Community almanac
Southwestern Commission announces new round of grants
The Southwestern Commission announced a new Revitalization Microgrant Program, funded through the Duke Foundation, that will provide $1,000 to $5,000 grants to small businesses that need assistance with expansions, upgrades to technology or storefront improvements.
These funds will focus on small businesses in Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain and Clay counties.
Please note that businesses in communities that have been previously awarded these funds through the Duke Foundation will not be eligible for funding through this grant cycle.
Learn more by visiting regiona.org/microgrants.
Enjoy ‘Games & Things’ at the Bryson Library
The Marianna Black Library in Bryson City will host Games & Things at 1 p.m. on the third and fourth Thursdays of the month. Board games, puzzles and other things like arts and crafts.
The library will have BINGO Sept. 19 and 26.
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In addition, the library will collect new and gently used blankes and clothing throughout the fall and winter months to donate to local places of interest.
There is a drop box in front of the circulation desk.
For more information call the Marianna Black Library at 828.488.3030.
The Marianna Black Library, a member of the Fontana Regional Library, is located in downtown Bryson City at the corner of Academy and Rector.
Sylva Lutheran church celebrates anniversary
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Sylva will mark its 50th anniversary with a Festival Worship service on Sunday, Sept. 29. This special service commemorates exactly 50 years since the church's official Organizing Worship in 1974.
The celebration will feature Rev. Phil Tonneson as guest preacher. Rev. Tonneson, an assistant to the bishop for the North Carolina Synod, has long-standing ties to Shepherd of the Hills, particularly through his involvement with Campus Ministry and Appalachian ministry.
The Festival Worship service will begin at 11 a.m. and is open to all. Following the service, attendees are invited to join in a celebratory lunch, providing an opportunity for fellowship and shared memories.
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church is located at 749 Highway 107 in Sylva.
For more information about the celebration and other church activities, visit shepherdofthehillssylva.org.
FUR hosts 9th annual Barnyard BBQ Blast
Feline Urgent Rescue will be hosting its 9th annual Barnyard BBQ Blast fundraiser from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13. The lunch this year features barbeque from local business Ben’s Backdraft BBQ, which has been generously donated to the event.
The event will start off with FUR’s annual meeting, which everyone is welcome to attend. During that time, FUR will discuss what has been accomplished in 2024, the current status of the cat sanctuary and future projects and goals.
Lunch will be served at 1:30 pm. There will be music, “purr-tastic” raffles and “a-meow-zing” silent auction items!
Tickets are available online at furofwnc.org/events or in person at either of The Dog House locations in Waynesville or Canton and at the Smoky Mountain Dog Bakery in Waynesville.
Tickets are $35 and include one plate of food and unlimited non-alcoholic beverages (sweet and unsweet tea, water and coffee). A cash bar is also available with beer and wine.
Sponsorships are available for $150. Sponsorships include two plates of food, four drink tickets for beer or wine and published acknowledgement.
“We look forward to this event every year” said Lisa Sanborn, event co-coordinator and FUR Board President. “This event really brings our supporters together as a community. Everyone bonds over great food while supporting FUR and the work that we do to help cats in our community.”
Featured in FUR’s Silent Auction will be cross stitch artwork “Charisma”, handmade by FUR volunteer coordinator Cindy Horton. This cross stitch piece, with nearly 28,000 stitches and 43 different colors, took five months to complete.
“Cross stitching is like my meditation,” Horton said. “I love seeing the piece coming together stitch by stitch, and knowing that my art supports a good cause makes it all worthwhile. Just like all of the wonderful cats at FUR, cross-stitched Charisma deserves a good home where she will be loved.”
All proceeds benefit Feline Urgent Rescue (FUR) of Western North Carolina, a nonprofit dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of abused, abandoned and neglected cats in Western North Carolina.
The event will take place at Barn Star Events, located at 2430 Jonathan Creek Road, Waynesville.
