A cookbook, titled RAMPS: Cooking with the Best Kept Secret of the Appalachian Trail, features a collection of ramp recipes from chefs, food writers and home cooks, celebrating every part of the vegetable – from root to leaf.

“A cookbook devoted solely to ramp recipes is long overdue. We are delighted that this talented group of chefs and writers has come together to offer a wide selection of their best for your pleasure,” said Todd C. Gray, chef at Equinox and Watershed restaurants in Washington, D.C.

RAMPS presents the full gamut of dishes from traditional Appalachian recipes to “big-city” recipes from creative food writers and chefs coast-to-coast such as Mario Batali.

Well-known Western North Carolinian Gary Carden will present the first showing of his new monologue “Mother Jones” at 6 p.m., April 7, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Franklin.

Lara Chew will perform in the one-woman show about Mother Jones, once considered to be “the most dangerous woman in America.”

In the late 19th century, to the chagrin of governments and robber barons, Mother Jones rallied coal miners, dock workers, endangered citizens, mill workers and disabused members of societies to protest against unfair wages, underage workers, poor working conditions, unhealthy living sites, poor government protection and unwarranted control of civil liberties.

Tickets are $15, and proceeds from the performance will benefit the UUFF Scholarship Fund. A reception celebrating Mother Jones’ 100th Birthday will follow the performance.

828.524.3161 or 828.524.6777.

Poet, author and educator, Allan Wolf will return to City Lights Bookstore at 7 p.m. on April 6 to discuss his newest book, The Watch That Ends the Night.

April will mark the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, and Wolf’s new book is a lyrical retelling of that story. His unique performance style makes for readings that are always lively and entertaining.

828.586.9499.

Award-winning author Scott Huler will lecture April 13 at Western Carolina University and the Jackson County Public Library in recognition of National Library Week.

Huler will discuss the importance of research and libraries at 10:30 a.m. in the A.K. Hinds University Center theater on the WCU campus. He will deliver another lecture at 7 p.m. at the public library in Sylva. Following the evening presentation, Friends of the Jackson County Public Library will host a punch and cookies reception, and Huler will be available to autograph books.

An author who has reported on everything from the death penalty to bikini waxing, Huler writes for newspapers, magazines and radio programs, and his works have appeared The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Los Angeles Times. He is the 2011 Piedmont Laureate Winner.

828.227.3398 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Saxophonist Joel Frahm will perform at Western Carolina University’s annual Jazz Festival from April 14-15.

The New York Times praised Frahm, calling him a “saxophonist with a deft and assertive command.”

All April 14 events will take place at the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center. Rehearsals, free and open to the public, will begin at 1:30 p.m. with Frahm and the WCU Jazz Ensemble, a group of 20 student musicians. Frahm will rehearse with the Pavel Wlosok Trio beginning at 3 p.m.

Tickets for April 14 evening performances are $10 for the general public and $5 for WCU faculty, staff and students. The music will get under way at 7:30 p.m. Frahm and the WCU Jazz Ensemble will take the stage at 7:55 p.m., and Frahm and the Pavel Wlosok Trio will perform together starting at 8:55 p.m.

The festival will conclude April 15 with a jazz improvisation master class with Frahm from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the band hall of WCU’s Coulter Building. The class is free and open to the public.

828.227.2479 or 828.227.3261 or fapac.wcu.edu or events.wcu.edu.

All hats on deck for Easter Hat Parade

The town of Dillsboro will host its 24th annual Easter Hat Parade on April 7.

The parade, a Dillsboro tradition, begins at 2 p.m. and showcases a variety of interesting hats atop participants of all ages, including pets.

Judges select the best hats in more than 20 categories, including: biggest, smallest, funniest, best smelling, “poofy-est,” most creative, most spring-like and most outrageous. Last year, there were nearly 250 entrants in the contest.

In addition to an array of colorful hats, the parade features vintage cars provided by the Old Timers Model A Club and the Mountaineer Antique Auto Club.

Folks are encouraged to arrive early and spend the day. Easter egg hunts for children begin at 10:30 a.m., along with hat-making sessions at Dogwood Crafters.

Dogwood Crafters will also present an English tea at the famous Jarrett House Inn. There will be two seatings — 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. — and cost for the tea is $12 per person.

800.962.1911 or www.visitdillsboro.org.

Easter At Lake J to feature 5K/10K races, egg hunts and worship

Lake Junaluska will host a full weekend of events, including fun runs, egg hunts, a buffet and sunrise service, to celebrate Easter April 7-8.

Saturday, April 7

• 5K and 10K Bunny Run and Walk at 8:30 a.m., starting at the Nanci Weldon open-air gym. Registration for the runs is available online.

• Children’s Fun run (children age 10 and younger) at 10 a.m., starting at Nanci Weldon open-air gym

• Egg hunts for children ages 1 to 12 from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on the lawn of Stuart Auditorium

• Egg decorating contest from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Harrell Center Auditorium

• Lake Junaluska Day Camp Open House from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Wilson Children’s Complex

Sunday, April 8

• Easter Sunrise Service at 7 a.m. in the amphitheatre at the cross

• Easter breakfast buffet from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Lambuth Inn

• Easter Service at 10:30 a.m. in Stuart Auditorium

• Easter lunch buffet from 11:30 to 3 p.m. at the Terrace Hotel.

For buffet reservations, call 828.454.662, purchase tickets online at www.shop.lakejunaluska.com, or purchase tickets at the Bethea Welcome Center between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily. Weekend lodging packages are available.  

800.222.4930 or lakejunaluska.com/easter.

Easter events pepper weekend in Fontana

Fontana Village Resort will host several Easter events, including egg dying, a campfire and marshmallow roast, scavenger hunt and a holiday meal, April 7-8.

Saturday, April 7

• Easter Eggstravaganza with sidewalk chalking, an egg and water balloon toss, scavenger hunt and egg coloring from 3-4:30 p.m.

• Campfire and marshmallow roast at 8 p.m.

Sunday, April 8

• Outdoor sunrise church service at 7 a.m. on the knoll above Fontana Dam.

• A non-denominational church service at 10:30 a.m. at the Fontana Community Church.

