One the Blue Ridge Parkway’s most popular recreation areas will soon be closing for construction. The Graveyard Fields parking area and trailhead, at milepost 418.8, will close for approximately 11 weeks beginning April 22. 

The Southern Fried Chicks Cage-Free Comedy Tour will hit is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. The Cage-Free Comedy Tour features Etta May, Sonya White, Karen Mills and Style Network’s Trish Shure. 

Lake Junaluska offers Easter weekend activities, services

The Easter weekend celebration at Lake Junaluska will be held April 19-20.

On Saturday, April 19, activities begin with the Friends of the Lake 5K at 8:30 a.m., followed by the 5K Family Walk and Children’s Fun Run. Registration begins at 7 a.m. and is required for the races. 

Indoor children’s activities —  including an egg-decorating contest, face painting, yo-yo balloons and more — begin at 10:30 a.m. in the Harrell Center Auditorium. Prizes will be awarded for the egg-decorating contest. The Easter egg hunts will take place near Stuart Auditorium beginning at 11 a.m. Children ages 1 to 12 are welcome to participate. 

The Easter sunrise service will feature guest preacher Rev. Amy Coles, Smokey Mountain District Superintendent, and a brass ensemble with special music. The service will take place at 7 a.m. on Sunday, April 20, at the Lake Junaluska amphitheater and cross. Rain location is Memorial Chapel.  Following the sunrise service, breakfast will be served in the Lambuth Inn from 7:30 a.m. until 9 a.m.

Long’s Chapel’s Easter service is scheduled for Stuart Auditorium at 10:25 a.m. Lake Junaluska’s annual Easter lunch buffet will be held in the Terrace Hotel. Tickets are available at the Bethea Welcome Center or by making a reservation at 828.454.6662.

Easter events are sponsored in part by Lake Junaluska, Ingles, Bilo, Mast General, Wal-Mart and more.

For a full event schedule visit www.lakejunaluska.com/easter.

Sylva church to celebrate Maundy Thursday, Good Friday

A special service observing Maundy Thursday and Good Friday will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 17, at the First United Methodist Church of Sylva. Immediately following the Holy Eucharist, a Tenebrae service will commence. 

Maundy Thursday, also called Holy Thursday, is a service to commemorate Jesus’ Last Supper.  The word “Maundy” comes from the Latin word for “commandment.” Christians believe that on the day before his crucifixion, Jesus celebrated Passover for the last time with his disciples; it was then that he issued a new commandment: “Love one another as I have loved you.”

“Tenebrae” is Latin for “shadows” or “darkness.” The Tenebrae is an ancient Christian Good Friday service, which dates back to the eighth century and commemorates the passion and death of Jesus Christ. During the service, the lights dim to darkness to symbolize the death of Jesus.

More Easter events

For a complete list of Easter festivities, see our calendar section.

“The Fantasticks,” the world’s longest-running musical, will bring a steampunk-styled allegory about deceit, disillusionment and devotion to the stage at 5 p.m. Sunday, April 27, in the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center at Western Carolina University.

Southwestern Community College culinary students C.J. Reum and Scott Dolbee recently placed fourth at the Wake Tech Culinary Arts Showcase at the Raleigh Convention Center. 

April is National Poetry Month, and the occasion will be celebrated with a special film presentation at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, at the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City.

Jane Campion’s literary biopic tells the true story of Fanny Brawne (played by actress Abbie Cornish) a 23-year-old Londoner in 1818 whose independent streak manifests itself through an intense interest and love for fashion and dressmaking. Her neighbor, the struggling but gifted young poet John Keats (played by Ben Whishaw), underestimates her intelligence because he believes she’s frivolous; and she, having no interest in literature, seems thoroughly disinterested in him. However, Fanny attempts to help the Keats family when John’s brother becomes gravely ill, and in order to express his gratitude John agrees to teach her poetry — leading Fanny and John to quickly fall deeply and profoundly in love with each other. Although they wish to wed, his lack of finances and his writing partner — who believes Campion is nothing more than an unwelcome distraction — keep the two from marrying.

Popcorn will be provided. Free.

828.488-3030.

With a second album of historic mountain music on the horizon, the producers of the Grammy-nominated “Old-Time Smoky Mountain Music” are searching for anyone with knowledge of the following musicians:

To the Editor:

Bob Wilson’s most recent published letter (www.smokymountainnews.com/opinion/item/12729-kids-can-endure-a-little-stress) typifies the callous oversimplification and blanket insults typical of today’s Republican Party fed by Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, etc.

