ViolettesbyBecky.com, a music-themed gift company, held its third annual Youth Composition and Songwriter Competition for ages 10 through 18, with scores and recordings submitted online. 

The ceremonial Cherokee bonfires will kickoff the summer season on Friday, May 27, at Oconaluftee Island Park in Cherokee. The bonfires run from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday from May 27 through Oct. 1.

The Unto These Hills outdoor drama will run at 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday from May 28 to Aug. 13 at the Mountainside Theater in Cherokee.

Haywood County’s young artists got some recognition for the T-shirt designs they dreamed up to celebrate Kids in the Creek, an annual feet-in-the-water education experience for eighth-graders.

Runners from up and down the East Coast converged on Waynesville this month to try their stride at the Gateway to the Smokies Half Marathon, but local runners came out on top once all 110 runners crossed the finish line May 14. 

A new home for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s collection of artifacts and archives recently opened its doors in Townsend, Tennessee. 

A new farmers market will launch in Cashiers this week, providing a weekly supply of local foods from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays through the end of the growing season at the Village Green of Cashiers.

An up-close glimpse of creatures such as the Eastern screech owl and Northern bald eagle will show birds of prey in their full glory at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 26, at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

See old-time remedies in action with a demonstration by Smokies naturalist Ila Hatter, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 28, behind the historic courthouse in Bryson City. 

Delayed-harvest trout waters will open for the summer on Saturday, June 4, giving anglers the chance to catch a dinner from the state’s 34 streams and two lakes falling under the designation.

Western Carolina University came in on top in an online magazine poll looking for the region’s premiere outdoor adventure college.

Ingles Markets, 575 New Leceister Hwy. Asheville. Thurs. May 26 • 3-6 p.m.

To the Editor:

Recent letters have provided more smoke than light regarding HB2, also known as House Bill 2, which concerns itself with bathroom use, unfunded mandates, setting wages, hours or working conditions, micromanagement from the state, discrimination in employment and housing, and lack of ability to sue in cases of discrimination.

For the record, this was an overwhelmingly Republican-passed bill, signed by the Republican governor.

The introduction states that the General Assembly finds that consistent statewide laws “will improve intrastate commerce” and “attract(s) new business” to North Carolina.  A cursory view of national headlines reveals that the impact of HB2 has been just the opposite — large companies are leaving North Carolina  in droves.

One reason for the exodus is in Part I, the bathroom clause. While common sense and decency would suggest that we not put males and females together in showers, etc, the devil is in the details.

The key is how the Assembly defines ‘biological sex,’ which they order be determined by what is on one’s birth certificate.  Enforcement is all but impossible as the Assembly provided no money to hire people to guard all the public restrooms and check birth certificates. 

Also, not everyone has the same genitalia that they were born with. HB2 mandates that someone with female genitalia but has male on her birth certificate to use the boys shower. Either the Republicans didn’t think this through, or they consciously ignored the reality on the ground to punish, humiliate and endanger people. 

Part II prevents local governments from setting their own (higher) minimum wage.  The worst part is that this states that private profit (business and industry) is more important than “the general welfare of the people.”

Part III allows discrimination against LGBTQ citizens in employment, housing, and other public accommodations. When an amendment was added to protect these and veteran residents, the Republicans voted it down.

It also prevents a civil suit against those who illegally discriminate, but instead mandates using a state agency whose purpose is to “effect an amicable resolution,” not seek justice.

For these reasons, HB2 can also be called Hate Bill 2.

Dan Kowal

Franklin

To the Editor:

For one who has never held an elected office, Donald Trump is a brilliant politician. His TV persona and his high profile media ventures have served him well. No one should be surprised, it was all laid out in his best seller, The Art of the Deal.

But, make no mistake, what he is selling is why he may be our next President. Historians call this view of the world “nativism.” Its core message is simple: America first. But the America he is referring to is very limited. That America belongs to those who consider themselves here first, and whose  culture is dominant. Every other race, ethnicity, sexual preference, or religion is considered inferior. This is a powerful message to those of the dominant culture. Many of them feel  economically left out; threatened  by cultural changes, or betrayed by our government and our political system.

Dictators and totalitarian leaders  throughout  history  have used this message to consolidate their power. Putin with his desire to bring back the glory of old “Mother Russia” is a classic example of the power of nativism.

Many politicians and public figures throughout U.S. history have railed against immigrants, and those that are different. The Catholics, the Jews, and now the Muslims; all whom, at one time or another, have been labeled as a threat to our “American way of life.” The Blacks, the Asians, and now the Mexicans have all been seen as a danger to the purity of the dominant culture. And now the LGBT community is in the bull’s eye simply because their very existence calls into question some of the most sacred religious beliefs of the dominant culture.

