, carolers, and other sounds of the holidays, carriage rides, refreshments and more from 5 to 8 p.m. 524.2516.

• Festival of Lights and Luminaries in Dillsboro. Dec. 3, 4 and 10,11. The town is transformed into a winter wonderland of lights, candles and song with 2500 luminaries that light the way to shops and studios. Shopkeepers will provide live music and serve holiday treats and children can visit with Santa at Town Hall. 800.962.1911.

• Live Nativity at Saunooke Village in Cherokee. Dec. 4. Nativity scenes with live camels and other animals, music and more. Presented by Catch the Spirit of Appalachia at 6 p.m. 631.4587.

• Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville will celebrate an Old Fashion Appalachian Christmas on Dec. 11. Enjoy traditional mountain dulcimer music and song, mountain stories, homemade treats and more. 7 to 8:30 p.m. 456.6000.

• A Night Before Christmas in downtown Waynesville. Dec. 11. A holiday tradition of caroling, live music, a live Nativity, Santa, old-fashioned wagon rides, storytelling, poetry and more. Main Street is lined with hundreds of luminaries and shops and restaurants open until 9 p.m.

• Spirit of Christmas in Bryson City. Dec. 11. Luminaries line historic Everett Street, the signature hemlock is lit with memorial lights, carolers and musical artists abound, photos with Santa and a living nativity. 800.867.9246.

• Cherokee Native Christmas at River Bend in downtown Cherokee. Dec. 11. The Cherokee Chamber of Commerce Annual event features Native arts and crafts, singing, clogging, storytelling and a visit from Santa with gifts for the kids. 866.433.6700.

• City Lights bookstore in Sylva will host music and a little comedy from duo Slim Christmas and Yuletide Carol on Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. in the store’s Regional Room. 586.9499.

• Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Polar Express Train Ride. Through Dec. 23. The popular children’s book “The Polar Express” comes to life on a journey to the North Pole. Read along with the magical story and meet Santa. Enjoy holiday caroling, hot cocoa and a special treat. Trains depart from the Train Depot in Bryson City. For schedule and rates call 800.872.4681.

To the Editor:

Regarding the Nov. 14 Associated Press article in the Asheville Citizen-Times, “GOP lawmakers stand tall for all Bush tax cuts,” I see the next two years in Congress as totally unproductive — thanks to the Republicans taking control of the House.

The voters said their main concern was the economy and jobs. The Republicans, ignoring the voters concern, still seem to have an agenda to benefit the rich. They want the Bush tax cuts extended permanently for the wealthy (all congressmen’s incomes far exceed the $200,000 so this seems like a conflict of interest). The Republicans want to repeal the Obama Health Care package rather than tweak the plan (Rep Joe Barton, R-Texas). If repealed, there will never be a new agreed to health care plan.

The Republicans have said one of their main focuses will be to make this Obama’s last term. Who will help pay for the cost of two conflicts (Iraqi and Afghanistan)? I firmly believe the “trickle up, not trickle down effect” will benefit the economy most. Permanently extend the Bush tax breaks to the middle class so they will have the money to spend on goods and services that will benefit the rich and big business. The rich have benefitted for many years under the Bush tax cut, but has that helped the economy? Give the money to the rich and they will not invest in business expansion until the consumers can buy goods and services, then and only then will big business expand, thus helping the economy dig itself out of the recession. The Bush tax extension should be permanent for the middle class and allowed to lapse for the rich. By not extending the tax breaks for the wealthy, the increased taxes could be used to help begin repaying our debt. Now is the time for the two parties to work with each other, not against each other.

Unfortunately the voters who put the Republicans in control are in for a rude awakening. Time will tell, and I hope I am wrong.

Ron Rookstool

Maggie Valley

To the Editor:

The proposal to make the Overlook Area in Blue Valley a wilderness area in honor of Bob Zahner does not meet the criteria for a wilderness area. The criteria for a wilderness area are:

• No vehicular roads.

• No mechanical tools such as chainsaws for maintenance.

• Absence of sights and sounds of human activities such as traffic noise, view of houses.

The overlook area does have Forest Service roads, and urban activities can be seen and heard.

The overlook area does have features which attract many recreational pursuits such as hiking, photography, viewing or cooling off in the creeks and waterfalls, roadside dispersed camping, fishing, turkey hunting. Roadside dispersed camping would be eliminated with this proposed wilderness designation. Other recreational activities could continue but to a lesser degree because of access.  

