Empty Bowls fights hunger
A huge thank you to everyone who attended John C. Campbell Folk School’s annual Empty Bowls event on May 20. All profits will go to food banks that serve Cherokee and Clay counties: the Sharing Center in Murphy, Matt’s Ministry, Cherokee County Food Bank and Clay County Food Pantry.
The evening began with a lively bowl selection, with attendees picking from more than 700 bowls graciously donated by area potters. Dawn Davis and David Bellino provided live music for the evening. The folk school’s clay coordinator, Sienna Shute, and Chris Jones of Chris Jones Pottery delighted guests by demonstrating how to make vases and pots using a pottery wheel.
Dinner included fresh-brewed coffee from Black Stag Coffee, minestrone and tomato basil soup from Perrone’s Neighborhood Grill and the Crown Restaurant, salad using vegetables fresh from the folk school’s garden, and a strawberry crisp prepared by the school’s Dining Hall. The evening ended with a festive brown bag raffle for pitchers, coffee mugs and other ceramics that were donated by local potters.
Special thanks to Perrone’s Neighborhood Grill in Murphy and The Crown Brasstown for providing the delicious soups for the evening, along with Black Stagg Coffee and Café and Chance Luc from Nocturnal Brewery, both in Hayesville, who provided freshly brewed coffee and helped with serving guests and clean up. We also want to give a tremendous thank you to all the artists who donated their bowls and pieces for the brown bag raffle.
If you or your organization is interested in participating in next year’s Empty Bowls event, please call Morgan Budzinski at 828-837-2775, Ext. 116, or email mbudzinski@folkschool.org.
Robert Grand, Brasstown
The writer is communications and brand manager at John C. Campbell Folk School.
Everyone can help animals
The Valley River Humane Society decided to share some of the needs and projects we are taking on. Everyone can do something by donating, volunteering, supporting a fundraiser, socializing and grooming dogs and cats.
At the start of this year the small rescue group, New Digs for Dogs, comprised of a fantastic group of volunteers with an array of talents dug in on a big endeavor.
We had the employees at VRHS fill out a wish list of two items each to help them in their daily operations or to make shelter animals’ lives even better. The staff at VRHS strive everyday and are dedicated to the health and welfare of each animal.
We had to raise funds to fulfill these wishes. These are the individuals and businesses who helped meet the budget: New Digs for Dogs thanks Susan Wells, CPA; John and Zvonka Meek; Lawrence Sorgen, attorney; Richard and Mary Walker; Jim and Mary Ann Johnson; Chip and Diane Jones: Pat and Keanette Kern; Deborah Kenyon; Highway 69 Storage and Carmen and Freddy Carricaburu.
These are the individuals and businesses who helped provide food for holiday meals, supplies and services to include general maintenance, carpentry, painting, cleaning and organizing: Signs Fast, Tri-County Office Supply, Prints Plus, Moss Memorial Library, Trish Chapin, Kendra Martin and the Martin Family, Pat Kern, Bruce and Jan Mierke, Chris Graham, Melanie K. Favilla, Carmen and Freddy Carricaburu, Bob Morrell, Bonnie Cater, Martin Barros and Terry Drikut and Deborah Kenyon.
Thank you all for your generosity and continued support to help our animal shelter. We all need to spay and neuter our pets, adopt from rescue groups and the humane society, identify them with a collar and current information.
If you would to volunteer with NDFD, call 828-389-6126 and leave a voice mail. For VRHS, call 828-837-2304.
The shelter needs cats and dogs grooming items new or in very good condition. Also bleach, paper towels and toilet paper.
Debbie Graham, Hayesville
The writer is a volunteer with the Valley River Humane Society.
A new opioid adds to woes
Isotonitazene, or “Iso,” is a relatively new synthetic opioid made from a potent opioid called etonitazene. Etonitazene is about 500 times stronger than morphine and has been a Schedule I controlled substance for years. Schedule I means it has no medical use and is easily abused. It is intended for research and forensic purposes only.
Some of the signs of Isotonitazene use to look for are pinpointed pupils, slurred speech, drowsy appearance, slower movements, low blood pressure, slower heart rate, low body temperature, less physical pain and a euphoric or “high” feeling.
Many synthetic opioids have appeared in the illegal drug market, with Isotonitazene added to the mix in 2019, as evidenced by DEA drug seizures. Isotonitazene has been found in the United States, Canada, Germany, Estonia, Sweden and Latvia as a lone substance or incorporated into other substances. Evidence suggests that Isotonitazene is mainly being used as a substitute for heroin or other opioids, whether the users are aware they are taking it or not.
Some other signs of addiction to look for are trying to stop or cut down on drug use, but not being able to; using drugs because of being angry or upset with other people; taking one drug to get over the effects of another; making mistakes at school or on the job because of using drugs; drug use hurting relationships with family and friends; being scared at the thought of running out of drugs; stealing drugs or money to pay for drugs; being arrested or hospitalized for drug use; developing a tolerance, and needing larger amounts of drugs to get the same effect; overdosing on drugs.
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, reach out for help before it’s too late. We help people all over the U.S. find treatment and end the web that traps someone in addiction.
To read more on the subject, visit narcononnewliferetreat.org/blog/the-dangers-of-benzodiazepines.html.
Matthew Goodson, Denham Springs, La.
The writer is with Narconon New Life Retreat, a 501(c)3 corporation that helps people overcome addiction.