All these “others” are convenient diversions  from the real challenges we face today. But as any good politician knows, it’s not your policy positions that really score votes, it’s the emotional appeal that drives people to the poles. Those in the dominant culture are deeply troubled by the future they see. Mr. Trump has tapped into that fear and anger.

I doubt that Donald Trump has any idea of the historical context for the movement he now leads. I doubt that he is a racist or he even cares about these issues. As he has said many times, it is all about winning. If he wins, all the “others” may lose. 

Louis Vitale

Franklin 

When Team U.S.A. marches into the Olympic stadium this summer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympic Games, Michal Smolen will become Nantahala Outdoor Center’s 23rd Olympian in the sport of Whitewater Canoe Slalom, entering in the kayak category — but it will be his first time competing in the Olympics.

A nature-based sculpture project launched by Western Carolina University’s Fine Art Museum aims to feature outdoors art while promoting discussion of sustainability and aesthetics on campus.

Rod Harkleroad has been named as the new chief executive officer of Haywood Regional Medical Center.

A celebration will be held May 22 to mark the 60th birthday of the World Methodist Museum, which is located on the grounds of Lake Junaluska Assembly.

Haywood County commissioners were greeted with silence at their meeting Monday night when they asked if anyone in the audience wanted to speak during a public hearing on the county’s $72 million proposed budget.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is terming an incident that left a Las Vegas man with a puncture wound in his leg a predatory bear attack, but Bill Lea, a renowned wildlife photographer who’s spent years observing bears in the wild, says he’s not buying it.

We are probably all guilty of buying fruit or vegetables and forgetting them in the back of the fridge or on our countertop until they are brown, mushy or covered with mold and then end up throwing them out. Here are some tips to help you reduce wasted produce.

To the Editor:

Former President Ronald Reagan once said, “The republic is a dream. If we stop dreaming, we will lose the republic.” There is a Bible phrase, “Without dreams and visions, people will perish.” Our better future is a dream for ourselves, for our families and our community. This is about the hopes and dreams of a little girl, Maggie.

Maggie’s dream started in 1970 with a report, “Gateway to the Smokies.” Since then, there have been four publications. “Driving Miss Maggie,” “Maggie Valley Land Use Plan” and “Moving Maggie Forward.” Now, we have the Town Center Master Plan. Four publications in the last 13 years. 

The obvious question is why this small town spends $20,000, $30,000 every few years for these reports. So I searched these reports on the Internet, printed them out, and put them in a binder and studied them. Each report is actually a chapter of the original book “Gateway to Smokies.” Each chapter describes a different aspect of Maggie’s dream. “Driving Miss Maggie” is a socio-economic study, describing housing, population, employment and educational challenges of Maggie. It also sets the background for the Land Use Plan, which is, or should be, the north star of our planning and zoning regulations. “Moving Maggie Forward” is a business plan. It talks about Maggie’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. I suggest every business owner should have a copy of this business plan.

And now the Town Center Master Plan. This is a 93-page long comprehensive report, explaining different ingredients of how to create a live, walkable town center. Unfortunately, it seems to me that we could not pass the cover page for the last couple of months. I tend to blame the image on the cover. That rendering is the reason why we have not been able to move to the next page. The image is so strong, so powerful that it does not allow us to read the rest of the report. I suggest that we should get rid of that image, not the concept, not the location, just that image that divides us.

Now, we can read the rest of the report and dream our town center. And we should be able to describe our dream to others such that a blind person can say, “Yes, I can see it, I can feel it because you described it so well in every detail.” A well-described dream is more powerful than an image because it allows us to share it with others. It allows others to engage in our dreams. A dream can unite people, move people towards a common goal. At that point, a dream becomes a promise. If the promise is clear, people can find a way to make it happen.

Here is an example. Most of us have kids. And, we always tell our kids to go to school, stay in school; go to college; go to a grad school. Why? We, all know that college is expensive, $50,000 or $60,000 on average. A single mom takes a second job so that her kid can go to college. A dad works overtime so he can set aside money for the college fund. Why do we do all these sacrifices without knowing if our child will ever finish college and get her degree? Why do we encourage our kids to go to college without knowing whether they will stay in college or not; whether they will keep changing majors every few years?  

We do it because the promise is clear. Because the promise is a better future for our children. When a child says, “Dad, when I grow up, I want to be a doctor,” do we give our child a list of reasons why she cannot be a doctor? No! We encourage her as much as possible. We find a way to make it happen for the future of our child. But when it comes to this little girl, Maggie, well, we got the list. Let’s put the list away and work towards a better future for Maggie.