The designation of the Overlook Area as a recreational area is more appropriate than wilderness. Recreation, not as a developed area such as Cliffside or Dry Falls, but as a dispersed recreation area where the user observes leave no trace principles for there is no caretaker to pick up paper, beverage containers, and other debris.

Honor Bob Zahner with a low impact recreation area, or a trail or vista on Whiteside Mountain. Do not dilute the definition “Wilderness” area.

Nathalie Sato

Highlands

By Raymond Turpin • Guest Columnist

Bullying, unfortunately, has always existed in the American school systems and it continues to be a pervasive problem. Many historically have dismissed it as a schoolyard rite of passage or just a part of growing up.  However, now that these behaviors have been more closely studied, we have learned that bullying is unnecessary, damaging and can cause negative long-term consequences not only for the victim but for the bully as well.  

Bullying is deliberate acts of physical or psychological harassment or intimidation. These acts occur repeatedly over time and are carried out by an individual or a group upon another, usually weaker, individual. Direct bullying (favored by boys) includes taunting, threatening, hitting, stealing and property damage. Indirect bullying (favored by girls) includes spreading rumors and enforcing social isolation.

However, direct verbal bullying is still the most common form of bullying for both boys and girls. With this electronically plugged-in generation, bullying has spread into cyberspace where threatening e-mails, slanderous postings and sexual harassment are frequently used to intimidate and control others. Most victims of bullying suffer in relative isolation and research has shown that the majority of these children feel helpless and believe that reporting to adults is ineffective in stopping the bullying and can sometimes lead to worse bullying.  

The media have recently reported stories about adolescents who committed suicide because of the effects of being bullied. These victims were often intimidated, excluded and harassed for differences in weight, size, religious beliefs, and sexual orientation. In fact, studies show that gay and lesbian teens are three times more likely to report being bullied than their heterosexual peers and are two to three times more likely to die by suicide.  

For many victims of bullying, there are serious potential consequences such as depression, low self-esteem, school avoidance, suicidal thoughts, substance abuse and poor academic and job performance. Bullies who may operate unchecked for years are at risk for not learning appropriate skills for dealing with their problems effectively and with proper respect for others. In one study, 60 percent of those characterized as bullies in grades 6-9 had at least one criminal conviction by age 24.  

So how should we deal with bullying in the schools? How can we ensure that all children can attend school each day and work to their potential in a supportive environment that is free of intimidation and fear? The majority of school-based bullying interventions have simply focused on the bully and the victim and they have been woefully inadequate for addressing the problem. Bullying is a problem that occurs within a social context, so if intervening with the bully and the victim has been ineffective, it might make sense to try and address the social context in which the bullying is taking place.

Changing the culture of a school will take time and patience, but it should begin with a school having a clearly understandable school-wide policy against bullying that is clearly explained to the students. In addition, it will be important for the school to consistently follow this policy. Educating students and parents about bullying and its destructive effects through parent meetings, classroom discussions and group projects will be necessary.  

However, the most important piece of this culture change will be to empower bystanders. Bystanders are usually present at most bullying incidents. A recent study found that peers were present in 85 percent of bullying incidents, but only 10 percent actually intervened even though two-thirds of children report that they know they should intervene. Empower bystanders to speak up against bullying because being questioned and confronted by peers will take away a bully’s sense of power and control. Empower victims to speak up for themselves firmly and assertively. Teach students that the bully is someone who has a problem managing their behavior and the victim is someone they can protect. If one bystander could be courageous enough to take a stand against bullying, others would follow.  

Of course schools can only do so much to teach a child about respecting others, tolerating individual differences and standing up for those who are weaker or are being victimized. It really begins at home. Talk to your child but more importantly listen to them.  

(Dr. Raymond Turpin is a licensed psychologist and the clinical director and co-owner of Haywood County Psychological Services which provides mental health services to the students and families of the Haywood County Schools. He has been treating child and adolescent mental health issues for 21 years with his specialty being adolescents, trauma, and developmental issues. He has been married for 21 years and has two children, four cats, one dog and fish.  He continues to believe in the inherent goodness of people.)

