The Cashiers Historical Society is sponsoring its 2011 Heritage Apple Day from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, March 26, at the Cashiers Community Center.  

This popular annual event celebrates the region’s history by identifying and preserving ancient apple varieties throughout the valley and in surrounding communities.  

Bring scionwood (the new growth cuttings from your favorite apple trees), even those that have long since produced fruit, to graft onto the provided rootstock.  If you do not have your own apple tree cuttings, don’t worry — a large supply will be on hand.  

About 15 apple varieties will be available, including June Stripped, Winter Banana, Jonagold, Rome Beauty, Red Burgundy, and the Grimes Golden.

Apple-grafting techniques will be taught at the free workshop. Those interested in gardening, orchards, natural landscaping or the social heritage of apple growing will benefit from the knowledge and experience offered by this group of experts.

In addition, local author and historian Jane Nardy will be on hand to chat about apples, regional heritage, and other interesting lore and legend.     

Everyone is encouraged to bring their favorite apple dish or recipe to share with others. 828.743.7710.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has sued the Bureau of Indian Affairs for failing to hand over what it maintains are public documents under the Freedom of Information Act pertaining to the lease agreements for bear exhibitors in Cherokee.

PETA maintains about 30 bears are kept in what it characterizes as roadside zoos “in cramped, barren enclosures with no opportunity to express natural behavior.”

PETA maintains the Bureau of Indian Affairs is responsible for managing the lease agreements governing Indian trust lands — including those in Cherokee — and is required by federal law to release these agreements. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court.

Cherokee bear pits have been the target of PETA over the past two years, from sidewalk protests to billboard campaigns, as well as vocal appeals to tribal government to shut down the attractions.

Sixty-five runners started and finished the first Assault on Black Rock Trail Race at Sylva’s Pinnacle Park on March 19, raising more than $1,400 for the Community Table soup kitchen.

The 8.3-mile course boasts a 2,700-foot elevation gain and forced participants to use hands and feet to scramble to the craggy pinnacle atop Black Rock. Organizers hope the first-time event – which is basically uphill the first half and downhill on the way back, with the last half-mile of uphill featuring a ridiculously steep climb – will catch on in trail racing circles.

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“I am very pleased with the turnout, although I am sure the good weather helped,” said race organizer Brian Barwatt. “… The thought that 65 people stood on the summit of Black Rock on Saturday (not including my volunteers) is awesome because I have been up there about a dozen times in the past couple years and have only seen three people on the trail up to Black Rock.”

Participants traveled from as far away as Atlanta and Raleigh.

The top three men and women finishers were:

Men:

(1) Chad Hallyburton, age 42 of Sylva, with a time of 1:31:17

(2) Andrew Benton, age 20 of Hickory, with a time of 1:33:12

(3) Sean Botzenhart, age 18 of Cullowhee, with a time of 1:35:19

Women:

(1) (11th overall) Ginny Hotze, age 50 of Asheville, with a time of 1:46:42

(2) (14th overall) Hannah McLeod, age 15 of Waynesville, with a time of 1:51:53

(3) (16th overall) Brenda Holcomb, age 38 of Cullowhee, with a time of 1:56:42

The teen friends of the library meeting will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 24, at Marianna Black Library in Bryson City. Area teens are invited to come share their ideas about materials of interest to them, including what sort of programming they’d like to see at the library. There will be food, crafts, games, and much more at the meeting.

The Friends of the Macon County Public Library (FOL) have unveiled a new informational web site, MaconLibraryFriends.org. The site showcases the group’s programs and events; and their used book store, which is located at 121 Highlands Road in The Shops of Riverwalk in Franklin. A “What’s New At The Bookstore” section updates viewers with special books and new arrivals and upcoming sales.

Membership and volunteer forms are also available on the site.

“We value the key educational role played by the library in the life of a progressive community. Please join us today to keep our public library viable,” said FOL President Betty Huffman says.

Ahead of Western Carolina University’s upcoming literary festival, the Macon County Public Library will host a book discussion on Alan Weisman’s The World Without Us at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 24. 

James Costa, executive director of the Highlands Biological Station, will lead the discussion. The book offers an original and alternative approach to questions of humanity’s impact on the planet.

Author Alan Weisman will be speaking at Western Carolina University’s Coulter recital hall at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 7, as part of the festival.

Copies of the book are available for check out at the library. 

828.524.3600 or visit www.fontanalib.org.

To the Editor:

We turn on our televisions every day and witness to the devastation that neighbors inflict on neighbors.

We live in a world today where “environmental consciousness and green” are the right paths to take, whether it is energy, wind and solar, food, paper products, new buildings or cars. Our planet is warming to such a degree that in 50 years no human will find shelter from our ever-changing weather patterns. These are facts in our future, that unfortunately, neighbor-to-neighbor in Franklin, we cannot predict what results will be. However, we can oppose what is happening in our residential backyard.

Mr. Herman “Bud” Talley is proposing that even without the variance he tried to obtain was denied for various reasons by the Board of Adjustment on Dec. 21, he will build a motocross track on his farm in this residential community. It doesn’t matter whether the neighbors like it or not.

The definition of a farm is for agriculture use. This will no longer be considered a farm and will also not be given farm tax deferments. Taxes will continue to get proportioned off for others to pay in tax hikes.

Mr. Talley has also made comments at meetings ….”If you have a problem … come talk to me … we will work it out.” It is my belief, that Mr. Talley is not hearing us … most of us do have a problem with it, but unfortunately he is turning a deaf ear to our pleas that this motocross track will not only destroy the peace and quiet in the valley, but will contain noise pollution, dust pollution, raw sewage concerns, waste concerns, water table concerns, traffic concerns and road maintainance concerns. I could go on and on, but I know you have heard it all before. Mr. Talley is always quick to point out the development of the Fulcher Vista as a “High Impact Area,” but what Mr. Talley refuses to realize is that all we did was buy lots from a local developer, build our dream homes (just as he did) and want to live in our residential community without the environmental consequences.

Mr. Talley repeatedly brings up his heritage as if he were the only person who had any. We all come from somewhere and frankly his heritage is no greater than yours or mine. I am proud of mine and want to preserve the respect and dignity that comes from having generations before me.

The difference between Mr. Talley and me is that I will honor my forefather’s traditions and pride in a way that will not desecrate their land. He keeps telling us that they have tilled their land since 1935, and now he wants to turn it into a circus. He tries to tie the churches into the dynamics of this project, family activities done together, community economics and all things he thinks will sell this vision in the name of his family heritage. I do question his motives.

I think Mr. Talley must look in the mirror and ask himself, “What would my father and mother want as their legacy?” I believe they would want the pristine land they worked so hard for to remain intact with the beauty they saw in it. The beauty Mr. Talley is willing to destroy. How sad.

Mr. Talley knows exactly what the impacts will be. In one meeting he made a statement in front of the Board of Adjustment, that … “One month before the meets he would kindly notify the press, radio and by any other means and let us know when they would occur,” and [We could go visit someone else.”

He failed to include in his request for variance that there are practice times, time trials and heats, none of which could possibly take place in a matter of 16 days, especially with the estimated 300 to 400 riders he had hoped would attend. The arrogance of his statement goes to the fact that he is very aware of the impact this would and will have on our residential community. Now he states it will run all year.

Clarks Chapel area is a very small, residential community, but all these environmental impacts affect us all in the immediate area and we should all be concerned. We have frail elderly residents who live within the direct impact zone who will suffer terribly from this track. These effects will then have far-reaching impacts to all those in Macon County, possibly for generations to come.

I believe Mr. Talley’s vision is admirable for the children and families in this area, but he is not thinking about his immediate neighbors and the impact it will have on this residential community. I know the economic atmosphere in the whole county is dismal, but not only will this motocross track have an impact on our property values, but we have all heard the term …”trickle down affect.” If this motocross track is allowed to be built the property values in the immediate area will be drastically diminished, the tax dollars collected by Macon County will be affected, your salaries will be affected and people will not come into this area to retire with his operation in their back yard.

We already have evidence of this with buyers backing out of contracts near the Talley Farm simply because of Mr. Talley’s intent to build it. The influx of people from out of the state is enormous. Retirees, whether you want to admit it or not, put a lot of money into this beautiful little town. It will stop! It will be a thing of the past and Macon County will remain one of the poorest counties in North Carolina. This issue was addressed on the front page of the Ashville Citizen Times Newspaper on March 6. That is not what I want for this community. I believe we all want to preserve the integrity of Clarks Chapel Residential Community, City of Franklin and Macon County.

I want Franklin to prosper, I want Macon County to grow with people who want to enrich the area, to keep our grandchildren coming back and to enjoy the fruits of all our labors. I want Mr. Talley to have a heritage he can be proud of! A farmland to pass down to his children and grandchildren, a farm where he can go out on his deck, in his golden years with his wife and have the peace and quiet he deserves.

We will protect our own lands, however we feel fit. This is not a threat, but an absolute fact and the outcome, just as it is all over the world, will come down to neighbors inflicting devastation upon neighbors, either way. Why can’t we work on a solution?

Janet Cramer-Binkley

Franklin

To the Editor:

What happens when you fix something that ain’t broke? You’re sure to break something else. But the Republicans in Raleigh apparently don’t care about that fundamental truth, or anything else that stands athwart their path to perpetual power.

Today’s example is their steamroller bill to require photo IDs from voters at the polls. The only supporting evidence is not only anecdotal but it concerns absentee ballots, which are beyond the reach of any such legislation. Moreover, not even photo IDs are foolproof. Ask any bartender or employer who has been duped.

The better deterrent to voter fraud is swift and rigorous prosecution whenever it’s detected. The Republican bill, however, would disenfranchise primarily honest people, especially older voters, who for one reason or another don’t have photo IDs.

Why do this? Why throw $1 million into a new program when money is so short as to threaten massive teacher layoffs? It’s no coincidence that Republicans propose this wherever they take power. They figure that it will depress votes for Democrats.

It’s cut from the same pernicious pattern as their campaign to destroy the unions, thereby eliminating any counterweight to the GOP’s corrupt glut of corporate cash. The goal is not merely to defeat the opposition, but to destroy it forever.

Martin A. Dyckman

Waynesville

Scholarships for nursing students are available through the Judy Moore Memorial Scholarship Endowment, which was created as a memorial to Judy Moore, a registered nurse who was killed in a tragic accident in 1996.

A resident of Macon County, Moore was an inspiration to both nurses and patients in her role as a community health nurse and as an OB-GYN nurse practitioner. Since the first award in August 1998, the scholarship has been given to 20 individuals, and more than $19,000 has been issued.

The application deadline is May 5. www.nccommunityfoundation.org or 828.524.6564.

A summer day camp for rising first graders through rising fifth graders from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., June 17 to August 5, will be held at the Waynesville Recreation Center.

Campers will experience activities such as field trips, special guests, crafts, swimming, swim lessons, sports, movies, hiking, fishing, water fun, zoo time, and educational experiences. Campers can go the whole summer or only certain weeks.

