The Great Smoky Mountains Association, a nonprofit that provides millions for visitor programs, conservation and special projects in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is getting a new director.

“Appalachian Christmas” at the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center will deliver the nostalgic charm of mountain hospitality to visitors on Dec. 11-13.

By Brent Martin • Guest Columnist

In recent months I have watched a tense and difficult relationship play out nationally between some members of the mountain biking community and advocates for Wilderness.  And over two years ago when the Forest Service began its management plan revision for the Nantahala-Pisgah National Forest, it appeared this would be the situation here.

To the Editor:

Thanks to many, many individuals and businesses, the 2015 Turkey Drive sponsored by the Maggie Valley Area Lodging Association was a success for the eighteenth year.

We did have a wrinkle this year: the bird flu caused a shortage of turkeys, so we substituted hams for the birds.

Your generosity again allowed us to deliver Thanksgiving baskets to the Department of Human Services headquarters. In turn, their employees along with their volunteers, distributed the food to 250 families meeting DHS criteria.

Without so many people and businesses from Western North Carolina as well as several from other states, this Thanksgiving effort could not have helped as many of our county’s needy residents. So once again, kudos to all who opened their hearts as well as their wallets to help their neighbors.

Tammy Wight

President

Maggie Valley Area Lodging Association

To the Editor:

In last week’s letter to the editor (www.smokymountainnews.com/opinion/item/16807), Mr. Jones commented on the politicizing of WCU. Let me encourage us all to think about his letter and what is also happening in our university system. 

Chancellors are getting raises the size of a faculty member salary times two while faculty have received a $750 payment to stay quiet last year. They took a 5 percent cut during the Bush recession and  have only gotten a 1 percent increase since. Retiring professors are finding starting salaries for replacements to be as much as $20,000 more than their current salaries. I have to wonder if these excessive salaries are derived from reduced faculty positions and stagnant faculty and staff wages. 

The North Carolina university system charges students a fee for recreation services. Those fees translate into millions of dollars that should be — and used to be — paid by the state. While the students are paying millions to the universities, the students who work on campus are paid minimum wage and are double taxed on their meal plans. Let’s all start driving around the North Carolina University campuses to protest our universities creating the same wealth gap as in much of corporate America. 

Furthermore, the movement to privatize our public education continues with BB&T placing “distinguished Libertarian” professor of Ayn Rand in the WCU School of Business while the Koch brothers use a Trojan Horse in the form of several million dollars for a Free Enterprise Center to potentially advance Libertarian principles. Will WCU take the 40 pieces of silver? 

The answer is affirmative, with the reasoning “we need the money.” The faculty senate voted against taking the grants. The state cuts funding and the free enterprise fanatics take advantage to further privatize public education. Will the new system president continue privatizing by using for-profit software giants to install e-learning and eliminating faculty positions to pay for the services?

Social justice is just as much an issue as minority students on many North Carolina campuses quietly talk about the abusive remarks they experience. Duke University students are actively engaged in the issue as are students and faculty at Appalachian State and UNC Chapel Hill. Isn’t it time students and faculty in our public school system from k-12 and higher education take the kind of action we witnessed at the University of Missouri? When the football team refused to play on Saturday, university leaders immediately made changes. The powerful listen when their sources of revenue are at risk. Anything less does not matter. How much change happened with the Moral Monday marches? How much happens with letters to the editor? The General Assembly is still up to its mischief. It has not changed because tax revenues are not threatened and business as usual has not been interrupted. 

Isn’t it time we the people of Western North Carolina become visible and take the kind of action that says “enough is enough” and motivates our leaders here to change?

Ron Robinson

Sylva

To the Editor:

It is time to wake up and take a big whiff of reality. The shape of our economy has shifted over the years and not for the better. I hear people say things like “If low-wage workers want to make more money they should get a real job.” But the reality of our current job market makes this impossible. Corporations have restructured and outsourced so many of our “real jobs” that many college graduates simply can’t get hired anywhere but in low-wage fastfood or retail jobs. 

I ask you why is this the case? In an age when corporations are consistently posting billion dollar profits, why do they refuse to pay their employees a living wage? Is it greed? Is it cultural bias? I can’t answer these questions, but what I can say is that more money finding its way out of offshore corporate accounts and back into our economy can’t be a bad thing.

