The All-American Boys Chorus will perform at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 3, at Franklin’s Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts.

Featuring boys ages 8 to 15 from more than 30 cities in Southern California, the chorus is one of the most widely traveled boys’ choirs in the world.

In addition to providing its members with musical training and performance opportunities, The All-American Boys Chorus inspires its young members to become outstanding people, as well. The chorus seeks to nurture a boy’s self-discipline and sense of responsibility, creating not only a professionally trained singer, but also a leader who understands the real work that produces true accomplishment.

For tickets, visit www.greatmountainmusic.com or call 866.273.4615.

A community old-time music JAMboree is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 9, at the Fines Creek School in Clyde to raise funds for the Haywood County Arts Council’s Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) afterschool program. A barbecue will also be available from 5 to 8 p.m.

The arts council and the Fines Creek Community Association are hosting the show, which will feature a cake walk, flat foot dancing and a square dance called by former N.C. Senator Joe Sam Queen, as well as a bluegrass jam with musicians young and old.

Jim Sisk, a legendary old-time musician, will receive the first Haywood Master Mountain Musician award for his decades in the local Appalachian music scene. Sisk, 86, is a Bethel native who recorded and traveled locally, nationally and internationally with his band the Carolina Country Boys.

Prices are $15 for adults and $10 for children for the barbecue and jamboree. Supper only is $8 per adult, $5 per child and the jamboree only is $10 per adult, $5 per child.

828.452.0593 or stop by the office at 86 N. Main Street in Waynesville to purchase tickets.

Join One Step Closer as it celebrates one year of the gospel music ministry at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 2 at the Bryson City Church of God. The singing and reunion will feature special guests the Barker Family and Walking By Faith. A full-service nursery, and hearing assistance systems will be available. Refreshments will be served immediately following the singing. www.1scgospel.com.

Chorus students at Pisgah High School are gearing up for the annual country show called “Where the Green Grass Grows.”

The show will feature group and solo acts from the elite show choir Orion and spring semester chorus classes. A live band will accompany soloists. Kendra Medford, Pisgah’s chorus teacher, looks forward to the show each year because she believes it gives students a chance to shine outside of sports and academia. “Even though country music doesn’t seem like an art form sometimes this is the only form of art some kids can be involved in,” she said.

The country show will take place at 6 p.m. each night Thursday, March 31 to Saturday, April 2 at the Pisgah auditorium. Tickets are $6 and can be purchased by calling the school, at Elite Hair and Nail Salon in Waynesville or at the door of the show. Proceeds help students pay for a choral trip to Disney World in May.

The annual Heritage Alive Mountain Youth Talent Contest is coming to downtown Sylva on Saturday, April 23, as part of the Greening Up the Mountains Festival.

Young artists ages 5 to 18 can showcase their talents in music, dance and poetry, prose or storytelling. 4-H will also host contests in Macon and Swain counties later in the year, and winners from all three competitions will have the opportunity to compete at the district and state level.

To enter, call 828.586.4009 or visit jackson.ces.ncsu.edu or www.spiritofappalachia.org.

Claymates, in conjunction with Country Traditions, is hosting a Ladies Night from 6 p.m. Thursday, March 31, at the pottery painting studio in Dillsboro.

Light snacks will be free of charge, while Country Traditions will be bringing a selection of wine samples for ladies over 21. All ladies 14 and over will receive 20 percent off all pottery purchases and a pottery/wine basket door prize, valued at over $30, will be given away.

828.631.3133.

International Day, a festival of cultures, celebrates its 32nd year from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6, at Western Carolina University.

The festival will feature music, dance, arts and crafts, entertainment and food from a variety of countries in an effort to promote cultural awareness and appreciation. The event is free open to the public.

Scottish Highland pipes and drums, an Indonesian gamelan ensemble and a Saudi Arabian mock wedding are among festival events, along with information booths about international food, student organizations and traditions.

For information, call 828.227.2557, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.wcu.edu/28443.asp.

It’s finally here: the week Haywood County property owners find out just how well their home and land values held up through the recession.

It’s not secret the real estate market tanked in the mountains compared to the hey day in the first half of the decade. But did the downturn wreak havoc on your home’s value or did you weather the storm with your price intact?

Find out this week as property appraisal notices from the county begin arriving in mailboxes. Notices with your new home and land values were sent out Monday (March 28.)

Higher priced homes are more likely to drop, as well subdivision lots, while median priced homes have held their value better and may see increases.

The last countywide appraisal was in 2006.

Ramp Biscuits

4 cups Flour

1 tablespoon Baking Soda

1 teaspoon Salt

2 Heaping T Baking Powder

½ cup Shortening or oil

2 cups Buttermilk

1 cup uncooked Minced Ramps

Sift flour, salt, baking powder and soda together. Cut in shortening until mixture looks like grapenuts, add ramps and enough buttermilk to make a soft dough ball, make sure ramps are well mixed in dough. Turn out on floured surface.

Knead dough from north to south, east to west adding flour if too sticky, the more you knead the lighter the bread, flatten the dough and cut out your biscuits or just leave as flat bread or "pone."

Preheat oven to 425 degrees and place biscuits on a lightly greased pan, lightly caramelize a small about of ramps in a bit of butter, strain out ramps and brush the top of your bread with the butter, place in oven for 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown. Pry a biscuit open to see if it is done, if not return to oven for a few more minutes baking time.

Baking time depends on your oven and the thickness of the biscuits... when the bread is done the ramps will be too. Serve immediately with real butter for best experience.

Note*** If you are using baking mix use 4 cup mix, ½ cup shortening, 2 cup buttermilk, 1 cup minced ramps and follow package directions.

You may also use self-rising flour, shortening, buttermilk and ramps. Whole milk can be substituted for buttermilk follow directions.

For heavier bread leave out the shortening and use old fashioned buttermilk, this is a better recipe for diabetics.

Killed Ramps and Branch Lettuce

1 quart of ramps with tops

1 quart of branch lettuce

1 package of bacon

Fry bacon crisp and set aside to drain. Chop ramps and branch lettuce coarsely and place in a heat resistant bowl.

If you don't have enough bacon dripping to make ¾ cup, melt enough lard into dripping to make ¾ cup.

Pour hot dripping over chopped ramps and branch lettuce. Add salt and pepper to taste and top with crumbled bacon.

Must be served hot.

Note*** If you can find it you may add some "crows foot greens" to the ramps and branch lettuce. They will add a bit of zip to the flavor.

You may substitute regular green onions and leaf lettuce or spinach, but isn't nearly as good.