To quote Mr. Wilson, “One must dismiss opinions that teachers come up with because they are, after all, union members and unions exist to protect teachers, not students.” 

This is akin to claiming that “one must dismiss opinions that (all) Republicans come up with because they are, after all, more devoted to the almighty dollar than they are to the Godly principles they claim to hold.”

First, this is an oversimplification. There are many conservatives who put moral principles ahead of profit, but those who are in control of the current political-economic process clearly worship money and power above biblical principles.

Secondly, teachers do have a state teachers’ organization, but it is not a union. We cannot legally strike, nor would we want to. We care too much for our students and our communities. They are our children, however they come to us.

Teachers are public servants, serving the public (all of us) with a vital service: educating and preparing our children to be responsible adult citizens. That is a heavy burden, and we treat it as such. 

Yes, teachers try to make a living by doing this, but we sure aren’t getting rich. We, part of the working middle class, pay taxes like everyone else. And like most residents of Macon County, we live paycheck to paycheck, and spend it locally. We are regular folks, and some of us are quite conservative.

Finally, let’s talk about Republicans and public education. The complete Republican takeover of our state government has led to the laying off of thousands of teachers and teacher assistants across the state. 

The Republican politicians have slashed the textbook budget while requiring that our children pass the tests based on the new standards that we don’t have books for. 

And the Republicans are trying to give away $10 million of our public education tax dollars to private and often religious schools. Certainly the Fox/Rush crowd has been instilled with the idea that we should have an official government religion, in spite of our Constitution. 

Further, the Republicans currently in charge of our state gave massive tax breaks to millionaires while underfunding public education and many other basic services, such as mental health care. Basically, they are stealing from our children and giving it to the wealthy.

Finally, the Republican ruse of a raise for teachers is just that. They plan on giving teachers a slight raise, but require the county governments to fund much of this. This is an underfunded mandated, which our Republican Sen. Jim Davis from Franklin railed against when he was a county commissioner. How times have changed.

I strongly urge all critics of public education to spend a day volunteering in a class to find out what is really going on in public schools.

Dan Kowal

Franklin

To the Editor:

There are several people running in Jackson County for public office this year and many are claiming to do one thing — raise the pay for school teachers in Jackson County. Who could be against that issue?  

First, let’s ask why Jackson County teachers would want to replace three of the county commissioners — Jack Debnam, Charles Elders and Doug Cody? In their first three and a half years in office they have approved the $11 million Performing Arts Center for the Smoky Mountain High School that should open in April. In Glenville, they approved a million dollar new locker and weight room facility at Blue Ridge School that was completed last year. They were able to give the Jackson County School Board enough money so that all of the teachers in Jackson County and their assistants kept their jobs last year. 

Jack Debnam only won his election by 64 votes, and those 64 votes have helped turned our county around from the worst financial mess it was in many years. 

In addition, these three men — with the help of Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin — got the alcohol initiative on the ballot in 2012. That passed by a 60 to 40 majority. This vote to make Jackson County a wet county has increased the sales tax revenue the county receives. This needed income source to the county will be permanent. The only people who pay this alcohol sales tax are the people who buy alcoholic beverages.  

Gov. Pat McCrory, R, has promised to raise teachers in the coming year. How can he make that promise? Since January 2011 when the Republicans came into office, almost 200,000 jobs have been added in North Carolina. Some people have criticized the new tax laws, but that is why businesses have been moving back into our state and many businesses have expanded. Only people with jobs pay taxes, and North Carolina has been singled out nationally for the great job it is doing in helping people find jobs. We currently have 4.3 million employees in North Carolina paying taxes. That is why Gov. McCrory can promise teachers their pay will increase.  

Many other good things are happening in our county, like the new satellite facility of the East Carolina University Dental School, which will open shortly above the senior center off Webster Road. This dental facility will provide the school kids in Jackson County some much needed affordable dental service that has been lacking for years. That should be something our teachers can applaud. 

Jim Mueller

Glenville

To the Editor:

As the economy sputters along, members of Congress and the Obama Administration are singling out one of the most productive economic sectors in America. By proposing increased taxes on the oil and natural gas industry, President Obama seeks to penalize the very companies that helped keep the economy afloat following the recession.

 The domestic oil and gas industry already pay a much higher tax rate than the majority of other businesses. Comparatively, other companies on the S&P pay an average of 26.5 percent, while oil and natural gas companies pay 41 percent. 