Two Macon County natives, Gail Shepherd Diederich and Gail Kelly Lester, recently released a new book, Tales of Two Gails. With 38 true stories and 68 photos, many shot in the Macon County area during the 1950s and the 1960s, the book recalls Franklin individuals who extended themselves to help two young girls. 

The stories also recall times and daily living of that era and all stories are told with humor, a good dose of faith, and with the hopes they will be inspirational to others who consider writing their stories.

Both Gails will take part in a book signing and short presentation on “Preserving and Presenting Personal History,” from 2-4 p.m. on Dec. 4 at the Macon County Public Library. Both authors will  also do book signings from 10 a.m.-noon on Dec. 4 at Books Unlimited in Franklin and from 7-8 p.m. on Dec. 3 at The Oaks Gallery, in the Riverwood Shops in Dillsboro.  

Diederich now lives in Tampa and Lester, from the Dallas area, were born 13 months apart and from the earliest days became close friends. Living in the Watauga community with grandparents, separated only by potato and corn fields and a creek, the two spent countless hours together during their early lives. During high school years, Diederich’s grandmother provided a home for both girls, cementing an already strong friendship.

The two went in different directions after graduating from Franklin High School but never lost contact and found ways to see each other a few times. With a 60-year friendship going strong, the two decided to write a book of true stories about resilience in the face of hardship and reflecting many individuals who encouraged them along their paths.

There’s nothing quite like a real Fraser fir Christmas tree.

In recent years, the value and quality of locally produced food has re-inspired many Western North Carolina citizens to purchase locally grown food. After all, products produced in Western North Carolina offer high quality, the chance to meet the producer and the opportunity to support the local economy. Mountain-grown Christmas trees are no exception.

Fraser firs are native throughout the mountains of eastern United States and Canada and are widely produced in Western North Carolina.

In 2009, consumers in the U.S. purchased 28.2 million farm-grown Christmas trees, spending an average of $41 that went back into the local economy. The choose-and-cut segment of the Christmas tree industry in particular has grown dramatically in recent years.

With children in tow, parents enjoy the opportunity to visit a farm where they can search for that perfect tree while spending time creating new memories with their family. In doing so, individuals and family’s support local businesses. Christmas tree growers with choose-and-cut operations work hard but are devoted to provide a fun family experience for everyone to enjoy.  In 2009, the retail value of Christmas trees sold in the U.S. was $1.15 billion. That money is going to Christmas tree farmers instead of supporting an industry that brings you petroleum chemicals and plastic trees where it is estimated that more than 85 percent are imported from China.

Fraser fir trees are truly a green product. With more than 1,500 Christmas tree farms here in North Carolina, it is easy to find a farm or retail lot that is close by. Take time this holiday season to support a local farmer.

Haywood County

Boyd Mountain Christmas Tree Farm

143 Boyd Farm Rd., Waynesville

www.boydmountainchristmastreefarm.com • 828.926.8888 or 828.506.3513

Continued Traditions Farm

1198 Old Clyde Rd., Clyde

www.continuedtraditions.com • 828.734.9111

Dutch Cove Christmas Tree Farm

280 Setzer Dr., Canton • 828.648.9133

Nesbitt Christmas Tree Farm

333 Sunset Ridge Rd., Clyde • 828.456.9914

Raulerson Christmas Tree Farm

28 Wady Branch Rd., Canton • 828.734.9534

Smoky Mountain Christmas Tree Farm

One mile up Hemphill Rd., Waynesville

Jackson County

James & Joe Ammons

2233 Wolf Mountain Rd., Tuckasegee

828.293.5953, 828.508.6681

Chuck Denkert

Cane Creek Rd. (look for sign D’s Trees, 1½ miles up on the right), Cullowhee

828.293.3308

Adrain Fowler

Breedlove Rd., Cashiers

828.399.0326, 828.342.0067

Ron Fowler

Breedlove Rd. (2nd farm on the left), Cashiers

828.743.1737, 828.508.8183

George Frady

Charlies Creek Rd. (go 8.2 miles on Hwy 281, then left on Charles Creek Rd (7.6 miles) Look for signs. Tuckaseegee

828.450.9351, 828.293.3449

Larry Moss

822 Norton Rd., Cashiers

828.226.2397, 828.743.2215, 828.226.2340

Tom Sawyer

240 Chimney Pond Road, Glenville

800.662.7008, 828.743.5456

John & Joni Wavra

971 Lloyd Hooper Rd., Cullowhee

828.743.3899

Paul White

180 Cold Water Creek Lane, Cullowhee

828.293.0258

Swain County

Roy Burnette

Brush Creek Rd., Bryson City

828.488.4196 (ask for Arnold)

