Hunter’s Mountain Ride & Poker Run is Saturday, Nov. 9, with registration at 10 a.m., with the Poker Run beginning at 11 a.m., 17 W. Palmer Street; $30 entry fee. Proceeds go to Men’s Challenge of the Smokies for addiction recovery. For more information on how to donate and/or participate, call (828)524-4484.
828Vets Annual Warrior Walk is set for Saturday, Nov. 9, at 10 a.m. at Tassee Shelter on the Little Tennessee River Greenway. Food, activities, fellowship, and a short walk to honor veterans. This is a free event.
A Veterans Day Celebration takes place in downtown Franklin, Monday, Nov. 11. Lineup begins at 10 a.m. for veterans that wish to participate in the lower level parking lot of Franklin Town Hall. The parade will leave Town Hall at 10:30 a.m. and travel to the Gazebo on the Square for the ceremony. Special banners lead each group of veterans along the parade route according to the war or period of service.
The veterans ceremony begins at 11 a.m. featuring special music, speakers, a wreath-laying ceremony and the playing of “Taps.”
Free lunch in honor of Veteran’s Day at Highlands-Cashiers Hospital and Eckerd Living Center in the hospital cafeteria for all veterans on Monday, Nov. 11, from noon to 1 p.m. A brief presentation is set for 12:30 p.m. The hospital is located at 190 Hospital Drive, Highlands. For more information, call (828)526-1345.
“Neurocognitive Disorders – Basics of Dementia” is being offered Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 1:30 p.m., in The Macon County Public Library Board Room. The course is designed to increase the understanding of neurocognitive disorders and dementia and will examine the four most diagnosed types of disorders in older adults, symptoms, risk factors, and treatment options. This free event is facilitated by the Vaya Health GERO team. For more information, call the library at (828) 524-3600 or visit vayahealth.com/calendar.
Macon County Housing Needs Assessment results conducted by Bowen National Research will be presented Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 4 p.m. in the Highlands Community Building. The presentation will provide insights into the evolving housing needs within Macon County, with a detailed focus on Highlands and The Flats. For further details, contact the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC, at (828)526-5841.
A Veterans Stand Down event offering vital support and resources for all veterans is set for Thursday, Nov. 14, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Robert C. Carpenter Building, 1288 Georgia Road. Call Gerard Ball, (919)805-2572 or email [email protected] for more information.
The Holly Springs Community Development Club will meet Monday, Nov. 18, at 6 p.m. at the historic Community Center, 2720 Cat Creek Rd, Franklin. All residents are welcome to attend. Come meet your neighbors and help improve your neighborhood. Guest speaker is Diane Mahoney, civilian administrator and evidence technician with the Franklin Police Department, speaking about How to Avoid Financial Scams.
Join Vickie Rundquist on Mondays from 11 a.m. to 12 noon, November & December, for gentle movement, light stretching yoga postures, relaxation, and short, guided meditations. Bring a blanket or mat to put on the floor. By donation; everyone welcome. Otto Community Center, 60 Firehouse Rd, Otto. Questions: vrundquist@ yahoo.com; or call (404)293-0415.
A free weaving program for veterans at the Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center is offered twice monthly by Teresa Bouchonnet, whose father, an Army veteran, wove for years for stress relief and enjoyment. For information about the program’s dates and times, contact Teresa Bouchonnet at (828)371-0171 or coweetextiles @gmail.com. These free classes are made possible by a grant from Schacht Spindle, Boulder, Colo.
Free movie offered by American Legion Post 108 on Fridays every other week through December as part of their Americanism series, at 7 p.m., 614 West Main Street, Franklin. For questions, contact Richard Litchford at (828)421-1328.
Friends of the Greenway offers live Saturday music from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 573 E. Main Street, Franklin. On Nov. 9, George J. and Sheila K. will be performing; and on Nov. 16, will be Dave Stewart. For information, email [email protected]; call (828)369-8488; or, visit www.littletennessee.org.