• Traditional Easter meal featuring salad, shrimp, ham, green beans and homemade desserts, among other foods from noon to 3 p.m. at the Mountview Restaurant. The cost is $21.95 for adults and $10.95 for children, ages 6-11. Make reservations at 828.498.2115.

• Easter egg hunt at 2:30 p.m. at the Gunter family cabin.

The award-winning Assembly Saxophone Quartet will present a free concert at 6 p.m., April 16, in the theater of A.K. Hinds University Center at Western Carolina University.

The program will feature a wide variety of styles, including historical works by Jean-Baptiste Singelée and Gabriel Pierné, as well as newer works by John Fitz Rogers and Martin Bresnick.

The quartet, which formed in 2003, features WCU School of Music faculty member Ian Jeffress on alto saxophone. Members include Lauren Meccia on soprano, Adam Estes on baritone and Matt Younglove on tenor.

826.227.7242.

Country legend Ronnie Dunn will perform at 9 p.m., April 27, at Harrah’s Casino and Hotel in Cherokee.

Dunn is now touring as a solo artist after 20 years of singing with the group Brooks & Dunn. The duo is best known for hits “Bleed Red,” “Cost of Livin,” “My Maria,” “Red Dirt Road” and “Boot Scootin’ Boogie.”

Tickets are on-sale now. Attendees must be 21 or older.

800.745.3000 or www.ticketmaster.com.

The Southern Circuit film tour at Western Carolina University ends its 2011-12 season with a free screening of “Sahkanaga” at 7:30 p.m. on April 17 in the theater of A.K. Hinds University Center.

In 2002, more than 300 bodies were discovered on the property of the Tri-State Crematory in the Appalachian foothills of northwest Georgia, thrusting an unassuming, tight-knit community into the international spotlight. While much of the plot and storyline are based on that discovery, “Sahkanaga” (pronounced “sock-uh-nogga”) imagines this event from the perspective of Paul, a teenager who stumbles upon the first body.

Director John Henry Summerour shot the film in Walker County, Ga., and used a cast of local, nonprofessional actors – many of whom knew the real-life victims and perpetrators from 2002.

“I want the film to reflect the beauty, mystery and subtle terror that pervade Southern culture, specifically as experienced by its teenagers,” Summerour said. Summerour will be on campus for the event and will participate in a question-and-answer session following the screening of his film.

828.227.3622 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Concerts on the Creek summer music series returns for its fourth season in May featuring live bands each Friday evening from Memorial Day weekend through the end of July.

The free outdoor performances take place from 7:30-9:30 p.m. on Fridays at the Bridge Park Pavilion beside Scotts Creek in downtown Sylva. All shows are family-friendly.

Kicking off the series May 25 is the Sundown Band from Blairsville, Ga. Sundown plays rock-and-roll from the 60s and 70s, along with blues and country.

Critically acclaimed bluegrass band Balsam Range takes the stage June 15 and will perform the hit “Trains I Missed,” which was named the 2011 Song of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association.

The complete 10-week schedule is as follows: Sundown (May 25), Vinyl Brothers Big Band (June 1), Rafe Hollister (June 8), Balsam Range (June 15), Mountain Faith (June 22), Buchanan Boys (June 29), Johnny Webb Band (July 6), Empty Pockets (July 13), The Elderly Brothers (July 20) and Dashboard Blue (July 27).

800.962.1911 or www.mountainlovers.com.

Two artists were selected to paint various versions of the historic Bethel Presbyterian Church.

Nick DePaolo, owner of Long Grove Art School in Waynesville, will create an oil painting of the exterior of the church when the structure retained its traditional white clapboard appearance. DePaolo has been a freelance artist, instructor and muralist for more than 40 years.

Gary Woolard is commissioned to portray the interior of Bethel Presbyterian Church. With its chestnut bead-board panels alternating at various junctures, the 1885 interior is striking and beautiful. Woolard received a grant from the North Carolina Arts Foundation to paint the 12 oldest churches in the state’s first 12 counties.  

Bethel Rural Community Organization’s Historic Preservation Committee is initiating a several year art project that will include various artists who will portray scenes of Bethel’s historic sites.

Western Carolina University will celebrate the artwork of local students with the 2012 Jackson County Youth Art Month exhibit from April 9-27 in the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center.

The college will hold a reception from 2-3 p.m. on April 15 in the north hallway of the center. The event is free and the public is invited.

The exhibition will include the artwork of more than 400 Jackson County students from kindergarten through the 12th grade.

“Jackson County is fortunate to have an art teacher in each of its public schools who educates students in the history and aesthetics of art-making and gives them opportunities to critically analyze the meaning of art in their daily lives,” said Erin Tapley, event coordinator and associate professor of art education.

Participating schools will include Cullowhee Valley School, Blue Ridge School, Fairview Elementary School, Summit Charter School, Smokey Mountain High School, Scotts Creek School, Smokey Mountain Elementary School and Sylva Alternative School.

The Bardo Arts Center is open from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. every weekday.

828.227.3598 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Lonebackpacker Gallery of World Photography, owned by artist Adam Malis, opened last week on Depot Street in Waynesville.

The gallery showcases fine art photography taken on all seven continents from the perspective of the solo traveler.  

Malis, a self-taught photographer, spent the majority of his time between 1994 and 2005 traveling the world with not much more than a backpack, guidebook, pen, paper and point and shoot camera in his possession. Among his destinations were North Korea, China, Africa and Bhutan.

“I am humbled by the response the exhibit has received so far. We are thrilled to be a new addition to Western North Carolina’s art scene.  We look forward to becoming a permanent fixture in town and a ‘must see’ on people’s list when visiting the area!” Malis said.

The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. everyday, except Wednesdays and Sundays. All of the artwork on display is available for purchase at an affordable price.

828.550.8105 or www.lbpgallery.com or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Western Carolina University will host more than 700 professional geologists and geology students during the 61st annual meeting of the Southeastern Section of the Geological Society of America, which will be held Saturday, March 31, through Monday, April 2, in Asheville.

This marks the first time the Geological Society of America has met in Western North Carolina. WCU’s Department of Geosciences and Natural Resources is playing host for the event held at the Renaissance Asheville Hotel.

There will be lectures, discussions, workshops, exhibits and field trips.

