The Wilderness Act’s 50th birthday will get some recognition at “An Evening of Wilderness Champions — Celebrating 50 Years of Wilderness” from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 30, at Pack’s Tavern in Asheville.

Regular weekday programs will begin at Highlands Nature Center next week. The programs include guided plant walks, children’s activities, storybook-based nature lessons and animal programs. 

• Monday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.: Guided, themed walks along the Highlands Botanical Garden trails to learn more about the native flowers and plants of the southern Appalachians, including plant names, wildflowers and their pollinators, historically significant plants, carnivorous plants, deadly plants, and how to use native plants in your home garden. Free.

• Tuesdays from 3 to 4 p.m.: Family nature activities for ages 4 and older, including critter searches, discovery walks, nature studies and games, or crafts. $1 per person.

• Wednesdays from 2:30 to 3 p.m.: Storybook Science features a kids’ nature lesson based around a children’s storybook. Free.

• Fridays from 11 to 11:30 a.m.: Observe what each of the Nature Center’s animals eat and learn how they feed. Free.

• Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to noon: Learn more about one of the Nature Center’s live animals up close through our Featured Creature program. Free.

www.highlandsbiological.org or 828.526.2623.  

A federal court issued a preliminary injunction against coyote hunting — which includes spotlight hunting — in the five eastern North Carolina counties, which comprise the world’s only wild population of red wolves, totaling about 100. 

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park will get a new acting superintendent June 1, replacing the currect acting superintendent who has been there since January.

The Smokies has been without a permanent leader since last September, when former Superintendent Dale Ditmanson was replaced. A permanent superintendent is still being selected, but in the meantime another acting superintendent is being brought in.

Cindy MacLeod, currently superintendent of Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, will replace the currect acting superintendent Pedro Ramos, who will return to his position as superintendant of Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida. 

“I think this is a dream job, especially for the summer,” MacLeod said. “I look forward to working with the park staff, volunteers and partners to continue to meet the mission of taking care of and learning about the wondrous diversity of life, and providing for its enjoyment in a safe, sustainable way.”

MacLeod has worked for the National Park Service since 1980, when she started out as an architectural historian in Michigan. She is a Duke University undergrad, has a master’s in architectural history from the University of Virginia and completed management programs at Harvard University. 

To the Editor:

It’s that time of year again when the cool mountain air can rise rapidly by noon. I would like to remind others that it is very dangerous to take your dog anywhere that you have to leave them in the hot vehicle, even for a few minutes. Visitors to the area are prone to this, especially at grocery stores and restaurants. I have witnessed time and time again pets barking in a vehicle only to find windows barely open parked in the sun. The temperature inside the car will kill your pet or cause brain damage in minutes! 

If you encounter this, please try to assist in any way possible. I will run inside to have the owner paged and have no problem getting the negative feedback from the thoughtless owner. Many businesses here are pet-friendly. If you must leave a pet in the car, at least find a shady spot, leave the windows down enough for their head to be outside the vehicle. The best scenario is to leave them at home or in the motel room.  

Mylan Sessions

Clyde

To the Editor:

Asheville is a town full of smart, aggressive people and a town with a lot more winners than losers. Anytime a city has an unemployment rate below 5 percent, it is obviously doing something right. 

However, there are a few people around Asheville who seem to ignore simple economics. They assume that taxing the rich will bring in more money to our state. If that were true Gov. Beverly Perdue would still be in office. Under her we probably had the highest tax rate in the South along with the 49th highest unemployment rate in America. 

In Western North Carolina we have thousands of second-home owners. In Jackson County, 47 percent of our home owners don’t live in the state. Gov. Pat McCory’s goal has been to lure some of these people back to North Carolina with our lower taxes. In a year and a half our state’s economy has improved and employment has been substantially increased. As a result, next school year our teachers’ salaries will be increased and there will be more money for education. Some people will never understand that lower taxes will actually bring in more money to the state.

Jim Mueller

Glenville

Both the Haywood and Jackson county chapters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People have elected officers. 

Haywood’s NAACP chapter elected officers in March. Chuck Dickson, a local attorney, was elected as president. The chapter also elected three vice presidents: Rev. William Staley, Rev. Reginald Eldridge and Phillip Gibbs. Rev. Walter Bryson will serve as treasurer, with John Vanderstar serving as assistant treasurer. The group elected Mary McGlauflin as secretary and Katherine Bartel as assistant secretary. The Haywood executive committee is comprised of Lin Forney, Mary Elizabeth Staiger, and Gail Mull. 