For more information or directions, visit the website or call 844.888.CATS (2287).
Haywood Pathways Center faces financial challenges
Over the past decade, Haywood Pathways Center has been a beacon of hope for individuals and families in need, providing shelter, meals, and a pathway to stability. Since its inception, Pathways has helped countless people transition from homelessness to stable housing, find employment, and rebuild their lives — largely without taxpayer money.
In 2023 alone, thanks to the contributions from donors, Haywood Pathways Center was able to plate 106,494 meals, provide 23,389 nights of shelter, 321 nights of emergency cold-weather shelter and serve 295 unique individuals, including 206 men and women, 33 parents and 56 children. Additionally, 62% of individuals and 73% of families who resided at Pathways successfully exited to housing or moved back in with family, while 72% of residents now have a stable monthly income, with 51% employed — 79% full-time.
Despite these successes, Haywood Pathways Center is currently facing serious financial challenges. In response, the Pathways Board has implemented a contingency plan. If cash resources dip below $100,000, steps will be taken to cut costs — including suspension of the operation of the Holy Cow Food Truck, which currently serves 500 free meals weekly, by Sept. 1, and possibly closing the family shelter, which currently houses seven families, including nine children and three newborn babies.
Please consider making a donation to Pathways today to ensure that shelter, meals and hope remain part of the Haywood County community.
For more information or to make a donation, please visit haywoodpathwayscenter.org or contact Executive Director Mandy Haithcox at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 828.246.0332.
Vaya Health announces NCQA accreditation
Vaya Health is officially Interim Accredited by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), as of Aug. 1. NCQA Health Plan Accreditation improves operational efficiencies and satisfies state requirements for health plans that earn the credentials.
NCQA is a private, nonprofit organization with a central mission to improve health care quality. The organization works to highlight top performers using measurements, transparency, and accountability to drive improvement.
Its Health Plan Accreditation program is an industry-leading certification that carefully assesses the structure, process, clinical quality, and patient satisfaction of health plans. More than 192 million people are enrolled in an NCQA-accredited health plan.
The NCQA Interim Health Plan Accreditation program focuses on basic structure and processing to meeting expectations for consumer protection and quality improvement. Moving forward, Vaya Health will participate in the Health Care Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS), one of health care’s most widely used performance tools. HEDIS includes over 90 measures across six domains of care, with focused results on clinical performance and patient experience.
Primary care practice opens in Macon County
Davis Medical PLLC is proud to announce the opening of its new Direct Primary Care (DPC) practice, revolutionizing healthcare delivery in Macon County. Located at 55 Medical Park Drive Suite 118, opening Nov. 18, 2024, the new practice has started accepting patients, offering a membership-based model that provides extensive services at a significantly reduced cost compared to traditional practices.
Members of Davis Medical PLLC can expect same-day or next-day appointments, management of chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, urgent care, sports medicine and more. The practice also offers specialized services including emergency preparedness medications, travel medications, testosterone replacement therapy and peptide therapies for weight loss.
An open house event will be held on Nov. 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., where community members can tour the facility, meet Dr. Davis, and learn more about the benefits of Direct Primary Care.
For more information or to become a member, visit davismedicalpllc.com or call 828.371.6317.
Great Smokies Health Foundation announces new director
The Board of Directors of the Great Smoky Mountain Health Foundation announced the selection of Shelley Carraway as the new Executive Director of the Foundation. Carraway began her new role on Aug. 1.
Before assuming this new role as Executive Director of the Foundation, Carraway served in various public health and healthcare administration positions in county and state government over a span of nearly 30 years. Most recently, she served as Health Director at the Jackson County Department of Public Health until her retirement in September 2023.
Carraway has broad and specific knowledge of public service and healthcare service delivery issues. She has experience in grant management with both private and federal programs. She has spent her career in public management, priding herself as a collaborative team player in the efforts to address the continuing, dynamic challenges facing our community’s health.
