Food cooked with love can fend off February’s chill and soothe a wounded heart
By Karen Dill • Guest Writer The weather in February can be as fickle as new love. In the mountains…
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Recipes, 2/11/09
Lentil Soup • 1 onion, chopped • 1/4 cup olive oil • 2 carrots, diced • 2 stalks celery, chopped…
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The ultimate rock ’n’ roller
By Christi Marsico • Staff Writer Feb. 3 marked the 50th anniversary of the death of music legend Buddy Holly,…
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Bicentennial celebration of a mountain community
By Christi Marsico • Staff Writer An exhibit focusing on the history of Haywood County is now on display at…
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Your friendly guide to area museums and historical sites
By Christi Marsico While looking for something fun and inexpensive to do in these tough economic times, look no further…
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The blue side of Derek Trucks
By Chris Cooper The Derek Trucks Band: Already Free It’s tough to find something new and profound to say about…
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Singing and dancing songs of joy: African Children’s Choir comes to WCU
Bright colors, vibrant beats and contagious joy flood the room as the African Children’s Choir performs, and their boundless energy…
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Civil rights and the arts
Christi Marsico • Staff writer Bright colors and inventive images offering a kaleidoscope of memories and historic moments will be…
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More gems from the used bin
Robben Ford and the Blue Line: Handful Of Blues No, it’s not out of print, nor is “Handful Of Blues”…
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From Dylan to Delaware: The musical pursuits of David Bromberg
By Christi Marsico • Staff Writer David Bromberg, the well-known vocalist/guitarist/multi-instrumentalist, was headed home for a quiet evening with his…
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Striking an electronic chord
By Chris Cooper Truth be told, I’m not exactly the biggest fan of — here’s the old fogey coming out…
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Bluegrass brothers
By Christi Marsico • Staff Writer Born 16 minutes apart in the Bethel community of Haywood County, twin brothers Travis…
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2008: A look at all involved
By Christi Marsico • Staff Writer From playing a girl with big dreams that go nowhere in Haywood Arts Repertory…
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Best wishes for Sylva in 2009
By Chris Cooper Last year I wrote a “suggested Christmas play list” for the holiday. It may have been a…
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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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Recommended diversions
“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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Recommended diversions
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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Recommended diversions
“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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