Ted Craig

160 Fraser Fir Dr., Bryson City

828.488.3954, 828.736.4356

Macon County

J & J Tree Farm  

28 Guffie Rd., Franklin • 828.524.3464

Peak Experience Christmas Trees

2820 Dillard Rd., Highlands

828.526.0229, 828.526.5405.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park recently took delivery of seven Ford Escape Hybrid vehicles that were purchased using a $197,550 grant from the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Program.  

The CMAQ funding is U.S. Department of Transportation money that comes through the state of North Carolina and was allocated by the Rural Planning Organizations (RPOs) of the Land-of-Sky Regional Council and Southwestern Commission.  

The goal of the CMAQ Program is to reduce air emissions in counties where air quality is in non-attainment of EPA Clean Air Act standards. The portions of Swain and Haywood counties that lie within Great Smoky Mountains National Park are both in non-attainment due to elevated levels of ground-level ozone.

With the addition of these new Escape Hybrids the park now has 16 hybrid vehicles in service.

The National Park Service is accepting entries in the Share the Experience photo contest through Dec. 31.

The photo taken by the grand prize winner will appear on a 2012 America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. He or she will receive a prize package that includes a trip for four to a federal recreation area, photography equipment, and a pass to the national parks and other federal lands for 2012. Second-, third-, and fourth-place winners and 10 Honorable Mention winners will also receive prizes.

Amateur photographers can participate by uploading photos on www.sharetheexperience.org or through Facebook, Flickr, or Shutterfly to the contest website.

“We always encourage the American people to visit and experience their national parks,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis. “We especially do so now, in the weeks before the Share the Experience deadline. Photography is very much about seeing. Head to a national park and really see it — through the lens of your camera.”

“We always tell people in parks to take only pictures and leave only footprints,” said Neil Mulholland, president and CEO of the National Park Foundation. “Our annual photo contest is a great reason to get outside and capture the incredible places preserved in our national parks.”

For contest rules and a complete list of prizes visit www.sharetheexperience.org.

The U.S. Forest Service has rerouted a portion of the Rim Trail Clay County.

The Rim Trail is a 26-mile Forest Service trail that travels along the rim of the Fires Creek basin near Hayesville. The approximately 2.5-mile section of the Rim Trail located between the trail’s intersections with Phillips Ridge Trail at Will King Gap and Rockhouse Trail at Big Stamp has been closed because this section of trail crosses through private land.  

Hikers will now use the Phillips Ridge and Rockhouse Trails to connect the two sections of the Rim Trail. This reroute is approximately 7.1 miles. Maps of the trail re-route have been posted within the Fires Creek area and are also available from the Tusquitee Ranger Station or from www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc/.     

“The affected section of the Rim Trail is located on private land that was recently posted by the landowners. We had to close this section of trail to avoid crossing the private tract,” according to District Ranger Steve Lohr. “The current reroute is a temporary solution as the Forest Service explores alternatives for a shorter, more convenient trail relocation which will keep hikers closer to the ridgeline.”  

Hikers are encouraged to be “good neighbors” and respect private property rights while visiting the national forest in this area.

For more information contact Lohr at 828.837.5152.

During the holiday season, when family and friends gather, many go on traditional hunting trips.

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is reminding hunters to take proper precautions when hunting during the holidays.

The Wildlife Commission’s “Home From The Hunt” campaign encourages everyone to be prepared, take the proper precautions and enjoy their time outdoors this season.

“The holidays are a wonderful time for hunting,” said Travis Casper, the state’s assistant hunting safety coordinator with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. “In the excitement of a holiday hunt, don’t overlook the safety aspects. Communicate with fellow hunters and stress the importance of everyone being careful.”

Casper advises:

• Go back to basics — review hunter education training and equipment instructions.

• Read the rules — know all applicable regulations before going afield.

• Identify the target — remain cautious and be absolutely sure before firing.

• Inspect all equipment — repair or replace equipment, as needed, before use.

Successful completion of hunter education is required for all first time hunting license buyers in North Carolina. Courses are offered free by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, with schedules and registration available at www.ncwildlife.org.

