Community almanac
‘Wet your whiskers’ at FUR fundraiser
The felines of FUR purr-sonally invite you to “WET YOUR WHISKERS!” Feline Urgent Rescue’s eighth annual wine/beer tasting fundraiser will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. June 7 at Folkmoot Friendship Center’s Queen Auditorium, 112 Virginia Ave. in Waynesville.
The event features an Italian dinner and dessert buffet with wine catered by Bosu’s Wine Shop. Beer is being donated by Boojum and Frog Level Brewing.
The event also includes a silent auction and raffles for items donated by local artists, including a flower quilt by Kaaren Stoner.
Tickets are $75 per individual and grant full access to wine, beer and buffets. Sponsorships are available at $200, $500 and $750, and each comes with its own set of benefits. All proceeds benefit Feline Urgent Rescue of WNC, a local
nonprofit dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of abused, abandoned and neglected cats in Western North Carolina.
Learn more about this annual event or purchase your tickets at furofwnc.org/events/wyw_2025.
WCU to offer ACE CNC machining bootcamps
Western Carolina University’s College of Engineering and Technology will offer two free America’s Cutting Edge Machining Bootcamps this summer open to students and community members high school age and older. The sessions run July 28 through Aug. 1 and Aug. 4–8 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on WCU’s campus in Cullowhee.
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ACE is a national Computer Numerical Control machine training program created to help meet the workforce demand for machinists. Managed by the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation through an agreement with the Department of Defense Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment program, ACE bootcamps introduce participants to the fundamentals of machining and advanced manufacturing, regardless of prior experience.
Each participant will create a working air engine, a small, piston-powered device that spins when air is applied.
To learn more, visit americascuttingedge.org. To register, email WCU engineering faculty member Scott Pierce at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Franklin’s Sleek Web cuts the ribbon
Since 2014, Sleek Web, LLC has been dedicated to helping hundreds of small businesses expand their online presence through professional website design, digital marketing solutions and search engine optimization.
By creating visually appealing and user-friendly websites, Sleek Web ensures that businesses make a strong first impression on potential customers. Their digital marketing strategies are tailored to each client’s unique needs, driving engagement and growth. Additionally, their expert SEO services improve search rankings, making it easier for businesses to be found online.
Sleek Web’s commitment to excellence in website design, digital marketing, and SEO has empowered small businesses to thrive in the digital age. Their personalized approach ensures that each client achieves their online goals, leading to sustained growth and success.
For additional information or consultation, please contact Sleek Web by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit the website at sleekwebmarketing.com.
Highlands hosts motoring festival
Enthusiasts of classic cars travel to museums all over America to see the best of the best. On June 14, some of these museums are sending classic cars to Highlands.
The Highlands Motoring Festival will stage its four-day festival of driving tours, a Main Street parade, two car shows, and a charity Gala during the second week of June.
The scenery and high elevation of WNC along with mountain roads have long attracted enthusiasts. For the past 18 years, Highlands has hosted the Highlands Motoring Festival as it has grown into an important community asset, donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to local human needs charities. The all-volunteer team of enthusiasts who stage the event recognize that a town as unique as Highlands deserves a car show of equal uniqueness. Over the past eight years an emphasis has been placed on recruiting the highest quality and most interesting cars and owners resulting in significant national attention. In 2019, the festival was awarded the “Best Concours Event” in the land by Classic Motorsports Magazine. That same year Dennis Gage was on the HMF show field recording an episode of his TV show “My Classic Car”, seen weekly by millions of viewers worldwide.
For 2025, as always, the festival returns on the second weekend of June, with its seven events spanning four days. It all starts with the “One Lap of the Mountains” driving tours on the roads of WNC in carefully curated routes to explore the area’s natural beauty and wonderful mountain roads creating a unique driving experience. Both of this year’s driving events sold out in January, but there is another option for everyone. Ten years of driving tours from past festivals have been packaged into softbound tour books. Look for the “One Lap” and “Second Lap” books on sale year-round at Highlands Hiker on Main Street in Highlands.
Here’s the schedule of events:
• Thursday, June 12: “One Lap of the Mountains-Grande” driving tour 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Friday June 13: “One Lap of the Mountains-Speciale” driving tour 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Main Street parade of classic cars 5:30-6:30 p.m.
• Saturday June 14: “Classics in the Park” invitational judged car show in the Kelsey-Hutchinson Park 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; “Horsepower Charity Gala” Vineyard at High Holly 6-9 p.m.
• Sunday June 15: “High Octane” Social and Car Gathering in Kelsey-Hutchinson Park. 8:30 a.m.-11 a.m.
The festival is staged by an all-volunteer team of enthusiasts. On the day of the show, it takes more than 50 individuals to carry out the many facets of the festival. Volunteers are needed to help on Saturday, June 14, and can sign-up to volunteer on the group’s website homepage.
Further information can be found highlandsmotoringfestival.com.