The cost is $100 per week/$25 per day for recreation center members or $110/$30 for non-members. 828.456.2030 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Southwestern Community College will hold a free job fair Thursday, March 31.

The event will be from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Balsam Building and is open to the community.

Local employers will be on hand to provide information about their organization.

Employers are invited to conduct professional interviews following the job fair.

There is no fee for this event and job seekers do not have to register.

Western Carolina University students are folding and selling paper cranes for $1 to support an earthquake relief fund at a table in the first-floor lobby of McKee Building. Visitors to the table can give $1 to write a message that will be sent to the Miyagi prefectural government, where some of the worst damage has been observed. The group has raised about $700 toward its $1,000 goal. 828.227.3905.

Two portable light towers each bright enough to illuminate an area the size of a football field are the latest pieces of equipment Western Carolina University police received through the N.C. Attorney General’s Law Enforcement Support Services program. The program works through the Defense Reutilization Management Office, which makes military surplus equipment available to law enforcement agencies at no cost. The light towers will assist campus police in emergencies and power failures. 828.227.7301.

High school students interested in construction can participate in the Kimmel School Construction Training Program at Western Carolina University in July. Students will complete and earn certification in a 10 hour occupational safety and health administration course. Students will live on campus, meet with industry professionals and participate in leadership and team-building. A session for males will be from July 10 to 16 and for females July 17 to 23. Preference will be given to economically challenged applicants. Applications are available at constructiontraining.wcu.edu or 828.227.2177.

Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new adoption center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 26. The ribbon cutting will take place at 11:30 a.m. followed by snacks donated by The Patio Bistro.

The center is located at 256B Industrial Park Drive in the Waynesville Industrial Park and will offer adoptions from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Saturdays and from 1 to 6 p.m. on Thursdays.

The foundation is accepting entries for its fifth annual pet photography contest. Deadline to submit photos is Tuesday, April 26. Categories are dog, puppy, cat, kitten, other pets, Sarge’s rescue animal and photographers under 12 years old. Entry fee is $10. Photos must be original and no smaller than 4 by 6 inches. Prizes will be awarded at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 30 at Bocelli’s Italian Eatery. Entry forms are online at www.sargeandfriends.org. 828.246.9050.

The Wesley Foundation at Western Carolina University will host its inaugural Golf Classic at Lake Junaluska Golf Course April 16 at 1 p.m. The entry fee is $200 per team of four or $50 for individuals who will be assigned to a team. Price includes 18 holes of golf, gift bag, post-tournament cook-out and chances for prizes. All proceeds will benefit the Wesley Foundation on campus. Sponsorships are $100 for a hole sponsor, $250 for a silver sponsor and $500 for a gold sponsor. 828.293.9215 or www.wcuwesley.com.

Construction on a new Homestead Inpatient Hospice Center adjacent to MedWest-Haywood hospital is progressing, with a new retaining wall, framework and roof trusses now in place.

The inpatient center will serve hospice patients whose families need a break from caregiving or need more help than families can offer.

The second phase of the project will eventually be the end-of-life outreach center, focusing on outpatient and community outreach programs. The hospital and new facility both serve the residents of Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties.

On March 31, Swain County citizens will have two opportunities to comment on the future of Swain County. The dialog, led by N.C. Senior Tar Heel Legislature delegate Janice Inabinett, will center on making Swain County a livable community. There will be a morning session at the new Swain County Senior Center, starting at 8:30 a.m. and an evening session at the Almond School, starting at 7:00 p.m.

Discussion will address areas such an accessible environment, healthy aging, economic security, technology and cultural opportunities.

A Lake Junaluska Beautification Day is scheduled for Tuesday, April 5, and volunteers are needed to help with the cleanup.

Projects planned include clearing brush, power washing signs and buildings, and more.

Lake Junaluska Beautification Day will kick-off with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. in Kern Auditorium, where volunteers will receive work assignments. Boxed lunches will be provided for volunteers on-site.

Volunteer forms are available at www.lakejunaluska.com/beautification. 828-452-5911 or e-mailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Sylvan Hearth Pagan Temple offers its facilities to positive Pagan traditions including Hindu, Buddhist and Asatrue. The facility includes a stone circle, wood henge, gardens, and meetings and worship spaces. It offers use of their Web site for advertising for gatherings. The Temple intends to offer groups a safe and private space to practice.

828.399.9991 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Haywood County has received two grants totaling $133,650 from the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center that will help create 22 jobs over the next couple of years. A grant of $88,000 will help renovate a psychiatric wing at MedWest-Haywood Hospital. The facility will provide a safe environment for psychiatric patients as they await disposition, increasing patient privacy and containment, and provide the capacity for staff to monitor patient behavior and supply for their needs. The total project is $234,000, with $120,000 from the Evergreen Foundation, a mental health nonprofit; $43,00 from the Haywood hospital, and $3,000 in kind from the Haywood County Economic Development Commission. Renovation is expected to start within 30 days and will take approximately 90 days to complete.

Another grant of $45,650 will be used to renovate a vacant building in Waynesville to house the LifeSpan Creative Campus to expand services for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. The renovation will allow LifeSpan to increase the number of people served in Haywood County to 60, up from its present limit of 45.

The efforts are expected to create 11 jobs each. 828.456.3737.

Asheville poet and photographer Tracey Schmidt will lead a creativity workshop from 2 to 3:30 p.m., followed by a reading from her new poetry collection at 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 26, at City Lights in Sylva. The book, titled I Have Fallen in Love with the World, features her photographs as well as poetry.

The hands-on workshop is meant for any writer or would-be writer of poetry, published or unpublished.

The event is free but requires pre-registration.

828.586.9499.

Open auditions will be held from 12 to 2 p.m., Saturday, April 2, at Franklin High School for home school and private school students wishing to perform in the Showcase of Talent.

Participation is open to actors, dancers, gymnasts, instrumentalists and vocalists in the third to twelfth grades.

The showcase is an annual non-competitive, countywide student talent show, to be held at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 30, in the Fine Arts Center.  Each student selected for the Showcase receives a complimentary adult ticket.

828.524.7683 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Western North Carolina performing artists The REV will take the stage of the Fontana Recreational Hall from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 26. The act is a collection of musicians from Robbinsville who play songs that run the range of the rock-and-roll genre.

The band will close a day of activities at Fontana starting with a morning historical hike to the Paynetown Cemetery. Hikers should meet at the Gunter Log Cabin at 9 a.m. for the two-hour hike. Kite flying will take off from 3 to 4 p.m. below Fontana Dam along the shores of the Little Tennessee River.

www.FontanaVillage.com

Ripples of Hope, a local exhibition of work by those whose lives have been affected by domestic violence, sexual assault or abuse, invites other locals who have felt the effects of these issues to creatively cover a blank teardrop shape, sharing their feelings and hope for a better future.  

Blank teardrops are available from Earthworks Gallery in Waynesville or by calling the Daydreamz project at 828.476.4231. Completed pieces need to be turned in by March 28 at Earthworks Gallery for a county-wide display in April.

Classes in glassblowing, metalsmithing, blacksmithing, chainmaille and knife-making are being offered this spring at the Jackson County Green Energy Park for every skill level.

Courses offer the opportunity to learn a variety of hands-on crafting skills like paperweight-making and glass blowing, as well as the ancient arts of blacksmithing, chainmaille and knife crafting.

There are also classes geared towards the family, including a parent-child blacksmithing workshop and glass tile instruction that’s good for all ages

For full class descriptions, visit www.JCGEP.org.

828.631.0271 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Local artist Silvia Cabrera Williams will teach mixed water-media classes from 1 to 3 p.m. every Thursday in April at Leapin’ Frog Gallery in Waynesville.

A different technique will be featured each week and a supply list will be provided at registration.

Originally from Cuba, Williams holds a master’s degree in modern languages and taught for many years. Her work is in private collection in several U.S. cities, Canada and Spain and is for sale in local galleries.

Leapin’ Frog Gallery at 828.456.8441 or Silvia Williams at 828.926.8392.

Western Carolina University students working to raise $50,000 to build a school in Pakistan are hosting a fundraising dinner and silent auction at Chef’s Table in Waynesville on Tuesday, April 5.

Tickets to the event are $50 for a three-course meal. Silent auction items include art, a kayak trip, wine tasting and Arabic items. Diners can purchase tickets to a 6 p.m. or 8 p.m. seating.

The school fundraising effort was revived last fall after WCU student Andy Miller befriended students from Saudi Arabia studying English at WCU and felt compelled to be part of something that would build good will between Americans and Arabs.

As he thought about the possibilities, he remembered a proposal made by his Freshman Convocation speaker, Winford Gordon, for WCU to raise $50,000 for the Central Asia Institute to build a school in Pakistan, which, like Saudi Arabia, is predominantly a Muslim country.

“I went onto WCU’s website and typed in ‘build a school in Pakistan,’ expecting to see somebody had been doing something but I found nothing,” said Miller. “I e-mailed Windy Gordon and set up a time to meet. He said a group had gotten together but fell apart. I said, ‘I am interested. I would like to take the lead on this project.’”

“Beyond the project itself, which will change lives in Pakistan, everyone who works with Andy will connect their Western Carolina experience with a world and a culture far beyond our campus,” said Winford Gordon, a WCU psychology professor. “Everyone learns. Everyone benefits. Isn’t that the best of all worlds?”

Funds will go to the school-building project through the Central Asia Institute.

828.545.1778 or 828.452.6000, or by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Maritime historian and documentary filmmaker Kevin Duffus willl on “War Zone: WWII off North Carolina’s Outer Banks” at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 31 the Haywood County Public Library in Waynesville.

Duffus will explore one of the worst Allied defeats of World War II along our nation’s eastern seaboard, off North Carolina’s Outer Banks. The battle was also the subject of his three-hour documentary, which has aired on public broadcast stations around the country.

In 1942, the United States suffered one of its worst defeats of the Second World War, not in Europe or the Pacific, but along the eastern seaboard. Three hundred ninety-seven Allied ships were sunk or damaged and more than 5,000 people were killed, representing the American Navy’s worst ever defeat at sea. For six months, 65 U-boats hunted merchant vessels practically unopposed within view of coastal communities. The greatest concentration of these attacks occurred off North Carolina’s Outer Banks.

“Not many people realize we almost lost World War II on the sea, right here,” says Duffus, a part-time resident of Haywood County. “We’re living next to ground zero for U-boat attacks.”

In this multimedia presentation, Duffus presents the true facts behind decades-old urban legends of German spies, sympathizers, and saboteurs while celebrating the defensive measures and innovations with which North Carolinians reclaimed their waters and helped turn the tide of war.

828.400.0063.

The annual Mélange of the Mountains, a culinary gala, is coming to the Gateway Club in Waynesville from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on April 7, thanks to the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce.

Experience the culinary talent of some of Western North Carolina’s most regarded restaurants and vendors at this year’s competition, where categories will range from soup and salad to meat, seafood and dessert. Attendees are invited to sample delicious items directly from the menus of area restaurants. Coffee, beer and wine will also be available for sampling.