The First Thursday Old-Time and Bluegrass Jam Session Series at Western Carolina University’s Mountain Heritage Center will continue Thursday, Dec. 2, with a concert by traditional music icon David Holt and a jam session in which local musicians are invited to participate.

A recipient of four Grammy Awards, Holt will get the music started at 7 p.m. in the museum auditorium. Performers of old-time and bluegrass music are invited to bring their instruments and take part in the jam session that will follow his performance.

Holt has filled the roles of musician, storyteller, historian and television host over a career that has spanned more than three decades. During that time, he has performed with many of the legends of traditional and country music who also have been his mentors, including Doc Watson, Bill Monroe and Chet Atkins. Holt plays 10 acoustic instruments and has released numerous recordings of traditional mountain music and Southern folk tales.

Well known for his work on television and radio, Holt is currently host of the public TV series “Folkways,” which takes viewers through the Southern Appalachian Mountains visiting traditional craftspeople and musicians.

The concerts and jam sessions will continue at the Mountain Heritage Center through the winter, with programs from 7 to 9 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month. Other performers scheduled to present concerts are the Freight Hoppers, Mountain Faith, Travis and Trevor Stuart, and Wayne Martin.

The events are free and open to everyone, and no reserve seating is available. Pickers and singers of all ages and experience levels are invited to take part in the jam sessions, and the events also are open to those who just want to listen.

The Mountain Heritage Center is located on the ground floor of WCU’s H.F. Robinson Administration Building. For more information, call the museum at 828.227.7129.

Trumpet player Scott Harrell will be the featured soloist at a concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30, at the Fine and Performing Arts Center on the campus of Western Carolina University.

The concert, part of the WCU School of Music’s Catamount Concert Series, is free and open to the public.

The WCU Jazz Ensemble will play with Harrell, performing selections by Sammy Nestico, a composer and arranger of big band music who is well known for his arrangements for Count Basie’s orchestra, to more modern music of John Coltrane and Bob Mintzer.

A New Yorker since 1997, Harrell has performed with jazz artists such as Maria Schneider, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and the Dizzy Gillespie alumni band and with contemporary groups such as Fountains of Wayne and They Might Be Giants.

Harrell also has performed with many popular Broadway shows, including “Cats,” “The Producers,” “Jersey Boys,” “Young Frankenstein,” “A Chorus Line,” “In the Heights,” “Billy Elliot,” “West Side Story” and “Memphis.” In 2009, Harrell was a featured musician in the play “Exit the King,” starring Geoffrey Rush and Susan Sarandon, and he is performing this fall in the new Broadway musical “Elf,” based on the popular motion picture of the same name.

Harrell, originally from Houston, is a graduate of the University of North Texas, where he spent three years in the One O’Clock Lab Band. He also has been a faculty member at jazz camps at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and the University of Texas at Arlington.

For more information, contact Pavel Wlosok, assistant professor of jazz at WCU, at 828.227.3261 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

A singing contest will be held in Franklin to choose a male youth from 9 to 14 to appear onstage with the contemporary Christian group NewSong.

WPFJ’s and Sleep USA will hold auditions at 6 p.m. on Nov. 30 at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts. Applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Nov. 29 at the WPFJ studios inside Tech Place in the Franklin Plaza or at any of the three locations of Sleep USA in Franklin, Murphy or Sylva.

The winner will sing the solo part and a duet with lead singer Billy Goodwin on their hit song, “The Christmas Shoes.”

For information call Cathy James at 828.369.5033.

Archie Watkins and Smoky Mountain Reunion will perform at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 3.

The show will include a special appearance by Karen Peck and New River. Multi Grammy nominated Peck and New River have become synonymous with southern Gospel music with five consecutive No. 1 songs over the last two years.  

Also appearing will be The Diplomats.

Tickets are $15 and are now on sale at the center box office at 1028 Georgia Road in Franklin, at Dalton’s Bookstore in Franklin and Waynesville, and online at GreatMouintainMusic.com; or call 866.273.4615.

Franklin’s Winter Wonderland holiday celebration will be held one night only this year from 5 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 3 in downtown.

Among this year’s new attractions are ice artists Masterpiece Ice Sculptures (MIS). This group of Asheville artists will create a special slide made of ice especially for Winter Wonderland.  