The Jackson Chapter elected its officers during a May 17 event at Liberty Baptist Church in Sylva. The Reverend Charles Lee, who serves at Liberty Baptist, was elected as president of the recently formed branch. Avram Friedman was elected first vice president, Enrique Gomez was elected second vice president, Mary Sue Casey was elected secretary, Joyce Stratton was elected treasurer, Marion Pryce-White was elected assistant secretary and Lorna Barnett was elected as assistant treasurer. Curtis Wood, Tracy Fitzmaurice, Stanley Rogers, Stella Moore, Lucy Christopher, Myrtle Schrader, Marie Cochran and Gene Keldon Austin were all elected to the executive committee.

Both chapters plan to continue being active participants in the Moral Mondays demonstrations aimed at legislative actions in Raleigh, as well as working locally to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of all persons.

Brewmaster Clark Williams, owner of Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville, will teach a beer-making class from June 3 to July 1 at Southwestern Community College in Sylva.

The Jackson County Arts Council is currently accepting applications for the North Carolina Grassroots Grant and the Jackson County Grant. The deadline for applications is June 30.

The “Unto These Hills” outdoor drama will run at 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday May 31-Aug. 16 at the Mountainside Theater in Cherokee.

The Liar’s Bench will hold its final performance of Appalachian storytelling and music at 7 p.m. May 29 in the Mountain Heritage Center at Western Carolina University.

Volunteers are needed for a cleanup day along the walking trail and stream bank of the Pigeon River at Canton Recreation Park from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 24.

Haywood Waterways Association, which is organizing the event, will provide gloves, trash bags, trash grabbers and refreshment, though volunteers should wear close-toed shoes, long pants and old clothes. 

The cleanup will be a drop-in event, with volunteers encouraged to come for any portion of time they are able to spare. Trash like plastics can take hundreds of years to decompose. It harms wildlife and can cause flooding by clogging pipes and storm drains. Meet at the main pavilion near the park’s restrooms. 

Christine O’Brien, 828.550.4869.

A 12-hour bike race in Nantahala National Forest near Bryson City will test the mettle and stamina of participating peddlers.

The race, called 12 Hours of Tsali, will last from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 17, with individual and team categories available. The teams or individuals with the most laps during the 12-hour race span win, with prizes as high as $175 for the first place solo racer in male and female categories. 

goneriding.com/index.php/events/2014-events/ccs/12tsali.

Duckett’s Produce has reopened for a tenth season at three locations in Haywood County, including Maggie Valley, Crabtree and Canton, headed up by fifth-generation Haywood County farmer Dibe Duckett.

“Farming is an important industry and tradition in our community, and we are proud to support other Haywood County farm families,” said Duckett, whose farm is a certified Century Farm.

Current offerings include locally grown strawberries from Shelton Farms and Crabtree Blossoms’ flowers, bed plants and vegetable plants. Duckett’s is located along the main commercial district of Soco Road in Maggie Valley, between Canton and Clyde on Carolina Boulevard or Radio Hill and in Crabtree on N.C. 209 3 miles north of the Interstate 40 interchange. 

The Southern Appalachians have the world’s highest diversity of salamanders, and Salamander Saturday will introduce some of the key players, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 24 at the Cradle of Forestry in America, 25 miles south of Waynesville on U.S. 276. Salamander hunts throughout the day will give participants a chance to see the amphibious inhabitants of North Carolina’s forests and waters first-hand. At 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., John Groves, curator of amphibians and reptiles at North Carolina Zoological Park, will present his program, “Biology and Conservation of the Eastern Hellbender.” Rocky the hellbender will make an appearance, and a question-and-answer session will follow. Meanwhile, children will create their own salamander pictures to take home. 

$5 for ages 16 and up; youth free. 

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

A raptor demonstration at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 20, at Sapphire Valley Community Center will give participants a chance to see birds of prey up close and personal, including flying demonstrations.

The tale of the once-common Cullowhee lily will take center stage at the next meeting of the Tuscola Garden Club, 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 20, at the Bethea Welcome Center at Lake Junaluska.