Tickets are $35 for chamber members and $40 for non-members. VIP upgraded tickets are available for $60.

www.haywood-nc.com

Where is the new library located?

The new Jackson County Public Library Complex is located at 310 Keener Street in the renovated and expanded historic courthouse at the west end of Main Street in downtown Sylva.

 

When will the new library be open?

Construction on the complex is scheduled to be completed sometime in April, 2011. It is anticipated that it will open to the public in May or June.

 

What will be the hours of operation for the new library complex?

The hours of operation will be determined based on the amount of funding available from Jackson County.

 

Why was the historic courthouse site chosen?

There was strong public sentiment to keep the library in downtown Sylva. The historic courthouse was an unused building in downtown. It was decided that the best alternative for saving the courthouse was to incorporate it into the new JCPL Complex. This allows us to honor one of the most recognized symbols of Jackson County by making it part of one of the most important institutions – the public library.

 

Who had the vision to save the historic courthouse?

Members of the community initially suggested the idea of incorporating a new library into the historic courthouse.  In October, 2007, the Jackson County Commissioners voted to incorporate a new expanded library into the 1914 historic building and the surrounding grounds.

 

What will be in the historic courthouse?

The ground floor will house the Genealogical Society, the Historical Association’s museum, a Conference Room, a vending area and built-in display cabinets. The second floor will feature the former courtroom as a multi-purpose Community Room with seating for over 150, the Arts Council’s office and a catering area.

 

How long did it take to renovate the courthouse and to build the new addition?

Work began on the renovation and the construction in May 2009, almost two years ago.

 

How much did the new library and courthouse renovation cost the county and how will it be paid for?

The budget for the new complex is approximately $8.6 million.  The County Commissioners asked the community to raise $1.5 million of this budgeted amount. The remaining $7.1 million is being paid by the county.

 

How much money was raised by the community?

As of the end of February, 2011 the community has raised over $1.8 million.  This includes $100,000 pledged to cover all the costs associated with the fundraising efforts.

 

When and how long will the old library be closed to pack up and move?

The current library will be closed for approximately one month in order to facilitate the move up the hill.  During this time the public will not have access to the library building, its collection and its computers.  We apologize to all our customers who will be inconvenienced during this time particularly all of the students who regularly use the library after school.

 

Who owns the Jackson County Public Library Complex and who owns the contents within the building?

The building and grounds belong to Jackson County. The furniture, fixtures, equipment and media materials belong to the Fontana Regional Library.

 

What will happen to the building where the current library is housed?

The building belongs to Jackson County. The county officials will determine its future use.

Will there be more parking at the new complex?

There will be a significant increase from the 16 spaces at the current library. There are additional parking spaces in the immediate vicinity along Keener Street adjacent to Bicentennial Park. Once the facility has been completed it is expected to be included on the regular route of Jackson County Transit.

 

How many items will be in the collection when the complex opens its doors?

The library staff will move over 40,000 items to the new facility. Approximately 24,000 new media items - books, DVDs, books on CD, and Playaways have been ordered - including 18,000 items for adults and 6,000 items for our young people.

 

How many computers will be in the new library?

There will be 16 in the computer lab, four in teen area, both upstairs, and eight in the children’s area, downstairs. These are public access computers.  There will also be several laptops and netbooks available for checkout for use in the library.

 

How will the new library complex serve the needs of our community?

The library will create a lifelong learning experience with its expanded collection, increased number of computers, and broader offering of programs. Customers will have the resources they need to explore topics of personal interest, access databases for reliable information, use computers to – check e-mails, find and fill out a government form, write resumes, compile a business plan for a new business, complete a homework assignment or compose a poem.  Individuals can sit and enjoy the company of others or find a quiet spot to read and reflect. There will be something for everyone.

 

What will be available for children and teens?

The Children’s Area, across from the main circulation desk, will be alive with materials, colors, displays, and programs focusing on early learning skills. There will also be a spacious storytime room with a big screen TV and a colorful floor. It will be the largest public space on the first floor of the new building.

On the second floor of the new addition there is an area designed by and dedicated to serving teens.  There will be four computers, booths for use when working on group projects and WiFi throughout the complex. And, for the first time, there will be programs geared to teens.

 

What meeting, event and conference space is available within the library complex?

There are a number of spaces available for the community to reserve for use. The Conference Room will seat 12 – 14, the Community Room, a multi-purpose room, will seat between 100 – 150 people. The Atrium, and the outdoor terrace and courtyard can also be reserved for special events.

Smaller spaces, which will not require reservations, will be available. There are three group study rooms which will seat eight people, two tutor rooms which are designed to accommodate two people, as well as comfortable seating, tables and chairs throughout the new addition.

 

How do I reserve space within the library, what is the cost and can they be used after hours?

To reserve space at the complex call the library to make a reservation.  To finalize your reservation you will need to come in and complete a “Meeting Space Contract”.  This document will outline the terms of the use agreement.

There is no cost to use space within the complex for library programs and community or non-profit groups.  For-profit organizations and groups holding private functions, such as business meetings, luncheons, weddings and parties, will be required to pay a fee. The price structure is outlined in the “Meeting Space Contract”.

If the meeting or event is scheduled after hours, a key will be issued to a registered library card holder.

 

Is there a public address system for use in the Community Room and other spaces?

In the Community Room there is a state of the art sound system installed, along with high tech audio visual and computer equipment. The lectern will have built-in computer outlets so that personal computers can be used from the lectern. A portable sound system will be available for individuals and groups to use in other parts of the complex.

 

What happens if I want to serve food at an event such as a party or reception?

The library complex has a catering area where food can be warmed or kept cold before it is served at events throughout the complex.

 

Will there be tables available for use during events held in the complex?

There will be tables in various sizes which can be configured in a number of different ways. Freestanding chairs will also be available for up to fifty. Tablecloths will not be available.

 

May I serve alcohol at my special event?

The Jackson County policy is not to allow alcohol to be served or consumed in any county-owned building.

 

How many new jobs will be created at the new library complex?

It is not possible to answer this question at this time. Jackson County, the primary provider of library funding, is in the process of reviewing budget requests. County officials are aware that there will be additional costs associated with operating a facility four times the size of the current library. The county decisions about funding are predicated, in part, on the county’s funding from the state. Additional information will be forthcoming.

Two new positions have been approved and the positions filled – an assistant county librarian and an information technology assistant.

 

Who will be responsible for maintaining the spaces within the complex?

Housekeeping and maintenance of the facility will be provided by Jackson County.  Individuals or groups who use the spaces within the facility must follow the guidelines for room usage.

 

What happens when we outgrow the 26,000 square foot library? Is there room to expand at the courthouse site?

The 2007 JCPL Service Priorities and Facilities Plan recommends building two branch libraries of 5,000 square feet each by 2015 to accommodate our growing population.

 

How can I help?

Community volunteers will be needed to help with various tasks throughout the library complex. Volunteers will be key to the successful operation of the new library. A volunteer coordinator will match volunteers with opportunities. Those interested in volunteering should contact Jeni Silver at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

May I donate collectible books and other items to the new library?

Individuals wishing to make donations of materials to the library need to discuss this opportunity with the county librarian. Books which are considered highly collectible may be appropriate to place in the library’s Genealogy Room. If the book donations cannot be used in the library, materials will be given to the Friends of the Library Used Book Store to be sold. All the profits from the bookstore benefit the library.

 

Is the Friends of the Library Used Book Store going to close and move to the new library complex?

The Friends of the Library Used Book Store will remain at its current location on Main Street in Sylva. The Friends of the Library will maintain a small office in the library complex.

 

I use the Internet at the library. When the library is closed, where can I go to access the Internet?

Patrons can go to other libraries within the Fontana Regional Library system. A list will be compiled and shared with the public listing alternative facilities offering public access to the Internet in our area. For people who have their own laptops that are WiFi enabled, there are a number of WiFi hot spots on Main Street in Sylva.

 

Who can get a library card and how?

Residents of Jackson, Macon and Swain Counties, residents of the surrounding counties and full-time students may apply for a Fontana Regional Library card. All that is required is a picture ID and something with a local mailing address. Part-time residents may obtain a temporary library card for a yearly price of $25. A child can get a card at birth.

 

Will there be a coffee shop?

There are numerous cafes and restaurants within walking distance. Vending machines will be available on-site as well.

 

Can food and drink be brought into the library?

Food and drink may be brought into the library and may be consumed anywhere except at the public access computers.

 

Will there be WiFi and accessible outlets to use to plug in my laptop?

The entire complex will be WiFi accessible. Many of the tables and lamps will have plug in outlets in their base. There will be outlets around the walls near the soft seating.

 

How can I find out more about the Jackson County Public Library Complex?

Visit the Fontana Regional Library’s website – fontanalib.org and the Friends of the Jackson County Main Library’s website – fojcml.org for the latest information on our library.

Q: Haywood County has a growing Hispanic population. How will you address language barriers in serving that population?

Hollifield: Would sign deputies up for Spanish classes at the community colleges and would employ an interpreter.

Suttles: Agrees that deputies should take Spanish classes. Also, says the department currently has translators that help officers communicate.

Allen: “I think the language barrier is a serious problem in our county. I think officers in this county should take Spanish classes, and I would promote classes for deputies at the community college.”

Ezell: Understanding the “cultural differences between where they grew up and our area,” is critical. For example, the way a question is asked can take on a different meaning according to cultural context.

Gilliland: Overcoming the language barrier is most important.

 

Q: If appointed, would you seek re-election?

Kenneth Hollifield: Yes.

Bobby Suttles: Yes.

Albert Allen: Yes. Allen said he had already planned to run for sheriff in 2010, and that his campaign had been in the works for 8 months when the position opened up earlier than expected.

Raymond Ezell: Yes.

Russ Gilliland: Yes, and like Allen, Gilliland already had a core group of people lined up to help him when he planned to run for sheriff in 2010.

 

Q: How will you fight drug problems in the county?

Hollifield: Would create a drug eradication team. He would also meet with members of a different community on different nights to collect citizen input. Also touts drug education in schools.

Suttles: Says marijuana is still the prevalent drug in Haywood County. Also said the sheriff’s office has applied for a grant to create an enforcement team of five people that could monitor I-40, a major drug route.

Allen: Working cooperatively with other agencies and groups and members of the community. With this approach, “we can beat the drug dealers.”

Ezell: Create a task force; work with surrounding counties to share information; educate citizens on signs of drug activity and educate kids in the school system about the dangers of drugs.

Gilliland: Teach drug education in schools. He would also send his deputies to the same drug and addiction school that Gilliland himself attended.

 

Q: How would you handle complaints within the sheriff’s department?

Hollifield: Encourages creation of an internal affairs committee, consisting of someone in the detention center, deputies, and detectives.

Suttles: A complaint currently travels through the chain of command, going from seargant to lieutenant to the chief deputy, then to the sheriff. “If it’s something of a serious nature, we might have an outside agency handle it.”