The keynote address will be delivered by Richard M. Wooten, senior geologist with the North Carolina Geological Survey, who will speak on “Landslide Hazard Mapping 2005-2011: Findings and Lessons Learned.”

www.geosociety.org/Sections/se/2012mtg or 828.227.7367.

Bartering Day is on tap for the old T.M. Rickman Store in Macon County’s historic Cowee Valley from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Sunday, March 31.

This event is being held to honor the 87th anniversary of this store and is sponsored by Friends of the Rickman Store. Trade your treasures, your baked goods, tools, plants and more. Plus enjoy a special program on Cherokee agriculture and heirloom seeds at 11 a.m. There will also be local musicians performing in a jam session from 1 to 4 p.m.

Seven miles north of Franklin on N.C. 28 at 259 Cowee Creek Road. 828.369.5595.

A storied Appalachian Trail event is on tap April 6 and 7 at Nantahala Outdoor Center with the AT Founder’s Bridge Festival.

Day hikers, long distance warriors and outdoor enthusiasts alike are welcome to share their passion with like-minded folks, enjoying trail-steeped speakers sharing their experiences, a vendor village staffed by outdoor industry representatives, skills clinics, guided hikes and trail work sessions.

The festival is timed to coincide with the peak thru-hiker season, when dozens of Appalachian Trail hikers

At the Bridge Festival hikers will get the down and dirty on new gear, enjoy demos, and register for raffle prizes. Groups attending the event are the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the Nantahala Hiking Club, Friends of the Smokies and the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club.

Keep in shape on Saturday morning by giving the AT a hand with some trail maintenance work trip hosted by the Smoky Mountain Hiking Club. Long pants, closed-toe shoes and work gloves are recommended. Bring water and snacks. Participants will be entered to win a Silky arborists’ saw.

The Bridge Festival welcomes back Jennifer Pharr Davis as she shares a presentation about a lifetime on the trail, including her most recent AT speed record hike and signed copies of her book Becoming Odyssa.

Here’s a rundown:

• Friday, 6-7 p.m. at the event tent: Jennifer Pharr Davis: “Adventures on the Appalachian Trail.”

• Friday, 7 p.m. until:  Charlotte Crittenden and “Swinging on a Gate” host contra dancing at the Pourover & Bonfire by the river.     

• Saturday, 8 a.m.: trail maintenance workday.

• Saturday, 11 a.m. until noon, Lightweight Backpacking Clinic at the event tent.

• Saturday, noon until 1 p.m.: survival skills demo at the event tent.

• Saturday, noon until 3 p.m.: Alpacka Raft Demo on the Nantahala River.

• Saturday, 2-3 p.m.: Edible plants hike with Stephan Hart.    

• Saturday, 3-4 p.m.: Alpacka Raft Race on the Nantahala River.

• Saturday, 4-5 p.m.: Lightweight cooking demo and stove expo, event tent.

• Saturday, 6-7 p.m.: Backcountry presentation and slideshow with Yosemite guide Patrick Warren, event tent.

• Saturday, 7:30 p.m. until …: Live Music with Sam Cooper, The Pourover Pub.

Biologists in the Smokies have confirmed that two different kinds of bats found in a park cave have white-nose syndrome, a life-threatening fungus.

White-nose syndrome has been responsible for the deaths of millions of bats in Eastern North America. It is named for a white fungus that forms on the faces of many infected bats. The disease causes bats to become restless during hibernation, moving about the cave and burning up fat reserves or losing body water they need to survive the winter. Expending the calories while they are supposed to be hibernating causes them to become emaciated, unable to make it through until spring when insects return. There is no known cure for the disease.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to 11 bat species and the largest hibernating population of the endangered Indiana bat in the state of Tennessee. Of the species that reside in the park, at least six of them that hibernate in park caves and mines are susceptible to the fungus.

In 2009 all 16 park caves and two mining complexes were closed to any public entry to delay the importation of the pathogen on visitors’ clothing or gear. Park caves will continue to remain closed to human access to minimize the chances of spreading the disease to other areas.

Park visitors should not handle dead bats or bats found to be acting abnormally. If you see a dead, sick or injured bat, call 865.436.1230.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park plans to collect fees next year from backpackers despite the proposal receiving opposition from backcountry users and locals who enjoyed camping in the Smokies without the hassle of a fee system.

The money collected from the backcountry camping fees will fund a backcountry information desk, which previously has been understaffed. Dedicated backcountry rangers at the new information desk will be able to help backpackers and horse packers with trip-planning and reservation services. The fees will also increase ranger patrol I the backcountry.

About 230 written comments and two petitions were received during a public comment period last summer. Swain County commissioners passed a resolution opposing the new fees.

The park said it decided to focus its plans around the lowest and simplest of the fees under study: $4 per night per person, adding that 100 percent of the revenue will be invested in improving back-country services through extended hours of the back-country office, trip-planning assistance, on-line reservations, and protection of park resources through increased ranger staff.

More than 300 Macon County students and others interested in the natural landscape will attend Invasive Species Awareness Day from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Monday, April 2, on the Little Tennessee River Greenway in Franklin.

Learn about how exotic species are a scourge on the native mountain ecosystem and what can be done to combat them.

This educational get-together is part of  N.C. Invasive Plant Awareness Week, an opportunity to teach identification, control and prevention of exotic invasive plants and animals in natural areas. The event is hosted by the Land Trust for the Little Tennessee and Friends of the Greenway.  

Experts from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River, Western North Carolina Alliance and others will host educational displays, give brief presentations and answer questions about exotic invasive plants, insects, mammals, fish and aquatic invertebrates. Weed-eating goats will also be on the greenway to demonstrate a natural method for removing exotic invasive plants. Additional topics to be covered include the importance of streamside buffers for water quality, methods of native habitat restoration and the benefits of healthy forest soils.

A rain date is set for Wednesday, April 4.

828.507.1188 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Approximately 1,100 miles of hatchery-supported trout waters in 25 western counties will open at 7 a.m. on April 7. The season will run until March 1 of next year.

When fishing on hatchery-supported trout waters, anglers can harvest a maximum of seven trout per day, with no minimum size limits or bait restrictions.

Hatchery-supported trout waters are marked by green-and-white signs and are stocked from March until August every year, depending on the individual stream.