The Merrell Adventure Dash, held at 4:30 p.m. May 24 in the Nantahala Gorge, will give participants of all ages a chance to negotiate a series of obstacles while racing to the finish at Nantahala Outdoor Center.

Ducks — of the rubber variety — will take to the Tuckaseegee River 1 p.m. Saturday, May 24, in an annual race to raise money for Southwestern Community College’s New Century Scholars program, which provides last-dollar tuition scholarships for deserving students who lack financial means.

More than $700,000 in funds raised from license plates, gifts and grants will go toward projects and programs on the Blue Ridge Parkway this year in a list recently approved by the Parkway Foundation Board of Trustees. According to a recent National Park Service report, the Parkway generates over $900 million in tourist revenue and supports more than 12,000 jobs annually. This year’s projects include: 

• Graveyard Fields Enhancement Project, mile 418: The Foundation plans to expand the parking lot, build a comfort station, improve the trails and install new interpretive signs through a Scenic Byways grant it is seeking. The Foundation plans to leverage private donations and support from the NPS and U.S. Forest Service to secure the grant. 

• Stone Water Fountain reconstruction, parkwide: The Foundation will rebuild and replumb two of the Parkway’s historic stone water fountains. 

• Preventing the spread of white-nose bat syndrome, parkwide: The Foundation will fund preventative measures to help keep the fungus causing this disease out of Parkway lands. 

• Emergency Medical Services/First Responder classes for staff: Allowing NPS staff to maintain certifications and skills will improve medical response and pre-hospital care. 

• Ecological restoration of high-priority wetlands, parkwide: Protecting several high-elevation wetlands along the parkway will maintain habitat for bog turtles and rare plants. 

• Visitor Maps and Guide, parkwide: Each year, the Foundation prints 100,000 copies of the official park map. 

• Parks as Classrooms, parkwide: The program, taught to more than 250,000 children last year, instills values of protection and preservation while satisfying national learning standards. 

• Kids in Parks, parkwide: The program uses partnerships with Parkway and other local, state and federal trails to get kids and families active outdoors while building a generation of future park stewards. 

www.brpfoundation.org or 866.308.2773.

Haywood Community College’s Professional Crafts department 2014 Graduate Show will run from May 17 through Sept. 14 at the Southern Highland Craft Guild Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville. A reception will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 31.

The Blues, Brew and BBQ festival will be from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 24, at the Village Commons in Cashiers.

The event mixes local barbecue, craft beers and two of the most popular blues bands in the southeast. Mac Arnold and Plate Full O’ Blues will headline the festival from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Arnold was a nominee for best traditional blues artist at the 2012 Blues Music Awards. He has performed with Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Otis Redding, James Brown and B.B. King. Opening for Arnold will be The Rick Fowler Band from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

There will be barbecue, beer, wine and other food and beverages available. The festival is general admission and donations are appreciated and will be held rain or shine. Personal coolers, food and pets are not permitted. Attendees are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket.

VIP tickets are available and will include seating with bistro tables and chairs, including a meal and bottled water. VIP tickets are $65 for one or $120 for two. There will be reserved parking and a private bar and meal station for VIPs to purchase adult beverages. The special VIP tickets can be purchased at Landmark Realty.

The festival is presented by the Greater Cashiers Area Merchants Association 

828.743.8428 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Proctor Revival Organization will once again honor the history of Graham County through May 31 with “A Time To Remember” celebration.

Country superstar Dolly Parton will perform at 7:30 p.m. May 25 at Harrah’s Cherokee.

To the Editor:

A friend of mine just bitterly complained that the new pope is a communist. It seems that representative of Christ on earth had the audacity to suggest that the very wealthy should share some of their vast wealth with the very poor and needy. I am sure that he would be labeled a heretic by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin.

Here is what the Pope said: “A contribution to this equitable development will also be made both by international activity aimed at the integral human development of all the world’s peoples, and by the legitimate redistribution of economic benefits by the state, as well as indispensable cooperation between the private sector and civil society.”

The very idea that the Pope should suggest the redistribution of economic benefits set off alarm bells throughout the hard political right and Tea Party types. But here is the problem: almost all of these people have strong Christian beliefs, and Jesus was very specific on this issue.

“Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Matthew 19:24. No one would deny that one of the core Christian teaching is based on our treatment of those who are less fortunate than us. I find nothing in the Bible supporting “trickledown economics.”

Those who believe that every fiscal and social problem can be solved by adherence to strict ideological beliefs are in for a difficult time. Real world people and problems are not always solved by tax cuts and reduced government spending. Denying facts because they conflict with our ideology only worsens the problem of the poor in our society.

A perfect example of this is the argument over the minimum wage. Numerous studies have shown that far more jobs will be created than lost by an increase in the minimum wage. Yet most Republicans would rather there be no minimum wage. They believe that pure market forces should determine wages, even if that wage is a dollar an hour. Mitt Romney got it right last week when he broke with the ideologues in his party and said, “… on the issue of the minimum wage. I think we ought to raise it.” I think Jesus would agree.

Louis Vitale

Franklin

To the Editor:

Seventeen. Seventeen, as a number, doesn't normally mean much when compared to other numbers, does it? But, seventeen was a very significant number May 2 as 17 Haywood Community College (HCC) GED graduates were awarded refurbished computers from the PCs for GED program at HCC. They were clearly thrilled to briefly interrupt their post-ceremony celebrations to load their computers into their vehicles. Best of all, though, is that these worthy graduates have further dedicated themselves to continuing their education by enrolling in a wide variety of programs offered by HCC and other schools.

Thank you to this year’s PCs for GED program supporters and contributors, who provided hardware, time, talent, and even monetary donations to the program through the HCC Foundation. You enabled us to surpass last year’s total number of refurbished computers by 70 percent. New this year, and because of the generosity of the HCC Foundation, all 17 computers are running Windows 7, a significant software feature that will help with classroom and online coursework.

We are also truly thankful to the many generous individuals and area corporations — including Crown Capital Associates Inc., Asheville Eye Associates, Pigeon Multicultural Development Center, and Southpaws Pet Sitters — who have contributed either through our standard dropoff point at the HCC Learning Resource Center, at special on-campus events like Jammin’ at the Mill Pond, or by special arrangement. It is time to continue our work toward sustaining these PCs for GED awards for years to come. 

With continued support from the greater Haywood County area, we look forward to providing future GED graduates with one of the best tools to aid them as they further their education and become better prepared for careers in the Western North Carolina area.

Marc Lehmann

On behalf of HCC’s PCs for GED Program

Clyde

A Haywood County terrier is earning points for toughness after surviving a gunshot to the face. 

“The dog is alive and expected to recover,” said Heidi Warren, public information officer for the Haywood County Sheriff’s Department. 

James Scifers, professor of athletic training at Western Carolina University, received the North Carolina Athletic Trainers’ Association Educator of the Year Award for 2014.

The award is North Carolina’s most prestigious honor for teaching in the athletic training profession, said Jill Manners, director of WCU’s athletic training program, who called Scifers “a true mentor” to his students, even long after they have graduated from the program and gone on to successful careers of their own.

“He has dedicated his life to the education of athletic-training students and always challenges them — and everyone he works with — to be better,” said Manners. “He is driven to promote the profession and his enthusiasm is contagious.”

Downtown Waynesville was recently recognized as a model of success at the annual NC Main Street Conference this year, titled Main Street: Two Billion Reasons to Celebrate. 

Of the more than 100 officially designated Main Street Communities in the state, Waynesville was one of eight chosen as a model of success for others to emulate.

Over the past two decades, downtown Waynesville has seen 647 net new jobs and 169 net new businesses. The town has also seen a total of $41.7 million in private investment.

Statewide, the cumulative private investment figures of Main Street communities passed the $2 billion mark. The number of new jobs hit 19,000.

Don Rykema, a principal of the PlaceEconomics consulting firm, saw the results right away.

“One walk down Main Street in Waynesville and it becomes quickly apparent that this is a community committed to quality,” Rykema said. “Quality shows up in major projects, like the restoration of the historic town hall. It also shows up at a small scale, like the benches, planters, and even trash receptacles.

Rykema, also the author of The Economics of Historic Preservation: A Community Leaders Guide and an adjunct professor in the Historic Preservation Program at the University of Pennsylvania, was hired by N.C. Main Street Program to analyze the economic impact of the program. He visited many of the participating towns, including Waynesville, within the past year.