While some companies have taken that bold step of becoming trendsetters by voluntarily raising wages, many more will reluctantly hold back until forced to change by legislation. But here we find that these money-hoarding corporations are suddenly willing to part with their hard-earned dollars to pay lobbyists who work to block those very laws from becoming reality.

However, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, I am hopeful and optimistic. I am hopeful because I know deep down in my heart that we are a good people. I know that we can, in spite of the media rhetoric, still empathize with our fellow human beings. I am optimistic because I know that many of us want to do the right thing and build a better society for everyone. 

Armed with hope and optimism, I decided to join a group of other concerned citizens in a drive-through protest in Asheville on a recent Saturday. We drove a circuit around the city passing through each McDonalds with a drive-thru and handed the employee at the window the seventeen cents the company would have to charge extra per meal to cover the raise in wages. Never mind the fact that McDonald’s could easily dip into its $6.5 billion in annual profits to pay employees better without a price hike.

With this knowledge firmly in mind, I encourage each and every one of you to also take action, be that a call to your state and federal representatives or simply spreading a message of positive change to friends and family. If each of us does even a small part we can make our country strong again.

Cory Lomax

Sylva

To the Editor:

As the U.S. Forest Service proceeds through the plan revision for the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests, it is a good time to reflect on the role that forest management can play in protecting environmental values while enhancing our regional economy. One example of how environmental values and our regional economy can both be improved is through integrated forest management that incorporates and restores mixed age stands and creates early successional habitat that is lacking throughout the region. Such a strategy would provide a sustainable source of harvestable trees for the local timber industry, and also provide unique habitat settings for a wide variety of native wildlife species such as ruffed grouse and some songbirds. 

Though the current Nantahala-Pisgah National Forests Management Plan covers 1,040,000 acres, only 800-900 acres have actually been logged annually over the last 10 to 15 years. More frequent harvests in targeted areas can be a valuable tool for increasing the pace and scale of restoration. 

Forest management at optimum levels will require staff resources within the U.S. Forest Service that are currently not available. Budget cuts continue to reduce staff numbers, and the remaining staff are increasingly needed for other duties, including wildfire control outside the region in various areas around the country. We need a forest management plan that addresses both economic and environmental issues, but it should be administered by an agency with the capacity to follow through and implement the strategies that are ultimately approved. 

I encourage everyone to visit the Forest Service’s website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/nfsnc/home/?cid=STELPRDB5397660 and learn about the forest management planning process and how you can be involved. There is a lot at stake for the economy and the environment.

Jason Love

WNC Public Lands Council

To the Editor:

I hope to be understood that my family is as pro-wireless communication as anyone in Cashiers. Verizon needs to find a new place to put its antennas because the tower currently hosting its antenna will have to move sometime late next year.

All the other carriers serving Cashiers have their antennas on a different existing tower behind Freeman Gas. That tower has room available and is willing to host Verizon’s antenna. Colocating there is the best place to put them, instead of on a new tower 12 stories tall to be constructed in the Gana Sita neighborhood.

Even if our neighbor’s 20-acre tract in Gana Sita were the best place for a new tower, it doesn’t have to be put in the far corner, next to two of our property lines. There is ample room. They have 20 wooded acres in which to work. It doesn’t have to go so close and in such an exposed place within our view corridor of surrounding mountain peaks, and that is exactly where it is currently proposed.

Alternate sites on the same parcel were reviewed by all interested parties last summer at the bidding of the Jackson County Planning Board. We felt a compromise was struck by moving the tower site only 250 feet southeast (or further), embedded in the woods and just slightly off the ridge line.  

It was and still is a reasonable compromise.

We were surprised to learn that, even after Jackson County Planning Board suggested that we find a compromise and consider moving the tower site, the big corporation that wants to build it refused to budge, even though it hurts our property value deeply.

We are asking the Jackson County Commissioners to deny the application for the proposed site, but not necessarily alternate, less harmful sites in the middle of the same parcel if Verizon doesn’t colocate on the existing tower behind Freeman Gas, or a less intrusive site for a new tower cannot be found.

We can do better when it comes to site location than what this global corporation wants to ram down our throats. We can still have good Verizon service in the Cashiers crossroads area without damaging neighboring properties. 

Please come to the public hearing at 11 a.m. on Dec. 10 and and the judicial hearing at 1 p.m. on the same day at the Cashiers Library. The public is welcome and so is your opinion.