Cultural resources grants awarded
The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC) approved $40,000 in Cultural Resources focus area grants in July for general operations to eight craft organizations across WNC. CFWNC awards discretionary funding in Education, Cultural Resources, Human Services, and Natural Resources.
Cultural Resources grants are made through competitive and proactive awards. Competitive general operating grants are distributed according to a rotating schedule and through an expedited application. Proactive applications may be invited for unique projects or programs that address the Cultural Resources focus area goals.
Unrestricted gifts of $5,000 were awarded to:
• Asheville Glass Art School dba North Carolina Glass Center, serving Buncombe, Madison, Henderson, Jackson, Haywood, Yancey, McDowell and Mitchell Counties
• Center for Craft, serving the WNC region
• Clay County Historical & Arts Council, serving Clay County
• Local Cloth, serving the WNC region
• Open Hearts Art Center, serving Buncombe County
• Rutherford County Visual Artists Guild, serving Rutherford County
• The Bascom, serving Jackson and Macon counties
• Tryon Arts and Crafts, serving Polk County
Franklin welcomes tech service company
The Franklin Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed Wired to the Franklin Chamber Membership with a ribbon cutting celebration. Wired is located at 121 Highlands Road and is owned and operated by Nathan LiBasci.
“At Wired, we specialize in providing top-notch tech services across three main areas, ensuring that technology works seamlessly for you, not against you,” LiBasci said. Those areas are business IT services, home tech services and in-shop computer services.
Learn more about Wired’s services at wiredinc.com or call at 828.349.0101.
Community hospitals celebrate awards
Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital were pleased to hold another celebratory luncheon last week in honor of staff members who recently reached significant milestones in their tenure as employees of the hospitals.
Service awards for staff and providers are typically given on a monthly or bi-monthly basis, depending upon the timeframe for staff anniversaries. Individuals are honored for their service in five-year increments.
Those honored at this month’s celebration included:
• 5 Years of Service: Aleisha Evans, Imaging; Sheila Haigler, Harris Pulmonary & Sleep Associates; Steve Zimmerman, Harris Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine
• 10 Years of Service: Mariana Da Costa, Nursing; Stephanie McCall, Harris Regional Cancer Center; Kezia Waldroup, Ambulatory Infusion
• 15 Years of Service: Kristyn Holland, Laboratory
• 20 Years of Service: Kevin Ray, Respiratory Therapy
• 25 Years of Service: Matthew Cammisa, Surgical Services; Stephanie Conner, Intensive Care Unit
• 30 Years of Service: Ronnie Kelly, Clinical Informatics; Tina Fisher, Laboratory; Tony Belcher, Harris EMS
Leaders from the recognized individuals’ departments took time to share remarks highlighting their team members’ dedication to their role and the organization, after which CEO Ashley Hindman presented each honoree with a plaque signifying their years of service.
“Many exceptional professionals have committed their careers to delivering compassionate, high-quality care at our hospitals,” said Hindman. “It's a privilege to recognize and thank them for their dedication at every milestone.”
Haywood to host school supply giveaway
Local families will have the chance to receive free backpacks and school supplies Aug. 14.
The event, sponsored by First United Methodist Church, Blue Cross NC, Healthy Blue, Women of Waynesville, Pisgah Legal Services and Mountain Projects, will also offer free food from Holy Cow food truck.
It will run from 4-6 p.m.
Civil War roundtable at the Waynesville library
The Western North Carolina Civil War Round Table continues its 2024 series of programs on Monday, Aug. 12, at 7 p.m. with a presentation by Jim Woodrick. The program entitled “Under a Hot Mississippi Sun, the Siege of Jackson,” will take place at the Haywood County Public Library in Waynesville. The program is free and open to the public.