Regionwide, nearly 877,000 trout — with 96 percent of the stocked fish averaging 10 inches in length and the other fish exceeding 14 inches — will be put into the stream waters.

For a detailed list of all hatchery-supported trout waters and regulation information, as well as trout maps and weekly stocking summaries on hatchery-supported trout waters, visit www.ncwildlife.org/fishing.

Hundreds of anglers will line the 30 miles of streams on the Cherokee Indian Reservation Saturday, March 31, with the opening of trout season here. Also scheduled is an opening day fishing tournament.

The opening day tournament cost $5. Hundreds of specially tagged fish will be stocked in the streams. These tagged fish can be redeemed for cash prizes ranging from $20 to $500 based on the color of the tag, with $10,000 total in tagged fish being released.

Catching something is pretty much ensured since the Cherokee Fish and Game Management each year adds nearly 400,000 trout to the existing population of fish. These supplemental stockings include rainbow, brook and brown trout of various sizes ranging up to trophy size.

A $10 tribal permit for each person 12 years of age and over is required to fish in Cherokee streams and ponds. Children under age 12 are allowed to fish with a permitted adult. Two, three and five-day permits are available at a reduced rate and a season’s permit costs $250. No other type of fishing license is required nor accepted on the reservation. Throughout the season, fishing is allowed from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Creek limit is 10 trout per day per permit holder.

Experienced growers Ron and Kathy Arps will lead a panel discussion about home gardening at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 3, in the community room of the Jackson County Library in Sylva. The Arps three-quarter-acre garden just outside of Sylva is totally muscle-powered. Other panel members include Lynn Jones, who lives in Cashiers where gardening at 3,700 feet in elevation presents a host of challenges. The panel might also include some other area gardeners, all ready to share their experiences and answer questions. Co-sponsored by the Friends of the Jackson County Public Library. 828.586.2016.

The views in the Smokies might get a little easier to see after a contractor cuts back encroaching trees from 34 of the most-popular roadside vistas along the main roads of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Park officials say that this will be the first major vista-clearing initiative in decades.

“In each case we will have a park staff person assigned to guide the contractor in determining which trees should be removed entirely and which will be trimmed or thinned,” acting park facility manager Charlie Sellars said.

The park plans to start maintenance on a seven-year cycle.

Motorists can expect to see this initial vista management under way from April 1 through Aug. 1 along Newfound Gap Road, Clingmans Dome Road, Lakeview Drive and Cataloochee Road. No roads are expected to be closed to complete the work, but the overlooks being cleared will be closed as needed to accomplish the work safely.

When park roads were first constructed, the forests had been extensively logged and often burned in pre-park days, leaving unobstructed views in every direction, but 75 years of forest recovery has resulted in many of the scenic overlooks becoming obscured by maturing trees.

To keep trees from growing back, herbicides will be applied to the stumps of the taller-growing tree species to prevent their re-sprouting. Lower-growing shrubby species, like rhododendron and mountain laurel, will not be cut so that eventually these low-growing native species will shade out and discourage the re-growth of the taller trees with less work by park crews.

Barbara Woodall, Amy Ammons Garza and Doreyl Ammons Cain will sign books at City Lights Bookstore at 2 p.m. on March 31.

The three women will share how they came to write/illustrate their books, and how they are connected. They will read excerpts, have discussion time and sign books. Refreshments will also be served.

Woodall is the author of It’s Not My Mountain Anymore. Garza is a local storyteller whose sister Cain illustrated her most recent book Said the Leaf. Both novels are about mountain heritage and mountain living.

The sisters also founded Catch the Spirit of Appalachia, a nonprofit focused on drawing “attention to the need to conserve, protect and save the natural and human heritage of the local mountain people.”    

828.586.9499.

To the Editor,

For my entire working life, I have paid for medical insurance, first for myself and later for my family. Now, because of the Affordable Care Act, I no longer have to worry about my insurance company dropping me if I get sick. Now, because of the ACA, my insurance company cannot deny coverage to my children because of a preexisting condition. Now, because of the ACA, I don’t worry about the insurance company putting a lifetime cap on our coverage if one of us has a catastrophic accident or illness. Now, because of the ACA, my children can stay on our policy until they are 26 years old. Now, because of the ACA, my wife will no longer have to pay up to 50 percent more for her insurance simply because she is a woman. Now, because of the ACA, our insurance will cover preventive services such as vaccinations, mammograms, and cancer screenings without a co-pay.

And now, because of the ACA, my parents who have Medicare get a free annual wellness exam and the doughnut hole for prescription drug coverage is being closed.

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, we are on the road to health care coverage that is secure and fair. All Americans who work hard and play by the rules should have the security that comes with good, affordable health insurance— health insurance we and our families can rely on. The Affordable Care Act is already helping me, it is helping my family, and it is helping millions of Americans.

Chuck Dickson

Waynesville

To the Editor:

In the Thursday, March 15, edition of The Asheville Citizen-Times, Jon Ostendorff takes issue with Hayden Rogers, who is a Demcorat running for the congressional seat vacated by  Heath Shuler.

It appears that Mr. Rogers had made a commitment to the Macon County Democratic Women’s Club to attend its annual “Potato Supper,” which was March 22, the same date as the later-announced Democratic debate at Brevard College. Mr. Rogers could attend the debate only if he broke his promise to the Democratic Women’s Club in Franklin, which he chose not to do, and sent his regrets to the committee staging the debate.

Mr. Ostendorff is of the opinion that Rogers is avoiding the debate, and states that it would be “better for the voters” if Rogers attended the debate.

It is my opinion that Hayden Rogers will be shown to be a man of his word by attending the dinner to which he is promised, even with the imagined potential risk to his campaign by his foregoing the debate. A man who keeps his word has become rarity on the political scene in recent years.

Sue Waldroop

Franklin

To the Editor:

I have been a full time resident and small business owner in the Cashiers area since 1988 and value Cashiers as one of the best places to live in the world! I consider myself a moderate independent voter and prefer to pick elected officials, not just because of their party affiliation, but according to their perceived character and their ability to serve “all groups” rather than “special interests.”     

