After volunteering 7,000 hours helping the Nantahala Hiking Club maintain the 60 miles of Appalachian Trail in Macon County, Don O’Neal is giving up his title as trail supervisor, but, he is not giving up being a trail maintainer.

O’Neal has worked as a volunteer clearing the trail, working with crews building shelters, privies and marking the trail which the club maintains from Bly Gap at the Georgia state line, to the Nantahala River in Wesser. He has been the person who organizes the trail work crews which keep this section of the trail one of the most popular.

The Jackson County Public Library will host a program with local herbalist Becky Lipkin on Tuesday, Sept. 25, at 7 p.m. in the Atrium of the Jackson County Public Library Complex.

At this “make and take” workshop, Lipkin will share fresh herbs, seeds, cuttings, and handouts on growing tips and herb recipes. Participants will learn which herbs grow best in their own backyards and what to do with them.

Lipkin is a certified aroma therapist and is known as the “Herb Lady of Cedar Creek Farms.”

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Meeting will generate ideas for future trails and greenways

The Southwestern Commission will be hosting a two hour public workshop on Wednesday, September 19 as part of a Regional Trails Plan underway for seven counties in Western North Carolina. The workshop begins at 5:30 at the Franklin Town Hall.

The workshop will focus on generating ideas for future trails in Macon County, including a discussion on potential future greenways, existing greenways, mountain bike trails and hiking trails.

The N.C. Department of Transportation is challenging North Carolinians to step outside their comfort zone and try walking, biking or riding the bus to a destination that they may normally drive to on a regular basis.

The “WalkBikeNC Challenge” runs through the months of September and October. The challenge encourages people to walk, ride a bike or a take a bus to a destination, then write about their experience on the online forum www.walkbikenc.com.