“And the emphasis on quality is not limited to the built environment,” Rykema continued his Waynesville assessment. “Window displays in businesses, art in the galleries, and food in the restaurants are all about quality. So are the events featuring crafters or musicians or artisans. Waynesville is a success story program in part because, for nearly 30 years in the Main Street program, it has refused to settle for second-best.”

About 200 Swain County students recently got an up-close look at emerging technologies at a manufacturing expo at the Swain Regional Business Education and Training Center. They were able to check out robotics, computer programming, a 3-D printer and other technology on display during the inaugural manufacturing and STEM awareness event — a part of the N.C. Manufacturing Awareness Week 2014.

“It’s really neat,” said Cameron Ponchot, an eighth grader at Swain Middle School, after watching a robotics demonstration put on by Mark Little of ConMet. “I’d like to go to a company like that. I’m really excited that Swain High School is about to get a robotics class.”

The expo was organized by Swain County Schools and Southwestern Community College and featured nearly a dozen exhibits from regional organizations like Google and Duke Energy. SCC and its partners throughout its service area recently secured more than $1.5 million in advanced manufacturing training grants, which will be used to ensure ConMet and other area manufacturers can train their employees on the latest technology for years to come.

“We’re thrilled that all these young students got a chance to see where manufacturing and technology are headed right here where they live,” said Sonja Haynes, SCC’s dean of workforce innovations. “Events like this showcase what our local businesses and industries are doing, and they allow us to demonstrate how we’re meeting their educational and training needs.”

Spots are going fast to view the unique synchronous firefly display in the Elkmont area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park June 4-11. Every year, thousands of visitors gather to watch the synchronized flashing of Photinus carolinus, a firefly species that puts on a natural light show. Parking passes are required to attend. 

Reservations cost $1.50 each and cover a maximum of six people per vehicle. Shuttle buses will transport people from the designated parking area to the viewing area beginning at 7 p.m., for an additional $1 per person. A small number of passes will be held until the day before the event. 

www.recreation.gov or 877.444.6777. 

Soccer players ages 11 to 18 looking for a challenge beyond their local leagues will have a chance to try out for a spot on the Mountain United Classic Soccer Teams May 17-18. The teams will travel to compete with some of the state’s top youth soccer teams.    

The May 17 tryout will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Jackson County Recreation Center in Cullowhee. The May 18 tryout will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Macon County Industrial Park Soccer Fields. Players vying for a spot on the U11 and U12 boys teams or U11-U18 girls team may attend one or both days. Teams for boys 18 and under will be organized in the spring. 

Matt Kolodzik, Macon and Rabun counties, 828.713.2664; Jonathan Parsons, Jackson County, 828.399.9614; Scott Cline, Swain County, 828.736.0455. www.maconsoccer.net.

A Birds of Prey program planned for 1 p.m., May 9, at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center will give visitors an up-close look at birds ranging from the eastern screech owl to the northern bald eagle.

Anyone who’s wondered what a day in the life of a National Park Service employee looks like will get a chance to see at National Park Career Day, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. May 10 in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Unearth the secret of square-foot gardening

A free introduction to square-foot gardening at 5:30 p.m. May 13 at the Canton Branch Library will teach participants how to get a high yield from a small space.

Classic rock icons Chicago will perform at 9 p.m. May 16 at Harrah’s Cherokee.

The Grammy and American Music Award-winning group is the first American rock band to chart Top 40 albums in five decades. They were recently ranked #13 in Billboard Magazine’s recent list of Top 100 artists of all time, making them the highest charting American band.

Tickets are $44.50, $5450 and $74.50.

800.745.3000 or www.harrahscherokee.com.

The Galaxy of Stars Series at Western Carolina University will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a lineup highlighted by a return engagement of country-western icons Riders in the Sky, a Grammy Award-winning group that performed during the inaugural season of the series.

The only professional entertainment series in Jackson County, the series debuted in 2005, with all performances taking place in the 900-seat John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center.

The 2014-15 schedule will include the following:

• The band Riders in the Sky will perform at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14. The group, founded in 1977 and featured in the motion picture “Toy Story,” is known for its award-winning harmonies, wacky cowboy wit and high-yodeling adventures.

• “Broadway’s Next Hit Musical” will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24. A group of master improvisers gather made-up hit song suggestions from the audience to create a spontaneous evening of music and humor.

