The Sylva library will host a class on building a website at 5:45 p.m. Oct. 22 and another course on how to sell items on Craigslist.com at 5:45 p.m. Oct. 24

The classes are the first of a new series of Monday evening computer skills courses that the library is hosting. Each class is a 90-minute stand-alone session dealing with a different topic.

For both of these classes, participants must have basic computer skills including: keyboarding, the ability to cut and paste text, and the ability to open and close active computer windows. An email account is also required.

The Build Your Own Website class will teach students how to create their own website using WordPress.com, a free hosting service.

The Oct. 24 class on Craigslist will focus on how to upload photos to the site, how to enter and edit the description, and how to respond to offers and inquiries. Attendees are encouraged to bring an electronic photo of the item they wish to sell. During class, they will write and post the ad.

The classes will be held in the Library’s Computer Lab and is limited to 15 people.

828.586.2016.

Kids Against Hunger in Franklin is looking for people to help package meals at 8 a.m. Nov. 3 at the First Christian Church of Franklin.

Kids Against Hunger packages nutritious meals for starving and malnourished children and families. The meals are a blend of soy, rice vegetables, vitamins and minerals.

In just a couple of hours, teams of six or eight can package thousands of meals for the needy.

828.332.8771 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Sylva Rotary Club will host its twice-annual pancake breakfast from 7:30-10 a.m. on Oct. 26 at the First United Methodist Church in downtown Sylva.

Proceeds will go to the local Neighbors in Need organization and the international Polio Plus program.

There is a suggested $5 donation, but no tickets are needed to attend the event. All you can eat pancakes, sausage and hot and cold beverages will be served. Take out for businesses will be available.

www.sylvarotaryclub.org or 828.586.2221 or 848.452-2820.

Paul Loeb, a writer who has spent more than 30 years researching citizen responsibility and empowerment, will deliver a lecture at 6 p.m. Oct. 24 in the theater of A.K. Hinds University Center at Western Carolina University. The event is free and open to the public.

Loeb is the author of “Soul of a Citizen” and “The Impossible Will Take a Little While” and co-author of the essay “My Vote Doesn’t Matter.”

In 2008, he created and coordinated the Campus Election Engagement Project, a nonpartisan effort to encourage college and university students to vote and participate in the election. Loeb is running the project again for 2012.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 828.227.2643.

A Haywood Community College political science class got a good dose of the mechanics of voting by running a voter registration booth on campus.

“These students did this on their own time,” said Greg McLamb, HCC Lead History instructor. “Voting in one of the most important things we can do as American citizens so seeing the registration process firsthand was a great service learning project for them.”

Sylva and Western Carolina University will raise awareness of conflict mediation as an alternative to litigation and to settle personal disputes on Oct. 23-24.

On Oct. 23, a panel of lawyers and certified mediators from Mountain Mediation Services will discuss the advantages of mediation as an alternative to the often costly and time-consuming process of bringing a civil case to court. The event will be held at the Jackson County Justice Center from 12:30-2 p.m. On Oct. 24, members of WCU’s Campus Mediation Society will stage a mediation followed by a question-and-answer session at WCU in Multipurpose Room B in A.K. Hinds University Center from 5-6:45 p.m. The presentation will feature student mediators who recently qualified for the 2012 National Mediation competition sponsored by the American Bar Association.

Both events are free and open to the public. They are supported by WCU’s College of Business and Campus Mediation Society, Mountain Mediation Services, North Carolina Agricultural Mediation Program and by a grant from the American Bar Association.

828.227.7191 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Western Carolina University’s Department of Political Science and Public Affairs and the Public Policy Institute will host a debate between the two candidates for North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District.

The debate will begin at 7 p.m. Oct. 23 and will feature Republican Mark Meadows, a businessman and entrepreneur, and Democrat Hayden Rogers, former chief of staff for current U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler. It will be held in the theater located on the third floor of the A.K. Hinds University Center.

Russ Bowen, news anchor and reporter for Asheville-based television stations WLOS-TV and WMYA (My40), will serve as debate moderator.