Allen: “If it’s something internally, I think it should be handled internally.” Also, facts of an investigation that could reflect on the department as a whole should be shared with employees of the sheriff’s department.

Ezell: Would be open to getting someone from outside the department, who has an impartial viewpoint, to conduct an investigation. “That way, it doesn’t hurt people within the department. If you gave them that investigation, it just causes problems.”

Gilliland: “Most of the time, anything that comes up is normally taken care of through the chain of command, but if it’s necessary to bring in outside counseling that’ something we could very well do.”

It’s not too late to weigh in on a few controversial changes to the state’s hunting laws under study by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

Each year, the Wildlife Commission proposes a litany of changes to the hunting and fishing regs in the state. This year, a few are causing a stir, namely ones that loosen restrictions of hunting and could have a detrimental impact on wildlife as a result.

“These rules could have an impact on North Carolina’s valued traditions, wild places and wild things,” said John Edwards, an advocate for nature and wildlife who lives in Cashiers.

One getting a lot of flack, including from hunters themselves, would add an extra week to turkey season.

Hunters were chief advocates in helping restore the state’s wild turkey population over the past three decades, with efforts helping the species rebound from a mere 2,000 birds in 1970 to about 150,000 birds today. Hunters and wildlife advocates fear the population could start slipping backwards if hunting increases too much.

According to the Pisgah chapter of the North Carolina Wild Turkey Federation, “This proposal is believed to be biologically unsound and would hurt the turkey population, interfere with breeding, increase hen mortality and harm wild turkey reproduction.”

Another change would allow limited hunting on Sunday, which is currently banned in the state. The rule change would allow only bow hunting on Sundays and on private land only — so no guns and still no hunting on public lands, but considered a foot in the door by those opposed to Sunday hunting.

Yet another controversial rule change would open the Daniel Boone Bear Sanctuary to limited hunting of bears. The Wildlife Commission feels the bear sanctuary has enough bears and can stand some hunting, also citing problem bears annoying people.

Edwards questioned whether the bears should be held responsible, however.

“Most bear experts believe human conduct, not bears, is the cause of the majority of incidences that occur. They encourage better education for those living in bear country,” Edwards said. “In addition, how will it be determined which bear should be killed and on what basis?”

The Wildlife Commission also wants to lift the ban on trapping otters, which have only recently been reintroduced in the mountains after years of extinction due to over-trapping, and allowing unfettered trapping of raccoons in the region.

To comment, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or go to www.ncwildlife.org, click on “submit comments” on the right, and scroll through the listing of rule changes until you see the one you want to comment on. The deadline is Feb. 1. The Wildlife Commission will decide in March.

By Christi Marsico • Staff Writer

An exhibit focusing on the history of Haywood County is now on display at Western’s Mountain Heritage Center.

Illustrating the rich culture of the Appalachian regions, the Mountain Heritage Center — located on the campus of Western Carolina University — offers innovative perspectives of mountain societies though exhibitions, publications, educational programs and demonstrations.

With more than 30,000 visitors a year, Curator Trevor Jones says the museum offers a feel of the culture and history of the area — the Appalachian people.

While the center’s permanent exhibit is the “Migration of the Scotch-Irish People,” the newest exhibit, “Haywood County: Portrait of a Mountain Community,” shares how county’s character has changed and developed over the last 200 years.

The exhibit was created to celebrate Haywood County’s bicentennial, combining the efforts of the Mountain Heritage Center, Haywood County Historical Society, the Haywood County Library, and the community.

In late summer the exhibit will find a permanent home in the remodeled Haywood County Courthouse.

Photographs depicting, agriculture, tourism and industry are the exhibit’s main focus, and were chosen due to their diversity.

“The strength of local communities is its identity, which says a lot about Haywood and its history,” said Wood.

The exhibit will feature five sections on 10 panels, highlighting the “high spots” of the county’s past.

There will be audiovisual component featuring snippets of interviews and historic scenes of the past.

“This is an overview and introduction that invites others to come along and view history,” Wood said.

There is also a book being written about the history of Haywood County due to be finished by July.

The book has been a two-year project in the making, culminating the county’s resources as community members have gathered at the library bringing photographs, stories, newspaper clippings among other information.

The last Haywood County history book was written in the 1930s, according to Curtis Wood, curator of the Haywood County exhibit.

Wood, a former history professor at WCU, is also the editor of Haywood County’s historical book.

“This is the first book written in 70 years, and a lot has happened,” Wood said. “Individual efforts have pulled together the history of the area with great cooperation.”

For more information call 828.227.7129 or visit www.wcu.edu/mhc.

By Christi Marsico

While looking for something fun and inexpensive to do in these tough economic times, look no further than the treasure trove of museums, many free, in Western North Carolina.

Museum goers in this area can learn about Appalachian roots, unusual gems and historic artifacts, to name a few.

And there is a helpful guide that tells all about the museums and how to locate them.

The Friends of the Mountain History, which promotes tourism in Western North Carolina, will distribute 50,000 copies of the free 2009 guide Feb. 6.

The guides will be available in North Carolina welcome centers, chamber of commerce offices, and other tourist areas.

The guide lists more than 100 museums and historic locations and provides a short description of each site. Hours, fees and directions are listed and there is a foldout map.

“Friends of Mountain History saw a need to get museums in one listing to better serve visitors in all 25 counties,” said Kaye Myers, tourism development officer for the N.C. Department of Commerce Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development.

“We wanted visitors to open the guide and realize we have a lot of history to showcase here in the mountains and our museums and sites can be linked together by a map of the region,” Myers said.

Friends of Mountain History was created under former Cultural Resources Secretary Betty Ray McCain in 1998 to promote the culture of the area.

 

Tourism themes

Each year the guide has a different theme, and this year it has an agricultural focus: “That’s A Long Row to Hoe!” Lifestyles in Agriculture, Farming, Gardening, Foodways and Viticulture - Mountain Style.”

Each museum featured in the guide will showcase the theme in its own unique way, whether it’s part of their permanent collection or a new exhibit.

The museums can also sponsor an event, such as a book reading or lecture, based on that theme. The theme runs for a year, giving the museums ample opportunity for multiple programming.

In conjunction with this year’s theme, Robert Ingles, the grocery store pioneer who originated Ingles grocery stores in North Carolina, was interviewed.

Ingles is the biggest name North Carolina has in the food industry, Myers believes.

In the interview Ingles shared how his business developed and changed since its opening in the 1960s.

 

More in this year’s guide

This year the guide lists many more museums than it has in the past.

“The first issue highlighted 68 museums and sites, and after a more thorough search we have come up with 106 sites in our new guide,” Myers said.

Among the sites are historical house museums of prominent people who have lived in the area, such as the Shook House Museum in Clyde.

Plans for future guides are already in the works. The 2010 museum guide’s theme is “Natural Scenic Beauty! Mountains, rivers, valleys, historic sites and trails; Adventure for the Traveling Pioneer!,” while the 2011 theme is “Brother, brother, brother, War Is Not the Answer!” A War Within a War; Mountain People and Counties Divided by the Civil War.”

The Friends of Mountain History board members decide on the themes finding a common bond between the museums and historical sites while striving to be creative in their promotions.

“We looked at 10 topics that every museum had in their permanent collection,” Myers said.

The guide invites readers to discover and explore the fabric of Western North Carolina’s history.

For more information or to download the guide visit www.fomhnc.org.

The military remains a popular employment choice for young people today, and the poor economy is probably helping steer many through its recruitment centers.

The Army and all the other branches of the military met recruiting goals in 2008, the first time that’s happened since 2004. As unemployment numbers continue to rise across the nation, the military and its promise of steady pay, good benefits, and money for college become very attractive.

“Basically, it’s a guaranteed job, and even after you’re out they take care of you,” said Brand Lenhart, a 23-year-old Sylva resident we interviewed for a story last week about military recruiting.

Aside from the economy, another factor is probably helping recruitment — President Barack Obama’s promise to end the war in Iraq and the declining violence in that country over the last year.

Some join the military out of tradition or a duty to country, but many others sign up because it’s a steady job. For many reasons, military service remains a part of growing up for many Americans. The discipline and rigor expected of those in the military are worthwhile lessons for almost any youth. And employers generally look favorably on those who have military experience, seeing in them people who understand how to take orders and know the value of hard work.

We hope that congressional leaders continue to pass measures to make sure we pay our soldiers a fair wage and that we take care of them and their dependents, for their service is vital to our country.

In this economy, the popular recruiting slogan, “Uncle Sam Wants You,” may easily get turned on its head. Many young people want — and need — Uncle Sam so they can count on a good job with good benefits.

 

Questions for the high sheriff

Swain County Sheriff Curtis Cochran should be more open about the incident where he fired his gun at an escapee.

Cochran shot at the vehicle of an escapee who had somehow gotten out a holding room and stolen a church van. The man had been charged with eluding arrest and drug possession when he found his way out of a holding cell at the Swain County Courthouse.

Cochran was elected sheriff in Swain County in 2006. He does not have a law enforcement background and hasn’t had Basic Law Enforcement Training, a pre-requisite for being hired for a job as a patrolman in even the state’s smallest municipalities.

The escapee was unhurt and was later captured. But shooting one’s weapon at anyone is a serious matter, and Cochran at this point is keeping too much about the incident quiet. He says the escape from the holding cell is under investigation, but the shooting is not.

We believe the SBI should be called in to assess whether the sheriff department’s response to the escape was handled properly.

The people of Swain County voted Cochran in, but that doesn’t put him above the law. Citizens need to know that the county’s highest ranking law enforcement officer is carrying out his duties with the professionalism the job demands. Anything less is not acceptable, besides being potentially dangerous.

Joe Legge’s “official funeral ceremony” was held at the Estatoah Wayfarers’ Chapel in Dillard, Ga., on Jan. 17 at 4 p.m. The Rev. Ron Lindahn and the Rev. Patricia Squires officiated. Several hours before the service, many of Joe’s friends gathered in the Legge studio, a yellow, cinder-block garage down on the Dillard highway (across U.S. 441 from the Cupboard Café).

It was “a motley crew.” More than 100 people and an assortment of stray dogs (fed by Joe and Eric) mingled in the studio, many staring raptly at Joe’s imposing sculptures of contorted monks, grinning apes and sensual nudes. Business men in suits, old hippies, a Native American shaman, an African-American poet, a man dressed like a Cossack, a New York playwright, women bedecked with feathers, a uniformed honor guard (Joe was a Vietnam vet) and bearded guys with plaited hair and Sufi attire; a motorcycle club, and anemic young women in granny dresses and Doc Martins — all talking, laughing and exchanging “Joe Legge stories.”

In the chapel, a few of Joe’s impressive sculptures stood at the altar and photographs of Legge covered the walls: Joe in Vietnam, Joe as an award-winning hair dresser, a wedding day portrait, Joe carving and molding stone, wood and leather, and a smiling Joe wearing his cap with the Air Force insignia and a T-shirt (his favorite) that proclaimed “Not of The Earth.”