Fried Potatoes and Ramps

6-8 Medium White Potatoes

2 Cup New Ramps or 3 cups chopped with tops

1 package of bacon

Salt and pepper to taste

Fry bacon crisp, set bacon aside to drain. While bacon is cooking peel and slice potatoes into 1/8 inch thick slices. Place in cold water to prevent drying out.

After bacon is removed turn down heat a bit, drain your potatoes and pat dry with paper towel. Place potatoes in skillet with hot bacon grease, add salt and pepper to taste, brown gently then add ramps and cover with lid. Let simmer for 8-10 minutes or until ramps are clear.

Place ramp and potato mixture in bowl and sprinkle the crumbled bacon on top. Serve hot!

Ramp Cornbread

1½ cup white cornmeal

½ cup flour

1 t salt

3 t baking powder

2 T sugar

2 eggs

1 cup milk whole or butter

¼ cup oil

1 cup finely minced ramps

Sift dry ingredients together, add ramps, combine eggs, milk and oil. Fold into dry ingredients beat until smooth. Preheat oven and well oiled 8 inch iron skillet to 400 degrees. Pour mixture into hot skillet and bake for about twenty minutes until top is golden brown and a piece of spaghetti inserted into the center come out clean.

Serve hot with plenty of butter and a big glass of buttermilk or whole milk as desired.

This April, Headwaters Outfitters in Rosman will lead a guided overnight trip in hopes of introducing paddlers to the lower Chattooga River.

Headwaters will ltake up to 12 canoes down 11 miles of the river over two days, camping in a forested site roughly halfway down. Participants will paddle through a remote wilderness setting, running Class II rapids suitable even for novices.

The expedition coincides perfectly with the peak of the spring wildflower bloom, providing ample opportunity for identification and photography. Crested dwarf iris, wake robin trillium, Solomon’s seal, mayapple, bleeding heart and wild geranium may all be found along the Chattooga’s fertile banks this time of year.

The night will be spent in one of the many primitive campsites along the river. Participants will have to bring their own camping gear, including tents and sleeping bags. Headwaters will provide four meals, drinks and all paddling gear, including canoes and lifejackets. The price of the trip is $295 per person, and reservations are required.

In the event of high water, the trip will be postponed. All participants must be able to swim, be in good physical shape and should be comfortable canoeing a river such as the upper French Broad. 828.877.3106. Or, visit www.headwatersoutfitters.com and click on “special events.”

Join Friends of the Smokies April 2 for a hike to see early spring wildflowers and historic remnants on the Smokemont Loop trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Hiking enthusiast and author Danny Bernstein, who wrote “Hiking North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Heritage,” will lead this 6.2 miles hike. It is moderate in difficulty, and has a total elevation gain of 1,400 feet.  

The group will depart from Asheville at 8:30 a.m., and Maggie Valley at 9 a.m., returning to Asheville by 5:30 p.m. Exact meeting locations specified upon registration. A donation of $15 is requested to benefit the Smokies.

Space is limited. Contact Friends of the Smokies to register for the Smokemont Loop hike: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 828.452.0720.

The Greening Up the Mountains 5K Run/Walk in Sylva is forsaking its historically grueling course on the hillside streets above Sylva for more friendly terrain this year.

The Greening Up 5K will be held on Saturday, April 23, in conjunction with the downtown street festival.

This year’s course runs from Mark Watson Park across Business 23 and down Old Dillsboro Road, then turns around in Monteith Park and comes back on the same route to the finish at Mark Watson Park. This course is primarily flat, with few slopes, but does have one gravel section.

The race is put on by the Jackson County Recreation/Parks Department. This year, all proceeds will benefit the greenway trail being built at the Webster Department on Aging complex. 

The race starts at 9 a.m. prior to the opening of the festival events.

Light refreshments will be provided at the end of the race and prizes will be awarded to the top three in each age group, the top three male finishers, and the top three female finishers. T-shirts are provided with registration and are guaranteed to the first 75 to register.

Sponsorships are available for $50 or $100 and are due by Friday, March 25.

Pre-registration is $20; race-day registration is $25, and begins at 8 a.m. the day of the race. Registration forms may be printed from www.downtownsylva.org and online registration can be completed at www.active.com.

828.293.3053 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Another 110 acres of mountain landscape are now part of the Blue Ridge Parkway’s protected corridor, thanks to a landowner whose family has lived near the scenic highway since its construction.

The Conservation Trust for North Carolina bought the tract from landowners Joe and Wilma Jo Arrington last year at a bargain sale price. It recently conveyed the tract to the National Park Service in February for $500,000 to become an official part of the Parkway.

The property, known as the Richland Creek Headwaters tract, is near Milepost 440 in Haywood County. The Arrington family purchased it in 1936. When parkway construction reached the region in the late 1950s, 30 of the family’s 188 acres were condemned and used for the site of Pinnacle Ridge Tunnel.

The Richland Creek Headwaters tract provides a backdrop for Blue Ridge Parkway travelers – especially from the Waynesville and Saunook overlooks – near the boundary of Haywood and Jackson counties in the Great Balsam Mountains.

The tract’s position will help safeguard water quality in the region; the property contains headwaters streams of Richland Creek, which flows through Waynesville and into Lake Junalaska. The land also contains important wildlife habitat in the Pinnacle Ridge Significant Natural Area.

Learn how to put together a backyard habitat March 28 at 7 p.m. at the Rickman Store in Macon County’s Cowee community.

The program, led by Deborah Boots, is sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation and is titled, “Attracting Wildlife.” Five components will be taught and explained: food, water, places to raise young, cover and sustainable gardening.

Both families and communities can attain Habitat Certification by learning and working on a variety of habitat restoration projects. The series of lectures and workshops on “Gardening for Wildlife” organized by the Friends of the Rickman Store this year will support these efforts by providing monthly lectures, field trips and workshops at the store the second Monday of each month, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. May to November.

828.524.2711, ext. 209.

The Cashiers Historical Society is sponsoring its 2011 Heritage Apple Day from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, March 26, at the Cashiers Community Center.  

This popular annual event celebrates the region’s history by identifying and preserving ancient apple varieties throughout the valley and in surrounding communities.  

Bring scionwood (the new growth cuttings from your favorite apple trees), even those that have long since produced fruit, to graft onto the provided rootstock.  If you do not have your own apple tree cuttings, don’t worry — a large supply will be on hand.  

About 15 apple varieties will be available, including June Stripped, Winter Banana, Jonagold, Rome Beauty, Red Burgundy, and the Grimes Golden.

Apple-grafting techniques will be taught at the free workshop. Those interested in gardening, orchards, natural landscaping or the social heritage of apple growing will benefit from the knowledge and experience offered by this group of experts.