In reading David Joy’s article, “Voters Keeping Up With the Jones” in the March 7 edition of the Crossroads Chronicle, I observed some very troublesome statements I would like to express my concerns. Some of these are:

• Many of the quotes found in this article were critical of Mark Jones and other commissioners who had the courage to address needed land use issues. I feel much of the criticism was exaggerated, manipulated and in some cases simply not true. These regulations did not have a serious negative impact on the economy of Jackson County as indicated by commission candidate Marty Jones. Most feel these addressed needed restrictions were designed to better control the safety factors in construction and other abuses having a negative impact on the natural assets of our beautiful mountain landscape.     

• In no way were our Jackson County commissioners responsible for bringing a recession to Jackson County. Greed, irresponsible spending and out of control borrowing was the major cause of a recession that developed nationwide.

• Also, Marty Jones stated in the article the dollar volume of vacant land dropped 35 percent after land use regulations were implemented and blamed Mark Jones and other commissioners who created the land use regulations. It should be noted that Cashiers is in an area of the country where its attractiveness to investors and those desiring to own a home in one of the most beautiful areas of the country had gained widespread interest. However, land and homes values were highly inflated, in some cases over 100 percent of true value. Decrease in vacant land values, in my opinion, was attributed to unrealistic and inflated pricing of land. These are factors to consider and not caused by land use regulations. In addition, we were on the verge of a national economic crash.

I recognize change and development are inevitable; however, new growth should be accountable to those of us who value the wonders and pleasure of living in this special place in North Carolina.

I believe our commissioners are elected to serve all the people, not just the special interests of real estate companies, development and the construction industry. It is hoped the concerns of the true special interests(those of us who make up the majority of those living in southern Jackson County) will be considered. It is hoped those of us who value clean water, clean air, beautiful mountain scenes and wildlife will continue to have a voice in projects have an impact of our way of life.

John Edwards

Cashiers

To the Editor:

We’ve all heard the remark “Follow The Money.” It’s more important than ever to look behind all those proposals made by the current crop of presidential candidates. Who is paying how much? Why? Whose pocket will those PAC dollars ultimately benefit?

Current positions taken by these men about women’s health care are an abomination. We women need to look at the reasons for these remarks. Who is pulling the strings behind all the false, implausibly detrimental information.  

President Obama’s health care law requires that new health insurance plans cover preventive services with no co-pay or deductible. In the last 18 months, a new provision of the Affordable Care Act has done exactly that for approximately 20.4 million women with private health insurance.

The requirement is that women’s insurance carriers include this protection, and importantly, do not discriminate against women. Women collectively already pay $1 billion more than men do for health care, according to a recent study by the Women’s Law Center.             

Furthermore, this is not a war on religion! Women’s access to health care has nothing to do with religion — yours or theirs. It is only about women’s complete access to necessary and available health care. Access and availability are key! Rather it appears this contrived war on religion is actually a “War on Women”, solely motivated by political and financial gain.

No government entity is forcing unneeded benefits on you, and tax dollars are not paying for coverage within these insurances. Despicably, these candidates would not only impose their religious beliefs on all of us, but would actually have your tax dollars pay for unnecessary and often invasive medical procedures on women.

Peculiarly, no candidate calls for similar medical processes for men, denies men PSA tests nor speaks to the hypocrisy of covering costs for mens endlessly advertised (ahem) problems.  

Women’s reproduction and health issues are not the business of men running for office, nor the business of men of the church.  

The issues of our coming election are many and important. This is not one of them.

So who benefits? Who wins at the expense of women’s health care? Who wins if women are denied health insurance coverage for contraception, prenatal care, pregnancy related situations, cervical cancer tests, mammograms, ovarian cysts, - the list is long. Denying insurance coverage certainly won’t be a win for you, me, our daughters, or our granddaughters.

Look closely at claims made by every office seeker for town hall, state house, or the halls of Congress in D.C. Are they speaking to benefit you and me, or the “corporatocracy?” Will they advocate for our future, or the bottom line of company profits?  

And you! Will you vote against your own best interest? Will you wake after the elections and realize you’ve ruined your own and your children’s future?

You’re told costs are too high? Really? For whom? You surely want needed benefits for your family. You’re told budget cuts will reduce the deficit? Seriously? How will that work when taxpayers must cover the cost of those whose only option will be to crowd emergency rooms, the welfare offices, and state institutions already seeing less income!  

Just whose already bulging pockets will benefit? And finally, who is in charge in the U.S.A. these days? Us, or the beneficiaries of the Citizens United v. FEC decision?

Yes! Follow the Money.”  

Shirl Ches

Franklin

After successful programs in Cashiers, Glenville and Sapphire, the Literacy Council of Cashier expanded its Dolly Parton Imagination Library to Cullowhee.

Children, from birth to age 5, can register to have a free age appropriate book mailed to them each month. Registration forms can be found at the Cashiers library, Southwest Child Development Center, the health department, and various doctor offices, preschools, daycares, churches and post offices in the Cullowhee area.

Data shows that children who are read to at home and are familiar with books before entering kindergarten are more successful in school.

The Literacy Council pays $30 per child each year for the books. Tax-deductible donations are appreciated and can be sent to the Literacy Council of Cashiers, P.O. Box 791 in Cashiers.

828.508.9384.

New Bethel restaurant opens its doors 

A new restaurant called Breaking Bread Café has opened on Pigeon Road in the Bethel community of Haywood County.

Steven and Barbara Eaffaldano have operated a concession business at festivals and events from Knoxville to Raleigh. However, when a store front location around the corner from their own home in Bethel came available, they decided it was time to go back indoors.

Breaking Bread Café is a breakfast and lunch restaurant. Its menu features hoagies, wraps, pork meatballs, and eggplant and breakfast biscuits in addition to daily specials. Gluten-free, sugar-free and vegetarian dishes are available. 

Open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.

The Eaffaldanoes have extensive restaurant experience, having both worked at Waynesville Country Club and Pasquales as well as other eateries. Barbara also attended the Restaurant School in Philadelphia. The couple moved to the area 20 years ago.

828.648.3838. 

MedWest’s providers rank among the top

Fourteen physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants and three physician practices at MedWest-Harris/Swain/Franklin ranked in the top 10 percent of the nation’s providers for patient satisfaction, according to Professional Research Consultants, a consulting firm that benchmarks data from hundreds of hospitals around the United States.

