The 5th Annual Come Together Recovery Rally is on Iotla Street at the Gazebo in Franklin, Friday, Sept. 26, 3:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Indoor Garage Sale, Saturday, Sept. 27, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Carson Community Center, 3001 Old Murphy Rd., Franklin. Proceeds benefit local scholarships. Sponsored by: P.E.O./Chapter CL.
Free lunch and food pantry Saturday, Sept. 27, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Franklin Covenant Church, 265 Belleview Park Rd.
Live Saturday music offered by Friends of the Greenway (FROG) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 573 E. Main Street, Franklin. Upcoming: Sept. 27, Tim Lynch & Dave Stewart..
American Legion Otto Post 553 will host a Quilts of Valor presentation, Sunday, Sept. 28, at 2 p.m., Asbury Methodist Church. For more information, contact Doreen Castle, [email protected]. The American Legion Otto Post 553 meets every second Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Otto Community Center.
Smoky Mountain Pregnancy Center’s fundraising banquet is Oct. 2, Franklin Covenant Church, 265 Belleview Park Road. Doors open at 5 p.m.; dinner at 6 p.m. To attend the banquet, pre-registration is required through smokypartners.com, or by calling (828)349-3200.
Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute in Rosman, N.C., offers a free weekend to adults and children, Oct. 3-5. More information is available at www.pari.org.
The Annie Sorrells Reunion will be held Sunday, Oct. 5, at the Franklin Memorial Park building. Bring a dish to share; eat around 1 p.m. Friends and family are invited.
“God’s Promised Seed, the Christ” musical performance, composed by Walter J. Cummins, is Saturday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m. This free event takes place at the Smoky Mountain Performing Arts Center on Georgia Road, Franklin. Sponsored by Franklin Family Fellowship. For more information, contact Claire Suminski at (828)342-9071.
Ray Reunion for descendants of John and Nancy Ray and Levi and Melinda Deweese Ray, at Iotla Baptist Church, Oct. 18, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Bring favorite photos, family information, and covered dish.
Community Contra Dancing from 7 to 9 p.m. at Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center Sunday, Oct. 19; and on Thursday, Nov. 20, at the Macon County Public Library. Dances will break for winter and will resume in March. Beginners are encouraged to arrive by 6:30 p.m. for instruction from experienced dancers. A suggested donation of $10 per person. No perfume or other strong scents. Follow on facebook.com/ FranklinContra for photos and details, and/or email to be put on the notification list: ContraDanceFranklinNC @gmail.com.
Macon County Republican Party will host voter registration every Saturday thru October. On Nov. 1, Voter Cookout. Visit macongop.org for more information, event details, to purchase tickets, get involved and more.
A Welcome Table Free Meal is available on the fourth Saturday of every month at 5 p.m. at Snow Hill United Methodist Church, 330 Snow Hill Road, Franklin. Everyone welcome.
The Franklin Bird Club leads walks on Wednesday mornings along the Little Tennessee Greenway. Walks begin at 8 a.m. at alternating locations. The schedule and directions are listed at www.littletennessee.org/franklin-bird-club The public is welcome, all walks are weather dependent. Upcoming walk on Oct. 1: Macon County Public Library parking lot.
Pickin’ on the Square will feature Carolina 441 (Southern Rock) on Sept. 27; and Rocktober on Oct. 11 for its final two shows of the season. Sponsored by the Town of Franklin, Pickin’ happens every other Saturday through October and features local and regional musical talent as well as food and beverages for sale. Bring a chair. For information about upcoming featured musicians, visit www.franklinnc.com.
State School Superintendent Mo Green will be visiting Western North Carolina schools on Oct. 23 to share a strategic plan with the region, stopping at Franklin High School at 9 a.m., followed by a stop at Macon Middle School and then Mountain Valley Intermediate.
Franklin Lions Club meets the second and fourth Monday, 6 p.m., Louisa Chapel Methodist, 470 Louisa Chapel Road.
