Wielding a symbolic veto against fracking’s unknown downsides
Gov. Perdue has to be weary. This weariness was apparent months ago when she declared she would not seek…
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Waynesville artist supports Haywood Waterways Association
Artist Rick Hills, a studio owner in Waynesville, is donating 20 percent of the sale of his artwork on display…
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Check your vital signs
The Mountain Resources Commission, the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, the U.S. Forest Service and the National Environmental Modeling and…
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Birds of prey debut in Cashiers
A presentation titled “Winged Hunters – Birds of Prey” will begin at 7 p.m. June 26 at the Village Green…
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Bird walk being offered into Chinquapin
The Highlands Plateau Audubon Society will host its weekly bird walk on June 23 at Chinquapin in Cashiers. The group…
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Videos spotlight N.C. destinations in GSMNP
A new series of short internet videos feature North Carolina sections of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The videos…
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Wolf program comes to libraries in Jackson
Rob Gudger brings his Wolf Tales educational program to two local libraries in the coming days. Known as “Trapper Rob,”…
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Smokies diversity celebrated with three-day event
Biodiviersity Days in the Smokies June 20-23 will commemorate the diversity of plant and animal life in the Great Smoky…
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Fern workshop part of activity series
Local writer and naturalist George Ellison will conduct a “Fern Identification 101” workshop from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. July…
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MedWest Rehab offers free running seminar
MedWest Rehabilitation Services is offering a free running seminar from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on June 25 at the MedWest…
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In search of the rare and beautiful
The Land Trust for the Little Tennessee (LTLT) will host a hike on June 22 led by Jack Johnston to…
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Hit the trail with kids in the Smokies
Two hiking programs aimed at getting families and kids outdoors and on the trail have been launched in the Great…
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Folkmoot 4.01K Race set for July 14
The Folkmoot 4.01K race through downtown Waynesville will be held at 8 a.m. on July 14. This year, organizers decided…
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National forest balds in jeopardy due to funding cuts
By Danny Bernstein • Contributor Many hikers are amazed by the balds that dot the Southern Appalachian landscape along the…
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MedWest hosts Triathlon
MedWest is sponsoring a triathlon at 8 a.m. July 7 at the MedWest Health & Fitness Center in Clyde. The…
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Blue Ridge Breakaway registration discounts
The first early registration discount for the third annual Blue Ridge Breakaway biking event in Haywood County has passed, but…
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Explore unique, beautiful gardens
By Shannan Mashburn • SMN Intern Gardeners, wannabe-gardeners and those who simply appreciate a fine garden can catch a behind-the-scenes…
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Jackson growers to help Community Table
This week the Community Garden will begin its Fresh Produce Initiative by taking weekly donations from vendors and customers at…
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Bog is good
Mountain bogs are some of the rarest and most imperiled natural habitat in the country. They are generally small and…
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Don your best kilt for the Braveheart 5K
The Braveheart 5K footrace and one-mile kids’ fun run will streak into downtown Franklin on Saturday, June 16. The race…
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Woodland steward series held in July and August
North Carolina State University’s Forest & Environmental Outreach Program is co-sponsoring a series of four workshops for private forest landowners…
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Map and GPS coordinates of fish attractors available
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission now has an online map and the GPS coordinates for nearly 550 fish attractor…
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Cradle of Forestry to host firefly tour
The Cradle of Forestry in America will host its annual Firefly Twilight Tour from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. June 16…
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Invasive insect kills ash trees
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials confirmed that the invasive emerald ash borer beetles — which can kill ash trees…
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Catch the summer solstice June 20
The first moment of summer will occur at 7:09 p.m. June 20, say astronomers with the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute…
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National Park Hosts “Women’s Work” Event
National Park staff and volunteers will pay tribute to rural women of the past from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.…
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Blue Ridge Parkway hike of the week
The Blue Ridge Parkway is hosting a hike titled “Down to the Graveyard” at 10 a.m. June 15 on the…
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Andrews Bald: A Smokies class act
Enjoy the high elevation views from Andrews Bald in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park during a guided 7-mile hike…
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Hike a preserved river tract in Macon
The Land Trust for the Little Tennessee is hosting a nature walk at Gibson Bottoms at 8:30 a.m. June 9.…
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Embark on a guided trip of the Little Tennessee
A guided canoe trip down the Little Tennessee River will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, June 15, with the…
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When the garden floweth over
Learn how to safely preserve locally-grown foods using the pressure canner and high acid foods using the boiling water bath,…
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Smokies’ luscious ferns take center stage in Arboretum exhibit
An exhibit called “Ferns of the Smokies” that showcases the beauty and diversity of ferns is on display at the…
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Biological station to host course for teachers
The Highlands Biological Station is hosting a Mountain Biodiversity course for science educators June 25 to 29. This field-based course…
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Snakes and lizards pay a visit to Jackson Library
Two dozen snakes and lizards will make their debut at the Jackson County Library in Sylva during a special “Snakes…
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Outdoors sampler on tap at the Cradle of Forestry this weekend
From plant identification to map reading to fly fishing to canoeing, the Cradle of Forestry is encouraging Americans to enjoy…
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Paint Rock
As one whom is often standing on the shoulder of the road peering through binoculars, I’m accustomed to people slowing…
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‘Permanent Camp’ reveals raw moments, crazy wisdom
By Brent Martin • Contributor Mention the name George Ellison to most people living in western North Carolina and what…
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Bird banding at Tessentee preserve
The public is invited to the bird-banding project at Tessentee Preserve in Otto at 8 a.m. June 2. Participants will…
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Kids in the Creek T-Shirt competition
Robert Coleman won the Kids in the Creek T-shirt design competition and will have his design printed on 785 T-shirts…
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Lily here and lily there
I was in the Grandfather District of the Pisgah National Forest the other morning preparing to go to one of…
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Highlands Nature Center offers summer camps
The Highlands Nature Center is holding a series of summer nature camps for children from ages 4 to 14 with…
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Friends of the Smokies donors raise money for Trails
Friends of the Smokies met a challenge grant from the Aslan Foundation of Knoxville to raise $4 million for the…
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GSMNP is starting a Youth Leadership Class
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is starting a new program beginning this summer to create a Youth Leadership Class…
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Tremont announces bird banding program
Volunteers are needed to assist Tremont and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park by monitoring birds through bird banding on…
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Pisgah center for wildlife education offers free fishing events
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is hosting three free fishing events in early June at its Pisgah Center for Wildlife…
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Free rafting trip on the Tuckasegee
The Dillsboro River Company will offer free unguided rafting trips down the Tuckaseegee River from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.…
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Jackson County Golf Club summer schedule
The Jackson County Golf Club has planned its summer schedule, which will include rounds at Mill Creek, Sequoyah National, Bear…
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WCU online course to address wilderness survival
Western Carolina University is offering an online course beginning June 1 on topics related to surviving accidents and dangerous encounters…
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Cradle of Forestry to host Curiosity Club
The Cradle of Forestry will hold a nature and educational series titled “Woodsy Owl’s Curiosity Club” from 10:30 a.m. to…
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Forum to discuss alternative energy
The Franklin Open Forum will discuss “Is alternative energy a viable alternative?” at 7 p.m. on June 6 at the…
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