Rick Barrs

Cashiers

To the Editor:

Below are several of the solutions proposed by many of the candidates running for president to end the terrorist threat in the United States. These solutions are backed by appeals to Americans’ patriotism, suggesting our very way of life as well as our safety is at risk. 

The people are rallied in support of a perceived common threat or foe of an ethnic and religious minority, in this case Syrians and Muslims. We must build up funding for a mighty military force, neglecting pressing domestic issues. Fear for our nation’s security and way of life is used to motivate public support and suppress civil liberties. 

Christianity is the most common religion in our nation. Several presidential candidates support suppression of religious minorities even though it violates our Constitution. The Supreme Court decision supporting “Citizens United” has resulted in the use of huge amounts of money to elect candidates to public office who support the above policies. Expensive advertising campaigns are used to smear opposition candidates.

The business aristocracy puts government leaders into power to create a mutually beneficial business/government relationship. Many state legislatures are dominated by politicians whose election campaigns were paid for by this wealthy minority. These legislators passed laws to redraw political district boundaries and manipulate election outcomes to favor their financial backers. Laws are passed to suppress voting by citizens opposed to the above policies. Labor unions, supporters of workers’ rights, are often eliminated or severely suppressed. 

Another related issue, supported by many candidates, would shrink government’s role in the economy. Proposals include privatizing social security and health care. If this were to happen, big corporations would reap huge profits and the average American would suffer.

The policies endorsed by many presidential candidates reflect basic tenants of fascism. Economic depression, a declining middle class, and international disgrace following World War I led to the rise of Adolph Hitler. Hitler was elected by popular vote in Germany, promising to make Germany great again. The people voluntarily surrendered their civil liberties and voting rights in exchange for Hitler’s rebuilding Germany’s military might and restoring economic prosperity by promoting the growth of private corporations. 

Will the majority of Americans support presidential candidates who endorse policies taking us down the same road?

Margery Abel

Franklin

Haywood County commissioners will hold a public hearing Dec. 21 regarding the construction of a new EMS headquarters beside the sheriff’s office in Hazelwood. 

Members of the public are welcome to provide feedback on the project before commissioners consider approving and executing an installment financing contract for $2.1 million to pay for the construction. 

Right now, the county’s ambulances, supplies, office spaces and storage are located in numerous places throughout the county. The new EMS campus, which will include ambulance and equipment bays and a 13,000-square-foot building, will provide a centralized home base for emergency operations. The new emergency management headquarters will be built on the site of an old state prison — 144 Hemlock Street — that was closed several years ago and acquired by the county for $1.

The public hearing will be held at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 21 in the Haywood County Historic Courthouse.

Blue Ridge Food Ventures and Ingles Markets announce the 2015 BRFV Holiday Market !!! 

North Carolina has issued a draft plan to comply with federal carbon-control rules, but the plan falls short of federal requirements for state carbon-control plans. 

That’s because North Carolina, along with 23 other states, has filed a lawsuit protesting Environmental Protection Agency rules that would restructure how energy is generated and consumed in the United States.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality — formerly known as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources — believes those rules are outside the authority the Clean Air Act grants. DEQ’s proposed rules only address its plan to make the state’s electricity generating units more effective. 

“The proposed rule will have very little, if any, environmental benefit, and many of the provisions regarding carbon capture and storage are overstated,” said DEQ Secretary Donald van der Vaart of the disputed portion of the federal rules.  “This rule will not achieve significant reductions in carbon dioxide emissions and relies on unproven technology that could be technically and economically impractical.”

Environmental groups, however, have decried the state’s plan as an ineffective document that is “designed to fail,” in the words of Gundrun Thompson, senior attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center. 

“It is disappointing to see the Department of Environmental Quality once again putting politics before pollution cleanup,” Thompson said, adding, “Instead of using the Clean Power Plan as a political football, DEQ should take advantage of the Clean Power Plan’s flexibility to design a plan that could continue boosting North Carolina’s clean energy economy.” 

DEQ is working on a backup plan should the lawsuit be unsuccessful.

The carbon control plan is currently out for public comment. Email comments through Jan. 15 to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

www.ncair.org/rules/draft.

Naturalist and historian George Ellison will preview his upcoming collection of essays, Literary Excursions, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.