Joe’s service consisted of extemporaneous testimonials from his friends. One by one, they came to stand by the funeral urn and speak: a memorable party in Joe Legge’s barn; the time Joe carved a gigantic Viking warrior for Valdosta High School in exchange for an early release from prison (convicted of possessing an illegal substance); the creation of stone sculptures, art deco panels, church portals; a woman that drove from Florida (she was late) to tell us about her bed that Joe carved with a watchful angel that hovered over her as she slept; a legendary trip to New York; a moving tribute from his two sons and his “extended family;” and an honor guard ceremony complete with drums, bugle, fired rifles and a folded American flag.

Several speakers were from major galleries — businessmen who acted as liaisons between Joe and private collectors — many who commissioned works of startling originality: a private library filled with intricate art deco columns; gargoyles and medieval demons; a house filled with furniture that appeared to emerge from the floor. There were no representatives from acknowledged art organizations since Joe Legge never sought or received their endorsement.

“I’m a folk artist,” he would say. “That means there are no rules.”

An especially striking statement came from one of Joe’s friends who said, “Joe liked to tell wonderful lies, but he also told unbelievable stories that were true. I could never tell the difference. Joe was that way, too. He was a being lost somewhere between fantasy and reality. He was truly ‘not of the earth.’”

Donations to the Joe Legge Legacy Fund can be sent to: Joe Legge Legacy Fund, C/O Eric Legge, P.O. Box 57, Dillard, Ga., 30537.

The Friends of Panthertown has received a $7,500 grant from the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area to develop a trail guide and interpretive signs for Panthertown Valley.

Panthertown, a bowl-shaped recreation area outside Cashiers marked by granite domes and waterfalls, has garnered accolades as a unique landscape unparalleled in Western North Carolina.

Each year, numerous visitors get lost trying to navigate the network of trails and old logging roads that traverse the 6,300 acres, reports Nina Elliott, the Friends of Panthertown Coordinator.

“We’ve received repeated requests to map and mark trails in Panthertown Valley,” Elliott said. “Mapping and marking trails will direct visitors to favorite destinations without getting lost, and if someone should get injured, EMS will be able to locate and evacuate victims quickly.”

A few purists lament the taming of trails in Panthertown, preferring the lack of signage that gives the tract the feel of backcountry and requires a know-how with a topo and compass. But the hodgepodge of trails and the lack of maps and signage prevent people who would like to hike in the area from doing so.

“Trails do more than just guide people along a path. With the help of devoted groups of people like the Friends of Panthertown, trails protect and preserve the world’s most beautiful and irreplaceable areas,” says Elliott. “Above all, projects like this educate people on the importance of the land, the wildlife, and the natural resources that are so vital to our ecosystem, protecting sensitive ecological areas for future generations.”

The Friends of Panthertown, sponsored by the Jackson-Macon Conservation Alliance, are currently working with the U.S. Forest Service to create a map of the of the trail system, develop a sign plan, and install bulletin boards and interpretive signs at trailheads.

But there’s one catch: an additional $11,500 is needed to complete the Panthertown Trail Project and provide matching funds for the grant. Please help by contacting www.j-mca.org or 828.526.9938 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

By Chris Cooper

The Derek Trucks Band: Already Free

It’s tough to find something new and profound to say about the playing of Derek Trucks. Words like “prodigy” and “virtuoso” are just too easy to grab. That he has taken the style and work of Duane Allman and sprinted with it really isn’t enough- in many ways he’s moved beyond that particular icon’s influence, speaking strictly in the realm of guitar. To see Trucks in the live format, in the moment, is almost always a transformative experience. With each performance, whether with his band, the Allman Brothers, or any other configuration is to see someone channeling something much bigger and more powerful than merely the person playing the notes. Trucks taps into something beyond words, and transcends the mere act of “guitar playing” into something- forgive me- almost holy.

In the 90’s there was an explosion of talented young blues artists- Johnny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and, of course, Derek Trucks. It’s not that the stars of the aforementioned musicians have faded, but the reality is that Trucks is the pick of the litter, if you will. Not to dismiss the talents of Lang and Shepherd, but at the ripe old age of 10, Trucks was on to something most musicians never find- the essence of music itself; pure expression with a hunk of mahogany, some nickel plated steel and a piece of glass. The last name should help figure out the family tree at this point, if you’re not already hip to the story. The names “Trucks” and “Allman Brothers” are pretty much forever linked. And the recent Rolling Stone story about the new breed of guitar hero included Trucks, along with John Mayer and John Frusciante. Don’t get me wrong, but Trucks was the real hero amidst that particular group- true to his vision and relentless in his pursuit of “real music.”

With Already Free, the Derek Trucks Band (DTB) pools all the elements that make them a wonderful and mercurial thing into something truly real. The playing is there- these guys are wonderfully talented musicians- but so are the songs. “Songs...” that can be a weird thing to discuss in the realm of virtuosic playing. There’s “musician’s music,” the stuff that only people that play an instrument can appreciate. Then there’s actual music, the kind that anyone; the fellow at the gas station, the girl that bags your groceries, the guy at the bank, can find something to relate to. Without a doubt, the DTB has found that “golden mean,” to quote the liner notes. With players like Doyle Bramhall II ( if you don’t remember the Arcangels, shame on you,) Oteil Burbridge and Trucks’ wife, Susan Tedeschi contributing to these tracks, the results almost have no choice but to be spectacular. And spectacular they are, from the opening track- Dylan’s “Down In The Flood” to the orginal, and closer, Trucks and vocalist Mike Mattison’s “Already Free.”

Gospel, soul, blues, electric rock, all of it finds the perfect puzzle piece that fits on Already Free. There’s a Bonnie Raitt reference waiting to be made here, that of someone that took their deep blues influence and made it palatable to an infinitely wider audience. But without reaching so far into “pop” as the inimitable Raitt, Trucks and company have produced an album that doesn’t ride entirely on musicianship alone; again, it’s the quality of the songs that carry the weight. “Days Is Almost Gone” deals with the realization that we have a painfully limited amount of time to get the things done that we need done, Bramhall’s “Maybe This Time” the necessity of perseverance in love. This is not “world weary” music, it’s the music of songwriters and musicians that value the limited days we have available on this planet, and that want the most out of them. Tedeschi’s vocal on “Back Where I Started,” co-penned by fellow Allman Brother Warren Haynes, is a fitting ode to love found and the effort to move beyond the past, and considering her relationship to Trucks, it’s almost the perfect love song.

To say that Already Free is an excellent new “blues” release just doesn’t ring as true as it should. Trucks and his band, vocalist Mike Mattison, bassist Todd Smallie, drummer Yonrico Scott, percussionist Count M’Butu and multi-instrumentalist Kofi Burbridge (along with a slew of guests) have released an album of almost limitless merit, and better, limitless spirit. Spin it and you’re sure to find much of what’s been missing from the airwaves lately. See them live- and hold on to your seat. It’ll be quite a ride.

(Chris Cooper can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

Bright colors, vibrant beats and contagious joy flood the room as the African Children’s Choir performs, and their boundless energy is heading to Western Carolina University Jan. 28.

The children from Uganda are eager to educate the audience with cheerful songs and theatrical moments as they share their culture in song and dance with a spirit of hope despite their hardships.

The choir is comprised of vulnerable and needy children, many who are orphans and have lost their parents to poverty and disease.

During Uganda’s bloody civil war in 1984, human rights activist Ray Barnett was compelled to help thousands of orphans and starving children who were abandoned and helpless.

Determined to share the dignity, beauty and unlimited ability of the children he met, Barnett created the choir 25 years ago after hearing a small boy sing. Barnett’s goal was to help the children break away from the cycle of poverty and despair.

Initially, the children traveled from Uganda to tour North American church communities, and now they perform internationally in many different venues, secular and sacred.

While touring the impoverished African children are exposed to a world of new possibilities.

The first proceeds of the choir’s tour funded an orphanage in Kampala, Uganda from which the second African Children’s Choir was chosen.

To date over 700 orphaned and needy children have shared their voices of joy and hope through the African Children’s Choir.

 

Former choir child

Among those voices was Prossy Nakiyemda who sang in the choir in 1995 at the age of 12.

Prossy means “preparation for Good Friday” in Luganda, and now at the age of 25 she is the music director of the African Children’s Choir.

She sings two solos during the concert including “Shadowland,” from the musical “The Lion King” as well as a South African song.

After two years in the choir, she completed her primary level of education and was chosen to go on tour again in high school.

In 2006, she graduated with a degree in journalism and creative writing.

Working as the musical director her duties include teaching 14 girls and 12 boys ranging from ages 8 to 10 to educate the audience about Africa through song and choreography.

There have been changes in the choir since Nakiyemda first performed. With so many differences in the music industry, the choir has become a more theatrical production, Nakiyemda said.

In their performance the children demonstrate how six different African nations dance, sing and dress. Nakiyemda noted the children share “this is how Uganda dances” as well as “beautiful, colorful and joyous costumes.”

Nakiyemda has met a smorgasbord of who’s who among her travels including President George W. Bush as well as first lady Laura Bush several times at the White House.

Nakiyemda has met Bill Clinton among other celebrities including Wyclef Jean, Shakira, Michael W. Smith and Mariah Carey.

The choir has recently recorded songs with Smith, and Nakiyemda was very excited to meet Carey having listened to her songs since she was a teen.

 

The singing selection

Before being chosen to be a part of the choir, the children attend a Music for Life camp.

Camp activities include games, crafts, music and devotions providing them a break from the daily adversity, including disease and poverty, they face at home.

As the children are selected, the choir teams visit their homes to better understand their needs and suitability for the tour.

After choosing the next group of children who will perform in the choir, the members spend about five months at the Choir Training Academy in Kampala, Uganda where they learn the songs, dances they will perform as well as attend school and church and play.

During their time at the academy, the children’s personalities and talents blossom as they are cared for in an environment that fosters knowledge and freedom of expression.

Breaking the cycle of poverty, the choir is committed to helping the children succeed physically, spiritually, emotionally and academically.

Many former choir members are teachers, doctors, and business professionals.

Jimmy Lawrence, the coach for Haywood Community College’s Woodsmen’s Team and president of the South Atlantic Woodsmen’s Association (SAWA), loves the lumberjack sport.

Lawrence graduated from HCC’s Wood Products program in 2004. Before that, he received a Lumber Specialist diploma in 1994 and a Sawyer diploma in 1993. He works part-time in HCC’s sawmill.

With the SAWA Lumberjack Series, Lawrence travels all over North Carolina and to nearby states to compete. The series has seven events — Lawrence’s favorites are the underhand chop, single buck, and stock chain saw.

“I like this sport because you can keep doing it at any age. That’s not true for all sports. Lumberjacking even has a master’s division,” Jimmy says. “I love teaching these young competitors all I have learned.”

Lawrence is proud of how HCC rates against many four-year schools in woodsmen’s events. “I would take the HCC team to any conclave. These students seem to have a stronger work ethic than you may see at a four-year school. They are more determined and dedicated.”

