Jackson County Americana/rock ensemble Fuzzy Peppers will hit the stage at 8 p.m. Friday, March 14, at Lazy Hiker Brewing in Sylva. 

Americana/bluegrass act the Darren Nicholson Band will hit the stage for an intimate performance at 5 p.m. Friday, March 14, at the Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley. 

The following literary events will take place at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.

• Wayne Caldwell, author of "River Road," a poetry collection, will read at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22. 

Western North Carolina Republican Congressman Chuck Edwards will host an in-person town hall on Thursday, March 13, from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Ferguson Auditorium at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College.

Haywood County Democrats are gathering at precinct meetings beginning March 16 and ending March 30. A precinct is an area in which all voters go to a single place to cast their ballot on election day. 

Haywood Health Foundation (HHF) announce its Request For Proposals (RFPs) for grants relating to unmet healthcare needs in Haywood County. 

He now has big shoes to fill, but Waynesville officials think interim Fire Department Chief Chris Mehaffey has what it takes to guide the department into its next era. 

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation received the 2025 Outstanding Public Engagement Award from the Public Lands Alliance (PLA) during the organization’s annual convention and trade show in Las Vegas.

Birds face a number of threats during their long migration journeys, but you can help by simply turning off unnecessary lights at night and advocating for your neighbors, employer, or local government to do the same. 

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Extension office is hosting a workshop to teach people about the preservation of heirloom seeds.

Heirloom seeds help to ensure future generations maintain a reliable food supply, support financial self-reliance, preserve agricultural heritage and reflect cultural traditions. 

Simon Thompson, an international birding expert, will discuss surprising effects of climactic changes on North Carolina’s and the world’s wild bird populations. He will speak to the WNC Sierra Club at 7 p.m. on April 2, in the UNCA OLLI/Reuter Center, at 300 Campus Drive. 

Folkmoot USA will present a special evening of live music with Blue Pipa Trio at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 13, at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville.

Dubbed “From Harlem to Shanghai and Back,” the performance is a dynamic fusion of jazz history and Chinese tradition.

There will be a special stage production of “Something Rotten Jr.” at 7:30 p.m. March 14-15 and 2 p.m. March 16 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville. 

The Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) will host the opening reception for a specially curated exhibit featuring the works of celebrated visual artist and author Ann Miller Woodford from 5-8 p.m. Friday, March 7, at HCAC’s Haywood Handmade Gallery in downtown Waynesville. 

Singer-songwriter Wyatt Espalin will hit the stage at 5 p.m. Sunday, March 9, at Mountain Layers Brewing in Bryson City.

Born and raised in Hiawassee, Georgia, Espalin has been entertaining audiences since he was eight years old.

The Haywood Community Band is a welcoming haven for musicians of all skill levels rekindling their love of creating powerful music.

If you played a band instrument in the past, you’re welcome to attend rehearsals and see if the community band is where you’d like to perform in a respected music group.

Tim Earley and Max Hipp will host a reading and book signing at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 8, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. 

Collectors of paintings and drawings by Macon County resident/artist Ernest “Rocky” Harvey Allen, Jr. will be exhibiting their “Rocky” pieces at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin during the month of March. 

Beloved Southern Appalachian Americana/bluegrass act Unspoken Tradition will perform at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 9, at the Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center in Franklin. 

Learn to build bridges of peace, share strategies for peace and be a peacemaker at the upcoming SEJ Peace Conference set for April 4-6 at Lake Junaluska. 

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is extending the physical damage loan deadline for disaster declarations affected by the 2024 federal funding lapse. The new deadline to apply is April 27, 2025. 

The WNC Nature Center will reopen to the public March 17, five and a half months after closing due to the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene, which caused significant flooding that destroyed roads and the main bridge to the Nature Center. 

The Mountain BizWorks Electrify Fund has launched to connect Western North Carolina businesses and nonprofits with affordable financing for clean energy and efficiency investments. The program will support healthy communities and economic growth by helping organizations reduce energy costs and rebuild with resilience. 

It has been months since Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina and recovery is still ongoing throughout the region. Many residents and growers had devastating losses, but work is under way to rebuild and move forward in 2025. 

The George Masa Foundation announced that the winning photographs from the inaugural George Masa Foundation Youth Conservation Photography Prize are on display at The North Carolina Arboretum’s Baker Building through April 30. 

The Town of Waynesville Parks and Recreation is looking for 15 new lifeguards to train and certify at no cost.

This presents a great opportunity to develop valuable skills and enjoy a meaningful summer or year-round job, possibly at the Waynesville Recreation Center.

The North Carolina Arts Council has awarded $915,000 to nonprofit arts organizations in Western North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene.

The grants utilize funds from the North Carolina Arts Foundation’s North Carolina Arts Relief Fund, the National Endowment for the Arts and South Art’s Southern Arts Relief & Recovery Fund. 

Kristen Gentry and Halle Hill will read from and discuss their story collections, “Mama Said” and “Good Women,” at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, at Western Carolina University’s Hunter Library (Room 186) in Cullowhee.  

Pisgah High School’s art department is in need of a working kiln, leaving students without the opportunity to explore ceramics — a transformative art form that fosters creativity, confidence and hands-on skill development. 

A special stage production of “The Story of My Life” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28, March 1 and 2 p.m. March 2 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville. 

A special stage production of “Solstice: A Winter Circus Experience” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, in the Bardo Arts Center Performance Hall at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. 

The Haywood County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council announced $182,420 in funds available for 2025-27 from the Department of Public Safety for services for juvenile court-involved youth in Haywood County.

The Town of Waynesville has named Assistant Fire Chief Chris Mehaffey as the town’s interim chief.

“Assistant Chief Mehaffey has demonstrated exceptional dedication and professionalism throughout his tenure, making him a natural choice for this important role,” said Town Manager Rob Hites in a press release.

The Haywood County Republican Party will hold its annual convention on March 1 at the Historic Haywood Courthouse, 216 N. Main St., in Waynesville. Registration begins at 10 a.m. and closes at 10:45 a.m.

The Waynesville Rotary Club will offer a Poor Man’s Supper from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 6 at the First United Methodist Church to benefit Waynesville Rotary community projects.

Six Heritage Christian Academy (HCA) middle school students competed and placed in the top of their respective categories at the Region 8 Western Regional Science and Engineering Fair on Feb. 14, at Western Carolina University.