The debate is open to the public, but seating is limited. Those interested in attending should reserve a seat by email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 5 p.m. Oct. 22. There is a limit of two tickets per request.

Ticket holders should be seated by 6:50 p.m. By 6:55 p.m., any remaining seats in the theater will be released on a first-come, first-served basis to people who show up without tickets. Anyone not seated by 6:50 p.m. cannot be guaranteed a seat in the theater.

828.227.3898.

Dan Forest, Republican candidate for Lt. Governor, will be at a meet and greet at noon Oct. 29 at Shoney’s on Paragon Parkway in Waynesville. The event is open to the public.

Forest is on a tour of more than 70 counties, meeting with economic developers, business leaders and small business owners.

Forest is the founder and current president of the Triangle Leadership Forum and the former chairman of the board of Wake Forest Pregnancy Support Services.

828.550.2434.

To raise money for its New Generations Birthing Center, Smoky Mountain OB/GYN Associates will host the first “Bootiful Babies Benefit” from 2-7:30 p.m. outside their Sylva office at 64 Eastgate Drive.

There will be a wide selection of activities for families including face painting, pumpkin decorating and belly casting.

The New Generations Birthing Center is a $3 million renovation project of the mother and baby section on the hospital’s third floor. Plans for the Birthing Center include increasing the number of available labor and delivery rooms, implementing new technology and offering a specific operating room for Caesarean sections.

The MedWest-Harris and Swain Foundation has already raised more than $50,000.

Admission and participation are free. Donations are greatly appreciated. There will be live entertainment at the event and homemade chili will be available.

www.mysmoga.com.

Barefoot Ridge in Clyde was recognized as one of the best affordable housing communities in North Carolina. Barefoot Ridge is an 43-home community in Clyde that provided new housing for flood victims in the wake of two tropical storms that flooded homes along the Pigeon River.

Sponsored by the N.C. Housing Finance Agency, the award recognizes outstanding affordable housing that can serve as models for other communities. The winners were selected for affordability, design, contribution to the community, sustainability as affordable housing, and features such as services for residents and creative partnerships.

The development was led by Mountain Projects Community Action Agency of Waynesville in partnership with Haywood County and the Town of Clyde.

Chaske Spencer, who plays Sam Uley, the leader of the Wolfpack in the “Twilight” saga, will speak at from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Chief Joyce Dugan Cultural Arts Center.

Spencer is a member of the Lakota Sioux tribe and was raised on reservations in Montana and Idaho. He’ll be speaking about his project “Be The Shift,” in which he urges Native Americans to create sustainable, prosperous communities and promote dignity, justice, unity and accountability.

Tickets are $11 and can be purchased at the door or online. The cultural arts center is located at 86 Elk Crossing Lane off Big Cove Road in Cherokee.

www.visitcherokeenc.com.

Western Carolina University Sociology Club’s “A New Lens Film Series” will continue at 7 p.m. Oct. 23 with a screening of “The Price of Pleasure: Pornography, Sexuality and Relationships” in Room 130 of the John W. Bardo Arts Center.

The film examines the role commercial pornography occupies in U.S. popular culture. The next film in the series, on Nov. 1, will be “Miss Representation,” which offers a look at how mainstream media contribute to the underrepresentation of women in positions of power in America. Except for the Oct. 23 event, all screenings in the series will begin at 7 p.m. in the theater of A.K. Hinds University Center. The screening is co-sponsored by Women’s Studies and the Feminists on Campus. 

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 828.227.3839.

Judy Goldman will read from and discuss her new memoir, Losing My Sister, at 1 p.m. Oct. 20 at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.  

Losing My Sister tells of Goldman’s relationship with her sister, the struggles they face, either apart or united. Whether it is long hidden family secrets, cancer or the failing health of their parents, the two sisters manage to bridge the distance between them and re-forge a relationship that had been strong since childhood.   

828.586.9499.

Clean Slate Coalition has launched a fundraising campaign called “Sew Crafty” that will create a funding stream to help women leaving jail or prison by recycling and selling sewing and craft items that can be repurposed by local crafters.

Clean Slate operates a local transitional housing program for women in transition. Located in Sylva, the program serves up to eight women at a time.