Kivanc Senocak

Maggie Valley

To the Editor:

There you are, governor of North Carolina, and somebody pushes a stack of papers in front of you that says who can go into which bathroom. And it says that a certain group of people can’t sue for discrimination. And it also says that cities can’t write more generous rules than these.

There’s a blank line at the bottom of the page, awaiting your signature.

At this point, an ordinary person with just the tiniest sense of caution would consider what he was about to sign. They would ask themselves a sequence of well-reasoned questions.

“Is there a problem with bathrooms in North Carolina?” Answer: Never heard of any.

“Have women and children been assaulted by men pretending to be women?” Answer: No.

“Is this law in conflict with any federal law?” Answer: Absolutely.

“Will this law make us the laughing stock of the nation?” Answer: Beyond a shadow of a doubt.

“Will this law harm business in North Carolina?” Answer: By the billions of dollars.

“Will this law cost the state jobs?” Answer: Thousands.  

“Will this law cause foreign countries to shun North Carolina?” Answer: Almost instantly.

“Will this law harm this state in any other way?” Answer: Loss of federal funds for schools.

“Will this law make me look like an idiot?” Answer: You got it.

“Will this law cost me the next election?”  Answer: Very likely.

Now, if you are the governor, having asked yourself these questions, do you put your signature on the blank line at the bottom of the page?  

Rick Bryson

Bryson City

To the Editor:

Sorry Dad, but in your column in last week’s edition of The Smoky Mountain News (www.smokymountainnews.com/opinion/item/17607), you said “the difference between heartfelt honesty and underlying racism is sometimes in the eye of the beholder.”

I think not. On the contrary, racism is the construct of dishonest stereotypes and prejudices. When we delve into ourselves and face the challenge of being brutally honest, this is when we find we are able to break down the barriers built by centuries of inegalitarian mindsets and rediscover our primal and obvious equality. It is by being brutally honest that we realize and acknowledge the still pervasive racism plaguing popular culture and the capitalist system in our country. It is by being brutally honest that we find the resolve and the dedication to attack this issue head on. 

And although this movement does have access to social media and the anonymity that can come with it, if it is moving too fast for your “comfort,” all there is to be said about that is your comfort doesn’t matter. It doesn’t count because this isn’t about the feelings of white people, and for the sake of the millions of black lives affected by institutional racism you may as well keep it to yourself. The movement is rightfully entitled #BlackLivesMatter because they are the only focus, and after hundreds of years of terrible oppression that whites can’t begin to comprehend your “comfort” is of little to no relevance. 

I understand I am nitpicking language here and veering from the overall intent of your column, but when criticizing the #BlackLivesMatter movement it is of the utmost importance to recognize the insinuations one makes and use mindful jargon. 

Otherwise, it was a great article. In an age and generation that tends towards the instantaneous satisfaction of social media, the importance of face-to-face, open, and meaningful discussion is what will ultimately make a difference in this movement — not anonymous yaks. 

Hannah McLeod

Alicante, Spain 

(Hannah is the daughter of SMN Editor Scott McLeod. She attends Appalachian State and is studying abroad this semeseter in Spain. She can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..)

The verdict is in on a fire that had been blazing for two weeks near Hot Springs — after burning 5,964 acres, the fire was declared fully contained on May 4.

After two years of closure, Hanging Dog Campground in Cherokee County has reopened through a collaborative effort between the county and the Tusquitee Ranger District of the Nantahala National Forest. 

Growing season has arrived in Western North Carolina, and the new Local Food Guide from the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project is out to guide you toward the best sources of local food. 

A Cherokee woman received recognition from the environmental organization Wild South for her tireless work with a project to map original Cherokee trails and ensure that the land is preserved for future generations.

Closure of some trails will soon take effect in DuPont State Recreational Forest to protect the blue ghost firefly, a unique insect whose mating season is coming up.

The Smoky Mountain Roller Girls will be hosting their second double header of the season on Saturday, May 14, at the Swain County Recreation Center located on Deep Creek Road in Bryson City.

Old-time music fans and friends of the Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) program are invited come together for a concert honoring the late Trevor Stuart, founder and instructor in the JAM program in Haywood County, at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 14, at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.

Here is information from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) on what dates on packaging mean:

Throughout its journey from concept to reality to regional treasure, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has drawn the support of millions — but the Great Smoky Mountains Association has created a list naming the top 100 most influential people in the park’s history. 

The best blooms and greenery in Haywood County will be on display with this year’s Haywood County Garden Tour Saturday, June 18. Tickets go on sale at The Whole Bloomin’ Thing festival in Waynesville’ Frog Level Historic District Saturday, May 7. 