This is a working slide and takes the crew around three hours to setup. We’re sure all of the kids attending this winter festival will enjoy it,” said MIS’ Jeff Pennypacker. There will also be a live demonstration of how ice sculptures are created as the MIS crew transforms a large block of ice into a work of art.   

“In previous years, this festival had a Victorian feel,” said Linda Schlott, Franklin Main Street Program Executive Director.  “This year, however, we’ve decided to breathe some new life into the event. Winter Wonderland will be a whole new experience for all those that attend.”

Free wagon rides will be offered during Winter Wonderland.  The bright red wagon will be decked out for the holidays, and will give those riding a whole new perspective on the evening’s activities.  The free wagon rides will be offered beginning at 5 p.m. and run until the end of the event.

Roxy the miniature horse will be back in action from her very popular debut during Pumpkinfest. Youngsters can ride Roxy beginning at 5 p.m. There is an 80-pound weight limit.

Live entertainment has a renewed focus for Winter Wonderland and will be headlined by the popular Rye Holler Boys. They will be performing traditional holiday favorites from the gazebo beginning at 6:30 p.m.  Other entertainment scheduled includes the South Macon Elementary School Chorus and Men Making Music.  

Downtown Franklin merchants will also get in on the holiday fun. Stores will be open late offering free refreshments including hot cider and delicious treats to their patrons.

For more information on the festivities of Franklin’s Winter Wonderland visit www.renewingfranklin.org or call Linda Schlott, executive director of the Franklin Main Street Program at 828.524.2516.

The 23rd Hard Candy Christmas Arts and Crafts show that will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 26-27 at the Ramsey Center on the campus of Western Carolina University. Admission is $3 and children are free. See www.mountainartisans.net for this year’s line up of crafters. Call 828.524.3405 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

One of the more traditional holiday experiences in Western North Carolina takes place in Dillsboro the first two weekends of December.

Each year, this small mountain village is awash in the glow of white paper bag luminaries during the Dillsboro Festival of Lights & Luminaries.

This year’s festival is Dec. 3-4 and Dec. 10-11. On these special Friday and Saturday evenings, the town’s merchant “elves” illuminate the streets and sidewalks with more than 2,500 luminaries. The merchants also flip the switches on strands of small white lights trimming the town’s buildings, many of which date to the 1800s.

Once Dillsboro is aglow, carolers fill the streets, musicians stroll through town playing Christmas favorites, and Santa visits with children at Town Hall. Shopkeepers add to the merriment by staying open late and serving holiday treats with hot cider and cocoa.

New in 2010 are horse-drawn carriage rides on both weekends, and performances by the Smoky Mountain High School Show Choir on Dec. 3 and Dec. 4.

“Folks tell us every year how genuine this event is, and how much they enjoy it,” said Julie Spiro, tourism director for Jackson County. “It’s a nice combination of cool winter weather and warm holiday spirit.”

The Festival of Lights & Luminaries begins each evening at dusk and runs until 9 p.m. There is no admission charge and lodging is plentiful with more than half of Jackson’s County guest rooms located in Dillsboro or within a 15-minute drive.

For information, go to www.visitdillsboro.org, or call the Jackson County Visitors Center at 800.962.1911.

Leapin’ Frog Gallery will host local artist Silvia Williams for a one-hour art talk and demonstration on “Experimental Painting” beginning at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 2.

Williams has been an artist for many years and has recently transitioned from realism to abstract art using mixed media. Bright happy colors are her palette of choice and she uses inks, watercolor, acrylic, foil, bubble wrap, saran wrap and other items to create her art.

Williams is originally from Cuba but has been a U.S. citizen for over 50 years and holds a master’s in Modern Languages from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her teaching career included public school, prep school as well as university. She is past president of the Blue Ridge Watermedia Society. Her work is also in collections throughout the U.S. as well as in Canada and Spain.

Leapin’ Frog Gallery is located in the Historic Frog Level District on 58 Commerce Street, Waynesville, beside Panacea Coffee Shop. Public invited. For more information call 828.456.8441.

It’s by Nature Gallery of Sylva is pleased to announce that the gallery will be hosting a one-man-show during the month of December for Cullowhee watercolor painter Craig Forrest. Forrest has been represented exclusively by the gallery since its opening.

This show will be titled Downtown Sylva in Detail - Urban Subjects, A New Direction.

