Coming together: 'Rock for Relief' rolls through WNC

When record-breaking floodwaters tore through Western North Carolina last month in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, it was only a matter of days thereafter that the seeds for the “Rock for Relief” concert extravaganza were planted and grew at a fast pace. 

This must be the place: 'Such a long time to be gone and short time to be there'

Hello from Section 117 at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. I’m here on assignment covering the “Concert for Carolina,” a flood relief fundraiser put together by country megastars and Western North Carolina natives Eric Church and Luke Combs. Some 82,000 folks filled the outdoor venue, while around $25 million was garnered during the performance. 

‘Haywood Heroes’ welcomes Brothers Gillespie

Presented by Axe & Awl Leatherworks and powered by the Historic Frog Level Merchants Association, the “Haywood Heroes” flood benefit concert will be held from 3-8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, onstage in front of Axe & Awl on Depot Street in Waynesville. 

HART presents ‘The Mousetrap’

A special stage production of Agatha Christie’s legendary whodunit “The Mousetrap” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8-9, 15-16 and 2 p.m. Nov. 10 and 17 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville. 

Waynesville art walk, live music

A cherished gathering of locals and visitors alike, “Art After Dark” will continue its 2024 season from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1, in downtown Waynesville. 

Ready for the Rotary Club turkey trot?

“First the huffin’, then the stuffin’.” 

That’s the motto for the Waynesville-Sunrise Rotary Club’s fourth annual 5K turkey trot, held 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 28, at Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center. 

This must be the place: 'Don't it make you feel bad, when you're tryin' to find your way home'

(Editor’s Note: Amid the chaos of the recent floods from Hurricane Helene, this column wasn’t able to run in the Oct. 2 issue of The Smoky Mountain News due to space issues in the midst of crisis.)

Hello from Room 13 at the Seabirds Motel in Kure Beach, North Carolina. Saturday morning.

‘Rock For Relief’

In the wake of the devastation left behind by Hurricane Helene, “Rock For Relief: A WNC Flood Benefit Festival,” an all-day musical gathering for charity, will take place Saturday, Nov. 2, at a variety of venues in Waynesville, Maggie Valley, Canton and Sylva. 

We’ll get through this, but we’ll need help

We’ve had more than a week of picture-perfect fall days, usually a part of the recipe for a busy, successful tourist season. But there’s an unshakeable uneasiness among the business community since Helene, and especially in Haywood County. I hope elected leaders take note. 

State and feds look to head off economic disaster from Helene in Haywood

With the North Carolina General Assembly’s preliminary $273 million relief bill in the rearview mirror, Western North Carolina Sen. Kevin Corbin (R-Macon) is looking down the road at the General Assembly’s next move — a billion-dollar relief bill coming Oct. 24. During a recent meeting with Haywood County officials, Corbin spent about an hour trying to learn what, exactly, the needs are.  

“I can promise you what you won't get,” Corbin said. “You won't get things you don't ask for.”

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