A lawsuit alleging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is falling down on its job to protect the world’s only wild population of red wolves, which inhabit a five-county area in eastern North Carolina, has been filed by a trio of environmental groups. The suit questions why the USFWS has suspended the red wolf reintroduction program.

A rockslide has kept the 14-mile section of the Blue Ridge Parkway between Maggie Valley and Cherokee closed for a week and counting. 

A motorist discovered the slide at milepost 467 last Tuesday (Nov. 24) around dawn and reported it to rangers. At the widest and deepest spots, the slide is 30 feet wide and 8 feet deep. 

There is no expectation of additional slides in the area, but the entire 14 mile section of the parkway from Maggie Valley to Cherokee had to be closed — from milepost 455 to 469.

This time of year, all work is weather-dependent, but Parkway officials initially estimated it would take a week to clean the debris and stabilize the slope. If more stabilization is needed than originally thought, or if winter weather restricts access, the closure could take even longer. The Parkway will be doing the work using its own staff.

Rockslides happen more often in the winter than at other times of year because the often-daily freeze-thaw cycle of water in the cracks between rocks systematically weakens them and can cause slope failure. When cruising the Parkway, it pays to be cautious and watch out for loose and falling rock.

Meanwhile, repairs to a tunnel on the parkway around Mount Pisgah have caused a parkway closure between Waynesville and Asheville through spring. Repairs to the Buck Springs Tunnel at Milepost 407 have caused a closure from Milepost 405 where N.C. 151 intersects with the Parkway to milepost 408 near Mt. Pisgah. Before heading to the Parkway, check for closures at maps.nps.gov/blri/road-closures/. 

Crisp wintry weather makes for perfect sky-watching weather, and the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute in Rosman is planning a pair of opportunities for star-gazers to get their fix.

The final Art After Dark of the year will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, in downtown Waynesville.

To the Editor:

This is in praise of our new hospital, “new” meaning the Haywood Regional Medical Center, now run by Duke University and Lifepoint.

A couple of weeks ago, I had total hip replacement surgery, done by Surgeon Dr. Gerald King. He is superb! He also is a kind, compassionate, caring man who has genuine concerns about the welfare of his patients (I’m now calling him St. Gerald!).

The nursing staff of the fifth floor orthopedic wing was terrific. The anesthesiologist was terrific. The lady who cleaned rooms was terrific. The cafeteria staff was terrific. The physical therapist was terrific (and a special thanks to Mitch, the taxi driver.)

The picture is clear, is it not? You don’t need to go to Asheville. We have a great hospital right here.

Thanks to all.

JoAnna Swanson

Waynesville

To the Editor:

It is my understanding from an article written in the Asheville Citizen Times that Western Carolina University is considering the establishment of a Center for the Study of Free Enterprise at Western Carolina University. I also understand that this center would be established with $2 million in seed money coming from the Charles Koch Foundation.

As both an alumnus and a former faculty member of WCU, I have some questions and concerns. It is my understanding that the Charles Koch Foundation will provide $2 million in seed money to get the center going. I also note that the estimated budget for the new center will be $3.4 million per year. 

For the first year, where is this other $1.4 million to come from? The article quotes Dr. Edward Lopez, BB&T Distinguished Professor of Capitalism, as stating that the center will become self-supporting.  What is the time estimation on this and how much of the university budget of WCU will be tied up over this period of time until it does become self-sufficient? 

And thirdly, if the center is to become self-supporting, where is this money to come from?  We are looking at a cost of $1.4 million the first year and $3.4 million each year thereafter until such time as it becomes self-sustaining, whenever that might be.

Several years ago, WCU was offered money by a large bank (BB&T if I remember correctly), but with it came the caveat the book Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand had to be required reading. It was rejected by the Faculty Senate at that time as it rightly should have been. The educational policy of an educational institution does not need to be established by outside influence from non-educational institutions that are promoting their own economic and sometimes political agenda. All ideas should be open to discussion and inspection in classes at a university. I don’t know if the money from the Charles Koch Foundation comes with any strings or not. I think that is only part of the problem.

The public perception of the acceptance of this money will be damaging to the reputation of Western Carolina University. Faculty and staff have not received appreciable cost-of-living raises since 2008. The University of North Carolina system recently gave major raises to the majority of the chancellors of the system. I do not begrudge Dr. Belcher his increase. He was underpaid to begin with and is well worth the increase, but the public perception is bad. Tie this to the fact that the new president of the University of North Carolina system was obviously a political appointee, and that the self-sustaining Center on Work, Poverty, and Opportunity at UNC-Chapel Hill was closed within the past year, again for obvious political reasons, it gives indications of the politicization of the University of North Carolina system, at least in the public mind.