Forrest was interested in tackling some new subject matter for this show. The work represents a departure from his usual subject matter of local rural landscapes, still-lifes and portraits. It is expected that viewers of the work will enjoy trying to guess the locations of the subjects as the titles will purposely not provide easy identification. Some works will be be almost immediately recognized while others will possibly be more obscure.

Giclée reproductions of his paintings will be available. These reproductions are done by the artist in his home studio using a technique he has mastered over the past several years with a flat-bed scanner, computer and inkjet printer with pigmented inks. Forrest was a featured artist in the first edition of the book Mastering Digital Printing by Harald Johnson.

In addition, the artist will have available for sale the recent painting Snowfall at Full Spectrum Farms, a watercolor painting depicting the hay barn at Full Spectrum Farms during a snow storm earlier this year. Through special arrangement with It’s by Nature Gallery all proceeds from the sale of the original painting will go to Full Spectrum Farms of Cullowhee. Full Spectrum Farms will serve adults with autism in Western North Carolina by providing a farm community where affected individuals can live and work in a healthy, enriching environment. Limited edition prints will be available as well with a portion of the proceeds to go toward Full Spectrum Farms.

An opening reception will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 3 at the gallery. Public invited.

Oct. 2006-Feb. 2008 — HRMC has several problems with federal inspectors, culminating in the threat to revoke its ability to get reimbursement for Medicare and Medicaid patients.

Feb. 13, 2008 — HRMC given notice that Medicare funding will be revoked Feb. 24. CEO David Rice does not go public — even to his board or the medical staff — in hopes of passing a last ditch follow-up inspection.

Feb. 22, 2008 — HRMC fails follow-up inspection. Legal notice appears in Asheville Citizen-Times that says HRMC will no longer be eligible to receive Medicare reimbursements, which alerts community.

Feb. 24, 2008 — Medicare and Medicaid status revoked at HRMC.

Feb. 25, 2008 — David Rice resigns as CEO.

March 3, 2008 — Hundreds gather at HRMC wearing purple ribbons to show community support for the hospital as it slips further into its financial morass.

March 6, 2008 — HRMC Board Chairman Dr. Nancy Freeman resigns her seat, saying in a letter she wants “the healing to begin.” Dr. Henry Nathan appointed to replace Freeman on the board but not as chairman. Glenn White later appointed chairman.

March 10, 2008 — Consultants hired to help HRMC re-group issue an assessment blasting administration of former CEO David Rice, citing a “significant leadership failing.” Also, Future Directions Committee begins public discussions of potential merger options with another hospital or hospital system.

April 17, 2008 — HRMC passes Medicare inspection, first step toward full recertification.

May 21, 2008 — HRMC passes final inspection and regains Medicare and Medicaid certification.

Aug. 20, 2008 — Interim CEO Al Byers says hospital is breaking even for first time since crisis started.

September 2008 — Interim CEO Al Byers steps down, the last of the top administrators who worked under Rice to depart.

Oct. 1, 2008 — Michael Poore hired as new CEO for HRMC.

Deduction would tell us that in the information age libraries would be accorded great respect, but somehow that isn’t universally the case anymore. Given that truth, it’s encouraging to see what has happened over the last several years in Jackson County as support has gathered for a new library that, after much debate, will be attached to the strikingly beautiful historic courthouse.

After a decade-long community debate that raged with unusual fervor, county leaders decided in October 2007 to put the county’s new library atop courthouse hill. This wise decision did two things: ensured Jackson County residents their new, much-needed library would have wide community support; and it infused the project with a historic and cultural significance, providing a symbol of political and intellectual aspirations that will endure for generations.

There was a time when libraries were enshrined as the world’s primary learning centers. The administrators of the ancient library of Alexandria, Egypt, according to some historians, were charged with with no less a task than bringing together all the world’s collective knowledge. Stipends were paid to scholars and their families to come spend time there. Throughout the ancient world libraries were held in high regard as the keepers of culture and history, and typically they were among a city’s most splendid architectural masterpiece.

Today too many communities neglect these important institutions. As television and the Internet have grown in significance, and indeed put much of the world’s knowledge and literature at our fingertips, libraries could be written off as quaint relics.

But that’s just not the case. Places where people — children and adults — gather to read, write, research and discuss ideas will always be important. Amid the rush of today’s world, a place where adults work and read in a cocoon of silence and where children can discover the profound joys of the written word are indeed sacred.