• Cinnamon GRITS: Christmas in the South will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12. This production is a mix of storytelling and music that provides a Southern-style look at the holidays.

• Elvis impersonator Travis Ledoyt will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31.

• Man 1, Bank 0 hits the stage at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28. Patrick Combs tells the true story of a man who deposited a junk-mail check labeled “non-negotiable” into a bank account only to see things erupt into an adventure pitting a “David” regular guy against the “Goliath” of the banking industry.

• Ventriloquist Lynn Trefzger and comedian Glenn Singer will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 27.

• We’ve Only Just Begun: Carpenters Remembered perform at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 26.

The Galaxy of Stars Series is presented by the WCU College of Fine and Performing Arts with support from the WCU Friends of the Arts organization.

Season subscriptions go on sale Monday, May 5. $120 for adults and $45 for students and children. Subscriptions for WCU faculty and staff are available for $110.

Single-show tickets for the 2014-15 series go on sale Aug. 12. Those prices are $21 for adults; $16 for WCU faculty and staff; and $7 for students and children. Ticket prices are $15 per person for groups of 20 or more.

828.227.2479 or  www.bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.

Musician Marshall Ballew will perform at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 13, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva.

The comic/drama “Painting Churches” will kickoff Smoky Mountain Community Theatre’s 2014 production season at 7:30 p.m., May 9-11 and 16-19 in Bryson City. 

To the Editor:

Human health, wildlife resources and sportsmen had a big win recently in the Federal Appeals Court. The court reaffirmed the EPA’s authority to set limits on mercury, arsenic, and other pollutants from power plants under the Mercury and Air Toxics standard. Big polluters and climate deniers in Congress have launched every attack in the book to stop the administration’s lifesaving safeguards on public health, and natural resources protections but once again the EPA’s authority, granted under the federal Clean Air Act and upheld by the US Supreme Court, has been defended by the highest courts in the land. 

Mercury is a neurotoxin that damages children’s cognitive thinking skills when consumed. We have fishery consumption advisories from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks. Most of that mercury falls from the skies and are directly sourced to burning carbon products as fuel. North Carolina anglers and their families should be able to eat the fish they catch without fear of harm. 

Big polluters and their allies are sure to continue their onslaught of obstruction as the administration works to set limits on the dangerous carbon pollution from power plants, the greatest contributor to climate change, but with the backing of average Americans across the country, the administration will continue to act. 

G. Richard Mode

Sportsmen Outreach Coordinator, National Wildlife Federation 

Morganton

To the Editor:

On the way to Wilmington using the smaller roads off the interstate, I found it depressing to note so many of what appeared to have been small manufacturing businesses shut down.

Empty parking lots told the story of what was probably a previously bustling business and a source of jobs no longer there. In some of the smaller towns, one could see the effects of losing an industry, however small it may have been, with deserted stores and shops and gas stations out of business. Some of the factories still had identifying signs hanging on the building advertising a company I had never heard of but who obviously had been part of their community. A few of the buildings were pretty slick looking and probably built prior to the current recession.

One could only guess what hustle and bustle took place in these buildings. Even their empty parking lots seemed to be haunted by the ghosts of times past. Had we not been in a rush to get to Wilmington it might have been worthwhile to take some pictures to document the empty buildings. Just what was the gizmo or gadget had they manufactured? Tractor wheel rims, flashlights, dies for machines, plumbing, mothballs, diesel injectors, outdoor BBQs?  In passing I could only guess.

Each company had a story to tell, not only about the entrepreneurial people who founded them but the lives and families of the people who labored there. At day’s end, they all went home to supper and watched the world unfold before them on their television just like the rest of us, filled with the satisfaction of having put in a good day’s work.

We can blame part of the recession on the government for requiring banks to make loans to folks who otherwise couldn’t afford to buy a home and no question that this played a part in our current economic dilemma when buyers discovered they couldn’t afford the monthly payments. We can blame the real estate professionals who sold the homes folks couldn’t afford, the appraisers who inflated the values of the homes and the mortgage brokers who bundled them up and sold them to the investment banks. In the end, it was a boom; but as with all booms, it inevitably collapsed.