This discrepancy was reinforced in a recent New York Times study, where results confirmed the oil and natural gas industry is not only taxed at a much higher rate than other industries but also does not receive equal tax breaks. Unfortunately, the government remains unsatisfied with the state of this already unfair situation.

Despite this, employment within the oil and natural gas industry has grown by 40 percent, while the rest of the economy saw a mere 1 percent growth in employment rates. What President Obama doesn’t seem to understand is this tax implementation will not only hurt the oil and natural gas industry, but also each citizen who depends on its resources as a necessary part of their everyday lives. This includes anyone who turns on a light switch, drives a car or simply enjoys the comforts of modern living.

 I hope our leaders in Washington take a stand against the president’s proposal. The oil and natural gas industry play a key role in our energy portfolio, and we cannot unfairly target them with the implementation of higher taxes.

Sen. Jim Davis (R)

50th Senate District

Franklin

To the Editor:

Wow, I’ve seen a lot of small-town politics in this area but the Haywood County Republicans are out of control. A bully stands up and takes over an official meeting. What was he thinking? Who does he think he is? A bully for sure and maybe a wanna-be dictator?  

These fanatics might think they are getting their way, but they’ll soon find out voters are a lot smarter than them. They are only hurting their cause. There’s a right and wrong way to get your point across, and that wasn’t it.

I’m just in shock that this kind of thing could happen in this modern world. Do they expect to run the government this way? Do they want laws made without the press or other parties involved? God help us all if they really think that’s the way it should be done.  

The people of Haywood County need to stand up to this guy and his followers before the state or even federal Republican Party has to take control and embarrass the county even more. 

Chuck Harrell

Whittier

Tribal families got some help jumpstarting their summer gardens when Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ Principal Chief Michell Hicks handed out 750 springtime garden kits last week.

Astronomy lovers and night owls in the Carolinas will get the chance to witness a total eclipse of the moon on the morning of April 15, and photographers will have a chance for some spectacular moon photos during its eclipse in the western sky. 

As the Moon orbits the Earth, it becomes a full moon once every 29 days.  Most months, the full moon moon passes above or below the Earth’s shadow, so there is no eclipse. But twice per year (some years, three times), roughly six months apart, the Moon can pass through the Earth’s shadow, causing an eclipse. 

So, if you’re a stargazer, pencil these times into your nighttime schedule April 15. 

• 12:54 a.m.: Moon starts to enter a space of partial shading — the penumbra — of Earth’s shadow. 

• 1:58 a.m.: Moon starts to enter a space of complete shading — the umbra — from Earth’s shadow. Look for a “notch” in the left edge of the Moon.

• 3:07 a.m.: Moon is entirely in the umbra; total eclipse begins.

• 4:25 a.m.: Moon starts to leave the umbra; total eclipse is over.

• 5:33a.m.: Moon is completely out of the umbra and enters the penumbra. 

• 6:38 a.m.: Moon is completely out of the penumbra. Eclipse is over.

Unlike a solar eclipse, which is not safe to view with unprotected eyes, lunar eclipses are perfectly safe to look at directly. 

For more, connect with the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute at http://twitter.com/Astronomy_PARI.

Learn how bottles tossed out along the roadside are killing small mammals in the mountains during a talk held on Earth Day at 7 p.m. April 22 at the Highlands Nature Center.

Small mammals like shrews and other rodents enter bottles in search of food or water and become trapped, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of animals over time, particularly shrews.

Highlands Nature Center Director Patrick Brannon along with students from the UNC Institute for the Environment at the Biological Station have searched roadways for bottles containing the skeletal remains of shrews and rodents. Brannon will discuss the research and implications of this phenomenon in the region and how you can help alleviate the problem.

828.526.2602 or www.highlandsbiological.org.

Turkey hunting season will open April 12 and run through May 10. A youth-only turkey season is already underway.

A multi-media program, Make Way for Monarchs, will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. April 19 at the Cradle of Forestry.

Haywood Waterways Association is heading up several Earth Day themed activities this month, including a series of stream clean-ups. 

A workshop and presentation on Cherokee weaving will be held April 11-12 at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian.

An open call for bakers is currently underway for the 15th annual Taste of Chocolate Plus, which will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. April 19 at the Maggie Valley Club.

A concert to benefit landslide victims in Snohomish County in Washington state titled “The Circle is Unbroken: A Benefit for Oso, Washington, from Western North Carolina,” will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, April 11, at Bridge Park in Sylva.

To the Editor:

Sen. Kay Hagan’s path to Washington began in high school when she helped elect her uncle Lawton Chiles to the Senate. It was a low-budget campaign which he won by walking from the Florida Panhandle to the Florida Keys, listening to thousands of voters along the way. Hagan walked with him on occasion and distributed bumper stickers.