A Democratic Women of Macon County grant is available for youth-led projects, and the deadline to apply is Nov. 30. The Youth Community Service and Leadership Grant is for school-aged youth through 12th grade who are residents of Macon County. Up to $500 each will be awarded to an individual or a group for a project that addresses a need in our community. For more information, contact maconcountyyouthgrant @gmail.com.
Time for Toys for Tots. To apply as a family for toy donations, or to volunteer at the CareNet on Bidwell Street site, visit www.smokymountain.toysfortots.org. To donate to Toys for Tots, mail a check to Toys for Tots, C/O Linda Harbuck, Executive Director, Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, 98 Hyatt Road, Franklin, NC 28734. For donations online, visit www.toysfortots.org and note that the funds are for Macon County. Interested sponsors can call Jack Brennan at (404)275-9575.
American Legion Auxiliary has Taco Tuesday on the third Tuesday every month, from 5-7 p.m. with music by DJ Sam. There is a charge. Bingo is every Wednesday, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. 614 West Main Street, Franklin.
Aglow International, Franklin Lighthouse meets the third Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. at Restoration Church of Franklin, 164 Iotla Church Road, Franklin.
Operation Christmas Child is seeking shoeboxes packed with fun toys, school supplies, and personal care items toward the global goal of reaching 12 million children. For more on how to participate, visit samaritanspurse.org/occ. National Collection Week is Nov. 18-25.
Family Fun Nights at Promise Lane Church, 31 Promise Lane, Franklin, is first and third Wednesdays, from 6 to 8 p.m. Snacks, games, and fellowship. To sign up, call the church at (828)369-7977. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Gentle Yoga Class is held Thursday mornings, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. to all ages and fitness levels. No set fee is charged but donations are welcome. Classes are held at The Spiritual Light Center, 80 Heritage Hollow Drive, behind the Gazebo Restaurant, Franklin. For questions, email [email protected].
Franklin Alcoholics Anonymous “Open Meetings” are for anyone who thinks they may have a drinking problem or for anyone interested in the A.A. recovery program. In-person meetings are held Tuesdays 5:30 p.m. at No Wrong Door, 102 Thomas Heights Rd.; Sundays at 1 p.m., and Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays at 5:30 p.m., at the First United Methodist Church Outreach Center, 66 Harrison Ave.; and Saturdays, at 10 a.m., Tuesdays at 8 a.m., and Thursdays at 12 noon at St. Agnes Episcopal Church on 66 Church St. Online meeting information is available by visiting www.aawnc80.org.; or, to speak with a member of A.A., call (828)349-4357.
Franklin Al-anon “Live and Let Live” Family Group is a fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholics who share their experience, strength, and hope. In-person meetings are Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. at St. Agnes Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 66 Church St., Franklin. For more information, contact Debbie Mason at (334)224-4785.
Email calendar items to [email protected].
Arts Council presents Cherokee heritage events
To commemorate Native American Heritage Month, the Arts Council is sponsoring free Cherokee heritage events in early November, all in the Macon County Public Library.
Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual: Tradition and Innovation, a popular traveling exhibit of photographs, panels, and interviews of Cherokee artists, will hang in the Library Meeting Room Nov. 1 through Dec. 30. The exhibit was developed by Western Carolina University’s Mountain Heritage Center in collaboration with Qualla Arts and Crafts, one of the oldest Native American artists’ cooperatives in the U.S.
A “Meet the Author” event with award-winning author Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle will be held Friday, Nov. 8, at 5:30 p.m. Clapsaddle, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, is the former executive director of the Cherokee Preservation Foundation, and a graduate of Yale University. She discusses her debut novel, “Even As We Breathe,” named one of NPR’s Best Books of 2020 and winner of the 2021 Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award. Light refreshments will be served and books will be available for purchase and signing.
The library is located at 149 Siler Farm Road, Franklin, with ample parking and wheelchair access. These free events are sponsored by the Arts Council of Macon County. For details phone 828-524-ARTS or email [email protected].