An open house will be held from 2-4 p.m. Oct. 28.

Clean Slate urges local artisans to clean out fabric remnants and other supplies taking up space in homes and studios. Donations can be delivered to the Cross Stitch Emporium, located at 2 Dills Street in downtown Dillsboro. The campaign is also seeking volunteers to gather materials, build shelves, organization work, marketing, etc. The cause is also looking for two women to lead the project.

828.586.2726.

Elin O’Hara Slavick, distinguished Professor of Art at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, will give a public talk titled “Art after Aftermath” at 4 p.m. Oct. 29 in Room 130 of the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center at Western Carolina University.

Slavick, primarily a photographer whose work is based on issues and ideas, will discuss her art and her curatorial activities. Most recently, she has focused on the aftermath of the atomic bomb. In her presentation, she will include photos of atomic bomb artifacts and images from her book Bomb after Bomb: A Violent Cartography. While at WCU, Slavick also will meet with and have critiques with graduate and undergraduate students.

Her visit is supported by the School of Art and Design’s Visiting Scholar Funds. The event is free and open to the public.

828.227.7210.

Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker will be performed at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Nov. 24 at Harrah’s Cherokee Event Center. Celebrating its 19th year, it’s the largest Russian ballet tour in North America.

A one-day “Introduction to Cherokee Language” class will be offered from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 19 in Western Carolina University’s Cordelia Camp Building.

Thomas Belt and Hartwell Francis from WCU’s Cherokee language program will begin the class by introducing the Cherokee syllabify. Students will then move on to holding brief conversations in Cherokee. Sound files on CD, a syllabify chart and reference sheets will be provided for review and further study. The event costs $59, with lunch included, and is sponsored by Western Carolina University’s Office of Continuing Education.

learn.wcu.edu or 828.227.7397.

Cherokee basket artist Betty Maney and Western Carolina University crafts scholar Anna Fariello will host a program entitled “From the Hands of our Elders: Cherokee Traditions” at 7 p.m. Oct. 23 in the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. 

This program will expand upon the themes of the WCU public history student exhibit, “Weaving a Way: A Story of Cultural Preservation,” which is on display at the library, just inside the doors leading from the atrium. The exhibit “Cherokee Traditions” is part of the larger “Journey Stories” project, which includes a Smithsonian exhibit on view at the Mountain Heritage Center at WCU, now through Nov. 9.

828.586-2016 or www.fontanalib.org.

REACH of Haywood County will be putting on a “barn dance” at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at a new barn nestled in the Camp Branch area.

The Bryson City Chamber Chili Cook-off will take place 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Depot.

The Liars Bench will present “Appalachian Spook Tales” at 7 p.m. Oct. 18 at Western Carolina University’s Mountain Heritage Center auditorium.

Christie mystery to be screened

Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” will be shown at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 19-22 at the Smoky Mountain Community Theatre in Bryson City.

The film portrays a snowstorm that traps boarders at Monkswell Manor Guest House with a murderer on the loose. All is well until one guest is murdered. Everyone is a suspect. Everyone has a secret. Who is the murderer? Find out in Agatha Christie’s longest running mystery.

Box Office opens at 6:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $8 for adults and $5 for children.

828.488.8227 or www.smctheatre.com.

Cradle of Forestry to present Halloween drama

An outdoor drama titled “The Legend of Tommy Hodges“ will be presented at 6:30 p.m., 7:45 p.m. and 9 p.m. Oct. 19-20 at the Cradle of Forestry in Brevard.

During the outdoor performance, visitors will hear the story of Tommy Hodges, a student of the Biltmore Forest School, who disappeared Halloween night 1907. A guide will lead the audience around the paved Biltmore Campus Trail at the Cradle of Forestry to find out what happened that night. The show is a mile long, meaning the audience walks one mile to see the entire play. It’s most suitable for ages 6 and up.

Audience members are asked to dress warmly, wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a flashlight. Hot cider and cookies will be served after each show. Ponchos and other raingear are welcome if the weather is showery, but please leave umbrellas at home.