I am not sure that Western Carolina University wants to be a part of this perceived politicization. At least I know as an alumnus that this is something that I would not like to see happen. 

Luther Jones

Sylva 

Western Carolina University, in collaboration with the University of Central Florida and Florida Atlantic University, received $1.8 million from the National Science Foundation to support first-generation college students majoring in science, technology, engineering and math programs, better known as STEM. 

The grant will provide scholarships to students majoring in STEM disciplines and create an innovative living-learning community that will provide additional supports and opportunities for students to succeed and graduate in fields that drive innovation and economic growth.

First-year students will live in the same residence hall, take core disciplinary classes together, work with mentors and engage in a 12-week research apprenticeship with faculty. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Cheryl Fulghum, Haywood Community College’s distance learning coordinator, was recently named Innovator of the Year, Western Region by the NC Community College Association of Distance Learning.    

NC3ADL is an educational, nonprofit organization that supports and promotes distance learning (also known as e-learning, digital education, or digital learning). 

In addition to serving as learning management system administrator and distance education coordinator, Fulghum is tasked with providing professional development for faculty who teach online. 

Describing one aspect of her job as ‘cheerleader for faculty,’ the award was given for expanding her cheerleading focus for online instruction to include on-ground teaching topics. Fulghum and her Distance Learning team developed, coordinated, and staffed a wide-ranging schedule of professional development best practice workshops for faculty and staff covering many 21st century learning and teaching practices. 

I am not a big fan of the “don’t eat that” messages on Thanksgiving or the ones that try and shock you with “Did you know that ______has ____fat/calories/ingredients/additives?"

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation was recently awarded the Tourism Excellence Award from by the N.C. Travel Industry Association. 

“We’re so happy our mission to preserve and protect the Parkway results in visitors building a deep connection to this wondrous mountain landscape,” said a statement from the Foundation. 

A nonprofit that works to secure funding and carry out projects to improve visitor experience on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Foundation has given more than $9 million to Parkway projects and programs since its inception in 1997. 

www.brpfoundation.org/

The Blue Ridge Parkway is supporting fresh air over shopping malls to launch the Christmas season, offering two excuses to get outside and have fun rather than shop:

The Glance Cove Farm in the Crabtree area of Haywood County will keep its agricultural character for a long, long time following placement of a conservation easement using a $317,000 grant from the N.C. Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund.

A pair of tunnel closures on the Blue Ridge Parkway will impact travel and trail access beginning Dec. 1 and lasting through spring.

• Repairs to Buck Springs Tunnel at Milepost 407.3 will require a closure from Milepost 405.5 at N.C. 151 to Milepost 408.8 near Mt. Pisgah.
• Repairs to Tanbark Tunnel at Milepost 374.4 will require a closure from Milepost 364.1 at Craggy Dome Parking Overlook to Milepost 375.6 at Ox Creek Road.

“We recognize the popularity of these areas for local communities and the traveling public and we regret any inconveniences,” said Parkway Superintendent Mark Woods. “However, just as it’s important to take care of regular maintenance on your home, the historic tunnels on the Parkway require maintenance from time to time.”

The projects will involve repairs to deteriorating concrete tunnel liners, drainage systems, stone tunnel portals and the road surface. 

Real-time closure information for the Parkway is available at maps.nps.gov/blri/road-closures/. 

Santa Claus will start training for the big day with rappels down Chimney Rock 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, at Chimney Rock State Park.

A benefit for Cullowhee Mountain ARTS, the “Gala Imagine” will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, in the Grand Ballroom at Western Carolina University.

Award-winning bluegrass band Dailey & Vincent will kick off the holiday show season with their Christmas Show at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

To the Editor:

“I am a conservative Republican, a firm believer in free market capitalism. A free market system allows all parties to compete, which ensures the best and most competitive product emerges, and ensures a fair, democratic process,” said Sarah Palin. It’s too bad most elected Republicans disagree with Ms. Palin.

Take the pharmaceutical industry, for example. By law, Medicare cannot negotiate the price for prescription drugs. Whatever a drug company wants to charge that is the price we pay. This is the opposite of a free market. The cost of this policy is billions of dollars of extra costs to the U.S. taxpayers.  

