Sylva woodworker goes back to the future
 

Sylva woodworker goes back to the future

In our commodity-driven world, it may seem absurd to spend a year making a table. But for Sylva woodworker Brian…
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2010 Cold Mountain Heritage Tour planned in Haywood County
 

2010 Cold Mountain Heritage Tour planned in Haywood County

The last Cold Mountain Heritage Tour, sponsored by The Bethel Rural Community Organization, will be held from 9 a.m. to…
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 Quilt celebrates rec center’s contributions
 

Quilt celebrates rec center’s contributions

Catch the Spirit of Appalachia and the Appalachian Homestead Farm & Preserve recently presented a hand pieced, appliquéd quilt of…
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 Instructor instills lifelong appreciation for art
 

Instructor instills lifelong appreciation for art

Many people might say Lilian Parks is a staple to the regional art community. “Lil” as she is known to…
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 Rock star treatment a surprise as WCU quintet visits China
 

Rock star treatment a surprise as WCU quintet visits China

Western Carolina University’s quintet in residence should consider letting the Travel Channel tag along before embarking on its next international…
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 Laughter abounds in ‘Falling In Like,’ an almost romantic comedy at HART
 

Laughter abounds in ‘Falling In Like,’ an almost romantic comedy at HART

The Haywood Arts Regional Theatre kicks off summer with a hilarious backstage romp “Falling in Like” an “almost romantic comedy”…
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Patchwork Folk & Fabric Festival celebrates Appalachian crafts
 

Patchwork Folk & Fabric Festival celebrates Appalachian crafts

The traditions of spinning, weaving, quilting, caning, blacksmithing, sewing, hand stitchery, and other folk arts have survived in the Appalachian…
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Artists join forces through co-op to gain visibility
 

Artists join forces through co-op to gain visibility

Steve Lampl paints with acrylics and loves to golf. But last year when he had shoulder surgery, he had to…
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Using music to write history
 

Using music to write history

Bluegrass recording artist Buddy Melton feels like he owes Jackson County. He had never played an instrument until he started…
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Plan for family fun at 10th Annual Strawberry Jam
 

Plan for family fun at 10th Annual Strawberry Jam

Enjoy plow demonstrations, food tasting, sack races, live music and more at the 10th Annual Strawberry Jam starting 10 a.m.…
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Joel Queen draws on many sources for artistic inspiration
 

Joel Queen draws on many sources for artistic inspiration

Many who walk into Joel Queen’s gallery mistakenly assume the artwork there solely represents Cherokee tradition. After all, Queen comes…
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Haywood arts council to exhibit ‘Haywood Heritage Trail: Quilts of Bygone Years’
 

Haywood arts council to exhibit ‘Haywood Heritage Trail: Quilts of Bygone Years’

Haywood Heritage Trail: Quilts of Bygone Years opening Wednesday, May 12, will feature traditional quilt squares for sale by area…
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President and First Lady Obama get a taste of WNC’s locally-grown food scene
 

President and First Lady Obama get a taste of WNC’s locally-grown food scene

Just a month ago, no one here would believe that the President and First Lady of the United States would…
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HART director Steve Lloyd honored for theater outreach
 

HART director Steve Lloyd honored for theater outreach

Steve Lloyd, executive director of Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville, has been honored with The Herman Middleton Distinguished Service…
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Bringing home the brew
 

Bringing home the brew

Zach Phillips and Mike Valente graduated from Western Carolina University just in time to enter the worst job market in…
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Rafe Hollister coins unique and authentic genre of mountain rock
 

Rafe Hollister coins unique and authentic genre of mountain rock

Diehard fans of “The Andy Griffith Show” would know there’s more than meets the eye to Rafe Hollister. The coarse…
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Live-Art fundraiser offers ‘Backstage Pass’ to creation
 

Live-Art fundraiser offers ‘Backstage Pass’ to creation

Looking for a high-energy spring art evening that’ll make your jaw drop, open your eyes and please your palate, give…
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Quintessential quilts
 

Quintessential quilts

In 1980, Gov. Jim Hunt signed a proclamation declaring Franklin as the “Quilting Capital of the World.” That tradition has…
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Ricky Skaggs to perform at Lake Junaluska’s Appalachian Christmas
 

Ricky Skaggs to perform at Lake Junaluska’s Appalachian Christmas

Ricky Skaggs, the legendary, fourteen-time Grammy-award winning country and bluegrass artist, will be featured at Lake Junaluska’s 10th Annual Appalachian…
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Carden wrestles with storyteller legacy
 

Carden wrestles with storyteller legacy

There are two voices inside Sylva storyteller and playwright Gary Carden. One belongs to the mountain man of letters whom…
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From searing to sautéing, the competition is hot at Mélange of the Mountains
 

From searing to sautéing, the competition is hot at Mélange of the Mountains

Foodies can have it all at the sixth annual Mélange of the Mountains culinary gala in Haywood County. Many of…
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‘Mountain Traditions’ concert to benefit Shindig on the Green
 

‘Mountain Traditions’ concert to benefit Shindig on the Green

One of the region’s most beloved and authentic cultural traditions, Shindig on the Green, will present “A Celebration of Mountain…
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Vertigo Jazz Project celebrates second release
 

Vertigo Jazz Project celebrates second release

Vertigo Jazz Project will drop their second full-length studio album on March 12 at Emerald Lounge in Asheville. VJP’s new…
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Presentation of Carden plays to benefit library fund
 

Presentation of Carden plays to benefit library fund

Two plays crafted by Sylva writer Gary Carden will be presented at Western Carolina University in March to benefit the…
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HART brings edgy plays to WNC — and succeeds
 