The providers and practices both received a five-star award for quality care based on patient satisfaction feedback collected through patient surveys. 

The top-ranking providers were Drs. Charles Toledo, Angela Connaughton, David Zimmerman, Clay Smallwood, Larry Supik, Steve Queen, Jennifer Bunnow, William Handley, Teresa Green, Bill Sims, Bill Ralston and Waverly Green. Hannah Hill, a physician assistant, and Jodie Wade, a nurse practitioner, also received awards. Physician practices were Mountain Regional Gynecology, WNC Pediatric & Adolescent Care and Sylva Orthopaedic Associates.

$400,000 donated for HRMC renovation

The Haywood Regional Medical Center Foundation donated $400,000 to MedWest Haywood for renovations to the hospital’s fourth floor, which is home to the Women’s Care Unit and the Progressive Care Unit.

Progressive Care Unit, or PCU, is a “step-down” from the Intensive Care Unit and acts as a bridge between the ICU and the medical unit. The Women’s Care Unit cares for GYN surgical patients, labor and delivery and OB triage for those expecting mothers who may need to be assessed if they think that they may be in labor.

MedWest-Haywood will receive half of the funds upfront; the remaining will come from proceeds from the Foundation’s annual Golf & Gala Aug. 27-28.  

Haywood sheriff’s office extends hours

The Haywood County Sheriff’s Office has extended its hours to better meet the needs of the public. The new hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays.

Haywood County Sheriff Greg Christopher said too many people had to either leave work early or report to work late to take care of business at the sheriff’s office. Now there is more time to seek services such as applying for and purchasing gun permits, and making and getting copies of incident reports. The extended hours are being provided at no additional cost to taxpayers.

The Sheriff’s Office always provides emergency service to residents and visitors of Haywood County 24 hours a day, seven days a week year-round.

Lake Junaluska will hold its second-annual Beautification Day Thursday, April 12. Members of the community are asked to join the Lake Junaluska staff and residents in an effort to add to the natural beauty of Lake Junaluska through the completion of low-cost, high-impact projects, such as clearing brush, power washing signs and buildings and many more beautification projects.

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

At 2:30 p.m., volunteers will celebrate their accomplishments when they return to Kern Auditorium, where they will enjoy a slideshow of the beautification that has taken place.

Volunteer forms are available at www.lakejunaluska.com/beautification.

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Franklin Daybreak Rotary Club’s annual spaghetti dinner will be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday, March 30, in Franklin.

Money raised will help Rotary continue its support of worldwide and local programs such as Boy Scout Troop #235, New Century Scholars, Care Net, the Community Garden, FHS’s Interact Club and more. Tickets are available from club members and at the door. Adults $10; children under 10 years old $5. Take out is available.

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A Sibshops is set for 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, March 31, at New Covenant Church in Clyde. Sibshops are a support, information and recreational opportunity for siblings of children with special needs to come together to share concerns, to play games and make new friends. Sibshops offer peer support as well as an opportunity to learn more about their siblings’ disabilities. Pre-registration is required. 828.456.8631 ext. 39.

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The Bryson City Rotary Club is hosting a foreign exchange student at Swain County High School for the 2012-2013 school year. The club is currently seeking host families. As a host family you will provide room and board for three to four months, supervise the student just as you would your own children, involve the student in family activities and chores, and enrich the exchange experience by including the student in family, community, and cultural activities. Host families are not compensated financially. The program is run entirely by dedicated volunteers, which helps keep costs low.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 864.207.6507.

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The first annual Swain County Wedding Expo is scheduled for 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday, March 31, at the Nantahala Village Resort and Spa located on N.C. 19 West. Though the emphasis is to promote Swain County and Bryson City as a destination wedding experience, local brides can also benefit from the expo as many local bakeries, caterers, florists and more will be on-hand to showcase their wares. Admission is free and door prizes will be drawn throughout the day. 828.488.3681or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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The second-annual Wesley Golf Classic is set for 1 p.m., April 14, at the Lake Junaluska Golf Course. This will be a Captain’s Choice tournament, kicking off with a shotgun start. The entry fee is $50 for individuals and $200 for a four-person team. All funds raised at the event will benefit the ministry outreach of the Wesley Foundation at Western Carolina University. Registration forms can be found at www.wcuwesley.com under the “News and Information” tab.

Haywood County will again honor its men and women who have served in the military with a Memorial Day Parade at 11 a.m., May 28, on Main Street in downtown Waynesville.

The parade will feature several National Guard and Reserve Units, as least one color guard, Civil War reenactors and Veteran organizations in Haywood County. In addition the 440th Army National Guard Band of North Carolina will participate, as will the ROTC Units from Pisgah and Tuscola high schools. Vintage military vehicles and motorcycles are also welcome.

Any veteran who wants to be in the parade should contact the Veterans Office. Veterans can walk or ride on a float in the parade. Bleachers will also be set up in front of the courthouse for disabled veterans who cannot walk or ride in the parade.

828.452.6634.

A workshop designed to help businesses develop and market their products and services is set for 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 19, at the Fryemont Inn in Bryson City.

The North Carolina Division of Tourism and the Blue Ridge National Heritage are sponsoring the session.

Representatives from the division will be on hand to discuss services they can provide businesses including strategic planning, assistance with identifying funding sources and serving as liaisons with other local, state and federal agencies.

919.733.7502 or Eleanor Talley  at 919.733.0869.

Western Carolina University will throw open the doors to campus and invite residents in on Thursday, March 29.

“Community on Campus” is designed to provide residents of Western North Carolina a chance to discover the range of entertainment, cultural, health and learning opportunities available at WCU. The event are part of a week of activities surrounding the installation of David Belcher as WCU’s new chancellor.

The event will include self-guided tours that will allow participants to visit new campus facilities, learn about the region’s Cherokee heritage and review the scholarly and creative achievements of WCU faculty.

Visitors also will be able to take advantage of a $4 all-you-can-eat dinner at the Courtyard Dining Hall, receive free health screenings and pick up discount coupons for an upcoming movie screening.

The evening will conclude with a free concert by the WCU Wind Ensemble and Symphony Band at the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m.

David Belcher will be installed as chancellor of Western Carolina University during a traditional ceremony, capping a week of activities in late March designed to highlight and celebrate the accomplishments of the university’s students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners.