WNC Civil War Roundtable to present in Waynesville
The Western NC Civil War Round Table continues its 2025 series of programs at 7 p.m. on June 9 with a presentation by G. Keith Parker. His topic will be Transylvania County in the Civil War from both Unionist and Confederate perspectives. The program will take place at the Haywood County Public Library in Waynesville; it is free and open to the public.
Parker published the historical fiction novel To Stand on Solid Ground in 2020. Co-written with his daughter Leslie Parker Borhaug, the book tells the story of Transylvania County’s Civil War through the lives of its intertwined families. Based on real events, Parker traces the complicated relationships between Confederate loyalists and Union sympathizers. Parker’s presentation will highlight these stories from Transylvania County and how he used them to create his fictional narrative. He will also draw inferences from that time to discuss the profound need to support community in times of intense polarity.
The WNC Civil War Round Table meetings will continue July 14 with Cliff Roberts speaking about Castle Pinckney and the Confederate Defense of Charleston Harbor. All meetings are free and open to the public. More information about programs and field trips with the Roundtable can be found at wnccwrt.com.
Vecinos Community Health Hub cuts the ribbon in Franklin
The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Vecinos Community Health Hub, an SECU campus, took place on May 6. Led by Vecinos Chief Executive Officer Marianne Martinez, the event celebrated the opening of the new, 16,500-square-foot bilingual medical facility in Franklin.
The Vecinos Community Health Hub opened to patients on May 1 at 19 Smoky Mountain Drive off of U.S. 441. The Hub co-locates free, bilingual medical, dental and social health services to uninsured and underinsured residents of Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties.
The Hub is a centralized location for several nonprofit organizations that provide care to low-income patients and increase health equity in Western North Carolina. These include the Blue Ridge Free Dental Clinic, 30th Judicial District Domestic Violence-Sexual Assault Alliance, Centro Comunitario of Macon County and Pisgah Legal Services.
The opening of the Vecinos Community Health Hub is a pivotal milestone in providing comprehensive healthcare to rural North Carolinians, including migrant farmworker communities.
“We are thrilled to see the Vecinos Community Health Hub come to life,” said Vecinos CEO Marianne Martinez. “The dedication of our staff, partners and volunteers has positioned us for a future where healthcare is more accessible to everyone. After 20 years of serving Macon County through Vecinos’ mobile clinics, we are eager to serve many more residents in need of comprehensive healthcare.”
The Vecinos Community Health Hub is supported by the generosity of key partners and donors. In 2024, Vecinos received a $1.6 million grant from the State Employees Credit Union (SECU) Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization funded by SECU members and committed to fostering community development throughout North Carolina. Additional funding was provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Community Facility Healthcare Grant and the Appalachian Regional Commission Grant.
New and existing patients can make an appointment at the Vecinos Community Health Hub by calling Vecinos at 828.293.2274 or by messaging Vecinos on WhatsApp at 828.200.6469.
To qualify for Vecinos services, patients must meet three eligibility requirements: 1) Have a family household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, 2) Be uninsured, underinsured or lack reasonable access to healthcare, and 3) Be at least 18 years old. To learn more, visit vecinos.org/services.
Tipton-Haynes hosts inaugural gala
Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site will be hosting its inaugural gala and benefit dinner at 6 p.m. Friday, May 23 in Johnson City, Tennessee.
Tipton-Haynes started this Gala in hopes to support the new extensions of the visitor center that are to be finished in May. Unfortunately, with the termination of the Federal AmeriCorps Program, Tipton-Haynes lost two of its AmeriCorps Service members. Tipton-Haynes is reallocating the use of the proceeds to help fund positions for these two members to remain until they can find another position elsewhere.
Reservations are required for this Gala. Tickets are $50 per person. For the purchase of your tickets please follow the link square.link/u/HoqYB5Ut, call 423.926.3631 or email the site at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Reservations end May 10.
HRMC earns an ‘A’ hospital safety grade
Haywood Regional Medical Center (HRMC) has been awarded an “A” hospital safety grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit watchdog that sets standards for excellence in patient care. This national distinction celebrates HRMC’s achievements in protecting patients from preventable harm and medical errors.
“This ‘A’ Safety Grade is a direct reflection of the hard work, vigilance, and dedication of our team,” said LaCrystal Gordon, chief nursing officer for HRMC. “Our staff continuously evaluates and improves the way we care for patients, always keeping safety at the forefront. I’m incredibly proud of our entire hospital family for earning this recognition and for the compassionate, high-quality care they provide every day.”
To see HRMC’s full grade details and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit hospitalsafetygrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on social media.
WNC Civil War Roundtable to discuss augmented reality
The Western North Carolina Civil War Round Table continues its 2025 series of programs at 7 p.m. on May 12 with a presentation by Paul Quigley. His topic will be on augmented reality and its possible use in interpreting the Civil War. The program will take place at the Haywood County Public Library in Waynesville. It is free and open to the public.
