Thursday, Feb. 15 marks the start of North Carolina’s 13-day early voting period, when voters can appear at local polling places to cast their votes in person through Saturday, March 2.

Every five years, the Main Street Sylva Association’s Board of Directors creates an economic development plan, and this year, the focus is on downtown’s Mill Street. 

Southern rock juggernaut Blackberry Smoke will perform at 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16, at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. 

Featuring four plays, the “Scribes on Stage” series will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, at the Peacock Playhouse in Hayesville. 

With a list of novels, five books of poetry and seven collections of short stories, Ron Rash has garnered a number of prestigious awards in his writing career.

The eastern hellbender does not deserve listing under the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has decided, but the Hickory Nut Gorge green salamander, which was first described as a unique species in 2019, warrants a status review to consider listing. 

After completing its 70th year supporting preservation in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Great Smoky Mountains Association has adopted a new name. The nonprofit will now be known as Smokies Life. 

Over the next three years, 40 sites across Western North Carolina are expected to be part of the WNC Double SNAP Network, which expands the ability of people receiving assistance from the federal SNAP program to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from farmers markets. 

Birders and bird lovers worldwide are encouraged to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count Feb. 16-19, with several local events offered to mark the weekend. 

For the first time since August, North Carolina is now drought-free. Some areas of Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Macon and Dare counties remain abnormally dry, but the remaining 95 counties are now at or above normal moisture levels. 

New board officers, trustees and advisors have been appointed to the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, which partners with the National Park Service to preserve and enhance the most-visited national park unit. 

The annual Haywood County Extension Master Gardener Plant Sale is now underway, with orders due pre-paid by Friday, March 8. 

Start off the year with an early-season slalom race Saturday, Feb. 17, on the Nantahala River at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. 

Registration is open for youth volleyball clinics slated to begin the week of March 11 at the Cullowhee Recreation Center in Cullowhee. 

The Sylva Naturalist Club will meet 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. 

Experience the backcountry during wintertime with a pair of hikes offered over the next week with Haywood Recreation and Parks. 

Camping check-in times will be standardized throughout N.C. State Parks starting June 15. 

Nominations are wanted for people who have led the way in conserving nongame animals in North Carolina. 

After being closed for cleanup since Jan. 11, Allens Creek Park in Waynesville is open again. 

The Therapeutic Massage program at Southwestern Community College has opened its learning clinic for the spring semester to allow its first-year students to practice their studies.

The clinic is open to the public, and a 50-minute massage by a student costs $20. Appointments are available on Tuesdays at noon, 1:15 p.m., 2:45 p.m. and 4 p.m.

To book an appointment, visit massagebook.com or call 828.339.4313. For information about the Therapeutic Massage program, visit southwesterncc.edu.

The Natti Love Joys will perform during the “Bob Marley Birthday Celebration” at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville. 

Asheville-based rock/funk trio Pleasantly Wild will hit the stage at 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, at The Gem downstairs taproom at Boojum Brewing in Waynesville. 

In 2023, the Blue Ridge Parkway saw its highest visitation since 2007, according to preliminary figures from the National Park Service, representing a 6.1% increase over 2022.

A forest landowner workshop coming 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, at the Haywood Agricultural Center in Waynesville will give landowners a chance to learn principles and resources for stewarding their forest. 

The Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina has now permanently protected more than 70,000 acres in the South Mountains after a 1,460-acre acquisition in the Pinnacle Mountains of McDowell and Rutherford counties pushed it over the mark to a total of 70,193 acres conserved since its founding in 1995. 

Up your recycling know-how during a program at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, at the University of North Carolina Asheville’s Reuter Center. 

Spend the weekend focused on coon hunting with the Jackson County Coon Hound Association Friday, Feb. 2, and Saturday, Feb. 3, in Sylva. 

Learn what to do when your dog gets hurt on the trail with a workshop offered 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, in Clyde. 

The 12th annual Plunge Benefit-t-t-ting Kids in the Creek and Environmental Education will take place 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, at the Lake Junaluska Pool in Waynesville. 

Prepare for gardening season with “Learn to Grow: Vegetable Gardening,” a workshop offered 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8, in Waynesville. 

Learn how to give your fruit trees some love with a workshop starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, at Winding Stair Nursery in Franklin. 

Families can visit Cataloochee Ski Area for a reduced cost on Wednesdays through the end of the season. 

Registration for Spring Break Camp at the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville opens at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, with Discovery Camp registration following suit at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14. 

Help MountainTrue plant more than 2,500 new native plants at Bryson City Island Park during volunteer workdays 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, and Wednesday, Feb. 14.

Ride the trails with an experienced mountain bike instructor at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, at Chestnut Mountain Nature Park in Canton. 

The civilian voter registration deadline for the March 5 Primary Election is rapidly approaching, so now’s a good time to double-check your registration or register to vote if you already haven’t. 

William R. Robinson, a columnist for Newsmax, will moderate a Primary Election debate be-tween 11th Congressional District Republican candidates Christian Reagan, a businessman from Hayesville, and first-term incumbent Rep. Chuck Edwards — if Edwards shows up.

Haywood County rock/country act Outlaw Whiskey will hit the stage at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, at the Unplugged Pub in Bryson City. 

Groundhogs Tater and Yammy will make their meteorological debut during the 19th annual Groundhog Day Celebration Friday, Feb. 2, at Chimney Rock State Park in Rutherford County. 

Experience the story of the American chestnut, a mighty wonder that once sustained all forms of life in the Appalachian Mountains, with a film screening at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. 

Mike Kesselring will show off his enormous fly collection and other gear gathered over 40 years of world-wide travel 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, at the United Methodist Church in Sylva, as part of Trout Unlimited Sylva’s regular monthly meeting. 

Nancy Carroll has been named Southern Highlands Reserve’s Volunteer of the Year for 2023 in recognition of the “life, laughter and bright optimism” she brings to Volunteer Day at the Reserve. 

Ski Cataloochee for less this winter, with discounted night skiing available through Jackson County Parks and Recreation Friday nights, Jan. 26 through Feb. 23. 

Those who have spent their careers protecting others can enjoy Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley at a reduced rate over the next couple weeks. 

Tickets for 2024 Visitors Days at the Southern Highlands Reserve in Lake Toxaway go on sale Thursday, Feb. 1.

It’s not yet time to plant for spring, but Haywood County Master Gardeners are still available to answer questions about all manner of plant-related issues. 

Help care for conserved lands by participating in a string of upcoming stewardship volunteer workdays with Mainspring Conservation Trust, held 9 a.m. to noon every other Thursday at various locations in Macon County. 

Keep the hemlocks of the Pisgah National Forest safe from the invasive hemlock wooly adelgid during a volunteer workday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26, at the Old Fort Picnic Area near Old Fort. 

Fire crews responded to three structure fires in Macon County over a 24-hour period. 

Get ready to chill out at the NC Smokies Ice Festival on January 26-28 at locations throughout the county.