In addition, local author and historian Jane Nardy will be on hand to chat about apples, regional heritage, and other interesting lore and legend.     

Everyone is encouraged to bring their favorite apple dish or recipe to share with others. 828.743.7710.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has sued the Bureau of Indian Affairs for failing to hand over what it maintains are public documents under the Freedom of Information Act pertaining to the lease agreements for bear exhibitors in Cherokee.

PETA maintains about 30 bears are kept in what it characterizes as roadside zoos “in cramped, barren enclosures with no opportunity to express natural behavior.”

PETA maintains the Bureau of Indian Affairs is responsible for managing the lease agreements governing Indian trust lands — including those in Cherokee — and is required by federal law to release these agreements. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court.

Cherokee bear pits have been the target of PETA over the past two years, from sidewalk protests to billboard campaigns, as well as vocal appeals to tribal government to shut down the attractions.

Sixty-five runners started and finished the first Assault on Black Rock Trail Race at Sylva’s Pinnacle Park on March 19, raising more than $1,400 for the Community Table soup kitchen.

The 8.3-mile course boasts a 2,700-foot elevation gain and forced participants to use hands and feet to scramble to the craggy pinnacle atop Black Rock. Organizers hope the first-time event – which is basically uphill the first half and downhill on the way back, with the last half-mile of uphill featuring a ridiculously steep climb – will catch on in trail racing circles.

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“I am very pleased with the turnout, although I am sure the good weather helped,” said race organizer Brian Barwatt. “… The thought that 65 people stood on the summit of Black Rock on Saturday (not including my volunteers) is awesome because I have been up there about a dozen times in the past couple years and have only seen three people on the trail up to Black Rock.”

Participants traveled from as far away as Atlanta and Raleigh.

The top three men and women finishers were:

Men:

(1) Chad Hallyburton, age 42 of Sylva, with a time of 1:31:17

(2) Andrew Benton, age 20 of Hickory, with a time of 1:33:12

(3) Sean Botzenhart, age 18 of Cullowhee, with a time of 1:35:19

Women:

(1) (11th overall) Ginny Hotze, age 50 of Asheville, with a time of 1:46:42

(2) (14th overall) Hannah McLeod, age 15 of Waynesville, with a time of 1:51:53

(3) (16th overall) Brenda Holcomb, age 38 of Cullowhee, with a time of 1:56:42

The teen friends of the library meeting will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 24, at Marianna Black Library in Bryson City. Area teens are invited to come share their ideas about materials of interest to them, including what sort of programming they’d like to see at the library. There will be food, crafts, games, and much more at the meeting.

The Friends of the Macon County Public Library (FOL) have unveiled a new informational web site, MaconLibraryFriends.org. The site showcases the group’s programs and events; and their used book store, which is located at 121 Highlands Road in The Shops of Riverwalk in Franklin. A “What’s New At The Bookstore” section updates viewers with special books and new arrivals and upcoming sales.

Membership and volunteer forms are also available on the site.

“We value the key educational role played by the library in the life of a progressive community. Please join us today to keep our public library viable,” said FOL President Betty Huffman says.

Ahead of Western Carolina University’s upcoming literary festival, the Macon County Public Library will host a book discussion on Alan Weisman’s The World Without Us at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 24. 

James Costa, executive director of the Highlands Biological Station, will lead the discussion. The book offers an original and alternative approach to questions of humanity’s impact on the planet.

Author Alan Weisman will be speaking at Western Carolina University’s Coulter recital hall at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 7, as part of the festival.

Copies of the book are available for check out at the library. 

828.524.3600 or visit www.fontanalib.org.

To the Editor:

We turn on our televisions every day and witness to the devastation that neighbors inflict on neighbors.

We live in a world today where “environmental consciousness and green” are the right paths to take, whether it is energy, wind and solar, food, paper products, new buildings or cars. Our planet is warming to such a degree that in 50 years no human will find shelter from our ever-changing weather patterns. These are facts in our future, that unfortunately, neighbor-to-neighbor in Franklin, we cannot predict what results will be. However, we can oppose what is happening in our residential backyard.

Mr. Herman “Bud” Talley is proposing that even without the variance he tried to obtain was denied for various reasons by the Board of Adjustment on Dec. 21, he will build a motocross track on his farm in this residential community. It doesn’t matter whether the neighbors like it or not.

The definition of a farm is for agriculture use. This will no longer be considered a farm and will also not be given farm tax deferments. Taxes will continue to get proportioned off for others to pay in tax hikes.

Mr. Talley has also made comments at meetings ….”If you have a problem … come talk to me … we will work it out.” It is my belief, that Mr. Talley is not hearing us … most of us do have a problem with it, but unfortunately he is turning a deaf ear to our pleas that this motocross track will not only destroy the peace and quiet in the valley, but will contain noise pollution, dust pollution, raw sewage concerns, waste concerns, water table concerns, traffic concerns and road maintainance concerns. I could go on and on, but I know you have heard it all before. Mr. Talley is always quick to point out the development of the Fulcher Vista as a “High Impact Area,” but what Mr. Talley refuses to realize is that all we did was buy lots from a local developer, build our dream homes (just as he did) and want to live in our residential community without the environmental consequences.

Mr. Talley repeatedly brings up his heritage as if he were the only person who had any. We all come from somewhere and frankly his heritage is no greater than yours or mine. I am proud of mine and want to preserve the respect and dignity that comes from having generations before me.

The difference between Mr. Talley and me is that I will honor my forefather’s traditions and pride in a way that will not desecrate their land. He keeps telling us that they have tilled their land since 1935, and now he wants to turn it into a circus. He tries to tie the churches into the dynamics of this project, family activities done together, community economics and all things he thinks will sell this vision in the name of his family heritage. I do question his motives.

I think Mr. Talley must look in the mirror and ask himself, “What would my father and mother want as their legacy?” I believe they would want the pristine land they worked so hard for to remain intact with the beauty they saw in it. The beauty Mr. Talley is willing to destroy. How sad.

Mr. Talley knows exactly what the impacts will be. In one meeting he made a statement in front of the Board of Adjustment, that … “One month before the meets he would kindly notify the press, radio and by any other means and let us know when they would occur,” and [We could go visit someone else.”

He failed to include in his request for variance that there are practice times, time trials and heats, none of which could possibly take place in a matter of 16 days, especially with the estimated 300 to 400 riders he had hoped would attend. The arrogance of his statement goes to the fact that he is very aware of the impact this would and will have on our residential community. Now he states it will run all year.