Thomas W. Ross, president of the University of North Carolina system, will preside at the installation ceremony, scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 29, in the Liston B. Ramsey Regional Activity Center.

The installation ceremony is the traditional academic ritual at which the chancellor takes the oath of office. The event is typically attended by UNC system officials, state legislators and other elected state and federal officials, academic delegates from other institutions across the nation and around the world, representatives of professional organizations and honor societies, and members of the campus and surrounding communities.

Learn how to deal with debt in a free money-management class for women only being held from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at City Lights Cafe in downtown Sylva.

Mountain BizWorks is hosting the program, which is sponsored by OnTrack Women’s Financial Empowerment Center.

The class addresses the financial and emotional impact of being in debt and discusses the options for managing your debt.    

Space is limited and pre-registration is required.

828.631.0292 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The political season is in full swing with a slew of campaign forums and meet-and-greets taking place.

The biggest event will feature candidates running for U.S. Congress from 7 to 9 p.m. April 4 in Haywood Community College’s Charles Beall Auditorium. Eight Republicans hoping to take U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler’s seat in Congress have committed to the forum.

Of the three Democratic candidates, Cecil Bothwell and Thomas Hill both have said they will attend. Presumed front-runner for the Democratic ticket, Shuler’s chief of staff Hayden Rogers, has not said he will attend.

Mountaineer Publishing is spearheading the forum. The forum will be videotaped and broadcast multiple times on the government access channel in Haywood County. Those with specific topics or issues they would like considered as candidate questions are asked to email them to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Here are other opportunities to meet candidates:

• At 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 29, come to Nutmeg Bakery in Maggie Valley to meet three Republican candidates running against each other in the primary for the state House of Representatives. Michele Presnell, Ben Keilman and Jesse Sigmon are squaring off in the Republican primary for N.C. House seat 118. The winner will go on to face Rep. Ray Rapp, D-Mars Hill, in the general election. Other Republican candidates who will be there include Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, and N.C. House 119 candidate Mike Clampitt of Bryson City.

• Joe Sam Queen, a Democratic candidate for N.C. House 119, will host a Bluegrass Brunch with waffles and all the fixins’ from 9 am until noon on Saturday, March 31, at The Banquet Hall behind Dominos in Sylva. Music will be provided by The Smoky Mountain Highlanders. 828.452.1688 or joesamqueen.com. A meet-and-greet with Queen will also be held from 5 until 6:30 pm on  Thursday, March 29, at the Lake Junaluska Golf Course Clubhouse.

The town of Dillsboro will host its 24th annual Easter Hat Parade on April 7.

The parade, a Dillsboro tradition, begins at 2 p.m. and showcases a variety of interesting hats atop participants of all ages, including pets.

Judges select the best hats in more than 20 categories, including: biggest, smallest, funniest, best smelling, “poofy-est,” most creative, most spring-like and most outrageous. Last year, there were nearly 250 entrants in the contest.

In addition to an array of colorful hats, the parade features vintage cars provided by the Old Timers Model A Club and the Mountaineer Antique Auto Club. The Easter Bunny makes an appearance as well, riding in antique convertible car.

Folks are encouraged to arrive early and spend the day. Easter egg hunts for children begin at 10:30 a.m., along with hat-making sessions at Dogwood Crafters.

Dogwood Crafters will also present an English tea at the famous Jarrett House Inn. Tea and food will be served on fine china, with the artisans from Dogwood Crafters showcasing their cooking skills. There will be two seatings — 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. — and cost for the tea is $12 per person.

Dillsboro is a walkabout mountain village featuring an array of unique shops, arts & crafts studios, restaurants and inns.

800.962.1911 or www.visitdillsboro.org.

The Creative Thought Center is hosting its monthly Colossal Garage Sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 31 on Pigeon Street in Waynesville.

The sale is held indoors and offers a diverse range of items from clothing at 2 for $1 and books at 50 cents to furniture and kitchen accessories, all priced for any budget. Among these items are a glass dining room table, an L-shaped office desk set, three antique saddles and a dresser

The Creative Thought Center is located at 449 Suite D, Pigeon St.

828.246.2794.

Frank Brannon Jr., proprietor of SpeakEasy Press in Dillsboro, will demonstrate “How to Make and Print Photopolymer Plates” at 6:15 p.m. on April 3 at Swain County Center for the Arts in Bryson City.

Anyone who is interested is invited to attend the demonstration free of charge.

Photopolymer plates is a contemporary process of image-making that Brannon uses in the printing courses he teaches at the Oconaluftee Institute for Cultural Arts in Cherokee. The demonstration will include how these plates are made and printed and how they can be combined with metal printing type to print text in English or in Cherokee. Those in attendance will have the opportunity for some hands-on experimentation if time permits.  Information will be given on where the plates can be bought and how to make and print them in your home studio using the sun, a piece of mylar and a sharpie pen.

The limited edition letterpress books that Brannon produces are held in several special collections in libraries in the United States and in England as well as in private collections.

828.488.7843 or www.swain.k12.nc.us/cfta.

Dancers and musicians in colorful traditional costumes from New Zealand, France, Belgium, Indonesia, Peru, Philippines, Serbia, Puerto Rico, Ukraine and Hawaii are expected to appear in more than 70 performances during this year’s 29th annual Folkmoot Festival.

The two-week event will take place July 18-29 in Western North Carolina. Folkmoot performances can be seen in 14 cities, including Maggie Valley, Clyde, Waynesville, Asheville, Hendersonville, Franklin, Burnsville and now Cherokee. Cherokee has been added to as a new venue this year.

Other changes in 2012 include a date change for International Festival Day to July 21, the first Saturday of the Folkmoot Festival. The date had formerly fallen on the last Saturday of the Folkmoot event. However, Haywood County Arts Council, who has run International Festival Day even longer than Folkmoot has existed, decided to make the switch to draw a larger audience. The same weekend, Waynesville will host the Parade of Nations on July 20 and Waynesville’s Friday Night Street Dance that evening..

The Folkmoot 4K Race and Kids Fun Run is scheduled on July 14 this year — a full week before the Folkmoot Festival begins. The course is also changing to include Waynesville’s Main Street.