Defenders of the pharmaceutical industry say they need the extra billions in profits to do research new drugs. The truth is that the drug industry spends 19 times more on marketing than on research and development. 

How much does your “bundle” cost? The telecom industry and its four corporate giants — AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, and Time Warner — have a virtual lock on the Internet backbone, the “pipes” that carry data. They control the price of access. In many cities there is no competition, you pay what they charge. We in the U.S. pay on average three times what other developed countries pay. A $150 bundle in North Carolina might cost $15 in South Korea, or $45 in England. 

Twenty-nine Republican House members have cosponsored “The Internet Freedom Act.” This law would preserve the monopoly and prevent regulation to force competition. Together, the 29 Republican cosponsors have received over $800,000 in campaign contributions from these four companies. I am sure they have no trouble paying their cable bill.

Power from the sun is free, except in North Carolina. The budget bill signed by Gov. Pat McCrory killed the alternative energy subsidies. Republicans say the solar industry is now mature enough to directly compete with coal and gas. Then the former Duke energy executive McCory signed HB 245, which forbids competition by third party solar companies. This bill effectively gave Duke Energy a monopoly on power generation in the state.

And now, Duke Energy has sued a small firm which installed a solar system on a small black church because it violated Duke’s new monopoly status. Let me get this straight; Republicans kill all solar subsides to create real completion in the solar industry , then make it illegal for companies to compete. Perfect!

Is this the kind of “free market capitalism” that the Republicans believe in? I wonder if Sarah Palin would agree. 

Louis Vitale

Franklin

To the Editor:

Here we go again. Another article (Nov. 18 Smoky Mountain News or at www.smokymountainnews.com/news/item/16735) regarding the annexation of Lake Junaluska that only shows one side of the issue, those who have been trying to get this through the legislature. I would like to shed some light on what I consider half-truths or perhaps mistaken innuendos that are stated in this article.

“Lake Junaluska homeowners still support it, too.” Partially true. Many homeowners support it, but there are also some who do not. Unfortunately there are also a lot of non-resident owners who don’t understand what is going on. This is a very important issue which those looking to annex do not want to discuss (more on this later). I personally spoke with some of these people over the summer.

“Clearly the expectation was we would be supported in finding a democratically determined outcome.” I find this statement particularly disturbing for two very important reasons. Our local state representative, Joe Sam Queen, supports the annexation. If the “pros” can be represented in Raleigh, isn’t it in the democratic process for those against it to have someone to represent us in Raleigh?  

Rep. Michele Presnell was lambasted in the article for her efforts to defeat this bill. “Her subversive role working against the merger was strongly suspected but difficult to prove ....” Sounds like she was really doing something horrible. No, it sounds like she is working for those of us who are against the bill. 

All of that brings me to the most important part of the democratic  process. Should this bill pass, it would then be voted on by the residents of Lake Junaluska and Waynesville who are legally registered in Haywood County. You know that word “disenfranchised” that we hear so much about when it comes to voting? Well, at least half of Lake Junaluska property owners would not be allowed to vote. Talk about disenfranchised voters on something as important as the issue of annexation!

Many of our former full-time residents are now in retirement homes or reside elsewhere but still retain their homes here and come to stay for a while. Some are still working, so they can only come up here for vacations. Some are retired but live in the eastern part of our state but like to come to cool off in the mountains in the summer. To not give these people the right to determine if they want to pay Waynesville taxes for the rest of their lives is anything but democratic. 

“... the community is at a loss to understand why a bill giving the community the right to self-determination was blocked.” As just, only half of the community would determine the destiny for all in the community.

We would not “be in limbo” if this annexation which has been going on for three years would be dropped and lets start planning for our future without Waynesville. Yes, our fees will go up, but I would rather pay money to our residential services and know my money was going for our water, sewer, roads, etc. We have nothing in writing that says what Waynesville will do once we start giving them our tax money, only promises, which could change in years to come.

By the way, we have a terrific residential services manager who in the year he has been here has cut our water losses greatly to acceptable standards, and done some major sewer improvements and more are in the works. Why do we need Waynesville?

Gretchen Branning

Lake Junaluska

To the Editor:

Currently, Jackson County’s Green Energy Park is not self-sustaining. Neither are parks and public schools. Perhaps if all children were homeschooled, the county could save millions of dollars. But they add intrinsic value to the community just like GEP.