Clarks Chapel area is a very small, residential community, but all these environmental impacts affect us all in the immediate area and we should all be concerned. We have frail elderly residents who live within the direct impact zone who will suffer terribly from this track. These effects will then have far-reaching impacts to all those in Macon County, possibly for generations to come.

I believe Mr. Talley’s vision is admirable for the children and families in this area, but he is not thinking about his immediate neighbors and the impact it will have on this residential community. I know the economic atmosphere in the whole county is dismal, but not only will this motocross track have an impact on our property values, but we have all heard the term …”trickle down affect.” If this motocross track is allowed to be built the property values in the immediate area will be drastically diminished, the tax dollars collected by Macon County will be affected, your salaries will be affected and people will not come into this area to retire with his operation in their back yard.

We already have evidence of this with buyers backing out of contracts near the Talley Farm simply because of Mr. Talley’s intent to build it. The influx of people from out of the state is enormous. Retirees, whether you want to admit it or not, put a lot of money into this beautiful little town. It will stop! It will be a thing of the past and Macon County will remain one of the poorest counties in North Carolina. This issue was addressed on the front page of the Ashville Citizen Times Newspaper on March 6. That is not what I want for this community. I believe we all want to preserve the integrity of Clarks Chapel Residential Community, City of Franklin and Macon County.

I want Franklin to prosper, I want Macon County to grow with people who want to enrich the area, to keep our grandchildren coming back and to enjoy the fruits of all our labors. I want Mr. Talley to have a heritage he can be proud of! A farmland to pass down to his children and grandchildren, a farm where he can go out on his deck, in his golden years with his wife and have the peace and quiet he deserves.

We will protect our own lands, however we feel fit. This is not a threat, but an absolute fact and the outcome, just as it is all over the world, will come down to neighbors inflicting devastation upon neighbors, either way. Why can’t we work on a solution?

Janet Cramer-Binkley

Franklin

To the Editor:

What happens when you fix something that ain’t broke? You’re sure to break something else. But the Republicans in Raleigh apparently don’t care about that fundamental truth, or anything else that stands athwart their path to perpetual power.

Today’s example is their steamroller bill to require photo IDs from voters at the polls. The only supporting evidence is not only anecdotal but it concerns absentee ballots, which are beyond the reach of any such legislation. Moreover, not even photo IDs are foolproof. Ask any bartender or employer who has been duped.

The better deterrent to voter fraud is swift and rigorous prosecution whenever it’s detected. The Republican bill, however, would disenfranchise primarily honest people, especially older voters, who for one reason or another don’t have photo IDs.

Why do this? Why throw $1 million into a new program when money is so short as to threaten massive teacher layoffs? It’s no coincidence that Republicans propose this wherever they take power. They figure that it will depress votes for Democrats.

It’s cut from the same pernicious pattern as their campaign to destroy the unions, thereby eliminating any counterweight to the GOP’s corrupt glut of corporate cash. The goal is not merely to defeat the opposition, but to destroy it forever.

Martin A. Dyckman

Waynesville

Scholarships for nursing students are available through the Judy Moore Memorial Scholarship Endowment, which was created as a memorial to Judy Moore, a registered nurse who was killed in a tragic accident in 1996.

A resident of Macon County, Moore was an inspiration to both nurses and patients in her role as a community health nurse and as an OB-GYN nurse practitioner. Since the first award in August 1998, the scholarship has been given to 20 individuals, and more than $19,000 has been issued.

The application deadline is May 5. www.nccommunityfoundation.org or 828.524.6564.

A summer day camp for rising first graders through rising fifth graders from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., June 17 to August 5, will be held at the Waynesville Recreation Center.

Campers will experience activities such as field trips, special guests, crafts, swimming, swim lessons, sports, movies, hiking, fishing, water fun, zoo time, and educational experiences. Campers can go the whole summer or only certain weeks.

The cost is $100 per week/$25 per day for recreation center members or $110/$30 for non-members. 828.456.2030 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Southwestern Community College will hold a free job fair Thursday, March 31.

The event will be from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Balsam Building and is open to the community.

Local employers will be on hand to provide information about their organization.

Employers are invited to conduct professional interviews following the job fair.

There is no fee for this event and job seekers do not have to register.

Western Carolina University students are folding and selling paper cranes for $1 to support an earthquake relief fund at a table in the first-floor lobby of McKee Building. Visitors to the table can give $1 to write a message that will be sent to the Miyagi prefectural government, where some of the worst damage has been observed. The group has raised about $700 toward its $1,000 goal. 828.227.3905.

Two portable light towers each bright enough to illuminate an area the size of a football field are the latest pieces of equipment Western Carolina University police received through the N.C. Attorney General’s Law Enforcement Support Services program. The program works through the Defense Reutilization Management Office, which makes military surplus equipment available to law enforcement agencies at no cost. The light towers will assist campus police in emergencies and power failures. 828.227.7301.

High school students interested in construction can participate in the Kimmel School Construction Training Program at Western Carolina University in July. Students will complete and earn certification in a 10 hour occupational safety and health administration course. Students will live on campus, meet with industry professionals and participate in leadership and team-building. A session for males will be from July 10 to 16 and for females July 17 to 23. Preference will be given to economically challenged applicants. Applications are available at constructiontraining.wcu.edu or 828.227.2177.

Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new adoption center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 26. The ribbon cutting will take place at 11:30 a.m. followed by snacks donated by The Patio Bistro.

The center is located at 256B Industrial Park Drive in the Waynesville Industrial Park and will offer adoptions from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Saturdays and from 1 to 6 p.m. on Thursdays.

The foundation is accepting entries for its fifth annual pet photography contest. Deadline to submit photos is Tuesday, April 26. Categories are dog, puppy, cat, kitten, other pets, Sarge’s rescue animal and photographers under 12 years old. Entry fee is $10. Photos must be original and no smaller than 4 by 6 inches. Prizes will be awarded at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 30 at Bocelli’s Italian Eatery. Entry forms are online at www.sargeandfriends.org. 828.246.9050.

The Wesley Foundation at Western Carolina University will host its inaugural Golf Classic at Lake Junaluska Golf Course April 16 at 1 p.m. The entry fee is $200 per team of four or $50 for individuals who will be assigned to a team. Price includes 18 holes of golf, gift bag, post-tournament cook-out and chances for prizes. All proceeds will benefit the Wesley Foundation on campus. Sponsorships are $100 for a hole sponsor, $250 for a silver sponsor and $500 for a gold sponsor. 828.293.9215 or www.wcuwesley.com.

Construction on a new Homestead Inpatient Hospice Center adjacent to MedWest-Haywood hospital is progressing, with a new retaining wall, framework and roof trusses now in place.

The inpatient center will serve hospice patients whose families need a break from caregiving or need more help than families can offer.