HART brings edgy plays to WNC — and succeeds

Any actor or director at Haywood Arts Regional Theater will tell you there’s nothing wrong with “The Sound of Music.”…
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Angela Faye martin delivers another kind of Mountain Music
 

Angela Faye martin delivers another kind of Mountain Music

Forget Asheville. Forget cities altogether. Angela Faye Martin’s impressive first full-length album “Pictures from Home” could only have materialized deep…
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Recipes - Feb. 2
 

Recipes - Feb. 2

Chicken and Dumplings: 1 chicken, about 3 pounds 2 Quarts water 1 Teaspoon Salt 1/2 Teaspoon Pepper 2 Cup All-purpose…
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The Oak Tree and the Great Dumpling Debate
 

The Oak Tree and the Great Dumpling Debate

By Karen Dill The ancient oak tree is bare. It stands majestic in the yard of our old two-story farmhouse.…
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Drama about the founder of Methodism to premiere at WCU’s Fine and Performing Arts Center
 

Drama about the founder of Methodism to premiere at WCU’s Fine and Performing Arts Center

What happens when a smart, talented young man desires to serve God, but is mostly driven by his fear of…
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Short Circuit Traveling Film Festival lands in Haywood
 

Short Circuit Traveling Film Festival lands in Haywood

There’ll be a movie for every taste at the third annual Short Circuit Traveling Film Festival this year. The festival’s…
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Ice carvers set to compete at Haywood County’s innaugural Fire & Ice festival
 

Ice carvers set to compete at Haywood County’s innaugural Fire & Ice festival

Fellow ice carvers Jeff Pennypacker and Cary Shackelford are ever ready to etch out any sculpture that will satisfy their…
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Bluegrass legend to record live DVD at Franklin concert
 

Bluegrass legend to record live DVD at Franklin concert

Area music fans will have a unique opportunity to help make history as a bluegrass/gospel music legend celebrates the 30th…
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New generation takes over at City Lights Books
 

New generation takes over at City Lights Books

What is a bookstore? The question was unimaginable when Joyce Moore bought City Lights Books in Sylva from Gary Carden…
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WNC experts share the music, movies and books they loved in 2009
 

WNC experts share the music, movies and books they loved in 2009

It’s the end of another year, and everyone knows what that means — a deluge of countdowns featuring the year’s…
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Accomplished musician will head Junaluska Singers
 

Accomplished musician will head Junaluska Singers

Melodie G. Galloway will take over as the new musical director for the Lake Junaluska Singers starting Jan. 1. “Directing…
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New book takes closer look at baskets and their makers
 

New book takes closer look at baskets and their makers

Anna Fariello believes that artifacts — somewhat like windows — can act as passageways to a culture’s soul. “Material culture…
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Recipes, 12/16/09
 

Recipes, 12/16/09

My Mother’s Chicken Pot Pie • 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves—cubed • 1 cup sliced carrots • 1…
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Great Smoky Mountains Railroad’s Polar Express rides the rails in time for the holidays
 

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad’s Polar Express rides the rails in time for the holidays

Christmas is still two weeks away, but I’ve been rehearsing the dramatic tale of Santa’s arrival with my toddler for…
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Lighting the way Dillsboro celebrates illuminating festival in December
 

Lighting the way Dillsboro celebrates illuminating festival in December

Every year for more than a quarter century, the village of Dillsboro transforms itself into a quintessential Christmas scene, warm…
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WCU hosts January dulcimer weekend at Lake Junaluska
 

WCU hosts January dulcimer weekend at Lake Junaluska

Western Carolina University will sponsor its fifth annual Mountain Dulcimer Winter Weekend beginning Thursday, Jan. 7, and continuing through Sunday,…
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Thanksgiving in the mountains: Memories and food from the past
 

Thanksgiving in the mountains: Memories and food from the past

By Karen Dill • Special to the Smoky Mountain News My memories of Thanksgiving in the mountains are of simple…
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Tickets soon available for Garrison Keillor appearance at WCU
 

Tickets soon available for Garrison Keillor appearance at WCU

Tickets go on sale Monday, Nov. 30, for an appearance at Western Carolina University by Garrison Keillor, host of the…
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Recipes
 

Recipes

Turkey Rubs Before cooking the big bird, I like to use a poultry rub. I have two recipes: one that…
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Pride of the Mountains band and receives marching’s highest honor
 

Pride of the Mountains band and receives marching’s highest honor

Western Carolina University’s Pride of the Mountains Marching Band has been awarded the prestigious Sudler Trophy, the nation’s highest and…
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Lessie Williams performance to benefit library fund
 

Lessie Williams performance to benefit library fund

Lessie Williams, a well-known and nationally recognized gospel singer, will give a concert of inspirational music at 7 p.m. Oct.…
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Old houses, spirits and comfort food
 

Old houses, spirits and comfort food

By Karen Dill • Special to Smoky Mountain News October is a glorious month. Brilliant colors dot the mountains against…
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Recipes
 

Recipes

Spiced Pumpkin, Lentil and Goat Cheese Salad (loosely based on the recipe from the October 2009 Bon Appétit magazine) •…
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Sylva ColorFest showcases work of regional artists
 

Sylva ColorFest showcases work of regional artists

Downtown Sylva will host ColorFest: Art of the Blue Ridge from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 24. The event…
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Public art and community involvement
 

Public art and community involvement

When Wayne Trapp made his proposal to the WPAC last April, he suggested that rather then depict actual countries in…
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Photographer George Schober returns to Gallery 86 with collection of nature photography
 

Photographer George Schober returns to Gallery 86 with collection of nature photography

The Haywood County Arts Council’s Gallery 86 will host the exhibit, “Natural Perspectives,” featuring the photographic work of Vietnam veteran…
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