We’ve talked about saving money by growing plants from seeds, and that many more plant varieties are available as seeds compared to what you find at the local nursery. Then we discussed how to get seeds to germinate and grow. Now you’re ready to start; here are some plants that are easy to grow from seeds.

Sow tomato seeds in the pots that the seedlings will grow in. If you want four plants, use four pots, etc. Tomatoes grow quickly, so use a pint size or larger pot. In mid-April sow 2 to 3 seeds in each pot about ? inch deep. Keep in a warm area, or use gentle bottom heat from a heating cable or pad. Germination should occur in about 5 days. When second leaves appear snip off all but the strongest sprout in each pot with scissors. Grow on the dry side, but don’t allow to wilt. Start hardening off May first. On May 15th remove all but 5 or 6 leaves at the top of the plant, then put in the ground deep enough so that only 6 inches of stem are visible. Additional roots will form along the buried part of the stem, making the plant stronger.

Start lettuce indoors March first to have plants ready for the garden in April. (Lettuce plants can take quite a bit of frost.) Put 2 to 3 seeds directly into a small pot, on the surface of the medium. Do not cover. At a cool room temperature seedlings should emerge in a couple of days; after a week or two thin to one per pot. Keep moist. When they are 3 inches tall, start hardening off, and plant outside at the depth they were in the pot.

Sow basil seeds in mid-March 1/16-inch deep in the seed flat. Keep in a warm area, or use gentle bottom heat. You should see the first seedlings in a couple of days. When second leaves appear transplant to individual pots. Keep moist. Start hardening off May first, and put in the ground in mid-May at the depth they were in the pot.

Start marigold seeds in early March about 1/8 inch deep in the seed flat. Seedlings should emerge within a couple of days at room temperature. When second leaves appear, transplant to pots. Keep moist. Start hardening off May first, and put in the ground in mid-May at the depth they were in the pot.

Buy pelleted petunia seeds; they are much easier to handle. Un-pelleted petunia seeds are microscopic. Sow in mid-March on the surface of the seed flat. Do not cover. Keep in a warm area, or use gentle bottom heat. Germination should occur within 5 days. When second leaves appear plant in individual pots. Grow on the dry side. Start hardening off May first, and put in the ground in mid-May at the depth they were in the pot.

Put the packet of snapdragon seeds in your freezer for a couple of days in early March, then sow on the surface of the medium in the seed flat. Do not cover. Keep in a warm area, or use gentle bottom heat. Seedlings should emerge within 5 days. When second leaves appear transplant to individual pots. Keep moist. Start hardening off May first, and put in the ground in mid-May at the depth they were in the pot.

Start zinnia seeds in early April about 1/8 inch deep in the seed flat. Keep in a warm area, or use gentle bottom heat. Germination should occur within a couple of days. When second leaves appear plant in individual pots. Keep moist. Start hardening off May first, and put in the ground in mid-May at the depth they were in the pot.

Growing plants from seeds can be rewarding, save you money, and is lots of fun. Give it a try!

Jim Janke is a Master Gardener Volunteer in Haywood County. For more information call the Haywood County Extension Center at 828.456.3575.

Editor’s note: (This is the second of a 3-part series on growing plants from seeds.)

Growing plants from seeds can save you money, and give you many more plant varieties to choose from. If you provide the conditions they need, seeds will germinate and grow into healthy plants. Here’s how to get them growing.

 

Growing medium

What you plant the seeds in is important. The medium must be fine-textured and uniform; well aerated, but capable of holding moisture; have low fertility; and be free of insects, weeds and diseases.

The most popular starting media are peat-based, with vermiculite, perlite, or ground pine bark added. You’ll find these in seed starting kits at the home center or nursery, or in seed catalogs. Don’t use garden soil, potting soil, or topsoil: they are too heavy and do not drain well enough for germinating seeds and growing tiny seedlings.

 

Containers

Many different plastic containers for starting seeds are available. Compressed peat pots and peat pellets (that expand when soaked in water) are also good choices. But a wide variety of household containers will do just as well. Butter tubs, Styrofoam cups, cut-off beverage cartons, or anything else you have will work. Poke several holes in the bottom to allow for drainage. Wash the container completely, then sterilize by soaking in a 1% bleach solution for a few minutes, and allow to dry.

 

Sowing

Some terms need clarifying. Most seeds are sown in a “seed flat.” Seedlings are transplanted into a “pot.” Seeds that will not be transplanted are sown directly in the “pot” where they will grow. Seed flats and pots may be placed in “trays” that allow watering the plants from the bottom.

The seed packet will tell you how far in advance of the last frost date to sow the seeds. The traditional last frost date in Haywood County is May 15th. Planting too soon results in plants that are too large to transplant easily. Planting too late delays flowering and fruiting. If no planting depth is recommended on the packet, cover the seeds only to their thickness. Don’t cover very small seeds at all. Separate seeds by a half inch or so; this will make transplanting easier. Cover the seed flat with clear plastic to keep the medium from drying out. Place the flat in a tray with enough water in it to cover the holes in the bottom of the container. Put the tray and seed flat in a warm, well-lit place, but not in direct sunlight. Monitor daily to insure enough water is in the tray.

 

Transplanting

After the seedlings emerge, remove the plastic cover. When the first true leaves (“second leaves”) appear, transplant into pots. Use a plastic knife or pointed craft stick to dig out a seedling, picking it up by the leaves (holding a seedling by the stem may permanently damage it.) Plant in a pot at about the same level it was growing in the seed flat.

Transplant only the number of seedlings you are going to use (with a safety factor built in.) Discard the others, however cruel this may seem, unless you wish to raise plants for your entire community. For example, if I need 25 petunias for a specific flower bed, I’ll plant 35 to 40 seeds, and transplant the best 30 seedlings. After planting outside I keep the 5 extra plants for a few days to make sure all the plants in the ground survive. Then I give the extras away.

You can sow some seeds directly in the pot that the seedling will grow in without transplanting. For example, sow 3 tomato seeds in each pot, then snip off all but the best seedling. Sowing directly into pots is best for hard-to-transplant varieties; check the seed packet for information.

Fertilize every two weeks with half-strength liquid fertilizer. Add water and fertilizer to the tray (instead of pouring on top of the seedlings, which can displace enough medium to expose their roots.) Keep the seedlings in a brightly lit area, but not in direct sunlight.

And that’s all there is to starting seeds indoors!

 

Other notes

Cleanliness is essential in your indoor greenhouse. Maintain this area as if it were your kitchen. If you bring plants in from outside to winter in the house, keep them elsewhere, because they are likely sources for insects that can infect your seedlings and be a general nuisance.

To move plants outside, slowly adapt them to outside conditions over a couple of weeks. Give them only filtered shade at first, and gradually allow them to see more and more sunlight. Then they’ll be ready for your beds or outdoor containers. This is called “hardening off.”

Don’t go on an extended vacation. This isn’t a whole lot of work, but it does require at least a couple minutes of attention every day or two. Seedlings allowed to go bone dry will not be happy.

Jim Janke is a Master Gardener Volunteer in Haywood County. For more information call the Haywood County Extension Center at 828.456.3575.

The financially struggling WestCare Medical Center with hospitals in Sylva and Bryson City has eliminated 45 full-time positions, according to a statement from the hospital.

Some of the cuts were achieved through attrition, but others have been laid off.

WestCare has proposed cutting 90 full-time positions over the course of the year.

WestCare CEO Mark Leonard announced in October that a workforce reduction of 30 would occur by Jan. 15, but apparently the schedule has been accelerated.

The plan was designed to stem financial losses, which required a reduction in staff, emphasis on efficiency and focus on physician recruiting to provide patients more access to local healthcare, according to a hospital statement.

Because of national economic problems facing small rural hospitals, WestCare lost $3.2 million between June and August, according to WestCare.

Recruiting qualified physicians to the area is a major component of WestCare’s management plan. Since October, WestCare Health System has signed an ear, nose and throat specialist and has secured verbal commitments from four other physicians. Two internists, a radiologist and an orthopedic surgeon are planning to visit next month, according to the statement.

Christi Marsico • Staff writer

Bright colors and inventive images offering a kaleidoscope of memories and historic moments will be showcased in “Visions of Freedom, an exhibition of Alabama Folk Artists,” at Haywood County Arts Council’s Gallery 86 this month and next to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the President’ís inauguration and Black History Month.

The paintings explore the fight for the Civil Rights led by key leaders of the South such as Martin Luther King, Jr.

The central theme of the exhibition is Dr. King’s famous speech:

“I have a dream that one day ... right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers ... ”

While the theme is freedom, the artistic style has been categorized as “folk art,” which HCAC Executive Director Kay Waldrop describes as a “certain style of artwork that’s from the roots — the deepest part of a person — where the innocence of a person comes through.”

Ted Oliver, the curator of “Visions of Freedom,” has traveled 1500 miles to commission all the artists in the exhibition.

There will be at least 30 to 40 pieces of art on display and for sale, and Oliver described folk art as “art created by self-taught artists who are pursuing a personal vision.”

When collecting these works, Oliver noted many of the artists told him this was a challenging and rewarding project that they would have not done on their own.

“It’s a fresh perspective on how far we have come in dealing with inequalities, but how far we still need to go,” Oliver said.

The featured artists include Bernice Sims, Chris Clark, Tres Taylor, Michael Banks and Jimmy Lee Sudduth who have brought to life an evocative and emotional collection of American history.

 

Bernice Sims

Among the five Alabama artists celebrated, Bernice Sims’ artwork has become known as a standard in the folk art world.

Sims’ painting, “Selma March” was reproduced as a U.S. postal stamp in 2005.

Demonstrators demanding an end to discrimination gathered in Selma, Ala., in 1965 and marched to the state capital of Montgomery, which was 50 miles away.

Painting from personal memories, Sims remembers when she paid to pay a poll tax of $1.50 to vote.

“I just didn’t understand that,” Sims said in an interview with The Smoky Mountain News.

Sims recalled long sheets of paperwork littered with questions “ìdesigned to keep you back.”

Despite obstacles such as being followed by the Ku Klux Klan, she helped register over 300 blacks and whites to vote proving, “It wasn’t a waste of time for me.”

Born on Christmas Day in 1926, Sims was raised by her grandparents in Hickory Hill, Ala. Married at 16, she became the mother of six children and after her children were grown, she pursued painting.

Having the TV on in the background is part of Sims artistic process.

“I like to hear voices. I can work better and most of the time it’s on the news,” Sims said.

Painting with acrylics, she favors bright cheerful colors and strives to create the same colors she had when growing up.

“Folk art is everyday activities the way we use to live. Country people don’t worry about fancy — they just want to be themselves. The stuff I use in my paintings is like the way I use to live —making clothes, cooking and washing the old-fashioned way,” Sims said.

Sims’ grandchildren had her “all torn up” recently as they painted over one of her paintings for the exhibition.

“After repainting the dabs of red and black, I got out the fly swatter and their eyes got big and I didn’t have no more trouble,” Sims said.

Sims paints mostly in the afternoons, but her inspiration can appear anytime.