The second phase of the project will eventually be the end-of-life outreach center, focusing on outpatient and community outreach programs. The hospital and new facility both serve the residents of Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties.

On March 31, Swain County citizens will have two opportunities to comment on the future of Swain County. The dialog, led by N.C. Senior Tar Heel Legislature delegate Janice Inabinett, will center on making Swain County a livable community. There will be a morning session at the new Swain County Senior Center, starting at 8:30 a.m. and an evening session at the Almond School, starting at 7:00 p.m.

Discussion will address areas such an accessible environment, healthy aging, economic security, technology and cultural opportunities.

A Lake Junaluska Beautification Day is scheduled for Tuesday, April 5, and volunteers are needed to help with the cleanup.

Projects planned include clearing brush, power washing signs and buildings, and more.

Lake Junaluska Beautification Day will kick-off with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. in Kern Auditorium, where volunteers will receive work assignments. Boxed lunches will be provided for volunteers on-site.

Volunteer forms are available at www.lakejunaluska.com/beautification. 828-452-5911 or e-mailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Sylvan Hearth Pagan Temple offers its facilities to positive Pagan traditions including Hindu, Buddhist and Asatrue. The facility includes a stone circle, wood henge, gardens, and meetings and worship spaces. It offers use of their Web site for advertising for gatherings. The Temple intends to offer groups a safe and private space to practice.

828.399.9991 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Haywood County has received two grants totaling $133,650 from the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center that will help create 22 jobs over the next couple of years. A grant of $88,000 will help renovate a psychiatric wing at MedWest-Haywood Hospital. The facility will provide a safe environment for psychiatric patients as they await disposition, increasing patient privacy and containment, and provide the capacity for staff to monitor patient behavior and supply for their needs. The total project is $234,000, with $120,000 from the Evergreen Foundation, a mental health nonprofit; $43,00 from the Haywood hospital, and $3,000 in kind from the Haywood County Economic Development Commission. Renovation is expected to start within 30 days and will take approximately 90 days to complete.

Another grant of $45,650 will be used to renovate a vacant building in Waynesville to house the LifeSpan Creative Campus to expand services for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. The renovation will allow LifeSpan to increase the number of people served in Haywood County to 60, up from its present limit of 45.

The efforts are expected to create 11 jobs each. 828.456.3737.

Asheville poet and photographer Tracey Schmidt will lead a creativity workshop from 2 to 3:30 p.m., followed by a reading from her new poetry collection at 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 26, at City Lights in Sylva. The book, titled I Have Fallen in Love with the World, features her photographs as well as poetry.

The hands-on workshop is meant for any writer or would-be writer of poetry, published or unpublished.

The event is free but requires pre-registration.

828.586.9499.

Open auditions will be held from 12 to 2 p.m., Saturday, April 2, at Franklin High School for home school and private school students wishing to perform in the Showcase of Talent.

Participation is open to actors, dancers, gymnasts, instrumentalists and vocalists in the third to twelfth grades.

The showcase is an annual non-competitive, countywide student talent show, to be held at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 30, in the Fine Arts Center.  Each student selected for the Showcase receives a complimentary adult ticket.

828.524.7683 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Western North Carolina performing artists The REV will take the stage of the Fontana Recreational Hall from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 26. The act is a collection of musicians from Robbinsville who play songs that run the range of the rock-and-roll genre.

The band will close a day of activities at Fontana starting with a morning historical hike to the Paynetown Cemetery. Hikers should meet at the Gunter Log Cabin at 9 a.m. for the two-hour hike. Kite flying will take off from 3 to 4 p.m. below Fontana Dam along the shores of the Little Tennessee River.

www.FontanaVillage.com

Ripples of Hope, a local exhibition of work by those whose lives have been affected by domestic violence, sexual assault or abuse, invites other locals who have felt the effects of these issues to creatively cover a blank teardrop shape, sharing their feelings and hope for a better future.  

Blank teardrops are available from Earthworks Gallery in Waynesville or by calling the Daydreamz project at 828.476.4231. Completed pieces need to be turned in by March 28 at Earthworks Gallery for a county-wide display in April.

Classes in glassblowing, metalsmithing, blacksmithing, chainmaille and knife-making are being offered this spring at the Jackson County Green Energy Park for every skill level.

Courses offer the opportunity to learn a variety of hands-on crafting skills like paperweight-making and glass blowing, as well as the ancient arts of blacksmithing, chainmaille and knife crafting.

There are also classes geared towards the family, including a parent-child blacksmithing workshop and glass tile instruction that’s good for all ages

For full class descriptions, visit www.JCGEP.org.

828.631.0271 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Local artist Silvia Cabrera Williams will teach mixed water-media classes from 1 to 3 p.m. every Thursday in April at Leapin’ Frog Gallery in Waynesville.

A different technique will be featured each week and a supply list will be provided at registration.

Originally from Cuba, Williams holds a master’s degree in modern languages and taught for many years. Her work is in private collection in several U.S. cities, Canada and Spain and is for sale in local galleries.

Leapin’ Frog Gallery at 828.456.8441 or Silvia Williams at 828.926.8392.

Western Carolina University students working to raise $50,000 to build a school in Pakistan are hosting a fundraising dinner and silent auction at Chef’s Table in Waynesville on Tuesday, April 5.

Tickets to the event are $50 for a three-course meal. Silent auction items include art, a kayak trip, wine tasting and Arabic items. Diners can purchase tickets to a 6 p.m. or 8 p.m. seating.

The school fundraising effort was revived last fall after WCU student Andy Miller befriended students from Saudi Arabia studying English at WCU and felt compelled to be part of something that would build good will between Americans and Arabs.

As he thought about the possibilities, he remembered a proposal made by his Freshman Convocation speaker, Winford Gordon, for WCU to raise $50,000 for the Central Asia Institute to build a school in Pakistan, which, like Saudi Arabia, is predominantly a Muslim country.

“I went onto WCU’s website and typed in ‘build a school in Pakistan,’ expecting to see somebody had been doing something but I found nothing,” said Miller. “I e-mailed Windy Gordon and set up a time to meet. He said a group had gotten together but fell apart. I said, ‘I am interested. I would like to take the lead on this project.’”

“Beyond the project itself, which will change lives in Pakistan, everyone who works with Andy will connect their Western Carolina experience with a world and a culture far beyond our campus,” said Winford Gordon, a WCU psychology professor. “Everyone learns. Everyone benefits. Isn’t that the best of all worlds?”

Funds will go to the school-building project through the Central Asia Institute.

