Here is a list of pet adoption and advocacy groups — and veterinarians — in the four western counties of Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain and the Cherokee reservation.

A foot chase by a Waynesville Police officer through downtown Hazelwood just before dawn last week ended with police nabbing suspects wanted for botched break-ins at two local pharmacies and under investigation for a string of larcenies in other towns, as well.

Cullowhee Mountain Arts invites artists and writers to come to a special five-day retreat for art-making, writing, resting and exploring the natural world from May 9-14 at Lake Logan in Canton.

Who’s the biggest culprit when it comes to wasted food?  Restaurants? Farmers? Schools? Hospitals?  Supermarkets?

To the Editor:

So much paranoia about socialism. We can talk about socialism in theory, in practice, as mixed with other economic or political models to varying degrees, but what is this really about?

It’s about power, who has it, who doesn’t, and to what effect.

Capitalism, in its purest form, is anti-democratic. Rather than all adults having an equal voice through voting, the owners (or their managers) make all decisions within an organization in order to maximize profit for the owners, not necessarily for the benefit of the community.

Socialism, in its purest form, is a truer democracy. All adults in the community would vote for representatives who would decide on the price of food, gas, etc. Some key industries may be owned, run, or subsidized by the government for the good of the nation, ensuring, for example, that we are not dependent on foreign nations for our food, energy, transportation, or weapons.

Yet we know from history that neither pure capitalism nor extreme socialism (communism) work. The failures of communism are legendary, as there is little incentive for an individual to work hard, and one-party rule usually accompanies this, and that party controls the press (lack of transparency and therefore accountability) and becomes dictatorial.

As for pure capitalism, its excesses created conditions so bad that communism actually sounded better to some. Without appropriate government socialist intervention, child labor would still be allowed, workers could be forced to work seven days a week, there would be no overtime, no safety regulations, no minimum wage, no Social Security, no public parks, libraries, or roads, no clean air, water, food or drug standards, no police, fire or military force to protect us.

Today we see the results of too much corporate control of the government: lower taxes paid by the wealthy and corporations, therefore a larger tax burden for the working folks, leading to historically high income inequality, and government services being cut for the folks who need them the most.   

Making socialism into a dirty word prevents serious conversations about the appropriate balance between capitalism and socialism.

Dan Kowal

Franklin

To the Editor:

As members of the Reconciling Conversation Group of First United Methodist Church of Waynesville, we are striving to bring healing and reconciliation to our church family and the wider community by exhibiting love and acceptance for all persons regardless of sexual orientation and gender identities. The spirit of Jesus commands no less.

Thus, we are deeply concerned that:

• The recently passed law known as HB2 has deeply hurt and offended our LGBTQ members who are our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ.

• HB2 exhibits a total lack of medical knowledge and scientific understanding as to what it means to be a transgender person in today’s society. Without adequate investigation of the facts about transgender persons, it inflames our fear and mistrust of others.

• HB2 is a denial of basic human rights.

• HB2 ignores the precedent set by 19 states, the District of Columbia, and over 200 cities and countries that have passed laws, without incident, prohibiting discrimination against transgender persons in public facilities. We know of no cases of transgressions or offensive behavior occurring because of these laws.

• HB2 denies legal recourse to all persons who have experienced discrimination of any sort.

We need to construct laws that enable all of us to live together in mutual understanding, trust and respect. HB2 stands in the way of this need. As followers of Jesus Christ who showed unconditional love to all persons, we strongly urge that this law be repealed.

For the group: Betsy Hardin, Kenneth Johnson, Douglas Wingeier, William Everett, Jim Hoyt

To the Editor:

The motivation for HB2 has nothing to do with bathroom safety. The motivation was to slap down a local government that tried to assert itself. HB2 was a warning to all local governments that they have no power and need to abide by the General Assembly’s desires. It was also an opportunity to further oppress the citizens of North Carolina on topics totally unrelated to bathrooms.

If HB2 was about bathrooms, then why does a provision in the law limit minimum wages that local governments might require of contractors? What do minimum wage requirements have to do with sex and bathrooms?