The talk will highlight the travails of Jackson, Mississippi. Even after a grueling 47-day siege at Vicksburg, the U.S. Army did not rest on its laurels. Just 50 miles away in Jackson, a Confederate army still posed a threat to this hard-won victory. In the second week of July 1863, General William Tecumseh Sherman marched Union troops to Jackson. After a weeklong siege under a hot Mississippi sun, the Confederates abandoned the city, leaving the fate of Jackson in the hands of Sherman's troops. The presentation will recount the destruction that followed and then the rebirth of Mississippi's capital.
A native of Mississippi, Jim Woodrick went to Millsaps College in Jackson, graduating as a Political Science major. He would later go on to spend more than two decades at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History in the Historic Preservation Division. He has found great joy in working with educational and preservation groups like the Blue and Grey Education Society and the American Battlefield Trust and has for many years been a Licensed Battlefield Guide at the Vicksburg National Military Park.
The WNC Civil War Round Table meetings will continue Sept. 9 with Ed Lowe speaking about General Longstreet and the Knoxville Campaign. All these meetings are free and open to the public. More information about programs and field trips with the Roundtable can be found at wnccwrt.com.
Lake Junaluska welcomes John Wells
John Wells, who served as president of Methodist Church-affiliated Emory & Henry College in Virginia, has joined Lake Junaluska as director of advancement.
“We are excited to welcome John to the Lake Junaluska community to lead our advancement opportunities. He has extensive fundraising experience, has served in leadership roles in The United Methodist Church, and has a historic connection to this special place,” said Ken Howle, executive director of Lake Junaluska.
As president of Emory & Henry College for the past five years, Wells has overseen dramatic growth in student enrollment, the addition of campus facilities, improvement of reputational measures, fundraising increases, development of new academic offerings and upgrades to the college’s intercollegiate athletics program.
In addition to his career in academia, Wells has held several positions with the United Methodist Church, including associate general secretary for the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the worldwide UMC and executive secretary of the National Association of Schools and Colleges of the UMC. Throughout his career, he has pastored small Methodist churches, including serving as interim pastor of two UMC churches in the Western North Carolina Conference.
Throughout much of his career in higher education, Wells has had responsibility for leading fundraising activities.
Wells said that he is excited to join the existing team at Lake Junaluska and is looking forward to playing a role in fulfilling its mission.
“In my capacity as a fundraiser for Lake Junaluska, I want to lean into the strategic priorities already identified through careful reflection on the part of the Lake Junaluska leadership. By improving and preserving this good place, it is my hope that Lake Junaluska can continue to be an oasis of hope where donors are assured that their philanthropy is genuinely making a difference,” he said.
Games and things at Marianna Black Library
The Marianna Black Library in Bryson City will be hosting Games & Things on the third and fourth Thursdays of the month at 1 p.m. Board games, puzzles and other things like art (painting) and/or crafts. On Aug. 15 and 22, there will be BINGO. The library is a safe place to gather and enrich lives with fun and creative activities.
The Marianna Black Library, a member of the Fontana Regional Library, is located in Downtown Bryson City at the corner of Academy and Rector. For more information or driving directions please call the library 828.488.3030.
Mental health workshop in Franklin
Managing mood disorders can be a balancing act.
Now, a course at the Macon County Library will provide information about the role medications play in maintaining equilibrium. It also teaches the importance of observing medication responses and monitoring for side effects. A review of alternative evidence-based strategies to support mood stabilization is also covered.
This is a free event at the Macon County Public Library facilitated by the Vaya Health GERO team. CEU’s are provided through NC Department of Health and Human Services.
The workshop will run from noon to 2 p.m. Aug. 13 at the library’s Living Room.
Anyone interested in attending can register by visiting the library, calling 828.524.3600 or visiting vayahealth.com/calendar.
Canton hosts National Night Out
Come out to Sorrells Street Park in downtown Canton from 5-8 p.m. on Aug. 6 to build relationships with the law enforcement officers who keep our communities safe.
According to a flyer promoting the event, National Night Out is also an opportunity to “bring back a sense of community.”
