In a little more than a year, the world’s best freestyle kayakers will converge on the Nantahala Gorge for the 2013 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships.

To acquaint area businesses and civic organizations with the potential impact of this event, the Bryson City––Swain County Chamber of Commerce is holding an open house thursday, March 22 from 6 to 8 pm. Event Director Zuzana Vanha and members of the Nantahala Gorge Organizing Committee will be on hand to answer questions about the event, and provide information about volunteer and sponsorship opportunities.

The Franklin Lions Club wanted to make a difference like no other service organization in helping the environment of Franklin.

Franklin Lions developed a plan to work with Habitat for Humanity of Macon County by planting over 60 Dogwood Trees around Habitat For Humanity Homes, the Franklin Airport and other areas.

Read more...

Volunteers interested in assisting with construction and maintenance of a new trail at Western Carolina University are invited to participate in a free trail-building workshop on campus Saturday, March 24.

The workshop will include a required classroom session in The Cats Den in Brown Hall from 9 a.m. to noon led by a trail care crew from the International Mountain Bicycling Association, plus lunch and afternoon work on the trails. Participants also are invited to stay for a 7 p.m. screening of “Pedal Driven, a Bike-umentary” in the multipurpose room of WCU’s A.K. Hinds University Center.

On Saturday, March 24, The Land Trust for the Little Tennessee (LTLT) will hike the Rufus Morgan Falls Trail to look for spring wildflowers. Local expert Jack Johnson will guide us to find such beauties as; sharp-lobed hepatica, round-leaved yellow violet and many more. It is a moderate hike and about 1.5 miles round trip. You will want to bring your camera and bottled water.