The voters were eager to elect and re-elect someone who cared so much about them. When Chiles won re-election in 1976, it was with a voluntary $10 limit on contributions to his campaign. In later and more difficult campaigns for governor, the self-imposed limit was $100.

Just $100.

Those were the days.

Hagan, whose moderation and people skills resemble her uncle’s in many ways, is fighting for her political life against the worst onslaught of outside money North Carolina has ever seen.

The billionaire and corporate lobby, personified by the Koch brothers and Karl Rove, has already thrown $10 million worth of television smears at her without waiting to see which far-right Republican will be on the ballot in November. They know that whoever it is will be their lackey.

They intend to escape their fair share of taxes by trashing public health, education and government services all across the nation, just as they’ve done in Raleigh.

They’re sick with fear that Obamacare, given time to work, will turn out to be popular. Some polls say that’s the trend even now.

Their latest attack ad bears the signature of a front group known as 60-Plus. It pretends to be for little investors and mortgage holders. It’s really about hedge fund managers, the parties actually affected by the bipartisan legislation Hagan supports.

Please pay no attention to any of that propaganda. The fundamental issue in this race — the only issue, really — is whether North Carolina’s junior senator’s loyalty will lie with the people of our state or with selfish and arrogant out-of-state forces like the Koch bullies.

The Supreme Court’s wretched campaign finance decision last week, erasing a reasonable lid on aggregate contributions, is another reason to reelect Kay Hagan. We need a senator whose instinct is to vote for the people instead of for the money.

It runs in her family.

Martin A. Dyckman

Waynesville

To the Editor:

The Haywood County Emergency Management Ordinance was signed into effect Nov. 16, 2009, by J.W. “Kirk” Kirkpatrick, then chairman of the board of county commissioners, from a motion made by Mark Swanger (the present chairman) and seconded by Commissioner Kevin Ensley. It appears that very few people know about this ordinance, and even fewer are aware of the fact that their commissioners are signing away their rights.  

The Emergency Management Ordinance for Haywood County is part of a larger state and national scheme to protect citizens during a state of emergency. Outside of the debate on whether we actually need an emergency management scheme here in the county or not, there are a few very alarming parts of the ordinance, which should cause every innocent citizen concern.

In my view, the most important part is statute 31.07, sections 1-4, which state that the county manager, under the auspices of the board of commissioners, can do whatever it takes to make sure that the public complies with all emergency management measures. He/she can fire any public official who refuses to obey his/her will and can control all movement within the county, including the method of transportation, as well as the entrances and exits of the county. He/she can also determine where people may stay during an emergency, in what numbers, and control all “materials” and “resources” including — but not limited to — your food, clothing, home, fuel, income, etc., and can ration these at his/her discretion. One wonders what else could be considered a county “resource”? Your car? Your guns? I find it upsetting that while 31.03 defines the terms used throughout the document, what is meant by the terms “materials” and “resources” is left undefined at any point.

Perhaps the most alarming part of this entire document is section j, which states that the county manager has the authority during a state of emergency to take by any means, including “seizure” and “condemnation,” “materials and facilities” for said emergency “without regard to the limitation of any existing law.” This statement seeks to override the constitutions of both the U.S. and N.C. and gives the county the power to condemn its citizens in order to seize their “materials.” 

While this is clearly not ethical, it is also not legal, as it violates the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which protects citizens against property seizure, as well as Article I:5 of the state Constitution, which states that no law or ordinance can be contrary to the Constitution of the US. What’s more, in the case of a hazardous material spill, §31.08 gives the Haywood County Emergency Management Director the authority to “enter public or private property, with or without the owner’s consent”, again violating the Fourth Amendment, and §31.10 states that any official acting with regard to this ordinance during an emergency cannot be held liable for any damages to a person or their property.

I wonder: if the government’s role, as established by the constitution of the US, is to protect the rights and property of its citizens, then why in the world are our elected officials signing away our rights? Serious reconsideration needs to be taken with this ordinance. While some citizens may think these measures necessary during an emergency, surely something as sweeping as this needs to go to referendum before our rights are threatened without our knowledge.

Again, I refer to the state constitution of North Carolina, Article I:9, which states that it cannot be amended outside of the electoral process. Therefore, I suggest that our county officials become more comfortable with the referenda process before becoming so comfortable with unconstitutional executive orders. (To read the ordinance yourself, and draw your own conclusions, see haywoodnc.net/ordinances. To compare with the N.C. Constitution, see www.ncconstitution.com.