Waynesville church hosts exhibit of The Saint John’s Bible Prints
Waynesville’s Grace Church in the Mountains will host an exhibit featuring 20 gallery-sized prints from The Saint John’s Bible, the first hand-written and illuminated Bible since the invention of the printing press. The exhibit will be open to the public from Aug. 11–Sept. 22.
The Saint John’s Bible is a modern masterpiece that combines ancient techniques of illumination and calligraphy with contemporary themes and technology. Its intricate illustrations and exquisite craftsmanship have captured the awe and admiration of viewers worldwide. This exhibit offers an exceptional opportunity to experience these masterpieces up close. Commissioned by Saint John’s Abbey and University, this hand-written and illuminated Bible aims to ignite the spiritual imagination of people across the globe.
In addition to the prints, Grace Church in the Mountains will have on loan a copy of the Gospels and Acts from The Saint John’s Bible, which will be used for liturgical purposes throughout the exhibition period.
For more information and exhibit hours, please visit gracewaynesville.com or contact Grace Church in the Mountains, 394 N. Haywood St. at 828.456.6029 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Local writers to read at folk school
The next Literary Hour at the John C. Campbell Folk School will feature two talented North Carolina writers Kathleen Calby and Karen Luke Jackson. The Literary Hour, sponsored by the North Carolina Writers’ Network-West, meets on campus in the Keith House at 7 p.m., Thursday, July 18.
Poet Kathleen Calby lives in Hendersonville and hosts biweekly events for the North Carolina Writers Network. Kelsay Books published her chapbook “Flirting with Owls” in 2023. A Rash Poetry Award Finalist in 2022, she has been published in Connecticut Review, New Plains Review, Heimat Review and other journals and is finishing a full-length poetry collection about a journey to Egypt. Calby says she enjoys fried chicken and biscuits a bit too much and strenuous hikes not enough.
Karen Luke Jackson's stories, essays and poems have appeared in numerous journals including the Atlanta Review, Susurrus, Reckon Review, Braided Way and Nobody’s Home. She has also authored three poetry collections. A member of the North Carolina Writers’ Network and the North Carolina Poetry Society, Jackson draws inspiration from contemplative practices, clowning, family lore and the goats grazing beside her cottage in Flat Rock.
The Literary Hour is free and open to everyone. It is offered every third Thursday of the month through November and brings local writers to the campus to share their work with the community. Students and faculty of the school are welcome to attend the readings.
Macon County hosts community shred event
From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. On Monday, July 29, there will be a community shred day event at town hall in Franklin. This is sponsored by Civic and Local Government Credit Unions.
Museum hosts brick fundraiser
The Haywood County Historical & Genealogical Society is seeking support to raise funds for repairs of The Museum of Haywood County History at The Shook Smathers House by hosting a brick fundraiser.
The Society is a volunteer-run nonprofit organization that operates the museum in the circa 1795 historic house built by Jacob Shook. The Museum has multiple rooms representing various aspects of county life including a military room, a pioneer women’s room, an industrial room and a communities room which highlights the many rural communities in Haywood County. Many of the artifacts date back to the early 1800s and the third floor features a chapel that was used for worship during that period.
Two sizes of bricks are offered: a 4”x8” ( $100) and an 8”x8” ($225). They may be purchased through the Society’s at nchchgs.org/brick-fundraiser.
Bricks can be engraved with a business, family or association’s name, in memory of a loved one or to honor someone special. The bricks will be used to repave the existing entrance walkway to the Museum.
The Museum is located at 178 Morgan St. in Clyde and is open for tours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Advance arrangements can be made to schedule a tour on a different day by calling 828.564.1044. Brochures for the brick fundraiser may also be picked up at the Museum if online purchasing is not a preference.
Tax-deductible donations can be made by mailing a check payable to HCHGS and mailed to P.O. Box 444, Waynesville, NC, 28786.
Franklin welcomes new clothing company
The Franklin Chamber of Commerce welcomed November South Clothing Company to the Franklin business community. NSCC is located at 133 Commons Drive just down from Hellcat Tattoos.