Another provision of HB2 is that you cannot sue for age, race, or other discrimination in state court. Instead you would have to go to federal courts with greater expenses if you experience discrimination on the basis of anything not related to gender. What has not being able to use the North Carolina courts to do with bathrooms?

The answer is that the Republicans are trying to play North Carolinians for fools. They want people to talk about bathrooms and transgender people instead of the fact that our taxes and fees have gone up. The Republicans have raised DMV fees an average of 30 percent in 2016. This translates into $150,000,000 more that we will have to pay for registering our vehicles and other fees. Keep us talking about LBGT issues and maybe we will not notice that we are paying for the tax cuts given to the wealthy.

The same tactic was used with the infamous North Carolina Constitutional Amendment 1 on gay marriage. That got people all riled up on gay marriage so they would not notice that our education funding had been slashed. The Republicans use smoke and mirrors to claim they are funding education, but the fact is that every school district has had to lay off teachers, teacher’s aids, and other school personnel because they have less money to work with.

The motivation for HB2 is not bathrooms. It is a diversion and misdirection so we don’t talk about the real issues facing North Carolinians. We are paying more taxes so the rich can pay less. Our children are being shortchanged by reduced education funding. Our economy is the casualty of HB2. The Republicans are all about exerting their power not governing for the people.

Norman G. Hoffmann

Waynesville

To the Editor: 

A recent research project with 200 students at University of California at Berkley explored the  effects of wealth by randomly pairing them in a game of Monopoly. 

One would be “rich,” the other “poor.” The rich got twice the starting money, double the amount when passing GO, and the chance to roll two dice while the poor player got only one. All played for 15 minutes while being recorded on video. 

Results were consistent. At first, the pair would show puzzlement, noting the weirdness of the situation. But as the game proceeded, the rich persons began acting more physically dominant, pounding their piece while counting the spaces, and jubilantly raising arms in the air with each success. The rich person started talking about how they had “earned” so much more, claiming personal merit and achievement while ignoring the facts about the game’s original  rigging. 

The study concluded: “As privilege increases, compassion and empathy decrease and a sense of entitlement and favor become rampant. A moral code is invented to justify the privilege.”

As in the game, so in our economy. Could this be what Bernie Sanders is talking about?

Doug Wingeier

Waynesville

A slate of monthly litter cleanups in Sylva will kick off at noon Saturday, April 30, at Bryson Park on Chipper Curve Road.

With nuisance species steadily invading North Carolina waters, state officials have approved a plan designed to curb their onward march. 

Western Carolina University students show off the bags that they will soon fill with trash from the Tuckaseigee River during the 32nd annual Tuck River Cleanup on Saturday (April 16).

After more than 20 years in the Carolina mountains, The Eagle Lady — also known as Doris Mager — is preparing to give her last birds of prey educational program before moving across the country to Washington. The one-hour presentation will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, April 23, at the Waynesville Public Library’s auditorium.

Films created by Western Carolina University students will be screened at the eighth annual Controlled Chaos Film Festival at 7 p.m. Friday, April 29, at the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center in Cullowhee.

Western Carolina University is accepting nominations for the Mountain Heritage Award, an honor bestowed annually on one individual and one organization playing a prominent role in researching, preserving and/or interpreting Southern Appalachian history, culture and issues.

The “Man In The Mirror” production will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at Harrah’s Cherokee.

In some of our Western NC Ingles stores you can find sorghum syrup from Harrell Farms in Bakersville, North Carolina.  Many people who grew up in the South refer to this syrup as “molasses” and use it in baking instead of honey, maple syrup,  molasses, corn syrup or sugar. Sorghum syrp can be spread on biscuits or toast or drizzled on pancakes or ice cream.

To the Editor:

I would like to request of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission that you stop referring to the hunting of bears as a “harvest” and call it what it is, the slaughter of these magnificent creatures.

David L. Snell 

Franklin

To the Editor:

With recent news stories of elk doing damage to farms and the surprising number of bear living in Asheville, why, with millions of acres of national forest land, is wildlife not living in the woods? Over the past 20 to 30 years, wildlife has largely been forgotten in favor of tourism and environmental interests. Almost all timber harvests and controlled burns have been eliminated. Yes, the views are beautiful, but otherwise a wasteland for many species of wildlife.