GEP needs money from the county because the original plans were never realized. There were only two spaces available for artists for the majority of GEP’s existence: the metal shop and the glass torch studio. On a very limited budget Timm Muth was able to split off part of the metal shop to create a stained glass studio.

Had the original plans been adequately funded perhaps we would be welcoming more artists, tourists, and community members. Luckily the support of the current county board can help finish what was started years ago. 

Expanding GEP is feasible. It’s also an efficient way to recycle the methane gases from the landfill. We are ready to establish a board full of professionals — engineers, attorneys, accountants, and others — for the non-profit GEP so that we can apply for federal grants to make the GEP self-sustaining. 

We plan to investigate grants to place solar energy panels on the landfill and sell the extra energy to Duke Energy. Further, it’s better to convert the methane into usable energy instead of burning it off and adding to our greenhouse problems.

The potential of GEP will only be realized when given the resources to shine. With the support of the current county board, now is the time to finish what was promised over a decade ago.

Robert Estep

Whittier

(Editor’s note: Estep has been both a teacher and a student at the Green Energy Park in Dillsboro)

Shoppers are innundated with so much information on packaging these days that it can be confusing. It's important to remember that brands and suppliers will often put labels on packaging to attract your attention in an effort to sell their products. Let's try and makes some sense of what labels mean and which are just about the marketing.

A week of fall fun will celebrate Thanksgiving at Fontana Village, with a schedule of events including hiking, hunting and dancing from Wednesday, Nov. 25, to Saturday, Nov. 28. 

Here are some highlights:

• Wednesday, Nov. 25: A 7 p.m. campfire and marshmallow roast will offer a combination of comfy and cool. 

• Thursday, Nov. 26: A 2.5-mile hike around Fontana Village’s trail system will depart at 11 a.m. The evening will include clogging lessons, a hayride and a dance, with events starting at 4:30 p.m.

• Friday, Nov. 27: A pontoon boat ride around Fontana Lake will take place from 2-3 p.m. $15 adults; $7.50 ages 5-12. 

• Saturday, Nov. 28: A shooting range turkey shoot competition will start at 9:30 a.m.

www.fontanavillage.com. 

A survey to find out what can be done to make walking and biking in Franklin easier and safer is now online. 

The town is currently developing a bicycle and pedestrian plan to guide future investments in facilities, which could include everything from expanded sidewalks to bike lanes to signs. A grant from the N.C. Department of Transportation is supporting the initiative, with matching contributions from the town. 

Information and a link to the survey are available at www.bikewalkfranklin.wordpress.com. 

Fish habitat and the brook trout populations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park got a $19,000 boost thanks to a donation from the Little River Chapter of Trout Unlimited, based in Maryville, Tennessee. 

The money will support brook trout restoration efforts and internships with the park’s fisheries management crew. Due to destructive logging practices in the early 20th century and competition from non-native rainbow and brown trout, brookies have taken a beating over the past century. Since 1987, the park has actively worked to restore the native trout to its historical range, restoring more than 27 miles of habitat in 11 streams since that time. 

“Trout Unlimited continues to be a champion of the Smokies fisheries program,” said Superintendent Cassius Cash. “We are grateful not only for this generous donation, but also for the countless hours of hands-on volunteer labor served in the park.” 

A total $30,000 in grants for Appalachian Trail related projects in North Carolina is up for grabs thanks to proceeds from the Appalachian Trail specialty license plate.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy will accept applications through Jan. 8. 

Projects could include work on the trail and its facilities, natural heritage, environmental monitoring, education, partnerships and public service projects.

Funds must be spent in North Carolina, and individual requests can’t top $5,000. Last year, A.T. license plate sales in North Carolina generated $115,000, supporting the grant program, land acquisition and work in the ATC’s Southern Regional Office.  

www.appalachiantrail.org/plates.

If a bill recently introduced to Congress passes, a federal fund used to support parks and open spaces across the nation could be dismantled. 

The Land and Water Conservation Fund lapsed on Sept. 30 when Congress failed to reauthorize it. The program had set aside $2.46 million per day to fund projects such as trails, playgrounds and recreation centers in nearly every U.S. county. 