NSCC features Berne Work Apparel, as well as a variety of casual clothing for both men and boys.
SCC is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m to 4 p.m. Drop by and welcome them to our business community.
Roundtable to center on contested borderlands
The Western North Carolina Civil War Round Table continues its 2024 series of programs on Monday, July 8, with a presentation by Brian McKnight. The program entitled “Contested Borderlands,” will take place at the Haywood County Public Library in Waynesville.
During the four years of the Civil War, the border between eastern Kentucky and southwestern Virginia was highly contested, alternately occupied by both the Confederacy and the Union. Though this territory was sparsely populated, the geography made it a desirable stronghold for future tactical maneuvers. As the war progressed, the Cumberland Gap quickly became the target of invasion and occupation efforts of both armies, creating a chaos that would strain not only the soldiers but all those who called the area their home.
Dr. Brian McKnight will share his research into the tensions between the accomplishment of military goals and the maintenance of civilian life in the region. Dr. McKnight teaches history at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise. He has published several articles and books including Confederate Outlaw: Champ Ferguson and the Civil War in Appalachia, Contested Borderland: The Civil War in Appalachian Kentucky and Virginia and The Guerrilla Hunters: Irregular Conflicts During the Civil War.
The program will begin at 7 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
More information about programs and field trips with the Roundtable can be found at wnccwrt.com.
Waynesville VFW to host Jeep Show
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 5202 is hosting its inaugural Jeep Show in conjunction with WNC Jeepers on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, at the VFW (216 Miller St., Waynesville) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
There will be prizes, raffles, music and food. Registration is $20 per Jeep and is open to the public. Guests are encouraged to attend, view the Jeeps, vote for Fan Favorite and take part in the raffles.
All proceeds from the event will go to support the veterans the VFW serves and its annual scholarship and recognition programs.
Haywood Farm Bureau awards scholarships
Established more than 20 years ago, the Haywood County Farm Bureau scholarship program assists graduating seniors who have a financial need as well as a demonstrated history of community service with the cost of obtaining a college education. Recently, the Farm Bureau awarded scholarships to four students — Emily Ferguson, Taylor Sollie, Jacob Mills and Rylee Shoaf. To be eligible, students must be residents of Haywood County and graduating seniors currently enrolled in a Haywood County high school or in a two or four-year post-secondary school with a GPA of at least 2.5.
Students must also be studying some form of agriculture, such as agri-business, environmental engineering, food science, beef cattle or dairy farming, agriculture education, horticulture, landscape architecture, soil science, agriculture technology, ag-mechanic technician, animal science, farm and ranch management, forestry, agriculture journalism, ag-safety and health, agriculture resource management or other related fields of agricultural study. Haywood County Farm Bureau members or their children are given first consideration. Scholarships may be renewed annually, contingent upon funds available, continued post-secondary enrollment and the student’s good standing as confirmed by a transcript of the previous year’s work. To learn more about the Haywood County Farm Bureau or the scholarship program, contact North Carolina Farm Bureau County Liaison Mandy Stasi at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Enjoy Lake Junaluska’s recreation opportunities
Lake Junaluska’s Summer Activities Program has kicked off the season with a slate full of activities for people of all ages.
New this year is a revamped recreation area featuring bocce ball, cornhole and shuffleboard courts, plus a new sidewalk that better connects the playground to the Lake Junaluska Outfitters’ swimming pool and kayak, canoe and paddle board area.
Equipment for the new games may be rented at the Lake Junaluska Outfitters window, which is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
Now in its 11th year, Lake Junaluska’s Summer Activities Program begins in late June and continues through early August.
Also, this year, the Summer Activities Program is offering the following:
• Paddle to the Cross, 8:30-9:30 a.m. Wednesdays, June 19 through Aug. 14. Paddle to the Cross from the Boat Beach for a devotional. People can bring their own boat or rent one at Lake Junaluska Outfitters. Advanced registration is required at bit.ly/PaddletotheCross.