Admission is $6 for ages 16 and up, $3 for ages 15 and under and holders of America the Beautiful and Golden Age Passports. Diamond Brand Outdoors is sponsoring the event.

828.877.3130 or www.cradleofforestry.org.

Free potluck and a movie

The Groovy Movie Club will show the film “Hunger Games” at 7 p.m. Oct. 19 at Buffy Queen’s solar-powered home in Waynesville. A mostly potluck dinner will precede the screening at 6:15 p.m., with a discussion to follow for all who wish to participate. The event is free and open to the public. The club meets the second of third Friday of every month. The mission of the organization is to show films, feature and documentary, with a message.

828.926.3508 or 828.454.5949 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Western North Carolina Encouragement Jubilee will be held at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 21 through Oct. 24 in the Beall Auditorium at Haywood Community College in Clyde.

WNC Encouragement Jubilee begins Sunday evening with a gospel music concert featuring The Browns from Lemars, La. Monday’s guest speaker will be David Horton, president of Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute in Hendersonville and Interim Pastor of Encouraging Word Baptist Church in Waynesville. Dr. Jim Henry, former pastor of First Baptist Church Orlando, Fla., and Past President of the Southern Baptist Convention will preach on Tuesday evening. Wednesday evening features Dr. Don Wilton, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church, Spartanburg, S.C., and founder of the Encouraging Word, a national television ministry.

The public is invited to attend. WNC Encouragement Jubilee is a ministry of Encouraging Word Baptist Church, Waynesville.

828.454.5933.

The Community Table in Sylva has two fundraising events coming up. The Community Table is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing nutritious meals to neighbors in need in a welcoming environment.

• You can bid from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on items generously donated by festival artists to benefit The Community Table at the 8th Annual WNC Pottery Festival & Silent Auction in Dillsboro. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 3 and features 40 potters from 13 states.

• The Headliner, a benefit for The Community Table, will be from 6:30-9 p.m. on Nov. 3. Headliner Beer, generously donated by Sierra Nevada and Heinzelmsannchen Brewery of Sylva, will be for sale. $10 for a pint and plate of bratwurst, sauerkraut using Heinzelmannchen’s own recipe or $5 a pint, plus Heinzelmannchen’s homemade Root Beer for $2 a pint.

828.586.6782, www.WNCPotteryFestival.com or www.communitytable.org.

The next community music jam at the Marianna Black Library will be from 6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 18 in downtown Bryson City.

Anyone with a guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle or dulcimer (anything unplugged) is invited to join. Singers are also welcomed to join in or you can just stop by and listen.

The jam is facilitated by Larry Barnett of Grampa’s Music in Bryson City. Barnett starts by calling out a tune and its key signature and the group plays it together. Then, everyone in the circle gets a chance to choose a song for the group to play together. The community jams offer a chance for musicians of all ages and levels of ability to share music they have learned over the years or learn old-time mountain songs. The music jams are offered to the public each first and third Thursday of the month, year round. 

This program received support from the North Carolina Arts Council, an agency funded by the State of North Carolina and the National Endowment of the Arts.

828.488.3030. 

A costume character ball will be held during family night at 6 p.m. Oct. 25 in the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Children are invited to come dressed as their favorite story character. There will be snacks, crafts and activities like bowling, twister, beanbag toss and more. 

828.586.2016.

Submissions are now being taken for the 2012-13 edition of “Milestone,” the biennial art and literary review published by Southwestern Community College. “Milestone” is a publication that showcases the creative expressions of local writers and visual artists.

All residents of Jackson, Macon and Swain counties and the Qualla Boundary, as well as SCC students and alumni, are eligible. Only unpublished work may be submitted. Prose should not exceed 2,000 words and poems should be limited to two pages in length. Writers may submit more than one work. All writing must be double-spaced and submitted in paper format or via email. In addition, each page must be numbered, and the author’s name, address, telephone number and email address should be included on the last page of each submission.

Visual artists and photographers may submit only black and white copies of original artwork and must also include name, address, telephone number, email address, title of work and photo caption (if applicable) on the back of each submission. Artists and photographers may also submit more than one work. First and second place cash prizes will be awarded in three categories: poetry, prose (short story or nonfiction works) and visual arts, including photography. In addition, one cash prize will be awarded for cover art.

