The Jackson County Republican Party will hold an open house at its new office in Sylva from 3 p.m. until 5: 30 p.m. Monday, Jan 23, located at Sunrise Park Drive

This office is the second GOP office opened in Jackson County for the 2012 election cycle. The other is in Cashiers.

828.743.6491.

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Altrusa Club of Waynesville will hold its 15th annual Soup and Cornbread Benefit Scholarship Fundraiser from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m on Tuesday, Jan. 24, at the First United Methodist Church in Waynesville. The lunch or dinner will include: homemade soup (vegetable or potato), fresh cornbread, a beverage and dessert. $7 for adults and $4 for children 12 and under. The meals are available for take out or to eat in.

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WCU UNITY! and Equality North Carolina will hold a daylong event Jan. 27 intended to educate people about the proposed anti-gay marriage amendment to the state constitution, plus register them to vote.

The event will be at the University Center at Western Carolina University. Speakers include Jen Jones from Equality NC.

“The Rainbow Ball Dance Party,” beginning at 8 p.m., will consist of a surprise celebrity guest appearance, and a statewide drag show with contestants from across North Carolina, and of course lots of music and dancing.

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N.C. Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, is holding a town hall meeting to hear from constituents in Haywood County from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 26, at the Haywood County Courthouse in the courtroom. Davis is seeking reelection to represent the seven western counties against former Democratic state Sen. John Snow, D-Murphy.

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U.S. Congressional candidate Cecil Bothwell will make two upcoming political stops in this area, one on Thursday, Jan. 26, at the Haywood County Public Library from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and another Saturday, Feb. 11, at 9:30 a.m. at LuLu’s restaurant in Sylva.

Bothwell is challenging U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler for the 11th Congressional District in the 2012 Democratic primary.