Windy McKinney

Jonathan Valley

To the Editor:

Wondering what all the fuss is over the use of Common Core standards in school, I looked up what information I could find.

Frankly, it gets pretty weird. One expert said that requiring kids to meet certain standards at each grade level was demeaning and destroys their creativity. Hmm, I’ve seen some of that creative math at work when a kid at McDonald’s can’t make change.

One must dismiss opinions that teachers come up with because they are, after all, union members and unions exist to protect teachers, not students. 

Large companies point to the need for newly hired young people to take remedial classes in math and just plain old spelling and often must send their new hires off to take remedial classes before they can be put to work. Truly, a sad commentary on our educational system.

The other complaint I’ve heard is that the Common Core standards are federal standards and few want the federal government telling teachers how to teach. Actually, we gave up that privilege a long time ago when school boards accepted the first money from the federal government.  

One other complaint is that students should not be required to know things like the multiplication tables or how to spell. Their theory is that knowing the multiplication tables requires students to learn by rote, or, putting it another way, by memory, and all this is stressful for students. Or, is it stressful for teachers? I would suppose this has something to do with fuzzy math and certainly has much to do with fuzzy thinking.

Is it really destructive to ask a child to memorize something? Next thing, we’ll do away with homework because it interferes with a child’s ability to go on Facebook. How terrible!

True, as Einstein once said, everyone learns differently, and he used the example of trying to teach a fish to climb a tree. Good point, but how has learning to spell changed that?

Don’t we need our kids graduating with enough knowledge to be admitted to a college, and if they don’t go to college, don’t they need to be able to compete within our society?  Does it really matter how someone learns algebra or math as long as they can meet a minimum standard and prepare for real life? Life is sometimes tough.

Sure, in some areas, we have special needs kids, some involving mental disorders, but a lot is the result of broken families, single moms and parents too lazy to make sure their kids are taking their education seriously.  

Ultimately, this leads to a two-tiered society; the educated and the uneducated, with the result that the educated end up ruling over the uneducated.

Common Core forces teachers and students to live up to a standard of education that holds the promise of opportunity for our young people. Do we need unions controlling our educational system? Good grief, surely our kids can survive the stress of memorizing the multiplication tables.

Bob Wilson

 Franklin

Cultural heritage demonstrations will kick-off the new season for The Cradle of Forestry in America on Saturday, April 12, along with a debut of new exhibits.

David and Diane Burnette of Haywood County will be plowing the Cradle’s vegetable garden with their Percheron draft horses. Other living history interpreters stationed at historic buildings will showcase woodcarving, candle-making and other old-time skills.

Keep an eye out for several new exhibits. Changing Climate, Changing Forests explains what climate change means for forests, and Fire in the Forest traces fire’s use as a tool, from American Indians to today’s land managers. An art exhibit, Painting Western North Carolina by the Mixed Nuts plein aire artists, will be displayed through the end of May along the Cradle’s Gallery in the Woods. 

The Cradle of Forestry is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through fall, with living history demonstrations and special events happening regularly. $5 for adults and free for children 16 and under.     

Located on U.S. 276 four miles south of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

www.cradleofforestry.com.

Learn how communities are dealing with coastal erosion, storms and rising sea levels with a screening of the critically acclaimed documentary “Shored Up” at Western Carolina University as part of its Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines. 

Rob Young, director of the WCU Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines, is one of the policy and environmental experts who appears in the documentary.

A discussion and reception will follow the screening, which will take place at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 6, in the theater of A.K. Hinds University Center on the WCU campus. Young and Director Ben Kalina will be on hand to discuss the film. 

Free. Call 828.227.7519. 

The fourth annual Valley of the Lilies Half Marathon and 5K race are expected to draw an estimated 300 runners and walkers to Western Carolina University in Cullowhee on Saturday, April 5. 

Women of all skill levels are invited to a women-only weekend of flyfishing from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, offered April 4-6 at Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education and Davidson River Campground in Transylvania County. 

The Mountain Science Expo will feature science programs and exhibits designed to interest kids and adults from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 5, at the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville.

Learn the basics of trail construction and environmental stewardships by volunteering with an Appalachian Trail Conservancy trail crew.

Learn how to grow fruit trees successfully at a fruit tree workshop coming up in Jackson and Swain counties through the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service. It will cover site selection; the differences between dwarf, semi-dwarf and seedling trees; proper soil conditions; pollination requirements; differences in cultivars; chilling requirements; fertility need; tree spacing and general pruning principles.