Literary submissions must be postmarked by Dec. 3 and sent to SCC Milestone; Attn. Owen Gibby or Toni Knott; 447 College Drive, Sylva, N.C. 28779 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Submissions in visual art must be postmarked by the same date and sent to the same address; Attn. Bob Keeling or via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

828.339.4314 or 828.339.4325.

The Smoky Mountain Fall Art and Craft Festival will celebrate 20 years on Oct. 19-20 and Oct. 26-27 at the Macon County Fairgrounds in Franklin. The fairgrounds will be decorated for the season and artisan booths will be filled to the brim with quality crafts.

This is a juried art and craft show with a warm and festive atmosphere. There will be paintings, photography, pottery, baskets, soaps and lotions, stained glass, wood turnings, furniture, dog clothing and accessories, heirloom crochet, quilts, stunning jewelry, candles, gourd art, clocks, knives, whimsical dolls, Indian clothing, florals and Christmas ornaments.

Admission is free for Oct. 19-20, but donations are kindly accepted. Admission for Oct. 26-27 is $2, which also gains you admission to the Chamber’s 24th Annual Leaf Lookers Gemboree next door at the community building.

828.371.0595 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

A harvest festival will take place Oct.19-21 at the Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center on the grounds of the Stecoah School.

Friday evening begins with a campfire and storytelling with Civil War-era soldiers on patrol.

Saturday starts at 8 a.m. with a 5K race and a “One Mile Fun Run.” From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. the grounds will be filled with the sounds of mountain music and dancing feet. Music acts include the Stecoah JAM Kids, Britthaven Band, Valley River Gospel Trio, Vance Trull & Friends, The Dixie Darlin’s Cloggers, The Oktoberfest Square Dancers, The Leftovers Band and The Welch Family. At 7:30 p.m. The Dismembered Tennesseans will perform on the grand old stage, with adult tickets being $15 and students (K-12th grade) are $5 for that performance.

On Sunday, there will be free gospel singing in the auditorium from 2:30-5 p.m. featuring The Wilson Family, Shining Pathway, Valleytown Trio and Marble Springs Singing Men. Saturday festival admission is just $3 per adult and free for K-12th grade and younger. Parking is free.

Tickets may be purchased by calling 828.479.3364, at the Stecoah Gallery or online at www.stecoahvalleycenter.com.

The North Hominy Apple Festival will take place from 7 a.m. until closing Oct. 20 at the North Hominy Community Center on Newfound Road in Canton.

The festival will feature a variety of apple pies, butter and jellies. There will be craft vendors onsite and a country breakfast at $7 per person.

The Haywood County Apple Harvest Festival will be held 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 20 in downtown Waynesville. The annual festival, which celebrates the beauty of the harvest season in Haywood County, features handmade arts and crafts, locally grown apples and apple products for sale.

To the Editor:

A letter was recently circulated regarding the euthanizing of a black bear in the Mountain Aire community in western North Carolina. That letter apparently spawned a letter to the editor published in the Smoky Mountain News on Oct. 10, 2012, under the heading “Giving bears a second chance.”

This correspondence sets the record straight regarding the original letter. The original letter draws attention to several issues related to feeding and habituating bears to humans and human food. The letter also implies that reasonable alternatives existed regarding the disposition of this bear; and further that North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) staff were unresponsive to the community and simply suggested killing the bear as the simplest way to address nuisance situations. The account presented in the letter is not an accurate depiction of events as they actually occurred.

The letter states that the bear emerged from its winter den and soon discovered human food, perhaps implying that the bear accidentally came across human foods. In reality the bear was fed intentionally by construction workers in the Mountain Aire community, despite the community’s “bear aware” program and other ongoing efforts to coexist with bears.

Bears quickly become habituated to humans under these conditions and this bear was no exception. Having lost its fear of humans, the bear returned regularly and broke into several cars during the month of May, 2012. The NCWRC was contacted by community leaders about the bear and began working directly with them to harass the bear and attempt to discourage it from remaining in the community. The community leaders also addressed the feeding issue with the construction workers.