Maggie Valley’s Stompin’ Ground will hold the Gala Preview Performance and Reception for donors and sponsors of the festival on July 19. Anyone can attend this exclusive all-group performance.

Folkmoot was designated North Carolina’s Official International Festival and has been “One of the Top Twenty Events in the Southeast” by the Southeast Tourism Society for 21 years. Folkmoot USA attracts 100,000 visitors to Western North Carolina, helping local communities receive more than 4 million tourism dollars each year.

www.FolkmootUSA.org or call 877.365.5872.

Nearly 700 students from local elementary schools filled the seats of Western Carolina University’s John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center on March 15 for a performance aimed at educating and entertaining children.

The show consisted of a reading of Jean de Brunhoff’s “Story of Babar” by WCU junior musical theater major Jonathan Cobrda, with music by Francis Poulenc and projected illustrations accompanying the reading.

Included in the performance was a demonstration and lesson in the woodwind instrument family. Members of the quintet explained and introduced their individual instruments as the children listened intently.

Brad Martin, associate professor of music, said that he would like to do another performance in the Asheville area, though nothing has been planned.

“All in all, it was a great field trip,” said April Ferguson, a second-grade teacher at Cullowhee Valley School, who added that she would take her class to future events like this performance.

828.227.3726 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

ActionFest returns to Asheville on April 12-15 to once again showcase the most exciting action films from around the globe and feature live stunt performances.

The festival will also continue to pay tribute to Hollywood’s stunt men and women, fight choreographers, and 2nd unit directors.

Haywire star Gina Carano will be the recipient of the inaugural Chick Norris Award at the 2012 festival. The Chick Norris Award honors the Best Female Action Star of the year, in a play off the attitude, spirit, athleticism and grit of Hollywood legend Chuck Norris, who was awarded ActionFest’s inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010. This year, that honor goes to the legendary stuntman Mickey Gilbert.

ActionFest is the only international film festival devoted exclusively to action cinema and its unsung heroes, the men and women who put the action into action films. The 2012 film line up, information about celebrity attendees, and badge sales are upcoming at www.actionfest.com.

The HART Studio Season will conclude with a return of the popular improvisational comedy troupe The Oxymorons at 7:30 p.m. on March 30 and 31. Tickets are $10 for all adults and $6 for students.

The audience plays a major role by throwing out suggestions, and the troupe invents scenes and situations based on what they hear. The Oxymorons have built a strong reputation for keeping their audiences in stitches. The group includes John Bardinelli, Sarah Felmet, George Heard, Forrest Livengood, Graham Livengood, Kristen Pallotta and Strother Stingley.

With the close of the studio season, HART will begin gearing up for the opening of its main stage season, which begins with the local classic “Look Homeward Angel” on April 27.

828.456.6322 or www.harttheatre.com.

The Haywood Arts Regional Theatre will hold auditions for its May production of the musical “The Marvelous Wonderettes” at 6:30 p.m., April 1 and 2.

The show has leading roles for four women, ranging in age from teens to 30, who will comprise a 1950’s rock ‘n roll girl group. The first act of the production takes place at a 1958 high school prom, and the second act is the 10th reunion. Each act features hit songs from the era.

Mark Jones will direct the production, which will run for three weeks beginning May 25. Actors auditioning as professionals should come with a headshot and resume as well as a prepared audition piece. Community theater actors should come with sheet music and a prepared song. All actors will be given the opportunity to read from the script. Anyone interested in working backstage on the production is also encouraged to come by during auditions to sign up.

The HART Theatre is located on Pigeon Street in Waynesville.

The newest brewery on the block is whittling down its homebrew recipes in the hopes of pinpointing its four flagship beers.

Staff at Headwaters Brewing Company on Frazier Street in Waynesville served up 10 different recipes — everything from a light, crisp beer to a dark, creamy brew — to more than 60 people at a private tasting Saturday, March 26.

Attendees ranked the beers name, look, tasted and said how tempted they would be to buy a particular ale.

Business partners and brewers Kevin Sandefur and Heidi Dunkelberg plan to debut their concoctions to the public later this year.

The Haywood County Arts Council’s Quilt Trails project will dedicate the “Grandmother’s Dream” quilt block at 11 a.m. on March 31 at the Dawson Family barn at 200 Feather Lane in Waynesville. The public is invited to attend.

The Haywood County Quilt Trails project consists of quilt patterns painted on wooden blocks and installed on barns, buildings, shops and homes around the community.

Raymond and Kathy Dawson selected the “Grandmother’s Dream” quilt pattern to honor the memory of Kathy’s great-great grandmother, Anna Schneider — a hard-working, generous and gallant lady who loved sewing and working with her hands her entire life.

828.452.0593 or www.haywoodarts.org.

Tickets for this year’s Taste of Chocolate Plus are now on sale at Fun Things Etc., Quilter’s Quarters, Blue Ridge Books and Maggie Valley Club.

The event is now expanded to include non-chocolate bakers this year, and it’s not too late to sign up to bake your favorite chocolate or desert recipes. The Taste of Chocolate Plus will be at Maggie Valley Club from 6-9 p.m. on April 21 with Ray Lyon at the piano, silent auction and lots of chocolate.

Proceeds from the event go to connecting volunteers in the community as well as helping people on Medicare through the North Carolina SHIIP program.

828.356.2833

Cherokee resident Darrin Bark will represent Southwestern Community College and the Oconaluftee Institute for Cultural Arts at the North Carolina Excellence in Community College Awards ceremony on April 19 in Raleigh.

Bark graduated in December with his associate in fine arts degree from OICA and will be honored as one of the state’s top community college students.

“OICA has given me the insight of how important the arts are to a culture,” Bark said. “I wanted to be a part of an exciting new school, which promotes Native American culture.”

Since he was a kid, Bark has been interested in art and used it as a form of escape for him. Most of his artistic ideas come from life experiences, focusing on inspiration from history, music, other artists and from emotions and the need to express them.

Bark will continue his education this fall at Western Carolina University.

A workshop on “Dynamic Warm Ups for Every Runner” begins at 9 a.m., Saturday, March 31 at Jus’ Running on Merrimon Avenue in Asheville.

Dynamic stretching can enhance performance, decrease risk of injury and takes little time before that big or small run. Cost is free, classes fill up early.

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