“These things pop up in my mind at night, and I get up and sketch them or get up and do it. I can’t copy anything, and I do my best with what I know whether it’s a baptism or a waterhole,” Sims said.

 

Tres Taylor

Tres Taylor began painting 10 years ago after working as a biochemist and doesn‘t consider himself a folk artist but is inspired by folk art.

Taylor, who does consider himself an “armchair activist,” feels like civil rights are something we have to keep upholding and was “thrilled” to be involved in this project.

“I think it’s one of the greatest movements of our time, and a challenge for me because I am not a black man, and I was not in the civil rights movement,” Taylor said.

After being asked to contribute to the exhibition, Taylor went to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.

The artist couldn’t keep the phrase “halleluiah” out of his mind after watching a freedom writer’s video at the institute.

He purchased a Smithsonian collection of songs, “Voices of the Civil Rights Movement: Black American Freedom Songs 1960-1966” on CD from the museum’s gift shop and headed to his studio.

“The music was uplifting, powerful and inspirational for me,” Taylor said. “Singing bonded them together and is what made them powerful and unafraid of a scary situation.”

Connecting the joy of music to his art, Taylor began creating his mural by taking 16-foot pieces of tar paper and dividing them into 11 panels.

He began painting a journey of portraits of men, women and monks. The monk is a spiritual symbol for Taylor.

He drew a road that meanders through the 11 panels, painting icons that were important to the civil rights movement like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, and the word “halleluiah” is spelled out among the panels.

Painting with house paint and putty, Taylor added a three-dimensional feel to his mural which took him a week and half to paint.

Taylor spent one month researching and connecting to this project spiritually.

“This is a real honor to do this, and I believe folk artists are people who don’t have worldly sophistication, but at the end of the day make art out of something that’s laying around,” Taylor said.

Robben Ford and the Blue Line: Handful Of Blues

No, it’s not out of print, nor is “Handful Of Blues” all that hard to find. But when one of your favorite CDs finally succumbs to age and years of mishandling, it’s a lovely surprise to find a “new old” copy staring back at you in the used rack. This was just the case recently, when no amount of cleaning or buffing would allow the last three tracks of this stunning modern blues release (from 1995) to play in their entirety.

Ford’s style is a crafty amalgamation of fiery, stinging blues guitar in the Bloomfield vein and a jazzy harmonic sophistication. There are potent smatterings of rock and soul to be found in that mix as well. Somehow, though, Ford is able to never lean to far in any direction — he stays centered in the blues, but is so crafty at sneaking some very forward thinking “un-blues” lines into his phrases that you never get the feeling he’s a jazzbo in disguise. The opening track, “Rugged Road,” prominently displays this trait — it’s an up-tempo burner that features his burnished but biting tone in a series of amazing solos. Vocally, Ford often divides listeners into the “like it/leave it camps,” and admittedly, a gravelly belter he’s not. But the guy’s got a great voice anyway, smooth and controlled.

The other thing (as if there were merely a few) that separates the guitarist from the blues guitar pack is his neck deep sense of groove — the guy’s a machine. Combined with a rhythm section consisting of remarkable players like bassist Roscoe Beck and drummer Tom Brechtlein, it makes for not only a lesson in stunning modern blues soloing, but also how to make a power trio truly rock. Their cover of the classic “Chevrolet” is old sock funky and deep, deep blue. The instrumental “The Miller’s Son” is a smoking reworking of Clapton’s “Steppin’ Out” framework, and he masterfully reads “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” into a smoky blues/pop tune.

One more thing, and don’t get wrong for saying this, but Robben Ford is one of the few modern blues guitarists that sound NOTHING like the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughan. As fine as the Bonamassa’s and Duarte’s out there are, they’re still treading on all too familiar ground. Ford, in the best way, is a different animal altogether.

 

Sugar: Copper Blue

If we were to reset the “wayback machine” to 1992, and went looking for some crunchy, literate — oh, how I hate this term — ‘post punk’ pop, Bob Mould’s Copper Blue would be an excellent find. From the ashes of Husker Du, Mould decided to slow things down and push the melodies to the forefront, but in doing so kept the guitars roaring and the tunes damn smart. And sometimes disturbing — the grave and darkly sarcastic pixies-esque “Good Idea” will have you tapping your foot and staring at the lyric book in sheer horror.

Being a sucker for smartly crafted, hooky tunes and great guitar tones, it was Sugar’s later release, File Under Easy Listening that initially hipped me to Mould’s overall brilliance as a musician and songwriter. Almost hate to say it, but to my ears Copper Blue is an even better album, though the earliest.

Maybe its Mould’s knack for creating these sunny sounding, chiming songs and sticking disarmingly tortured lyrics beneath the layers of harmony that makes this music stand up so well seventeen years later. Though you can hear differences in the mastering qualities, it’s hard to say that much of this sounds dated at all- save for the synthesizer patch in “Hoover Dam” possibly. But songs like “The Act We Act” and “Changes” manage to deal with the intricacies and difficulties of relationships and loss while somehow making you feel as if you’re speeding down the interstate on a warm day with the windows down. And those of you of the correct music consumption age back in ’92 surely recall the band’s one radio and MTV hit, “If I Can’t Change Your Mind.” Jangly, hummable and sad as can be. Great stuff.

On a completely different note, I recently picked up the book Jazz Country by Nat Hentoff and found it a remarkably enjoyable, if short, reading experience. Originally published in 1965, it chronicles the story of a talented young trumpet player named Tom Curtis and his attempts to enter the world of jazz. The story dates itself, often beats you over the head with its message, but it still manages to be a wonderful and insightful tale written by someone that understood the culture and mindset of jazz musicians. Tom wants to play jazz, but finds himself initially shut out by the players he admires because of racial tensions at the time. As he’s trying to wrap his mind around the whole thing, get his chops to the point they need to be, decide whether to go to college or play in a band, the kid manages to figure out who he really is and meet some amazing people along the way. Yes, predictable. But you should still read it if you like jazz and have a few hours to kill. It’s well worth the effort.

(Chris Cooper can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

It was around 1:30 a.m. on an exceptionally rainy Wednesday that Bruce and Lorraine Donin’s world came crashing down.

One minute, the senior couple from Florida was enjoying a peaceful night listening to the creek rush past their three-story home. The next, they were crawling their way through a twisting, tumbling nightmare, desperately trying to escape the mudslide that turned their house into a pile of rubble. The Donins ended up on their roof, which was sitting on the ground — miraculously unscathed, and badly shaken.

The 300-foot landslide that slammed into the Donin’s house in the Wild Acres subdivision in Maggie Valley originated from the property of their uphill neighbors, Edward and Pamela McAloon, also of Florida. The McAloon’s house was teetering on a whopping 83 percent slope — one that was deemed dangerous three different times before the house was built.

The mudslide that destroyed the Donin residence has sparked a renewed debate over building in the mountains and just whose to blame when something goes wrong.

In the Donin’s case, pinning a culprit isn’t easy. Though the county, private engineers and the McAloons themselves were all aware of the potential instability of the McAloon property, a lack of regulations in place at the time meant no one had to do anything about it.

And unless that changes, say slope ordinance advocates, there will likely be more destructive landslides in the future.

“As there’s an increase in the amount of development on steep and unstable slopes, I think we’ll see an increase in the number of similar incidents,” said Bill Eaker, environmental services manager for the Land of Sky Regional Council.

 

Who’s to blame?

County documents show the McAloons apparently ignored warnings that their property posed a potential risk for a landslide.

When the McAloons embarked on building a second-home in Wild Acres, they didn’t have much to work with. The remarkably steep lot was barely more than half an acre, leaving little room for shoehorning a house pad on the property.

They sought advice from private engineers at Alpha Environmental Sciences, who were the first to issue a warning about the stability of the site in July of 2005. The engineers visited the site specifically to evaluate the stability of its slopes. They identified two slopes that posed a risk. “This area will most likely continue to erode until the slope gives way and slides,” the engineers said of the first. Of the second — “due to the steep grade of the slope, there is potential for a slide.”

The same concerns were expressed when county officials inspected the property in October 2006 for erosion control compliance, a standard part of the construction process.

“We have concerns about the slope just past your home. It appears to be exhibiting signs of failure. Please have your plan designer, or another qualified person, have a look at it,” wrote erosion and sedimentation control inspector Tim Surrett.

But months later, there had been no move to remediate the unstable slopes. The county’s final erosion inspection in January of 2007 included a statement recommending that the owners seek professional help assessing the long-term stability of the slope.

While the county clearly had concerns over the hillside’s stability, Haywood’s slope ordinance had not yet been passed, and county officials couldn’t force the property owners to do anything.

“Our people were sitting there saying ... we think you’ve got an awfully steep slope, and that you need somebody to look at it,” recalls Mark Pruett, the county’s director of erosion and sediment control.

David Wijewickrama, a Waynesville lawyer retained by the Donins, says the McAloons are to blame for ignoring the repeated warnings.

“Even though they’d been warned, they had not followed the recommendations,” he said. “So what I see there are potential charges of negligence, such as negligent infliction of emotional distress. There are a variety of allegations that we can make against them.”

The McAloons could not be reached for comment.

In any case, out-of-staters from flatter terrain may not fully understand the risks of building in the mountains.

“It’s not something in their thinking that areas are prone to slides,” said N.C. Rep. Ray Rapp (D-Mars Hill), who has advocated for a state-wide steep slope regulation in the N.C. General Assembly.

Individuals unfamiliar with mountain terrain who are building here should get help from local professionals, Eaker suggests.

“We strongly encourage folks considering buying property or building in steep slope areas to retain the services of professionals that are here in this area, that are familiar with the mountain environment and how it works, and what the limiatations are,” he said.

But just who to pick can be daunting. Eaker suggests programs like Clear Water Contractors, where contractors who have undergone training in best building practices are listed on a Web site.

Gordon Small, a former employee of Haywood Waterways and advocate for smart building in the mountains, said there should be a public database that lists the citations that contractors have received.

“Not all builders and developers are equal,” he said. “I would like to see a public list on the Internet of citations issued. Over time, you’ll have a whole lot better people doing the work.”

 

County’s hands tied

If the McAloons were buildin on their property today, they would fall under Haywood County’s slope ordinance, which gives the county teeth to address slope stability concerns — teeth the county lacked just a couple years ago. Under Haywood’s ordinance, slopes over a 35 percent grade require an engineer to certify their stability.

“We have that slope ordinance in place now, which could very well have prevented the problem that recently happened,” said Pruett.

People have come forward since the adoption of the ordinance with requests to build on slopes as steep as that on the McAloon property, and now the county can make them comply with additional stability measures.

“We’ve not turned them down, but we’ve required them to submit a plan or do something else to modify the slope,” said Mark Shumpert, the county’s engineer. If a private engeineer signs off on the slope, the county generally agrees.

“For the most part, if the engineer signs off, we’re not going to argue with them — just make sure they submitted the information we need,” Shumpert said.

Shumpert said no slopes built on since the adoption of the ordinance have failed.