Those efforts appeared successful at first as the bear disappeared from the community for several weeks. Unfortunately, the bear returned in late June and the NCWRC received a report on June 28th that the bear had damaged the roof of a convertible sports car, reportedly enticed by a pack of gum inside the car. Community leaders stressed that concern among residents was increasing.

On July 30th, the NCWRC was informed that the bear had increased its interactions with humans, having entered homes at least four times and entered or damaged several vehicles. Community leaders and other residents expressed heightened concern and desire for action beyond harassment.

NCWRC staff informed the community that the bear had developed behavior that was inconsistent with normal bear behavior and recommended that the community increase harassment activities and offered assistance to trap and aggressively harass the bear in a final attempt to stop the bear’s behavior.

On August 2nd, the community reported that the bear had entered another residence, removed two pies from the kitchen counter and re-entered the house that night. It was also reported that the bear entered the bedroom while the owners were sleeping. Subsequently, community leaders requested authorization to pursue other options, including euthanasia, as they felt the harassment techniques were not effective.

Several residents in the community began investigating the idea of trapping the bear and placing it in captivity as an alternative to euthanasia. The residents investigated a location in Georgia and indicated that arrangements were in place to take the bear to that location. NCWRC staff contacted officials in Georgia to assess feasibility of this option. We determined that this was not a viable option because neither a transportation permit nor a license to possess the bear would be granted by the State of Georgia. NCWRC staff informed the community that while we did not support trapping a wild bear and placing it in confinement, we did investigate the proposal as requested by the community. Subsequently, NCWRC staff authorized the community to take action as appropriate should the bear return and pose a threat to persons or property.

On August 9th, NCWRC staff discussed with the community specific actions to be implemented should the bear return. The community natural resources director indicated that most residents wanted the bear removed immediately as they viewed it to be a threat. It was also noted that a group of residents had begun to explore the possibility of moving the bear to a pen at Grandfather Mountain.

While this option was being examined, the bear returned to the community. Specifically, the bear appeared near a child’s playground and then approached a condominium on the following day (August 10th). The property owner reported the bear to the community leadership and employees of the community humanely euthanized the bear.

The NCWRC supports the actions of the community as this bear clearly demonstrated threats to persons and property. State law provides private landowners the right to protect their property and their person from damage caused by wildlife. It is unfortunate that human habituation of wildlife often results in the animal’s demise.

Sincerely,

Gordon Myers

Executive Director, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

A Clip and Save Coupon Club meets from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Senior Resource Center in Haywood County.

“It seems to me that now more than ever, people need help at the cash register, not to mention everywhere else,” Suzanne M. Hendrix, a program coordinator at the senior center.

Far from the days of checking Sunday’s newspaper circulars, coupon clipping has reached a whole new level in American today, with coupons easily being mined on the Internet. The senior center has several computers and iPads as well as printers.

Located on 81 Elmwood Way off Russ Avenue past K-Mart. 828.356.2816.

A panel of veterans ranging from World War II to Afghanistan will discuss of the physical, emotional and psychological journeys of soldiers before, during and after war at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, at the Mountain Heritage Center at Western Carolina University

The program,“Over There and Coming Home: Veterans’ Journeys,” is part of the “Journey Stories” exhibit Developed by the Smithsonian Institution on on display at WCU through Nov. 9.

An accompanying exhibit focusing on local “journey stories” that was researched, designed and built by WCU public history students, “In, Out, Through and Back Again: Smoky Mountain Journeys,” is being shown at the Jackson County Public Library through Saturday, Nov. 17.

A program titled “Captain Orr’s Badge: A Civil War Journey,” will be held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12, at the Mountain Heritage Center, chronicling the journey of a Civil War-era U.S. Army officer’s badge from New York state to a flea market in Western North Carolina, which inspired a graphic novel by retired WCU art professor Lee Budahl. 828.227.7129.

The Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department will hold an organizational meeting 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 8, for the adult and masters basketball league at the Waynesville Recreation Center.

This meeting is a mandatory meeting for anyone interested in entering a team in the league. The adult league is open to all players between the ages of 18 to 34, and the Masters League is open to all players over the age of 35.