• Storytelling and Music Around the Campfire, 8 p.m. Thursdays, Shackford Firepit, June 27-Aug. 15. Enjoy s’mores, music and storytelling. Bring a chair.
• Summer Worship Series, 9 a.m. Sundays, June 30-Aug. 16, White Lakeside Tent. Enjoy an outdoor worship service with music with our visiting theologians-in-residence. Bring a chair
• Monday Morning Devotions, 8:30 a.m. Mondays, July 1-Aug. 12, Harrell Center back balcony. Devotionals led by our visiting theologians-in-residence.
• Yoga at the Lake, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Inspiration Point, July 2, 16, 23 and 30; Aug. 6. (No class on July 9.) Participation fee. Register at bit.ly/yogathelake.
• QiGong for Energy and Vitality | Nourish Soul, Mind and Body, 10 a.m. Wednesdays and 7 p.m. Fridays, July 3-Aug. 16, outdoor lawn near Memorial Chapel. Register at bit.ly/qigongatLJ.
• Family Games Tournament, 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 24, shuffleboard, corn hole and bocce ball. Register online at bit.ly/familygamestourney.
• Will it Float? 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14, Boat Beach. Bring your best homemade, manned watercraft. No motors allowed and watercraft must float. Register online at bit.ly/buildurboat.
Additionally, Lake Junaluska Outfitters rents kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, PDFs and paddles for beginning and experienced boaters. Guided cruises are offered aboard the Cherokee IV pontoon boat from 1-8 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays, weather permitting.
Lake Junaluska offers lodging specials to make it easy for the whole family to stay.
For more information about Lake Junaluska’s Summer Activities Program, visit bit.ly/LJ_SAP24.
Mariana Black Library hosts fitness classes
The Marianna Black Library in Bryson City has Fitness Classes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1 p.m. Fitness is known to build strength and energy, help with focus and assist with weight loss. This program has cardio, stretching and strength training. Classes allow participants to work out at their own speed with no pressure. The class is free and open to ages 16 an up. Ages 12 and over must be accompanied by an adult.
Franklin welcomes new pottery gallery
The Franklin Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed Limberlost Pottery to the Franklin business community.
Limberlost Pottery has three resident potters who work in the attached studio and each has a unique style and expertise. All three offer functional pieces for the home.
In the gallery, you can find other art such as paintings, turned wood bowls and fiber. The shop’s hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Macon launches health assessment survey
Over the next few weeks, Macon County residents will play a crucial role in helping Macon County Public Health (MCPH) identify important health needs in our community and the surrounding area. MCPH has collaborated with the national research firm PRC based in Omaha, Nebraska, to conduct the Community Health Assessment (CHA) survey with western North Carolina (WNC) residents between April and October of this year. The confidential survey will ask about residents' health, behaviors, and experiences. Randomly selected households will receive a call from “WNC Health” and the survey will take around 20 minutes to complete.
Macon is one of 18 counties participating in the CHA across WNC. The survey covers various health-related factors, including demographics, socioeconomics, health status, disparities, behaviors, clinical care, physical environment and quality of life. This data is the basis for efforts to prioritize and address health challenges over the next three years.
Macon plays a vital role in the regional CHA strategy, which is led by the WNC Healthy Impact initiative, a collaborative endeavor involving hospitals, health departments and dedicated partners committed to enhancing community health across the region. The Community Health Assessment is generously supported by the hospitals of Western North Carolina and bolstered by contributions from the Dogwood Health Trust and aims to collect comprehensive data essential for understanding and addressing regional health challenges. The WNC Community Health Assessment survey, made possible through this collective funding, equips stakeholders, including valued funders, healthy impact partners and policymakers, with invaluable insights to guide targeted public health interventions for the betterment of residents across WNC.
Residents can also contribute through an online survey option at prcsurvey.com/begin/wnc2024.