Western Carolina University’s Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines will screen the film “Shored Up” at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 6, at the theater of A.K. Hinds University Center in Cullowhee.

The 35th annual International Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, on the lawn of A.K. Hinds University Center at Western Carolina University.

A workshop focusing on regional points of musical interest, entitled “Why and How to Connect to the Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina” will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, April 10, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva.

The Mélange of the Mountains culinary celebration will run from April 10-13 around Haywood County. 

To the Editor:

Recently, I became curious about the N.C. Opportunity Scholarships (a new name for vouchers) that are being billed as a way for families in poverty to have more choices for their child’s education by allowing them to choose private schools.

I am perplexed as to how these vouchers of $4,200 a year could possibly benefit families that are truly low-income. Most private schools charge between $18,000 to $20,000 a year. In addition, the private schools do not provide transportation, a serious barrier for most low-income families. Likewise, the private schools charge large fees for after-school care and do not provide subsidized lunches.

These Opportunity Scholarships are really designed for the middle class that have the resources to bridge the gap between the $4,200 voucher and the true costs of a private school education. In 2015, the vouchers will be available to middle-income families.

Opportunity Scholarships would not really make a private school education any more accessible for children from low-resource families. The claim that these vouchers are designed to benefit children in poverty just doesn’t make sense. Maybe Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, can explain this.

Clayton Ramsey

Franklin

To the Editor:

It should be reassuring that so many groups are concerned about “voter integrity” on Election Day, making certain that a voter’s physical address squares with the voting rolls. No problem there.

However, the opportunities for voter challenges have been significantly increased under the new N.C. voter laws: in addition to the two poll observers from each political party to monitor polling places, we now learn the chair of each political party in a county may designate 10 additional at-large “observers” who reside in the county, and may attend any voting place in that county.

Also under the new laws: any registered voter of the same county has the “right” to challenge the right to vote of any registered voter on the day of a primary or election. Election Day challenges are no longer limited to voters who reside in the same precinct.

This hardly “restores confidence” in elections and paves the way for burdensome delays and more confusion at polling places. A well-organized minority can easily intimidate voters under the guise of voter integrity. Are we creating more observers than actual voters at polling places?

Roger Turner

Sylva

To the Editor:

TV host Glenn Beck and other stalwarts of the Christian right have attacked the recent blockbuster “Noah”as being “pro-animal” and unfaithful to the Bible. Well, yes and no. The film is pro-animal and faithful to the Bible, at least to the Book of Genesis, our only source for the story of Noah.

After all, Genesis 1:29 admonishes, “Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree that has seed-yielding fruit — to you it shall be for food.” It is only after the flood, with fruits and vegetables no longer abundant, that humans get permission to eat animal flesh. Even then, the Bible stipulates that only select animals may be taken and always with reverence and minimal cruelty. This is certainly a far cry from today’s factory farm and slaughterhouse practices. 

Regardless of how we may feel about “Noah’s” interpretation of the Bible, each of us can recreate the recommended diet of the Garden of Eden in our home by dropping animal products from our menu.

Weston Madrigal

Waynesville

To the Editor:

We must speak out against this proposed room tax increase.

The county leaders may want it, but the citizens of this county do not want another tax increase. Our tax-and-spend county commissioners and their band of socialists want to increase the TDA tax from 4 to 6 percent. That’s a 50 percent increase in their taxes.

We the people do not want any more tax increases.

Rep. Michele Presnell, R-Burnsville, is the hardest working and most conservative representative we have ever had. She works for the people, not the county leaders who have already put us in debt to the tune of $68,713,290 and climbing, not to mention some $10 million in special revenue funds.

When will the county leaders start to listen to their constituents the way Ms. Presnell listens to hers? We the people put Ms. Presnell in office to stop people like our socialist county leaders, and I applaud her for her hard work and perseverance! 

And I can assure you, Ms. Presnell will get my vote again.

Eddie Cabe

Canton

To the Editor: 

In a recent article about the sad state of North Carolina teacher salaries, Rep. Michele Presnell was quoted as follows: “We cannot help education until we get a handle on Medicaid. Obamacare has thrown all these additional people in there. That is the problem with giving educators more of a raise.”

Is something wrong with Rep. Presnell’s memory? Last year she voted for Senate Bill 4, No N.C. Exchange/No Medicaid Expansion. This bill became state law March 6, 2013. Medicaid expansion would have changed the Medicaid eligibility rules, allowing very low-income adults to use Medicaid for their health care. The federal government would have paid 100 percent of Medicaid costs for the first three years, then no less than 90 percent for subsequent years.