But the story of these closed down small factories is a different story because the vast majority of them made things that we can now buy cheaper from China. Cheaper Chinese products probably played as much of a role as anything else in sinking our economy, closing down those small manufacturers. Lower labor costs allow China to turn out cheaper goods which we buy knowing full well that we are costing American jobs. We are doing it to ourselves, shooting ourselves in the foot by buying Chinese goods. With higher minimum wages here, we’ll buy even more Chinese goods, all very sad indeed.

We never seem to learn.

Bob Wilson

Franklin

To the Editor:

It appears that Bob Wilson, a frequent letter writer, is stuck in a 1950’s time warp. He’s still fighting the Red Menace and the Cold War, and thinks the enemy is still communism and its little brother socialism. His rhetoric is full of old Cold War anti-communist propaganda and group-think.  

In the last 50 years the United States has become more like old fascist Germany than arch-enemy Communist Russia. Yes, there is a ruling political class in our U.S.A. It’s the ultra-rich and the corporations they run! But don’t take my word for it. Facts provide all the proof necessary. 

Will heavier taxation kill industry and push us into debt? Fact: a recent study shows that the effective tax rate for the 500 largest businesses in the U.S. is 13 percent, far lower than the rate you and I pay. If there is a problem with U.S. debt it’s because the lobbyists of corporate America have created a tax code riddled with loop holes, exemptions and tax havens putting the burden of taxes on the middle class, which is slowly going broke.

Is our so-called “socialist” government out to disarm ordinary citizens who may pose a threat? Fact: the United States has more guns per person than any other country. There are probably over 300 million guns in private hands, equaling almost one gun for every man, women and child. Last week armed vigilantes “out-gunned” federal officers trying to collect over a million dollars in grazing fees and penalties legally owed by a wealthy landowner.  

Do “socialists” pass more regulations to “keep a lid on things?” Fact: exactly what regulation on which “things” would we want to do away with? How about less regulation on Duke Power and their coal ash ponds? Less food inspectors? Fewer tests for prescription drugs? Would you want less of these regulations? I know, let’s take the air bags out of cars. Corporate profit margins would greatly benefit from those changes. 

Are lawmakers attempting to pacify citizens with more freebies? Fact: the largest “freebies,” other than those handed to corporations, are Social Security and Medicare. All other “social welfare” programs are tiny by comparison. Any problem with Social Security can be cured by requiring the wealthy pay the same percentage we pay. And, if Medicare is out of control, unlike any other major industrialized country, our medical system is designed to make a profit for big insurance companies and medical providers.  

If President Obama’s goal is to make this into a “socialist” country, he’s a colossal failure. The definition of socialism is to spread the wealth. Exactly the opposite is happening. The wealthy are doing better than any time in the past 100 years. The middle class is shrinking and the poor are getting poorer. Corporate power, especially in the wake of Citizens United and the recent McCutcheon decision, is at the point where they can now buy and sell politicians, just like corporate stock.   

Shirl Ches

Franklin

Western Carolina University will hold a trio of commencement ceremonies over a two-day period – Friday and Saturday, May 9-10 – to recognize the academic achievements of what is expected to be a record-breaking spring class.

Three grants totaling $12,110 were recently awarded by The Fund for Haywood County.  

The grants include:

• $5,000 to Folkmoot USA to support the renovation of the kitchen and cafeteria space in the Folkmoot Friendship Center to create a functional, year-round facility to host international visitors and cultural and community events.

• $5,000 to Hazelwood Elementary School for The Leader in Me Initiative, a school-wide effort to improve student academic achievement and to create a culture in which students are challenged, encouraged and nurtured.

• $2,110 to the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation to enhance recreation and natural resources at the Graveyard Fields Overlook.

“Haywood County is rich in culture, education and natural resources, and we’re fortunate to have these organizations in our community,” said John Keith, advisory board member. “The Fund for Haywood County is glad to be able to support them.”

The Fund for Haywood Country, an affiliate of The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, is a permanently endowed fund to meet local needs. Tax-deductible gifts are added to the principal, which is preserved and invested. The returns are used to make grants to support nonprofits in Haywood County. Since 1994, The Fund for Haywood County, in partnership with CFWNC, has awarded 79 grants totaling $672,640 to 42 organizations.  