The adult league games are held Mondays at 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. The masters league games are held Thursdays at 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. 828.456.2030 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

People can drop off gently used or new winter clothing articles for children and adults at any Swain County governmental facility such as the County Administration Building, Health Dept., Social Services, all Swain County Schools, the bus garage and the Swain County Chamber of Commerce. Items may include coats, sweaters, jackets, hats, gloves, toboggans, or sweatshirts.

To participate, contact Mike Clampitt at 828.736.6222.

A genealogical “how to” presentation will be held Monday, Oct. 15, at the Boiler Room restaurant in Franklin by the The Silas McDowell Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. Dinner starts at 5:15 p.m. and the meeting starts at 6 p.m.

The session is open to anyone who would like to learn more about how to find ancestors involved in the American Revolution. Learn how to become a member of the Sons or Daughters of the American Revolution; and, for current members, how to recognize additional family patriots.

828.526.3374 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Members of the Silas McDowell Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution are collecting items for homeless veterans in the region through Oct. 31. The group is working with the Veterans Restoration Quarters in Asheville and will be collecting items needed by homeless veterans as they transition back into the community. Items can be dropped in the box at the Sylva Walmart or the Highlands Chamber of Commerce.

The following items are needed: work clothes and boots, casual and dress clothing and shoes in good condition, new underwear and socks in package, backpacks, ponchos, umbrellas, linens and toiletries.

828.507.2351 or 828.557.0162.

The Liars Bench will present its third annual show of “Appalachian Spook Tales” at 7 p.m. on Oct. 18 at Western Carolina University’s Mountain Heritage Center auditorium.

The Liars Bench is a southern Appalachian variety show started by writer and storyteller Gary Carden, and the Oct. 18 cast includes Lloyd Arneach, Paul Iarussi, guest storyteller Dot Jackson, and the Tuckaseegee Boys — Ethan Fortner, Russel Messer, and Wyatt Messer — who perform Southern Appalachian scary in story and song on stage.

“The outside world stereotypes us as an ignorant, violent culture, and that’s not true,” said Carden. “Yet at the same time, we’ve had our share of murder and violence. Sometimes it’s been quite dark. This Liars Bench won’t be a ‘funny-face,’ jack-o-lantern type of Halloween show. You need to be ready for Southern Appalachian ‘scary,’” Carden said.

“I know that the audience will be very impressed with the stories of both Lloyd Arneach and Dot Jackson” said Carden.

The Liars Bench is a blend of culturally accurate mountain Americana with traditional Southern Appalachian entertainment for everyone, according to Carden.

“We attempt to treat Appalachian culture with integrity and authenticity and to be an accurate reflection of the Southern Highlanders and their ways,” said Carden. “No matter how successful the show becomes I want people to know that The Liars Bench is an honest rendering of Appalachian culture and tradition.”

The next presentation of The Liars Bench at WCU’s Mountain Heritage Center will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 15 with a special production of one of Carden’s plays, “Birdell,” the story of a defiant mountain woman forced off her land by the rising waters of Fontana Lake.

A candidate forum will be held from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15, at the Jackson County Public Library.

Candidates attending are: Republican Jim Davis and Democrat John Snow, candidates for the N.C. Senate’s 50th District; Republican Mike Clampitt and Democrat Joe Sam Queen, candidates for the N.C. House’s 119th District; and Republican Marty Jones and Democrat Mark Jones, candidates for Jackson County commissioner. Candidates for the U.S House, Republican Mark Meadows and Democrat Hayden Rogers, could not attend because of a conflict.

Forum sponsors include Macon County League of Women Voters, Canary Coalition, OccupyWNC and Smoky Mountain News. Audience members will be able to submit questions as they arrive.

The Lens Luggers outdoor photography group will host two excursions, Oct. 20 and 21, to give visual enthusiasts the opportunity to hone their wildlife photography skills. The group will meet at 6:30 a.m. at Maggie Valley Inn and carpool to Cataloochee Valley for the elk in rut. Male elk are particularly active during the fall mating season as they fight over the females. The group will stop at several destinations on each day, including scenic routes along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

All camera levels and experience are welcome. Space is limited. Cost is $75 per day or $125 for both days.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 828.627.0245.