However, this did not happen in North Carolina because of Senate Bill 4. All who receive Medicaid in North Carolina are subject to the strict Medicaid eligibility rules set by state lawmakers long before the Affordable Care Act. 

The reason the state doesn’t have money to give our teachers a long overdue pay raise is because Republican lawmakers and the governor chose to give big tax cuts to corporations and wealthy individuals while cutting education funding. Rep. Presnell voted for this also.

Any legislator using Medicaid costs as an excuse not to reward our teachers either has convenient amnesia or thinks we are all so stupid we would forget what happened last year.  

Carole Larivee

Waynesville

To the Editor:

I find it noteworthy that in the March 26 column on Rep. Michele Presnell’s opposition to the proposed 50 percent increase in the room tax there is no clear indication that the writer had attempted to go into depth with Rep. Presnell, R-Burnsville, herself concerning the reasons why she says the bill is “still controversial.” If in fact such an attempt was made, her answer for some reason best known to the editor was not shared with his readers, which would seem to constitute a disservice to them, even in an opinion piece.

It may be that the reason Rep. Presnell opposes the increase has to do with the knowledge that tax increases often have the opposite of their intended effect — in this case by encouraging people to find better deals elsewhere or to stay in places where the room tax rate is the same but where there are more local attractions. It could be that she is aware of the tendency of our local governments to be rather vague and general about what they intend to spend the money on. It might be that she — and a substantial number of her constituents — have concerns about the fairness of imposing a tax that burdens one sector of the local economy but not others. All these reasons may be in play, but we do not know, because either she wasn’t asked or her answer was not shared with us.

I also find it noteworthy that in the same column, when writing of the recent Haywood County GOP resolution opposing the room tax increase, the editor neglected to mention that the vote of delegates from all parts of the county in favor of the resolution was overwhelming. This fact seriously calls into question Commissioner Ensley’s claim that a “small faction” has taken over the county party. This sort of spin is typical — if illogical, given the nature of majority rule — when one’s own faction has been defeated, and that decisively.

 It is also worth noting that Mrs. Presnell’s brief is to represent all her constituents — those who do not serve on elected or appointed boards as well as those who do. These boards (whose political composition is not nearly so bipartisan as Mr. Ensley’s statement would make it appear, by the way) are not supposed to constitute some sort of impermeable barrier between the citizens of the county and their representatives in Raleigh, nor is their opinion necessarily worthy of being given greater weight than that of those citizens whose money they propose to tax and then spend.

 Samuel Edwards

Canton

Great Smoky Mountains Association earned two first-place awards and four honorable mentions last month for its work in media and partnership. 

The park’s quarterly newspaper, Smokies Guide, garnered first from the Association of Partners for Public Lands in the informational publications category for delivering “well-written content in an engaging style and design.” The video series “An Island in the Sky: Clingamans Dome and the Spruce-fir Forest” got first in electronic media as “a gorgeous video that is thoughtful and insightful.”

www.smokiesinformation.org or 888.898.9102.

Anglers will have a chance to compete for $20,000 in tagged fish March 28-30 at the Cast Into Spring Tournament, hosted by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

 Duke’s profits off the hydroelectric power dam on the Pigeon River in Haywood County have funded another round of environmental water quality projects in Haywood, Buncombe and Madison counties.

The annual fund was created in 1996 thanks to the Clean Water Act, which requires power companies to provide environmental compensation in exchange for harnessing the river with dams. Ten projects totaling $258,552 were recently awarded by the Pigeon River Fund of The Community Foundation, including:

• Haywood Waterways Association: $56,000 to continue coordinated community efforts to address water quality issues, implement the Haywood Watershed Action Plan and increase public appreciation of water resources through educational programs and publications. 

• Haywood Waterways Association: $30,800 toward the costs of repairing failing septic systems in the Richland Creek area of Haywood County for low-income homeowners.

• Southwestern NC Resource Conservation and Development Council: $14,120 toward the Envirothon and Youth Environmental Stewardship Camp programs that engage middle and high school youth in hands-on learning about water quality issues.   

• Southwestern NC Resource Conservation and Development Council: $30,000 for a stormwater assessment of the Maggie Valley commercial area and creation of a plan to minimize runoff pollution into Jonathan Creek.

• Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy: $20,000 to conduct a natural heritage inventory and update the water quality assessment of the Plott Balsam Mountains, which in turn could help win funding for land conservation. 