Quigley will discuss a project based at Virginia Tech’s Center for Civil War Studies that uses augmented reality to present diverse aspects of Civil War era history to the public. The idea is to use mobile devices through which visitors will learn about less familiar Civil War topics: interconnections between the environment and military affairs; the war’s transformative impact on African Americans and other civilians and the benefits of reading wartime documents with a historian’s eye.
Meetings are free and open to the public. More information about programs and field trips with the Roundtable can be found at wnccwrt.com.
Museum holds open house, unveils new exhibit
A new exhibit has opened at The Museum of Haywood County History at the Shook-Smathers House in Clyde focusing on the traditional Appalachian music heritage of the county.
“Our Scots-Irish and English ancestors gave us a rich heritage of ballad singing, dancing and folk music,” said June Smathers-Jolley, who has been working on the exhibit since January. “This exhibit features musicians from Haywood County and the events they would have played for such as corn shuckins’, barn dances, competitions, and early radio shows. We also feature some of the older dance teams such as Champion YMCA and Soco Gap Cloggers as well as more recent dance teams. Ballad singers and songwriters from the county are also included.”
The exhibit is rich with photographs of musicians, dancers and singers.
Area families have donated archives, recordings, and musical instruments to round out the exhibit. The museum is owned by the Haywood County Historical and Genealogical Society and is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Friday and Saturday through October.
To celebrate the new exhibit, the museum will be having an open house on Saturday, May 10, with free tours, refreshments and live music.
Haywood County Public Library hosts food drive
Haywood County’s public library announced its third annual food drive, taking place May 12-23.
Anyone wishing to donate can drop off their in-date, unopened canned, boxed or bagged nonperishable food items at any Haywood County Public Library branch. All food will be distributed through Haywood Christian Ministry.
Anyone with questions can send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 828.356.2502.
United Way receives $25,000 grant from Duke Energy Foundation
Duke Energy Foundation has awarded United Way of Haywood County a $25,000 grant to expand its post-Helene efforts in Western North Carolina. The funding is part of $500,000 in new grants from Duke Energy Foundation awarded to 20 nonprofits supporting long-term recovery efforts in Western North Carolina.
Since Hurricane Helene’s impact, Duke Energy and its foundation have committed over $2.7 million to disaster readiness, relief and rebuilding efforts in North Carolina.
For more information on Duke Energy Foundation and its initiatives, visit duke-energy.com/Foundation.
Pisgah Legal Seeks Community Support to Assist WNC Immigrants
In Western North Carolina, Pisgah Legal Services provides most of the free civil legal aid for area immigrants, with only three attorneys working on behalf of people living in the 18-county region. Local supporters of the nonprofit have launched a giving challenge to match up to $100,000, increasing resources and supporting this work.
Giving online is fast, easy and secure at www.pisgahlegal.org/justiceforall.
Checks may be mailed to Pisgah Legal Services, P.O. Box 2276, Asheville, NC 28802.
Lake Junaluska launches $14 million fundraising campaign
Lake Junaluska has launched the Sharing Our Gifts Campaign, a fundraising drive that seeks to raise $14 million to transform the grounds.
The campaign is the most ambitious fundraising drive in the history of Lake Junaluska. It will provide resources to strengthen the organization’s ministry to youth and families by expanding recreation options and creating versatile lodging options. The campaign will also invest in three beloved sacred spaces, as well as the Lake Junaluska dam, in order to continue the mission of serving as a place of light and hope.
“We are looking toward a bold vision for Lake Junaluska’s future — to position Lake Junaluska as the most welcoming place for personal renewal in our region and beyond,” said Ken Howle, executive director of Lake Junaluska. “We invite all who love Lake Junaluska to be a part of this important effort. Together, we can share our gifts to make a lasting impact.” lakejunaluska.com
SCC’s Small Business Center garners statewide excellence award
Starting a business is a big step for anyone, but starting one from a different state is another matter entirely.
Originally from New Hampshire, Erin Tuveson fell in love with Western North Carolina, where she worked in outdoor adventure programs for over a decade. After returning to New Hampshire, she took on the role as the manager of a local hostel. Continually feeling inspired by the Appalachian Trail, that’s when she got the idea to start Rambling Roots Hostel.
Tuveson reached out to Southwestern Community College’s Small Business Center, and Director Marne Harris was more than willing to take on the challenge, which ultimately resulted in her receiving the Business Success Story – Business Start-Up award for the 2024 Excellence Awards of the North Carolina Small Business Center Network.
Over the span of 14 months, Harris assisted Tuveson in creating a business plan and obtaining a loan before Tuveson moved to the area.
As part of a network of experienced Small Business Centers across North Carolina, Southwestern’s Small Business Center serves startup and existing small business owners with complimentary seminars, counseling and a resource center.
For more information, to reserve a seat or to request one-on-one confidential counseling, visit southwesterncc.edu/sbc or call 828.339.4426.