828.545.1778 or 828.452.6000, or by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Maritime historian and documentary filmmaker Kevin Duffus willl on “War Zone: WWII off North Carolina’s Outer Banks” at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 31 the Haywood County Public Library in Waynesville.

Duffus will explore one of the worst Allied defeats of World War II along our nation’s eastern seaboard, off North Carolina’s Outer Banks. The battle was also the subject of his three-hour documentary, which has aired on public broadcast stations around the country.

In 1942, the United States suffered one of its worst defeats of the Second World War, not in Europe or the Pacific, but along the eastern seaboard. Three hundred ninety-seven Allied ships were sunk or damaged and more than 5,000 people were killed, representing the American Navy’s worst ever defeat at sea. For six months, 65 U-boats hunted merchant vessels practically unopposed within view of coastal communities. The greatest concentration of these attacks occurred off North Carolina’s Outer Banks.

“Not many people realize we almost lost World War II on the sea, right here,” says Duffus, a part-time resident of Haywood County. “We’re living next to ground zero for U-boat attacks.”

In this multimedia presentation, Duffus presents the true facts behind decades-old urban legends of German spies, sympathizers, and saboteurs while celebrating the defensive measures and innovations with which North Carolinians reclaimed their waters and helped turn the tide of war.

828.400.0063.

The annual Mélange of the Mountains, a culinary gala, is coming to the Gateway Club in Waynesville from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on April 7, thanks to the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce.

Experience the culinary talent of some of Western North Carolina’s most regarded restaurants and vendors at this year’s competition, where categories will range from soup and salad to meat, seafood and dessert. Attendees are invited to sample delicious items directly from the menus of area restaurants. Coffee, beer and wine will also be available for sampling.

Tickets are $35 for chamber members and $40 for non-members. VIP upgraded tickets are available for $60.

www.haywood-nc.com

Where is the new library located?

The new Jackson County Public Library Complex is located at 310 Keener Street in the renovated and expanded historic courthouse at the west end of Main Street in downtown Sylva.

When will the new library be open?

Construction on the complex is scheduled to be completed sometime in April, 2011. It is anticipated that it will open to the public in May or June.

What will be the hours of operation for the new library complex?

The hours of operation will be determined based on the amount of funding available from Jackson County.

Why was the historic courthouse site chosen?

There was strong public sentiment to keep the library in downtown Sylva. The historic courthouse was an unused building in downtown. It was decided that the best alternative for saving the courthouse was to incorporate it into the new JCPL Complex. This allows us to honor one of the most recognized symbols of Jackson County by making it part of one of the most important institutions – the public library.

Who had the vision to save the historic courthouse?

Members of the community initially suggested the idea of incorporating a new library into the historic courthouse.  In October, 2007, the Jackson County Commissioners voted to incorporate a new expanded library into the 1914 historic building and the surrounding grounds.

What will be in the historic courthouse?

The ground floor will house the Genealogical Society, the Historical Association’s museum, a Conference Room, a vending area and built-in display cabinets. The second floor will feature the former courtroom as a multi-purpose Community Room with seating for over 150, the Arts Council’s office and a catering area.

How long did it take to renovate the courthouse and to build the new addition?

Work began on the renovation and the construction in May 2009, almost two years ago.

How much did the new library and courthouse renovation cost the county and how will it be paid for?

The budget for the new complex is approximately $8.6 million.  The County Commissioners asked the community to raise $1.5 million of this budgeted amount. The remaining $7.1 million is being paid by the county.

How much money was raised by the community?

As of the end of February, 2011 the community has raised over $1.8 million.  This includes $100,000 pledged to cover all the costs associated with the fundraising efforts.

When and how long will the old library be closed to pack up and move?

The current library will be closed for approximately one month in order to facilitate the move up the hill.  During this time the public will not have access to the library building, its collection and its computers.  We apologize to all our customers who will be inconvenienced during this time particularly all of the students who regularly use the library after school.

Who owns the Jackson County Public Library Complex and who owns the contents within the building?

The building and grounds belong to Jackson County. The furniture, fixtures, equipment and media materials belong to the Fontana Regional Library.

What will happen to the building where the current library is housed?

The building belongs to Jackson County. The county officials will determine its future use.

Will there be more parking at the new complex?

There will be a significant increase from the 16 spaces at the current library. There are additional parking spaces in the immediate vicinity along Keener Street adjacent to Bicentennial Park. Once the facility has been completed it is expected to be included on the regular route of Jackson County Transit.

How many items will be in the collection when the complex opens its doors?

The library staff will move over 40,000 items to the new facility. Approximately 24,000 new media items - books, DVDs, books on CD, and Playaways have been ordered - including 18,000 items for adults and 6,000 items for our young people.

How many computers will be in the new library?

There will be 16 in the computer lab, four in teen area, both upstairs, and eight in the children’s area, downstairs. These are public access computers.  There will also be several laptops and netbooks available for checkout for use in the library.

How will the new library complex serve the needs of our community?

The library will create a lifelong learning experience with its expanded collection, increased number of computers, and broader offering of programs. Customers will have the resources they need to explore topics of personal interest, access databases for reliable information, use computers to – check e-mails, find and fill out a government form, write resumes, compile a business plan for a new business, complete a homework assignment or compose a poem.  Individuals can sit and enjoy the company of others or find a quiet spot to read and reflect. There will be something for everyone.

What will be available for children and teens?

The Children’s Area, across from the main circulation desk, will be alive with materials, colors, displays, and programs focusing on early learning skills. There will also be a spacious storytime room with a big screen TV and a colorful floor. It will be the largest public space on the first floor of the new building.

On the second floor of the new addition there is an area designed by and dedicated to serving teens.  There will be four computers, booths for use when working on group projects and WiFi throughout the complex. And, for the first time, there will be programs geared to teens.

What meeting, event and conference space is available within the library complex?

There are a number of spaces available for the community to reserve for use. The Conference Room will seat 12 – 14, the Community Room, a multi-purpose room, will seat between 100 – 150 people. The Atrium, and the outdoor terrace and courtyard can also be reserved for special events.

Smaller spaces, which will not require reservations, will be available. There are three group study rooms which will seat eight people, two tutor rooms which are designed to accommodate two people, as well as comfortable seating, tables and chairs throughout the new addition.

How do I reserve space within the library, what is the cost and can they be used after hours?

To reserve space at the complex call the library to make a reservation.  To finalize your reservation you will need to come in and complete a “Meeting Space Contract”.  This document will outline the terms of the use agreement.

There is no cost to use space within the complex for library programs and community or non-profit groups.  For-profit organizations and groups holding private functions, such as business meetings, luncheons, weddings and parties, will be required to pay a fee. The price structure is outlined in the “Meeting Space Contract”.

