Stray Cat Strut


This little fella has been hanging around the place for the past few. There are no tags or collar, so I am wondering if he’s a stray or just very smart and is trying to get food off the neighbors in addition to his home meals. I suspect the former as he’s pretty skittish. Time to put on my Nancy Drew persona and interrogate the neighbors.

Stray Cat Strut

To The Editor

So, apparently, some “Christians” are upset that the County Commissioners aren’t specifically mentioning Jesus when they have their pre-meeting prayer. Forget that whole separation of Church and State thing.

Then I saw this nice little “Letter to the Editor” with it’s veiled (or not so veiled in this case) threats and it kinda pissed me off.

So, I wrote a wee letter of my own. It will be interesting to see if they publish it.

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To the Editor:

I was disturbed by Tuesday’s article about “generic” prayer at the opening of Haywood County Board of Commissioners meetings.

Kenneth Henson’s statement that if “commissioners would back off on issues such as erosion control and a nuisance ordinance and take up issues such as defending Christian prayer, they would become worthy of the peoples’ esteem” is ridiculous. County Commissioners are elected to help govern and make things better for ALL the citizens of Haywood County. They are not elected to promote one groups’s religious beliefs.

As a resident, I find it upsetting that these people want to force their religious views onto the Commissioners and in turn on Haywood County as a whole.

I also find some of the statements that Kelly Rogers made in his “Letter the Editor” disturbing as well. To say that the commissioners should “Take a stand for us Christians. If not, I guarantee you, we will stand up next election and you just might not have that Commissioner title” is nothing but outright threats and bullying.

The United States was founded on the concept of FREEDOM of religion, which to my mind means that our County Commissioners should be respectful of all the county’s citizens. “Christians” need to realize that in this county (and in this country), everyone does not have the same belief system.

Charles Mills
Waynesville, NC

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To The Editor

R.I.P. Dave Guerin

I just heard that Dave Guerin passed away yesterday at the age of 93.

Anyone who has been involved with HART in the last 15 years knew Dave (or at least knew of him). He first stared doing shows with us in 1994 (he was 77) when we did “Annie Get Your Gun.” He played Buffalo Bill albeit a Buffalo Bill that could never remember to zip his fly. He kept popping up and doing shows over the years (“Diamond Studs,” “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” and “Parade” to name a few). His last show with us as a cast member was “Ragtime” in 2005. He had trouble with the few lines he had and everyone was kinda scared he was going to break his hip or just drop over dead. After “Ragtime,” he became a regular fixture at opening nights. He was always there with a smile and excitement to be seeing the show. He probably loved HART more than any of us could realize. Last year, we all noticed that he wasn’t coming to the opening nights anymore.

Dave had been in declining health the last few years, so news that he has passed on isn’t really a surprise. Just sad.

Now, I don’t want this to sound like I loved the man. Those of you who know me know that I had not a lot of patience with him. He did leave me onstage all by myself one time … and I have held a grudge over that.

But I do admire the man for his pluck (before his health got bad he was always scheming something or wanting to audition for a play or musical). He just loved being a part of the show. And to start doing something like live theater when you’re 77 and keep going from there is pretty damn cool.

So long, Dave.

R.I.P. Dave Guerin

Even More Snow!

… WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON EST MONDAY…

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON EST MONDAY.

ANOTHER SYSTEM WILL AFFECT THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS STARTING THIS AFTERNOON. A BAND OF SNOW IS EXPECTED TO CROSS THE REGION TONIGHT… AND EXIT TO THE EAST BY EARLY MONDAY AFTERNOON. BY THE TIME SNOW TAPERS OFF MONDAY AFTERNOON… ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES ARE EXPECTED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES… AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

Even More Snow!

“The House of the Devil”


The House of the Devil” kicks it back to 1978 … old school horror! There’s none of that cheeky oh-look-at-how-clever we are satire that is the mainstay of “throwback” horror. This movie literally could have come out when the likes of “Halloween” ruled the screen. Everything in the movie works to make you think you are really watching an old-style horror movie (even the movie poster harkens back to the good old days). The story relies more on creepy atmosphere than in your face gore (don’t expect a fast moving story). The soundtrack (composed by Jeff Grace) is pitch perfect homage to the great horror scores of the late 70’s/early 80’s. My major complaint about the movie would be that the resolution feels kinda rushed … but all that comes it before is my kinda scary! I am thinking that Ti West might be my new hero.

And speaking of new heroes … here’s A.J. Bowen who is in “The House of the Devil.” He’s 12 shades of handsome!

“The House of the Devil”