The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy is leading a hike to Hemphill Bald at Cataloochee Ranch at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13.

The moderate 5-mile roundtrip hike with an elevation change of 900 feet begins on a road used for hiking and horseback riding, marked by fall flowers, mountain streams, and cove hardwood forest mixed at times with hemlock stands and the rhododendron and mountain laurel.

As the trail reaches the ridge top, woods are replaced by open high altitude pastureland and with the chance for views of four counties and a number of mountaintops under clear conditions. The preserved tract is adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The cost is free for SAHC members and $10 for non-SAHC members. This moderate 5-mile roundtrip hike with an elevation change of 900 feet begins on a road used for hiking and horseback riding.

828.253.0095 ext. 205 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

A free workshop for landowners interested in learning more about conservtion agreements with a land trust will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m Oct. 8 at the Jackson County Library.

Landowners can learn more about their options for preserving special areas, keeping forests and farms in production and leaving a legacy for future generations.

The event is hosted by Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, Land Trust for the Little Tennessee and the Conservation Trust for North Carolina. The workshops will provide information on conservation options and resources, including maintaining working forests and farms, tax breaks available through conservation agreements and testimonials from other landowners.

919.828.4199 ext. 17

Historical and outdoor enthusiasts can go watch a small group of re-enactors in a reconstructed campsite of the early 1900’s from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday Oct. 13 at the Cradle of Forestry in the Pisgah National Forest.

The delayed harvest section of the Tuckasegee River in Jackson County, one of 15 spots on the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail, will receive an infusion of 19,600 trout this fall. The stocking will be conducted by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission in two segments — 9,800 trout the first week of October and another 9,800 trout the first week of November.

Brook and rainbow trout will account for 80 percent of the fish placed in the river, with brown trout making up the remaining 20 percent. Anglers are allowed to fish the delayed harvest section of the Tuckasegee River year-round. However, any fish caught between Oct. 1 and the first Saturday in June must be released immediately. The delayed harvest section of the river runs from the N.C. 107 bridge in the Lovesfield community to Dillsboro.

Boat access to the delayed harvest section of the Tuck has also been improved. A new boat ramp recently opened in Dillsboro, while a second one is set to open later this year off Old Cullowhee Highway, just upstream from the N.C. 107 bridge.

Other good autumn places to fish along the WNC Fly Fishing Trail are: Scott Creek, Panthertown Creek, Savannah Creek and the Chattooga River. Scott Creek, which flows through Sylva and Dillsboro, was stocked with 1,500 trout in July and additional 1,500 trout in August.

800.962.1911 or www.FlyFishingTrail.com

The U.S. Forest Service will close the Massey Branch Boat Ramp on Lake Santeetlah beginning Oct. 15 so that improvements can be made to the boating access area. The Forest Service estimates that the boat ramp will reopen in April. The work will create an additional entrance to the area, a new double lane boat access with a dock and improve parking for boat trailers. The project will also improve accessibility at the site and protect water quality through drainage control measures.

Alternative public boat ramps are located at Cheoah Point Boat Ramp and Avey Creek Boat Ramp.

A guided hike in the Cataloochee Valley area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be held Thursday, Oct. 18.

Biologists with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission have launched a captive breeding program for the giant, odd-looking Hellbender salamander, also called water dogs or snot otters. If successful, the program could be a first.

The U.S. Forest Service has launched a web site for “Leaf Viewing in Western North Carolina.” The site features scenic drives and areas in the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests for enjoying fall foliage. The site describes the types of mountain plants that visitors will see during peak season at high, middle and low elevations — including what weeks are best for the different elevations.

www.fs.usda.gov/nfsnc.

Jackson County Public Library in Sylva will host a book talk with Barbara Taylor Woodall on at 7 p.m. Oct. 16.

Woodall will discuss her memoir, It’s Not My Mountain Anymore, which describes more than 50 years of memories of mountain life and mountain changes.

828.586.2016 or www.fontanalib.org.