Ideas are being solicited for riparian habitat enhancement projects in Jackson, Swain and Macon counties as part of Duke Energy’s requirement to carry out conservation projects in exchange for harnessing the region’s rivers with hydroelectric dams.

Appalachian Trail hikers can get a free breakfast in Franklin through April 11. First Baptist Church in Franklin has offered this four-week period of “trail magic” for eight years, last year feeding 595 hikers from 44 states and seven countries.

Whether you’re roughing it on the AT or just looking for a fun way to spend your Saturday, several upcoming AT festivals in Western North Carolina are sure to fit the bill. These events celebrate hikers, hiking and all things AT-related, just in time for the glut of through-hikers reaching the area after stepping off from Springer Mountain in Georgia earlier this month.

Hiker Haze at Fontana Village

Check out Fontana Village’s AT celebration March 26 and 27. Each day is packed full of events ranging from a corn hole competition to a Native American artifacts presentation. Try your luck at Karaoke or roast the perfect smore over a campfire. The full schedule is online at www.fontanavillage.com/events. 

April Fool’s Trail Day in Franklin

Festivities spread across three days, March 28-30, and include everything from guided hikes to movie screenings to a celebration of the Wilderness Act’s 50th anniversary. Check out the schedule and mark your calendar. 

Friday, March 28

• Guided hike to Siler Bald, leaving from Wayah Gap. 4 miles, medium, RSVP 828.369.1983

• 6 p.m. Hiker Bash at Sapphire Inn. Food, trail stories and hiking advice.

Saturday, March 29 

• 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Beginning Birding workshop with local birder John Sill. Learn where to look, what they eat, what you need and how to identify local birds. Franklin Town Hall, bottom floor.

• 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.: Path of Life, a presentation from through-hiker and author Amy Allen. Allen’s book Summoning the Mountains: Pilgrimage into Forty tells of the 2006 hike she shared with her two teenage sons as a divorced, single 40-year-old. Franklin Town Hall, bottom floor.

• 2 p.m.: Amy Allen book signing, Franklin Town Hall, bottom floor.

• 1:45 to 2:45 p.m.: Monitoring and Management on the Appalachian Trail, a discussion about citizen science with Appalachian Trail Conservancy resource manager John Odell. Learn about invasive plant control, plant monitoring and life cycles. Franklin Town Hall, bottom floor. 

• 3 to 4 p.m.: The Wilderness Act turns 50:  History and Significance for the Southern Appalachians, a presentation on the significance of the act’s 50th anniversary by Jill Gottesman and Brent Martin of the Wilderness Society. 

• 6 p.m.: Hiker Bash at Sapphire Inn. Food, trail stories and hiking advice.

• Guided hike to Laurel Fork Falls, S.C., 8 miles, strenuous, RSVP 828.586.5723.

• Guided hike to Wayah Tower, 4.2 miles, RSVP 828.524.5298.

• Guided hike to Bartram Trail Loop from Wallace Branch, 2 miles, easy, RSVP 828.369.6820.

Sunday, March 30

• Guided hike to Wine Spring Bald, shuttle from radio tower exit to Wayah Bald entrance, 2 miles, medium, RSVP 828.369.7352.

• Guided hike to Standing Indian Mountain from Deep Gap, 4.8 miles, medium, RSVP 828.369.1983. 

AT Founder’s Bridge Festival at Nantahala Outdoor Center

Come out April 4-5 for an event featuring everything from gear repair to training for citizen scientists. Enjoy a hiker’s feast and live music or check out the hiker Olympiad. 

Friday, April 4

• 7 p.m. “Walking With Freedom” movie screened at River’s End Restaurant.

Saturday, April 5

• 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Gear repair and vendor fair at Outfitter’s Store.

• 10 a.m. Phenology Training with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy at NOC Outfitter’s Store, a workshop on the importance of monitoring plant and animal life cycles and the process of training citizen scientists to collect data. 

• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. OBOZ Hiker Olympiad at NOC Outfitter’s Store. 

• 2 p.m. Warrior Hike presentation about a hike organized to raise money for returning military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome. At NOC Outfitter’s Store.

• 5 p.m. Osprey Hiker’s Feast at Big Wesser BBQ + Brew

• 6 to 8 p.m. Sourwood Honey plays live at Big Wesser BBQ + Brew

Directed by Broadway star Terrence Mann, the Tony-Award-winning musical “Les Miserables” will be performed at 7:30 p.m., April 3-5 and at 3 p.m., April 6 in the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center at Western Carolina University.