Some Republicans opposing reauthorization argue that the law needs overhauling. A significant portion of the funds should go to state and local projects, they say, and the money should be used mainly to maintain existing park infrastructure rather than to purchase more land, which they argue takes away from the local tax base. 

U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, has introduce a bill that would extensively rework the program, angering many environmental groups. 

“Americans in virtually every county of the United States enjoy trails, playgrounds and recreation centers paid for by the Land and Water Conservation Fund and overwhelmingly support the continuation of the program as is,” said a statement from The Wilderness Society. 

A map of projects funded by the Land and and Water Conservation Fund — including many in Western North Carolina is available at www.wilderness.org/mapping-land-and-water-conservation-fund-lwcf.

Former Congressman and Brevard resident Charles H. Taylor was recently named 2015 North Carolina Tree Farmer of the Year by the N.C. Forestry Association in recognition for a long career in forestry.

Cataloochee Ski Area opened for the winter last weekend, kicking off the first run of the season at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 15.

The rare green salamander had never been documented in the Highlands area before, but a September excursion to the Overflow Wilderness Study Area in the Nantahala National Forest resulted in an exciting discovery.

The 14th annual “Stecoah Arts & Crafts Drive About Tour” will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 27-28 in Bryson City, Stecoah and Robbinsville.

The performance of “Tuscola Loves Broadway, 50 Years of Celebration!” will be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 21 and 2:30 p.m. Nov. 22 at the Tuscola High School auditorium in Clyde.

Presented by the Tuscola High School Choral Department, the will feature romantic Broadway hits. They will perform several group numbers including "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" from Lion King and "Seasons Of Love" from Rent. There will be individual performances from many Broadway shows including Phantom of the Opera, Annie Get Your Gun, Les Miserables and Wicked.

Tickets are $10 and include a dessert and drink at intermission. They are available at the door, through any Summit member or by calling the school at 828.456.2408. 

When purchasing tickets, you can name your favorite Summit student and they will receive a portion of the ticket sale to be used for their trip to Disney in December where they will sing at Epcot's Candlelight Procession with 200 other voices from around the country.

828.456.2408.

Country singers Kaitlyn Baker and Reagan Boggs will host a viewing party for the Baker/Boggs episode of “Song of the Mountains” at 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, at the Tap Room Sports Bar & Grill in the Waynesville Country Club.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in commercial and backyard poultry flocks, wild birds, or captive wild birds in 21 States. With the last case of the spring outbreak identified in June 2015, a total of 211 commercial and 21 backyard poultry premises had been affected. 

This resulted in the depopulation of 7.5 million turkeys and 42.1 million egg-layer and pullet chickens, with devastating effects on these businesses, and a cost to Federal taxpayers of over $950 million.

Raising backyard poultry is a growing trend across the United States and Macon County in particular. It is very important for all backyard poultry owners to know the signs of Avian Influenza, as well as the basic “biosecurity” steps you can take to protect your birds. Signs/symptoms to look for in birds include:

• Lack of energy and appetite;

• Decreased egg production or soft/misshapen eggs

• Swelling of the head, eyelids, and comb;

• Purple discoloration of the wattles, combs and legs;

• Stumbling, falling down, diarrhea;

• Sudden death.

By following good biosecurity practices, you can reduce the chances of a disease being carried to your farm, your backyard, your flock, or your pet birds, by people and animals. The six basic steps for protecting your birds include:

• Isolate your birds from visitors and other birds;

• Prevent germs from spreading by cleaning shoes, tools and equipment; clean vehicles and cages;

• Avoid sharing tools and equipment with neighbors;

• Watch for early signs to prevent the spread of disease;

• Report unusual signs of disease or unexpected deaths.

919.733.7601.

Station manager Robert Lowe hopes to have Swain County’s first FM radio station up and running by next week.

A group of Whittier farmers hoping to turn the vacant Drexel factory into an agricultural resource got a nod of support from Jackson County commissioners this week.

What’s the difference between organic and non-gmo (not genetically engineered)? 

I frequently hear from people who believe that there are various health attributes associated  with products that are labeled “organic” or “non-gmo”  but this is not the case nor is it the intent of those labels.  Let’s look at some facts:

A celebration for friends of Outdoor Mission Camp, based in Maggie Valley, will be held 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, at the camp’s base on 3190 Fie Top Road.

More than 200,000 LED lights will illuminate the gardens of the N.C. Arboretum starting Nov. 20 for the second annual Winter Lights showcase.