If the meeting or event is scheduled after hours, a key will be issued to a registered library card holder.

Is there a public address system for use in the Community Room and other spaces?

In the Community Room there is a state of the art sound system installed, along with high tech audio visual and computer equipment. The lectern will have built-in computer outlets so that personal computers can be used from the lectern. A portable sound system will be available for individuals and groups to use in other parts of the complex.

What happens if I want to serve food at an event such as a party or reception?

The library complex has a catering area where food can be warmed or kept cold before it is served at events throughout the complex.

Will there be tables available for use during events held in the complex?

There will be tables in various sizes which can be configured in a number of different ways. Freestanding chairs will also be available for up to fifty. Tablecloths will not be available.

May I serve alcohol at my special event?

The Jackson County policy is not to allow alcohol to be served or consumed in any county-owned building.

How many new jobs will be created at the new library complex?

It is not possible to answer this question at this time. Jackson County, the primary provider of library funding, is in the process of reviewing budget requests. County officials are aware that there will be additional costs associated with operating a facility four times the size of the current library. The county decisions about funding are predicated, in part, on the county’s funding from the state. Additional information will be forthcoming.

Two new positions have been approved and the positions filled – an assistant county librarian and an information technology assistant.

Who will be responsible for maintaining the spaces within the complex?

Housekeeping and maintenance of the facility will be provided by Jackson County.  Individuals or groups who use the spaces within the facility must follow the guidelines for room usage.

What happens when we outgrow the 26,000 square foot library? Is there room to expand at the courthouse site?

The 2007 JCPL Service Priorities and Facilities Plan recommends building two branch libraries of 5,000 square feet each by 2015 to accommodate our growing population.

How can I help?

Community volunteers will be needed to help with various tasks throughout the library complex. Volunteers will be key to the successful operation of the new library. A volunteer coordinator will match volunteers with opportunities. Those interested in volunteering should contact Jeni Silver at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

May I donate collectible books and other items to the new library?

Individuals wishing to make donations of materials to the library need to discuss this opportunity with the county librarian. Books which are considered highly collectible may be appropriate to place in the library’s Genealogy Room. If the book donations cannot be used in the library, materials will be given to the Friends of the Library Used Book Store to be sold. All the profits from the bookstore benefit the library.

Is the Friends of the Library Used Book Store going to close and move to the new library complex?

The Friends of the Library Used Book Store will remain at its current location on Main Street in Sylva. The Friends of the Library will maintain a small office in the library complex.

I use the Internet at the library. When the library is closed, where can I go to access the Internet?

Patrons can go to other libraries within the Fontana Regional Library system. A list will be compiled and shared with the public listing alternative facilities offering public access to the Internet in our area. For people who have their own laptops that are WiFi enabled, there are a number of WiFi hot spots on Main Street in Sylva.

Who can get a library card and how?

Residents of Jackson, Macon and Swain Counties, residents of the surrounding counties and full-time students may apply for a Fontana Regional Library card. All that is required is a picture ID and something with a local mailing address. Part-time residents may obtain a temporary library card for a yearly price of $25. A child can get a card at birth.

Will there be a coffee shop?

There are numerous cafes and restaurants within walking distance. Vending machines will be available on-site as well.

Can food and drink be brought into the library?

Food and drink may be brought into the library and may be consumed anywhere except at the public access computers.

Will there be WiFi and accessible outlets to use to plug in my laptop?

The entire complex will be WiFi accessible. Many of the tables and lamps will have plug in outlets in their base. There will be outlets around the walls near the soft seating.

How can I find out more about the Jackson County Public Library Complex?

Visit the Fontana Regional Library’s website – fontanalib.org and the Friends of the Jackson County Main Library’s website – fojcml.org for the latest information on our library.

Q: Haywood County has a growing Hispanic population. How will you address language barriers in serving that population?

Hollifield: Would sign deputies up for Spanish classes at the community colleges and would employ an interpreter.

Suttles: Agrees that deputies should take Spanish classes. Also, says the department currently has translators that help officers communicate.

Allen: “I think the language barrier is a serious problem in our county. I think officers in this county should take Spanish classes, and I would promote classes for deputies at the community college.”

Ezell: Understanding the “cultural differences between where they grew up and our area,” is critical. For example, the way a question is asked can take on a different meaning according to cultural context.

Gilliland: Overcoming the language barrier is most important.

Q: If appointed, would you seek re-election?

Kenneth Hollifield: Yes.

Bobby Suttles: Yes.

Albert Allen: Yes. Allen said he had already planned to run for sheriff in 2010, and that his campaign had been in the works for 8 months when the position opened up earlier than expected.

Raymond Ezell: Yes.

Russ Gilliland: Yes, and like Allen, Gilliland already had a core group of people lined up to help him when he planned to run for sheriff in 2010.

Q: How will you fight drug problems in the county?

Hollifield: Would create a drug eradication team. He would also meet with members of a different community on different nights to collect citizen input. Also touts drug education in schools.

Suttles: Says marijuana is still the prevalent drug in Haywood County. Also said the sheriff’s office has applied for a grant to create an enforcement team of five people that could monitor I-40, a major drug route.

Allen: Working cooperatively with other agencies and groups and members of the community. With this approach, “we can beat the drug dealers.”

Ezell: Create a task force; work with surrounding counties to share information; educate citizens on signs of drug activity and educate kids in the school system about the dangers of drugs.

Gilliland: Teach drug education in schools. He would also send his deputies to the same drug and addiction school that Gilliland himself attended.

Q: How would you handle complaints within the sheriff’s department?

Hollifield: Encourages creation of an internal affairs committee, consisting of someone in the detention center, deputies, and detectives.

Suttles: A complaint currently travels through the chain of command, going from seargant to lieutenant to the chief deputy, then to the sheriff. “If it’s something of a serious nature, we might have an outside agency handle it.”

Allen: “If it’s something internally, I think it should be handled internally.” Also, facts of an investigation that could reflect on the department as a whole should be shared with employees of the sheriff’s department.

Ezell: Would be open to getting someone from outside the department, who has an impartial viewpoint, to conduct an investigation. “That way, it doesn’t hurt people within the department. If you gave them that investigation, it just causes problems.”

Gilliland: “Most of the time, anything that comes up is normally taken care of through the chain of command, but if it’s necessary to bring in outside counseling that’ something we could very well do.”

It’s not too late to weigh in on a few controversial changes to the state’s hunting laws under study by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

Each year, the Wildlife Commission proposes a litany of changes to the hunting and fishing regs in the state. This year, a few are causing a stir, namely ones that loosen restrictions of hunting and could have a detrimental impact on wildlife as a result.