Newbies to Tsali Recreation Area in Graham County will have an easier time navigating the 37-mile trail network thanks to the installation of 18 new color trail maps along the area’s four multi-use trails. 

To the Editor:

As a founding member of the Franklin Appalachian Trail Community Council, I offer for readers the following information: 

• Franklin Mayor Bob Scott was one of four people that promoted Franklin to seek designation as an Appalachian Trail Community.

• The Franklin Appalachian Trail Community Council (by its bylaws) has two representatives from the Town of Franklin, an alderman and a town employee.

• Since the Council’s formation in 2009, until elected mayor, Bob Scott served as the town alderman representative.

• When elected mayor, Pattie Able replaced Bob Scott as the alderman representative. 

• Mayor Scott remained on the council until his recent resignation (by its bylaws the council has a flexible membership).

In my opinion, Mayor Scott left the Council in strong hands. His love of Macon County’s surrounding natural beauty and his support to Franklin as a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts is unquestionable. At this time, his leadership, managerial ability and political capital need to focus on other issues facing Franklin. Franklin’s position as an A.T. Community is secure in no small part to his early vision and eight years on the Council.

Bill Van Horn 

Franklin

To the Editor:

They’re baaaaaaaaack. Yes, your N.C. Legislature is back in session and talking tax cuts. Hold on to your wallets. These are the people who have systematically increased your taxes since 2010. While your paycheck may look a bit better since then, your wallet and bank account have taken some serious hits.

Beginning in 2010, Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, and his colleagues began eliminating many tax deductions that many of you depend upon. Things like child-care expenses, your educational expenses, the deduction for your college savings plan and a host of other items are no longer deductible when you file your taxes every year In 2012, they eliminated a major deduction for small businesses. Your income tax bill may actually have gone up after losing all of these deductions gone.

Then, in 2014, they went directly into your wallet. Sales taxes were imposed on things that you do and use routinely. While I don’t go to a lot of movies and concerts, those of you who do now pay sales tax on that entertainment. Service contracts on appliances are taxed, as are the electricity and gas that you use to run them. On the education side, meal plans at your college or university are taxed and the sales tax holiday used to purchase supplies for the new school year is gone. There’s more, and it’s a long list.

Hopefully, you did not buy or plan to buy a mobile home. The tax on those is now the standard sales tax of 4.75 percent (up from 2 percent) and the $300 maximum on tax is now gone. The same thing happened with the increasingly popular modular homes.

Since April 1 of this year, you now pay sales tax on the labor for repairs to your car — or anything else you need to have repaired or serviced.

There were, in fact, income tax cuts, but the benefits were not shared universally. Early analyses of this strategy indicated that with the income tax cuts, the loss of deductions and increases in sales taxes, the break-even point was above $70,000. If you made more, you won. If you made less, you lost. Keep in mind that only half of the households in Macon County make more than about  $37,000. You probably lost.

Call Sen. Jim Davis and tell him to just raise teacher pay. Then he should come home before he does any more damage to your wallet.

John Gladden

Franklin

By Kristen Hammett • Guest Columnist

As a pet owner, there are many things we do to keep our fur babies safe, healthy, and happy. Vaccinating is one that is very important. Vaccines can save a dog’s or cat’s life.

The Haywood Healthcare Foundation managed to generate enough funding to have a major impact on the health needs of Haywood County during 2015 and their goal is to surpass last year’s donations.

The 19th annual Mountain Youth Talent Contest was held at the Greening Up the Mountains Festival in Sylva on Saturday, April 23.

The Canton Library Visual Arts Exhibit is currently featuring work by Denise McCullough, a 94-year-old acrylic artist.

One of the reasons we waste food is that we buy duplicates of items we already have at home or we buy food and then fail to use it before it begins to spoil. 

The Nantahala Racing Club has landed nearly $45,000 in grants for the 2016 season, encouraging the Swain County nonprofit in its quest to introduce youth and families to whitewater recreation.

Bear hunters can now use unprocessed food as bait for a larger part of the hunting season, according to temporary rules recently approved by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

A lottery to see the synchronous fireflies light up the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will open at noon Friday, April 29, and close at 8 p.m. Monday, May 2.

Fire danger is high in North Carolina, with low humidity and lack of rain over the past few weeks resulting in a spate of wildfires across the region recently.

Nature knocked an item off the Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s to-do list when a fire sparked a structure in the Elkmont area of the park.

It’s ozone season in North Carolina again, that time of year when warm weather and pollution can combine to result in air quality warnings.

Elizabeth Vickery, a senior at Western Carolina University, peers into a dip net along with Cullowhee Valley Elementary School student Landon Spangler, to see what they’ve nabbed from Cullowhee Creek.