Aglow International Franklin Lighthouse hosts a gathering the third Saturday of each month at 10 a.m., at 164 Iotla Church Rd.
Are you an experienced musician who plays violin, viola or cello? We are a college-community string orchestra with openings for new members. Rehearsals are Thursday evenings from 6:00 pm – 7:15 pm in the Coulter School of Music Band Room at Western Carolina University. Do you need more information? Contact Kim Neidlinger at [email protected]
Our website is https://pinnaclestringensemble.org.
Awake America Prayer Meeting is held on the first Thursday of every month, from 12 to 1 p.m. at Macon County Recreation Center, 1288 Georgia Road, Franklin. For more information, contact facilitator Bob Henson, (229)352-0620; email: [email protected]; or visit www.awakeamericaprayer meetings.org.
The 32nd Annual Leaf Lookers Gemboree opens at the Macon County Community Building, just south of Franklin, off U.S. Highway 441, October 17-19. This annual event will feature a wide variety of items, including fine finished jewelry, rough and cut gems, minerals, fossils, and collectibles. Admission price is $2, and 15 and under are admitted free. Open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, contact the Franklin Chamber of Commerce at (828)524-3161. S
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.; Sunday at 1 p.m., and Monday, Wednesday and Friday 5:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church Outreach Center, 66 Harrison Ave.; and Saturday at 10 a.m.,Tuesday at 8 a.m. and Thursday at 12 noon at St. Agnes Episcopal Church on 66 Church St. On-line meeting information is available by visiting www.aawnc80.org; or to speak with a member of A.A., call (828)349-4357.
Franklin “Live and Let Live” Family Group meetings are Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. at St. Agnes Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 66 Church St. Parking is behind the church. Al-Anon is a fellowship of friends and family dealing with the impact of another’s drinking or substance abuse. Contact (334)224-4785.
Nar-Anon is a support group for friends and families whose lives have been affected by addiction. Meetings are held Tuesday nights at 7 p.m., Hickory Knoll Global Methodist Church, 86 E. Hickory Knoll Rd., in the fellowship hall building. Contact Karen (408)829-4452.
Public library hosts authors in October
Macon County Public Library is hosting events in the month of October. On Oct. 2 at 6 p.m., Author Jeremy B. Jones will be the guest of The Friends of the Macon County Public Library for a reading and talk of his latest book, a memoir “Cipher: Decoding My Ancestor’s Scandalous Secret Diaries.”
Jones’s prior book “Bearwallow” was named the 2014 Appalachian Book of the Year in nonfiction and awarded gold in memoir in the 2015 Independent Publisher Book Awards. His essays appear in numerous literary journals and anthologies. Born and raised in the mountains of North Carolina, Jones earned his MFA from the University of Iowa and now serves as an associate professor of English at Western Carolina University.
On Oct. 8, at 6 p.m. “An Introduction to Waterfall Photography in the N.C., S.C., and Georgia mountains,” with Larry Korhnak. He will share some of his knowledge of resources, safety, lighting, equipment, and creativity. Visit: larrykorhnak.smugmug.com/.
The Friends will host author Mark Muncy and his wife, illustrator Kari Schultz, for a talk on their latest book, “Eerie Appalachia” by Arcadia Publishing Thursday, Oct. 23 at 6 p.m. The couple explores “the dark history lurking in the shadows of Appalachia,” including stories of the Flatwoods monster in Braxton County in West Virginia, the Goat Man of Louisville, the apparitions in Mammoth Cave’s Corpse Rock and many more.
For those who like to take their spooky season celebrations to another level,come in your favorite creepy costume.
Muncy is an author of paranormal history, horror and science fiction. He has spent more than three decades collecting ghostly tales and reports of legendary beasts. Eerie Appalachia follows up his best-selling books “Eerie Florida,” “Freaky Florida” and “Creepy Florida.” Muncy is the host of “Eerie Travels” on Area 52 TV. The couple lives in Franklin.
Refreshments will be served by the Friends and the authors will sign book copies that will be available for sale at the events. Call the library at (828)524-3600 for more information.