For the love of language and song: NC composer and poet laureate intertwine arts
By Christi Marsico • Staff Writer North Carolina’s poet laureate Kathryn Stripling Byer listens to the CD “Alma,” composed by…
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Heritage center welcomes new curator
Trevor Jones, a native of St. Cloud, Minn., is the new curator at the Mountain Heritage Center, Western Carolina University’s…
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Historic harmony: “Songs From Haywood County”
By Christi Marsico • Staff Writer Providing a historic glimpse into triumph and tragedy of real life in Haywood County over…
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Ye Olde Christmas CD roundup ...
By Chris Cooper I guess it’s a kind of Christmas tradition. Every year around this time I go on the…
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A word with the musicians
Mark W. Winchester (MW) and Milan Miller (MM) answer questions about the collaboration of “Songs From Haywood County.” SMN: How…
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About Nance Dude
A brief synopsis of “Nance Dude,” which is one of three dramatic monologues in “Land’s End” written by Gary Carden:…
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Nance Dude: Legend, murderer, victim
By Christi Marsico • Staff Writer Stoned by children, considered a witch by some and a complete outcast by others,…
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A night of music with a purpose
By Chris Cooper My participation in the Play For Peace project has been, honestly, primarily for purely selfish reasons. The…
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Unsung guitar hero’s latest keeps it lively
By Chris Cooper It’s in the phrasing; the careful sculpting of each and every note. It’s something about the intent,…
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Twin path productions: Two friends, one dream
By Christi Marsico • Staff Writer Wearing white sneakers with a buzz haircut, Tighe Wachacha enters the Burger King in…
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Stage presence: Cherokee student wins runner-up in state poetry competition
By Michael Beadle Sara Tramper can take you to the powwow at end of the world.
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In the studio...
You start a band. The band writes material, rehearses, and plays some shows. What’s the next step? Merchandising? A world…
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Recommended diversions
A Continual Feast Evelyn Vitz’s cookbook offers a fine array of rituals and recipes from the Christian calendar. Greek lamb…
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Henderson pours some hot sauce on it
By Chris Cooper In guitar circles, certain names are spoken in hushed, respectful tones. Players like Mike Stern, Allan Holdsworth…
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“Juno” The little movie that could is this year’s “Little Miss Sunshine,” another quirky comedy that broke out of its…
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Saddle up for song and dance
By Michael Beadle Mamas, it’s OK to let your sons grow up to be cowboys — especially if they end…
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Recommended diversions
EcoBuilders This Asheville area green building company co-owned by former Haywood County Environmental Science teacher Rob Moody and organic farmer…
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This one's for Rob
By Chris Cooper Last summer I wrote an article titled “I Played In A Classic Rock Cover Band And Lived…
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Painting over Bureaucracy
By Michael Beadle Phyllis Jarvinen was tired of all the paperwork, the endless forms and bureaucratic red tape that clogged…
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Poems from Guantanamo They’re supposed to be the worst of the worst from al-Qaeda and the Taliban, evildoers locked up…
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The Plott Hound: Bob Plott writes the definitive book on his family’s famed hunting hounds
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Owners of Plott Hounds will say that the hound is unlike any other.
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Bluegrass’ contemporary class
The term “contemporary bluegrass” is open to a ridiculous amount of interpretation. For some it signifies anything that strays even…
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Recommended diversions
Kindle In case you don’t know, the Kindle is Amazon’s answer to the paperless book. It’s a wireless, portable electronic…
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Music to their ears: Local students earn high marks in national performance competition
By Michael Beadle Watch out Broadway. Get Carnegie Hall ready.
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Recommended diversions
“No Country For Old Men” There’s a whole list of movies (films?) I’ve seen that I respected, on many levels…
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Jim and Rhonda do it different
Jim Lauderdale: The Bluegrass Diaries If you recognize the name, little more needs to be said. Long one of the…
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Peace in the valley: Franklin photographer Bill Lea captures beauty and history of Cades Cove in new book
For nature photographer Bill Lea, Cades Cove is heaven on earth.
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“3:10 To Yuma” Russell Crowe as vicious murder Ben Wade and Christian Bale as Dan Evans, a farmer hired to…
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A rowdy good time at some familiar stomping grounds
Reverend Horton Heat: Reverend Organdrum Maybe all that needs to be said is that somewhere around three and a half…
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Taking it to the street: Waynesville Public Art Commission seeks to promote cultural heritage with downtown art project
By Michael Beadle What would New York City be without its Statue of Liberty? Picture St. Louis without its Gateway…
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Recommended diversions
Since in this age of home video, I seldom get to see many of the best movies of any given…
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Shine on you crazy Miners
By Chris Cooper A few years ago there was this gangly guy with a mop of shaggy blonde hair sitting…
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All that brass: WCU’s Trumpet Festival is quickly becoming an international affair
By Michael Beadle Brad Ulrich was 10 years old when he began playing the trumpet. He’d started with the guitar…
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Stew recipes
Upcountry Carolina Beef Hash 5 lbs lean beef, cut up for stew 1 1/2 lbs large onions diced 1 lb…
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‘Rainbows’ plays as Radiohead should
There was an interesting coincidence on July 11, 2006. Thom Yorke released Eraser to mixed reviews, and the same day…
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Southern Comfort Food
By Michael Beadle Long before the days of microwaves and fast food meals, there was the slow-cooked stew, a Southern…
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Recommended diversions
Skinny Dip, Carl Hiaasen This 512-page novel is a fast read that unfolds like a movie, painting a vivid picture…
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Christmas Eve dinner Not the particular food, per se, but the tradition. In our home it’s Lori’s homemade lasagna, and…
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Warren Haynes’ 19th Annual Christmas Jam — mostly
By Chris Cooper Before getting started, let me say that I completely missed Grace Potter’s performance at the Christmas Jam.…
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Recommended diversions
Flight Of The Conchords on DVD Two discs of complete silliness from Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement, New Zealand’s “not…
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Hand-made history for the Christmas tree: Local potter helps Waynesville museum through sale of ornaments
By Michael Beadle Terry Painter and his wife Anita love collecting ornaments for their Christmas tree each year, but they…
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Into Great Silence The Carthusian monks of Grande Chartreuse, regarded as one of the most austere monasteries in the world,…
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It’s Grammy season ... do you care?
We’re rapidly approaching that part of the year referred to endearingly as “Grammy Season.” This is the time when we…
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Sounds like Christmas ...
By Chris Cooper There are folks that get into full holiday mode, displaying their favorite snowman and fir tree embroidered…
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Recommended diversions
Before The Devil Knows Your Dead I’m a little surprised that this gem of a movie is not getting more…
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An artist’s journey: Landscape artist Craig Forrest brings his love of art full circle
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer It’s almost as though one can hear the creaking sighs of the old, hand-hammered…
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Our secret places: Phenomena exhibit honors personal stories and Lee Smith novel
By Michael Beadle So many of us have what Waynesville librarian Kathy Olsen calls “thing stories.”
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Trischka doubles the pleasure with modern banjo greats
By Chris Cooper It hardly needs to be said that the banjo has taken major leaps in the hands of…
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Recommended diversions
“The Santaland Diaries” If you’re reading this, you may already be too late — get thee right now to a…
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Films that change the world: Local activist movie club gathers people for education, discussion on a host of social, economic and environmental issues
By Michael Beadle For the longest time, Buffy Queen and John Buckley wanted to share their love of movies with…
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