Macon County has already done its community proud with its recently opened library, and citizens came together to support the furnishings of that facility with their donations. Now the same is being asked of Jackson County residents. Fund raising is currently under way, and almost $500,000 of the $1.6 million goal has already been pledged.

We believe this library is among the most worthy of community projects. It will become the epicenter of the intellectual and community life of Jackson County, and we encourage residents to support the fund-raising drive to the best of their abilities.

By Christi Marsico • Staff Writer

Chubby Checker clears his throat and states with pomp, “I plan on tearing the place up and taking no prisoners in Cherokee.”

Leaving New York City on his tour bus, the Checkerlicious Express, Checker said he was extremely excited about traveling to North Carolina to perform in concert at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino on Saturday, Feb. 28.

“My whole life is a holiday,” Checker told The Smoky Mountain News during a telephone interview. “The biggest event in the music industry and the number one song on the planet is coming to Cherokee and it’s going to blow the house down.”

Chubby before the Checker

Checker was born Ernest Evans on Oct. 3, 1941, in Spring Gulley, S.C., and remembers his childhood fondly.

“All good stuff happened in South Carolina. I had to do hard work and we lived on a farm where I had to clean pens,” Checker said.

When Checker was 7 he moved with his family to South Philadelphia. His mother took him to see the child piano prodigy Sugar Child Robinson and the famous country singer Ernest Tubb. The showbiz bug had bitten Checker. At the age of 11, he joined a street corner harmony group.

Early musical influences that made on impression on Checker were Perry Como, Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra.

During his high school years, Checker played the piano and began making a name for himself with vocal impressions.

He had an after-school job at Fresh Farm Poultry and the Produce Market, where he would sing and crack jokes. His boss, Tony A., was the one who gave him the nickname “Chubby.”

Henry Colt, the storeowner of Fresh Farm Poultry soon caught sight and sound of Checker and began showing him off to his customers through the store’s loudspeaker.

It wasn’t long before Colt arranged for Checker to meet with Dick Clark. Clark was impressed with young vocalist, and in 1959 Checker recorded his first hit with the Christmas single, “The Class.”

Upon being asked what his name was by Clark’s wife, Bobbie, Checker replied “Chubby.” Clark’s wife came up with “Checker,” which was a play on Fats Domino, who Checker had imitated earlier.

The big break and beyond

Checker’s big break came that same year as he appeared on the popular TV show “American Bandstand.”

Hank Ballard and the Midnighters didn’t show up for an appearance on the show, and Clark asked Checker to cover the group’s hit “The Twist.” The song became a Number One hit and the dance craze took hold of America.

The dance encouraged boys and girls to jive separately from each other, changing the teen beat with rippling effects for the future.

“I gave them something they can use 24/7,” Checker said. “When I hear the music of today, I hear the influences of yesterday.”

Launching into the 60s, “The Twist” found a resurgence in the “Peppermint Twist,” “Twist and Shout,” and “Twistin’ the Night Away.”

With each new song came new dance moves such as “The Jerk,” “The Hully Gully,” “The Boogaloo,” and “The Hucklebuck.”

Checker had hit after hit, and in 1961 he recorded “Pony Time,” which went to Number One and stayed there for 16 weeks. Checker took time to star in the films, “Don’t Knock The Twist” and “Twist Around The Clock.”

Making record industry history in 1961, Checker’s original hit “The Twist” re-entered the charts, and by 1962 the song was at Number One again. No other song before or since has accomplished that achievement.

“The Twist” spent a total of nine months on the charts.

Checker tried his hand at other musical genres including folk, country and reggae, and he admits that he is his own worst critic.

Being in the music business since the age of 18, Checker said if he had pursued another career he would have “built skyscrapers and been a landlord.”

Snack Attack

Almost a decade ago, Checker branched out into the snack food business honoring 40 years of “The Twist” with Chocolate Checker Bars, beef jerky, hot dogs, steaks, and popcorn, including Girl of the World Water which he dedicated to his wife.

“From candy bars to hotdogs, every time you pick up a Chubby Checker snack you’ll know about our history and how we affected lives,” Checker said.

With plans of a Chubby Checker Smokehouse in the works for the end of the year, Checker keeps cruising his Checkerlicious Express with inventive ways to twist again.

For more information on Checker or his snacks visit www.chubbychecker.com.