Ideally, our forest would be managed to have everything from early successional habitat to old growth with maintained food plots scattered throughout the forest and at all elevations. If this was how our forests were managed, it would benefit everything — monarch butterflies, songbirds and all kinds of other wildlife.

Some environmental groups are now pushing for more and more of our forests to be placed in wilderness or national recreational areas where no land management for wildlife is allowed. Having lived beside the Shining Rock Wilderness all my life, I remember what it was like before it was placed into wilderness compared to what it is now — trails that have eroded waist- deep and parking lots that look like Wal-Mart on Black Friday. Do we really need more of that?

If we want to have large animals like elk and bear, we must change the way the forests are being managed now or these animals will become even more of a nuisance in the future due to lack of food sources in our national forests. We must educate the public that harvesting timber, using controlled burns, and planting food plots helps all wildlife. After all, I like wildlife in my views. 

Mark B. Rogers 

Canton

To the Editor:

I read your article on the hiring of a new town manager with some amusement and dismay. Amused at the idea of any professional wanting the job after the town’s lack of support for the previous manager and dismayed at the thought of time and cost of recruiting.

If you are going to let the employees run the show, then why bother with a manager? You cannot have your cake and eat it. Do we want to move ahead in Waynesville or do want to appease the “we’ve always done it this way” employees?

I would have thought it easier to replace the monkeys than the organ grinder. I hate to think of the money wasted ... again!

Leon Vinson

Waynesville

By Martin Dyckman • Guest Columnist

There are two major strains of conservatism in American politics, economic and social, and the former takes hideous advantage of the latter.

A case in point: North Carolina’s House Bill 2.

By Stephanie Wampler • Guest Columnist

As a North Carolina woman who may or may not have a vagina (NOYB), I have several concerns about our new law requiring transgender individuals to use bathrooms different than those of their gender identity.

First, I am concerned about basic respect and human dignity. Urination (such a formal word — how about peeing?) seems a somewhat private act, and any legislator or governor dictating where I can pee seems problematic.

A week of guided hikes and educational programs will celebrate all that’s great about hiking with Spring Hike Week April 17-21 at Fontana Village Resort. Here’s a look at what’s happening:

A crash course in outdoor photography will give shutterbugs an excuse to explore the Smokies’ beauty in a four-week program beginning April 19.

Those wanting to get a peek at the famous synchronous fireflies in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will have to enter a lottery this year for a chance at tickets.

A 6x12-foot interpretive art mural showcasing the cultural heritage of the “Shindig on the Green” at Pack Square Park will be added to the Western North Carolina Mountain Heritage Mural Trail with an unveiling ceremony at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 21, at Pack’s Tavern adjacent to the park in downtown Asheville.

The Tuscola High School Summit Choir will present the 34th annual Country Western Show at 7 p.m. April 15-16 and 2:30 p.m. April 17 at the Tuscola High School Auditorium in Waynesville.

Western Carolina University’s 14th annual jazz festival will feature an afternoon and evening of music, special guests and celebration from 1 to 10 p.m. Saturday, April 23, in the recital hall of the Coulter Building.

Drawing thousands of visitors each year, the 19th annual Greening Up The Mountains Spring Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 23, in downtown Sylva. 

The daylong event is a celebration of renewal, of revitalization, and a time of reconnecting with friends, relatives and neighbors. Browse the more than 190 vendors, representing arts, crafts, demonstrators, culinary delights, local schools, business, community, environmental, health, safety, children’s activities, and more.

By Jim Parham • Contributing writer

People have all kinds of preconceived notions of what it’s like to write a trail guidebook. How many times have I heard, “That must be really cool, you just get to go out and ride your bike or hike all day!” Yes, that is what I do all day — sometimes.

Bug-loving photographers will get the inside scoop on photographing insects through a presentation from Kefyn Catley, a biology professor at Western Carolina University, at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 9, at the Cullowhee Methodist Church.

In the past five years, the 10 land trusts of Western North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Forever coalition have collectively completed 280 new conservation projects, protecting more than 31,000 acres and surpassing their 30,000-acre, five-year goal.

The Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) recently solidified partnerships with Haywood Arts Regional Theatre (HART) and The Strand at 38 Main in Waynesville to show work in the lobby of each facility.

Western Carolina University has a new free outreach program called WCU Road Works that will present theatrical, music, film and visual arts events to organizations and communities throughout the region. 

Artist John Kenneth Melvin will break ground on a new site-specific sculpture at the entrance of The Bascom art center’s campus on Friday, April 15, in Highlands.

After long awaited anticipation Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (GSMR) is excited to announce that the historic #1702 Steam Engine will return for the 2016 excursion season.

Going to the Mother Earth News (MEN) Fair – April 9th &10th at the NC Ag Center? Stop by the Ingles booths (2421 and 2422) to meet some of our local farmers and vendors, and sample! www.motherearthnewsfair.com

Spring is here, and facilities closed for the winter are opening up accordingly in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 

• Clingmans Dome Visitor Information Center will open April 1. 

• Round Bottom/Straight Fork Road will open April 1. 

• The backcountry office at Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with reservations also available online at www.smokiespermits.nps.gov or 865.436.1297.

• Cataloochee Campground will open March 25; Big Creek and Deep Creek campgrounds will open April 8; and Balsam Mountain Campground will open May 27. Smokemont Campground is open year-round. 

• LeConte Lodge, accessible by trail only, opened March 21. 

• Cataloochee Horse Camp will open March 25, Round Bottom Horse Camp will open April 1 and Big Creek Horse Camp will open April 8. 

www.nps.gov/grsm. 

Blue Ridge Parkway sets opening schedule

Facilities and visitor services along the Blue Ridge Parkway will soon be opening for 2016, a year that marks the 100th anniversary for the National Park Service. 

• Pisgah Inn and Restaurant will open April 1. 

• Mount Pisgah Picnic Area will open April 15. 

• Waterrock Knob Visitor Center will open April 29. 

• Mount Pisgah Campground will open May 6.

• The Folk Art Center and Asheville Visitor Center are open year-round. 

Some sections of the southern end of the Parkway are still closed due to winter weather. For real-time updates on Parkway closures, visit www.nps.gov/maps/blri/road-closures.

Clingmans Dome Road opens early

The road to the highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park opened a tad early this year due to last week’s warm weather. 

Clingmans Dome Road opened Saturday, March 26, a few days ahead of its usual March 31 opening. The 7-mile road typically closes Dec. 1 of each year. 

At 6,643 feet, the dome is the park’s highest point and the third highest mountain east of the Mississippi, offering a 360-degree view at the top. 

Current road closure information is posted at @SmokiesRoadsNPS on Twitter. 

A proposed rule change allowing hunters to bait black bears with unprocessed food throughout the entire hunting season will be the focus of a public hearing at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, at the Haywood Community College auditorium in Clyde.

Cataloochee Ski Area is a finalist for the I AM a Snowmaker Award, given annually by SAM Magazine and HKD Snowmakers — but it needs votes from the public to win.

Spring ranger programs have begun in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, giving visitors a chance to explore the Smokies with help from the park rangers.

A slate of challenging long-distance races will be coming to the Smokies this spring, meaning it’s time to get back on that training regimen and sign up to run.

Hatchery-Supported Trout Waters throughout Western North Carolina will open at 7 a.m. Saturday, April 2.

This Easter marked an important milestone for Jerry Parker, an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker who completed the 2,160-mile trail before it was cool.

By Dave Waldrop • Guest Columnist

The North Carolina legislature has abandoned its responsibilities to public education under the guise of school choice. The state Supreme Court has ruled once that the legislature’s ill-conceived voucher program is unconstitutional. Unfortunately that ruling was reversed on appeal.

By Chris Cooper • Guest Columnist

If I had to use one word to describe the North Carolina primary, it would be predictable. Boring, even. The very same pollsters who blew the Michigan Democratic primary hit the nail on the head in North Carolina. It’s almost impossible to find a pollster who did not predict that the top of the ticket would feature wins by Trump, Clinton, Burr, Ross, McCrory and Cooper. Even the turnout was, well, average for a presidential year (virtually identical to statewide voter turnout in 2008 and 2012).