For more information about The Fund for Haywood County, contact Chair George Ivey at 828.648.2710. To make a tax-deductible donation to the Fund for Haywood County, donate online at www.cfwnc.org or by mail to The Fund for Haywood County, P.O. Box 627, Waynesville, NC, 28786. Contributions of any size are welcome and are tax-deductible. 

As part of the Dillsboro Business Plan Competition, roughly a half dozen aspiring entrepreneurs and existing small business owners transformed their ideas into business plans over the past four months while regularly attending free weekly seminars through Southwestern Community College’s Small Business Center in Webster.

Annie Burrell claimed the $5,000 grand prize during an awards banquet at SCC, but organizers said the town of Dillsboro will ultimately be the big winner as several viable business ideas emerged from the competition.

“We really hope everyone who participated will follow through and put the business plans they developed into action,” said Sonja Haynes, SCC’s dean of Workforce Innovations who spoke on behalf of the judges. “We feel like every single one of them has the potential to be very successful.”

Burrell, who opened Rabbit Creek Pottery in October with sister Jenny Patton, entered the competition to help formalize a business plan.  

“I’m overwhelmed and overjoyed,” said Burrell, who lives in Franklin. “My sister and I are potters, and we’ve been struggling because we haven’t had a gas-fired kiln. I’ve had a kiln in the backyard covered up by a tarp because we couldn’t afford to get the gas hook-up, and this is going to make it possible.”

For more information about SCC’s Small Business Center, contact Henry at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 828.339.4211. To learn more about WCU’s Small Business & Technology Development Center, contact Dennison at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The primary election was held Tuesday, May 6, in counties throughout North Carolina. Here are the results from the local races in our coverage area of Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties.

Wildflower blaze expected on Highlands hike

A wildflower hike will step off from the Jones Gap parking area near Highlands at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 4. Sponsored by the North Carolina Bartram Trail Society, the hike will be led by botanist and former Western Carolina University professor Dan Pittillo. Later trilliums and flaming “yellow-to-orange-to-red” azaleas are expected to make a showing. The route will go from Jones Gap to Whiterock Gap, returning to the parking area at 6 p.m. 828.787.2091

Smokies hike offers venture to Ramsey Cascades

A strenuous hike up to Ramsey Cascades, the tallest waterfall in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, will be the next installment in Friends of the Smokies’ Classic Hikes of the Smokies. Hiking guide and author Danny Bernstein will lead the hike on Tuesday, May 13.

The strenuous 8-mile hike in the park’s Greenbrier area has a total elevation gain of 2,200 feet, passing through coves of old-growth hardwood before arriving at the 100-foot waterfall. 

Participants can carpool from Asheville or Waynesville, or meet at the trailhead. Register at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or 828.452.0720. $10 for Friends of the Smokies members; $35 for nonmembers, with complimentary one-year membership; free to members who bring a friend. 

Plant sale planned for Franklin

The 12th annual plant sale of the Macon County Master Gardener Association will be held 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 3, at the Environmental Resource Center on 1624 Lakeside Drive in Franklin. The selection will include perennials, woody ornamentals, annuals, vegetables and herbs, with proceeds going to benefit the ERC’s demonstration gardens. 828.349.2046.

Plant clinic open in Haywood County

Master gardeners will be on hand through the end of the growing season to answer any garden-related questions plaguing Haywood green thumbs. The gardeners will be available at the Haywood County Extension Center on Raccoon Road via the Haywood County Plant Clinic on business days from 9 a.m. to noon through September 26. 

Gardeners will offer advice concerning issues related to lawns, vegetables, flowers, trees, insects, diseases, soils and frost. If they don’t have an answer, and any other problem, the master gardeners will have the answer they’ll consult the experts and come back with a research-based answer.

828.456.3575.

Cherokee language and culture is the focus of a touring exhibit slated to visit ten sites in the region throughout the month of May. The exhibit “Understanding our Past, Shaping our Future” is based largely on excerpts from conversations originally recorded in Cherokee. 

A Cherokee speakers group, organized in cooperation with the Cherokee Language Program at Western Carolina University, met weekly at the Kituwah Academy where members were shown historic photographs and asked to comment on them. These conversations were transcribed, translated, and included on the fifteen panels that make up the exhibit.

The exhibit will be displayed at Swain County Center for the Arts in Bryson City, Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center in Asheville, Oconaluftee Visitor Center in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Cashiers Symposium and Historical Society in Cashiers. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.