Food is the ultimate tie that binds

About a month ago, my neighbor sent a text asking if I wanted some of her fresh basil which was…
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The unlawful use of force

The recent history of international relations is fraught with examples where the sanctity of law has been compromised for political…
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Ancient wisdom prevails over modern bravado

If you’ve never been exposed to Daoism (commonly known as Taoism), now may be the time to intentionally engage with…
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A call to action in WNC

October marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), a time to raise our collective consciousness about family violence in our community…
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Ten minutes with Rep. Edwards is very revealing

To the Editor: Last week I met with the Rep. Chuck Edwards of the N.C. 11th District for a short…
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Don’t be fooled by force, be fueled by power

Force is not the same as power.   Jesus exuded power. Nelson Mandela exuded power. Mother Theresa exuded power. Our current…
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Dictators love to blame ‘The Boogeyman’

President Donald Trump recently cast the Democrats as “the party of hate, evil, and Satan.” This incendiary language serves a…
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How being authentic can unite us

There for a minute, the world-at-large and its illusion of doom almost forced me into a chrysalis. I was on…
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Despite tepid D.C. response, the work goes on

It was a time and a place, and now that place is gone. Or is it? I came across some…
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To move forward, we must look back
 

To move forward, we must look back

Last September, my family was gearing up for our first “leaf season” (and apple season, and hayride season, and football…
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A love letter to friends across the aisle

Dear friend, We are living in tumultuous times, and I’m writing to say I am sorry. I know I’ve done…
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‘Big Beautiful Bill’ will be ugly for Jackson County

To the Editor: Last week at the Jackson County commission meeting, we heard some truly disturbing news about the ways…
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‘High vibe’ is the truest way forward

There are people who elevate the energy in a room and those who deflate it. Some folks radiate joy and…
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Tit-for-tat gerrymandering wars won’t end soon

Congressional redistricting  — the process of drawing electoral districts to account for population changes — was conceived by the Founding…
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The time of year for new beginnings
 

The time of year for new beginnings

Can you feel it? Can you see it?  The slightest bit of crispness has crept into the air. A tiny…
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A mission to make sure local news survives

A large majority of U.S. adults (86%) say they at least sometimes get news from a smartphone, computer or tablet,…
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We have more power than we realize

I once spun my wheels searching and seeking an experience outside of myself or something big and expansive to find happiness.…
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Find time to stop in the woods and breathe

It started as a ripple softly lapping against my back as I pulled into the driveway of our quiet mountain…
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A win for open records, a warning to charter schools

A judge’s ruling earlier this month that ordered Shining Rock Classical Academy — a charter school in Haywood County —…
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Finding our authentic selves isn’t selfish

As I age and evolve, I realize more and more why it’s so important to be fully authentic, not only…
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The basis of moral behavior is innate

To the Editor: What I dislike about the American Christian Right is what I dislike about Jeff Minick’s book review…
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Hands off our parks, our foreign guests and our narrative

To the Editor: In compliance with Executive Order 14253, an official sign has now been posted in the Oconaluftee Visitors…
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July 4 in a polarized, politicized era

Can my patriotism be politically neutral, separated from my country’s actions if I disagree with those actions? Can it be…
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Celebrate our country, not the president

Growing up, my family spent every July Fourth at Ocean Lakes Campground in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. We had a…
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RFK Jr. promotes dangerous vaccine misinformation

As a retired physician assistant who devoted a long career to public health in Macon County, I am deeply concerned…
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Leaving FRL just doesn’t make sense

Citizens and constituents of Sylva, I’d like to offer you an apology. In fact, I owe you two. All Sylva…
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Common sense needed in library debate

I have supported libraries in WNC for over 12 years and been a lifelong library patron. I support all viewpoints…
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Aligning with the blue zones

With each passing year, I think more and more about the longevity of life. When I was young, I couldn’t…
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Cheers to 26 years of Smoky Mountain News

My office is cool and our building on Montgomery Street in Waynesville is quiet. Almost everyone who works at The…
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A singular focus on slowing down the summer

I recently found my old CD album, the giant book of plastic sleeves that many of us tediously curated back…
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Sylva statue demeans Memorial Day display

To the Editor: On Memorial Day — a holiday that originally honored Union soldiers who died defending the principles enshrined…
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It’s FRL that may be limiting library funding

Let's be clear. No one is “attacking” libraries because we all support the basic function of a true library which…
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Finding space for two emotions at once

Growing older isn’t all bad. My grandparents once gave me nuggets of wisdom and I would look at them and…
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Managing the visitor experience is no easy task

I’m sitting alone in the cockpit of the boat anchored at Cape Lookout National Seashore off the coast of North…
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Lessons learned from garden gnomes

The garden gnomes stared at me from our cluttered carport, dirty and bored, no blooming flowers to observe or tomato…
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Jackson commissioners’ plaque removal a mistake

To The Editor: I appreciate your straightforward and informative coverage of the removal of the plaque over Sylva Sam’s Confederate…
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As Earth Day nears, let’s talk plastic pollution

Picture this — your bottle of body wash, discarded and forgotten, now sits floating in the Pacific Ocean, mingling with…
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Stand against partisanship in schools

It’s been a few weeks since I wrote a column for this space. Instead, we’ve been fortunate enough to print…
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When it comes to libraries, let’s keep the faith

Growing up as an educator’s daughter, I spent afternoons running the halls of my mom’s school with the other teachers’…
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Lying about Social Security isn’t the answer

As an attorney, I have direct experience and the unique point of view that comes from working with the Social…
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Slow down and be more adventurous

Is it just me or, as we get older, doesn't it seem like time moves at warp speed? When I…
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Bringing it back to center, back to home

Recently I caught up with several good friends over lunch and, within 20 minutes, we divulged huge life news that…
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Library employees are a dedicated lot

When I worked at our Macon County library, I saw its many uses. Library workers are a special breed that…
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Letters reflect engaged community

In the 26 years we’ve been publishing this newspaper, I don’t think we’ve ever had the onslaught of letters to the…
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Loving the locals — then, now and always

This past weekend our family attended the 4th annual Waynesville Chili Cookoff Stroll in downtown. The event spanned the districts…
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With deep gratitude

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has been blessed by the extraordinary leadership of Cassius Cash, the second-longest serving superintendent…
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Let it find us doing ordinary things

The goal of a writer is to pen words that inspire, educate or entertain, but sometimes, when the world feels…
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Sen. Tillis is kissing Trump's feet

There’s no such thing as a self-made dictator. It takes more than a village to make one. Lawmakers and judges must cooperate…
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Support shelter staff and animals in Macon County

This is my response to an article in The Franklin Press following the December 10 meeting. The actions of John…
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America’s golden age, or Gilded Age?

Did anyone else watch the inauguration? I mean, I’m sure it was the biggest, best and most-watched inauguration in the…
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