In theory, the hoops put in place by Haywood County’s slope ordinance might deter individuals from building homes on steep slopes. But if people are determined enough and have the cash, there’s still nothing to stop them.

“You can drive around parts of the county and realize there’s not really anywhere that can’t be built on — it comes down to financing,” said Shumpert. “A structural engineer can do you up a whopper of a home plan that costs more than the house itself.”

Though Haywood County’s slope ordinance still allows for steep slope development, it’s much more regulation than some counties have put in place. Neither Macon nor Swain counties have a slope ordinance.

 

The state’s role

A bill introduced by Rep. Rapp in the General Assembly would put in place a statewide steep slope ordinance modeled after Haywood’s. The bill, dubbed the Safe Artificial Slope Construction Act, stalled after meeting stiff opposition from the North Carolina Homebuilders Association and the North Carolina Realtors, and wasn’t brought up in the most recent General Assembly session. Rapp says the Maggie Valley landslide has reinforced the need for statewide regulations.

“What has happened with the Maggie Valley situation, is it just helps reinforce the need for this,” he said. “I don’t think we can be dismissive anymore of the dangers that are involved by continuing to ignore this issue.”

Rapp says a statewide ordinance would provide a method of protecting mountain slopes, especially in counties that lack any such regulation.

“I think we have a checkerboard pattern of ordinances up and down the ridges. Some communities have standards that go way beyond what’s called for, but other counties have absolutely nothing,” he said.

The bill would give counties with no regulations a chance to adopt an ordinance of their own, but if they didn’t the state would impose minimum criteria. Rapp said he had already been planning to reintroduce his bill prior to the landslide in Maggie Valley.

“I had been talking with different local groups to see what kind of support I might generate as well as some of the legislators who had been resistant to the original bill, to see what they found most objectionable and how we can make it a little more palatable,” he said.

Rapp says the two powerful lobbying forces — the homebuilders and Realtors — who opposed the bill took issue with the requirement that an engineer be hired if slopes exceeded a certain threshold. He argues that the additional cost is well worth it to prevent a total loss like that suffered by the Donins.

“These are very expensive homes being built on these slopes, by most standards, and if there is an additional cost of $1,200 or $1,400 that goes into having an engineer study and soil samples that may be required, that is well worth the lives and property that would be saved,” he said.

But Alan Best, president of the Haywood County Homebuilders Association, says his group has additional concerns.

“Why is the rest of the state mandating what we are regionally addressing? How does Raleigh or those other counties or other representatives understand what’s happening in WNC?” he said. “Is it something we need statewide when it’s something unique to Western North Carolina?”

However, many counties aren’t addressing it on their own, and the bill would force them to step up to the plate.

Another state initiative targeting landslides is the Landslide Hazard Mapping Program. The program, started after the 2004 hurricanes, aims to map potential landslize hazard zones as a tool for developers. But the program is moving at a snail’s pace because the funding is slow to materialize.

Rick Wooten, senior geologist with the North Carolina Geological Survey, said the landslide maps would have pinpointed the risk of the area where the Maggie Valley landslide occurred.

“Our maps would have picked up that spot as an area where debris flows could potentially go,” said Wooten.

The state program has recently secured more funding, which will allow it to continue mapping mountain counties. Next on the list is Jackson County, followed by Haywood County in 2010. Macon County has already been completed.

 

Slides without devastation

In the event of any landslide, there’s question of whether anything really could have prevented it. After all, landslides have been a naturally occurring geological phenomenon in the mountains long before humans set foot here.

“These mountains have shallow soils and rocks close to the surface. You get enough rain and saturate the soil to the point where it liquefies, and you’re always going to get some landslides,” said Shumpert.

But most experts agree that slope construction exacerbates the problem. Ground that has been disturbed can’t hold as much water, said Wooten, and therefore increases the chance that it will liquefy and become a landslide.

“No, you won’t ever stop all of them, but you can limit them, and you can minimize how bad they’ll be,” Shumpert said.

How?

“With enough planning and engineering, quality construction, and building on slopes that aren’t so crazy high and steep,” he said. “But it depends how much money you put into it, and how risky the area is where you’re building on a slope.”

The mountain where the Donin landslide occurred may qualify as a risky area. A landslide in the same subdivision killed a woman in 2003. And in the 24-hour period that the Donin slide occurred, another landslide on the back of the same mountain in the Villages of Plott Creek subdivision sent large volumes of mud into Plott Creek, turning the water into mud for a couple of miles.

“There’s been a lot of activity in the mountain right there,” said Pruett.

But careful building practices and slope regulations could prevent that activity from wreaking havoc, added Rapp.

“We certainly can’t control natural events, but we can have an impact on their effects,” Rapp said.

By Christi Marsico • Staff Writer

Born 16 minutes apart in the Bethel community of Haywood County, twin brothers Travis and Trevor Stuart have been immersed in music since childhood.

“Music was all around us growing up,” Travis said.

Sharing that mountain music with others continues as the brothers perform in Western Carolina University’s concert/jam session series with an old-time and bluegrass concert at 7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 8, in the auditorium of WCU’s Mountain Heritage Center. Performers of old-time and bluegrass music are invited to bring their instruments and take part in the jam session that will follow.

The brothers, 40, continue to reside in Haywood County where they learned to play old-time mountain music 30 years ago from masters such as Byard Ray, the Smathers family and Red Wilson.

“We play a lot of tunes from around this region and are really based in fiddle tunes and music for dancing, which has a lot of drive,” Travis said.

Travis plays the banjo and Trevor plays the fiddle. Being twins has helped their technique, as they can easily swap the melody and rhythm parts of songs.

Growing up playing together, the Stuarts learned from people who were in their seventies and eighties, and Travis said not many children their age were learning how to play old-time fiddle tunes.

“We are different from bluegrass because our tunes are older and unique to this region — a style that is Western North Carolina that’s different from Kentucky—It’s the way people flavor their notes here.”

Continuing to share their heritage, the brothers teach the next generation of old-time musicians at Haywood County’s Junior Appalachian Music Program.

In the summer time, they are busy as full-time musicians performing at dances, concerts, festivals and music camps.

Recently, they have traveled throughout the U.S. and to England, Germany, Ireland, and Russia performing and sharing their style of traditional old-time music and culture.

During their travels, Travis was surprised how many people knew about Appalachian music as well as their familiarity with the old masters, noting that “people move here to learn this kind of music.”

Having appeared on numerous other old-time recordings, the Stuart brothers have two CDs of their own — “Pretty Little Widow” and “Mountaineer.”

With an upcoming old-time Irish weekend planned in Nashville and another trip to Europe, the brothers are in process of putting together a new CD.

While their concerts feature old-time music, they enjoy playing different instruments and performing with other bands and musicians such as Martha Scanlan.

After their concerts, the Stuarts look forward to the pickers and singers who join them in playing the mountain music.

Reflecting on his musical upbringing, Travis emphasized how important listening is when learning to play.

“My advice to those getting started is to immerse yourself into it, go to where people play, sit back and listen,” Travis said.

For more information on the Stuart brothers visit www.thestuartbrothers.com.

In 1957, a Russian immigrant burst onto the scene with a novel and philosophy that today remains one of the most influential, and controversial, works in American culture.

The book was Atlas Shrugged, and the author was Ayn Rand.

Born in Russia in 1905, Ayn (rhymes with “mine”) Rand emigrated to the United States at age 20. Rand penned her first major work, The Fountainhead, in 1943, but it wasn’t until the debut of Atlas Shrugged that her philosophy called objectivism — with an emphasis on self-interest, small government and capitalism — began to gain a major following.

Rand’s philosophy stemmed from her upbringing under a Communist regime. The daily horrors she witnessed, including mass starvation and death, would forever change the way she saw the world.

“Rand was deeply affected by her life under a totalitarian socialist regime before she fled the USSR, and she believed at the root of that ‘evil empire’ was the philosophy of self-sacrifice and service to the greater good,” said Stephen Miller, a Western Carolina University economics professor, in an email to university officials.

Rand was in awe at the capitalist system in place in the United States and the opportunities it afforded, and became a devout believer in capitalism as the sole successful system of government. In her works, Rand rails against altruism, or the belief that acting for the benefit of others is right and good.

“Every man — is an end in himself, not the means to the ends of others. He must exist for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself. The pursuit of his own rational self-interest and of his own happiness is the highest moral purpose of his life,” was the essence of Rand’s philosophy, according to the Ayn Rand Institute.

Critics call the ideas that Rand espoused selfish.

“Rand’s own writings are filled with tirades against altruism, especially to distant global strangers; and philosophically, that is quite opposite to the moral concern for the stranger or the ‘other’ person that is stressed in most moral and religious ideals,” says Darryl Hale, a professor of philosophy at WCU. Hale argues that Rand doesn’t carry much “clout” among philosophers, who generally regard her as an intellectual lightweight.

Of course, not all agree that Rand’s ideas are without merit. Although controversial, they’re at least worth studying, says Miller.

“It is not hard to argue that she carried her ideas too far, but it is hard to argue that she was wrong about the dangers of basing social organization on the principles of altruism and self-sacrifice,” Miller said. “It is a fundamentally interesting question: ‘If altruism can lead to horrible consequences, is it such a good thing?’”

Regardless of whether one agrees with Rand, the fact that her ideas continue to generate debate after half a century is noteworthy.

By Carl Iobst • Guest Columnist

2008 was an interesting year. Not the worst on record, but tough enough. 2009 presents us with some unique challenging opportunities that have never been seen before — sort of a test of our ‘Americanness.’

Considering all the recent political shouting and posturing about “change we can believe in” and “country first,” how much can we really expect from our elected and appointed officials? Not as much as you might believe. Ultimately, without you and I doing the heavy lifting nothing — except higher taxes and less freedoms — is going to change.

All change is from the bottom up. We have to change our thinking and our actions. This is a cultural paradigm shift. We have to change the behaviors of those in government who are supposed to carry out our demands for “a more perfect union.” Remember, they’re accountable to us.

All change is local. I’m going to hit you between the eyes with a startling fact and you can accept it or not — true lasting, effective, and meaningful change can only happen when it comes from you and me. Anything else is just a fad, a mirage. That’s right. If we don’t make it happen, it is not going to happen.

True change starts here in Jackson County. And you and I will make it happen. Everyone wants open, honest government. Everyone wants clean air and water and enough elbow room to raise our children in. After all, we live in the country not the city. It is stupid and destructive to build cities on mountains. Can you say landslide?

Real change is happening now. Right now, groups of people are banding together in Jackson County to fight the developer-destroyers and other fads that could turn Jackson County into an unlivable wasteland. What you do this day, this year matters. You count. This is your chance to clean up our air and water and to protect our land. We can make democratic and social justice a reality here in our home — the valley of the Tuckasegee.

Join us.

Iobst is secretary of the Jackson County Citizen Action Group (http://jacksoncountycitizenactiongroup.blogspot.com/, P.O. Box 2212, Sylva, N.C., 29779.)