“These rules could have an impact on North Carolina’s valued traditions, wild places and wild things,” said John Edwards, an advocate for nature and wildlife who lives in Cashiers.

One getting a lot of flack, including from hunters themselves, would add an extra week to turkey season.

Hunters were chief advocates in helping restore the state’s wild turkey population over the past three decades, with efforts helping the species rebound from a mere 2,000 birds in 1970 to about 150,000 birds today. Hunters and wildlife advocates fear the population could start slipping backwards if hunting increases too much.

According to the Pisgah chapter of the North Carolina Wild Turkey Federation, “This proposal is believed to be biologically unsound and would hurt the turkey population, interfere with breeding, increase hen mortality and harm wild turkey reproduction.”

Another change would allow limited hunting on Sunday, which is currently banned in the state. The rule change would allow only bow hunting on Sundays and on private land only — so no guns and still no hunting on public lands, but considered a foot in the door by those opposed to Sunday hunting.

Yet another controversial rule change would open the Daniel Boone Bear Sanctuary to limited hunting of bears. The Wildlife Commission feels the bear sanctuary has enough bears and can stand some hunting, also citing problem bears annoying people.

Edwards questioned whether the bears should be held responsible, however.

“Most bear experts believe human conduct, not bears, is the cause of the majority of incidences that occur. They encourage better education for those living in bear country,” Edwards said. “In addition, how will it be determined which bear should be killed and on what basis?”

The Wildlife Commission also wants to lift the ban on trapping otters, which have only recently been reintroduced in the mountains after years of extinction due to over-trapping, and allowing unfettered trapping of raccoons in the region.

To comment, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or go to www.ncwildlife.org, click on “submit comments” on the right, and scroll through the listing of rule changes until you see the one you want to comment on. The deadline is Feb. 1. The Wildlife Commission will decide in March.

By Christi Marsico • Staff Writer

An exhibit focusing on the history of Haywood County is now on display at Western’s Mountain Heritage Center.

Illustrating the rich culture of the Appalachian regions, the Mountain Heritage Center — located on the campus of Western Carolina University — offers innovative perspectives of mountain societies though exhibitions, publications, educational programs and demonstrations.

With more than 30,000 visitors a year, Curator Trevor Jones says the museum offers a feel of the culture and history of the area — the Appalachian people.

While the center’s permanent exhibit is the “Migration of the Scotch-Irish People,” the newest exhibit, “Haywood County: Portrait of a Mountain Community,” shares how county’s character has changed and developed over the last 200 years.

The exhibit was created to celebrate Haywood County’s bicentennial, combining the efforts of the Mountain Heritage Center, Haywood County Historical Society, the Haywood County Library, and the community.

In late summer the exhibit will find a permanent home in the remodeled Haywood County Courthouse.

Photographs depicting, agriculture, tourism and industry are the exhibit’s main focus, and were chosen due to their diversity.

“The strength of local communities is its identity, which says a lot about Haywood and its history,” said Wood.

The exhibit will feature five sections on 10 panels, highlighting the “high spots” of the county’s past.

There will be audiovisual component featuring snippets of interviews and historic scenes of the past.

“This is an overview and introduction that invites others to come along and view history,” Wood said.

There is also a book being written about the history of Haywood County due to be finished by July.

The book has been a two-year project in the making, culminating the county’s resources as community members have gathered at the library bringing photographs, stories, newspaper clippings among other information.

The last Haywood County history book was written in the 1930s, according to Curtis Wood, curator of the Haywood County exhibit.

Wood, a former history professor at WCU, is also the editor of Haywood County’s historical book.

“This is the first book written in 70 years, and a lot has happened,” Wood said. “Individual efforts have pulled together the history of the area with great cooperation.”

For more information call 828.227.7129 or visit www.wcu.edu/mhc.

By Christi Marsico

While looking for something fun and inexpensive to do in these tough economic times, look no further than the treasure trove of museums, many free, in Western North Carolina.

Museum goers in this area can learn about Appalachian roots, unusual gems and historic artifacts, to name a few.

And there is a helpful guide that tells all about the museums and how to locate them.

The Friends of the Mountain History, which promotes tourism in Western North Carolina, will distribute 50,000 copies of the free 2009 guide Feb. 6.

The guides will be available in North Carolina welcome centers, chamber of commerce offices, and other tourist areas.

The guide lists more than 100 museums and historic locations and provides a short description of each site. Hours, fees and directions are listed and there is a foldout map.

“Friends of Mountain History saw a need to get museums in one listing to better serve visitors in all 25 counties,” said Kaye Myers, tourism development officer for the N.C. Department of Commerce Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development.

“We wanted visitors to open the guide and realize we have a lot of history to showcase here in the mountains and our museums and sites can be linked together by a map of the region,” Myers said.

Friends of Mountain History was created under former Cultural Resources Secretary Betty Ray McCain in 1998 to promote the culture of the area.

Tourism themes

Each year the guide has a different theme, and this year it has an agricultural focus: “That’s A Long Row to Hoe!” Lifestyles in Agriculture, Farming, Gardening, Foodways and Viticulture - Mountain Style.”

Each museum featured in the guide will showcase the theme in its own unique way, whether it’s part of their permanent collection or a new exhibit.

The museums can also sponsor an event, such as a book reading or lecture, based on that theme. The theme runs for a year, giving the museums ample opportunity for multiple programming.

In conjunction with this year’s theme, Robert Ingles, the grocery store pioneer who originated Ingles grocery stores in North Carolina, was interviewed.

Ingles is the biggest name North Carolina has in the food industry, Myers believes.

In the interview Ingles shared how his business developed and changed since its opening in the 1960s.

More in this year’s guide

This year the guide lists many more museums than it has in the past.

“The first issue highlighted 68 museums and sites, and after a more thorough search we have come up with 106 sites in our new guide,” Myers said.

Among the sites are historical house museums of prominent people who have lived in the area, such as the Shook House Museum in Clyde.

Plans for future guides are already in the works. The 2010 museum guide’s theme is “Natural Scenic Beauty! Mountains, rivers, valleys, historic sites and trails; Adventure for the Traveling Pioneer!,” while the 2011 theme is “Brother, brother, brother, War Is Not the Answer!” A War Within a War; Mountain People and Counties Divided by the Civil War.”

The Friends of Mountain History board members decide on the themes finding a common bond between the museums and historical sites while striving to be creative in their promotions.

“We looked at 10 topics that every museum had in their permanent collection,” Myers said.

The guide invites readers to discover and explore the fabric of Western North Carolina’s history.

For more information or to download the guide visit www.fomhnc.org.