2 • Country Roads – Summer 2014 - Sole Solutionuber-assets.solesolution.com/sites/2893/assets/8XDC...4 • Country Roads – Summer 2014 Ralph L. Crisp REALTY CO. INC. Come by

2 • Country Roads – Summer 2014

If you would like to advertise in the next issue of Country Roads,please contact your sales associate by Aug. 1, 2014.

Publication dates are Aug. 27-28, 2014.

Country RoadsVolume 7, Number 2

Summer 2014Andrews Journal, Andrews: David Brown, publisher/edi-tor; Joseph Martin, associate editor; Dave Stevens, sales. To reach the Andrews Journal, call 828-321-4271 or email [email protected].

Cherokee Scout, Murphy: David Brown, publisher/editor; Joseph Martin, associate editor; Donna Cook and Dave Ste-vens, sales. To reach the Cherokee Scout, call 828-837-5122 or email [email protected].

Clay County Progress, Hayesville: Becky Long, publisher/editor; Tracy Smith, sales. To reach the Clay County Progress, call 828-389-8431 or email [email protected].

The Graham Star, Robbinsville: James Budd, publisher/edi-tor; Tara Eller, sales. To reach The Graham Star, call 828-479-3383 or email [email protected].

Layout and design by Christy Guthrie, composition manag-er; Ann Koles, graphic artist.

Marine moves back to make his life at home..............................6

‘People care about each other’........................................................8

Chastain bringing Nashville home..............................................9

Ellis a cut above the rest..............................................................12

Hiwassee Dam business ships worldwide................................14

Bellassai loves this lil’ corner of the world.............................16

An educated second look at new home......................................19

Calendar of events.........................................................................20

Contents

This special edition of Country Roads magazine focuses on the people who have moved to, or stayed in, far-western North Carolina.

Cover design and photography by Cherokee Scout Photo Editor Scott Wallace.

Members of the U.S. Marine Corps League, Cherokee Detachment 1011, carry the colors during a ceremony honoring those in the military who gave their lives in service to our country. It is a fitting tribute as we celebrate the birth of this great - and greatly blessed - na-tion, for which so many people have made the supreme sacrifice so this nation could survive, and thrive.

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Come by our location at 188 Main St. or write to us at P.O. Box 189, Andrews, NC 28901. Call Toll free: 800-438-8621 or 828 321-4227 • Email: [email protected].

Look at properties throughout the area on our website: www.ralphcrisprealty.com.

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#3897A. COUNTRY EsTATE - 2 sTORY home has full base-ment - 3 bd, 2.5 baths, wood burning fireplace, with wood stove in unfinished basement game room, covered porches, oversized garage, beautiful pond and stream, garden spac-es on 15.5 welcoming acres with lots of privacy - $350,000. ms#118579

#3884A. sPACIOUs mOUNTAIN HOmE WITH LOG sIDING - 3 LEVELs - 4 bedrooms, 3 baths - 2 kitchens - living room has fireplace, (finished basement ideal for apartment with outside entrance), covered porch to relax & enjoy neighborhood, deck, carport, storage building - close to Murphy in desirable Tarheel Development - central heat & air- Only $169,000

#3920A. 2 sTORY HOmE ON VALLEY RIVER headwaters - Renovated - 2 or 3 bedrooms, bath, kitchen with new cabinets & appliances - new bath with shower/tub, front porch to enjoy scenic surroundings - 1 acre lot - storage building - close to white water rafting on Nantahala River - Only $139,000.

Ralph CrispPresident

Imagean AdamsVice President

Jennifer FarrAssociate

Broker

Tom RodeckAssociate

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BrokerWelcomes you to the beautiful and unique Andrews valley.

Country Roads – Summer 2014 • 5


By JOSEPH MARTINjmar [email protected]

How many school system administra-tive assistants also

teach self-defense and Marine fitness classes? In Cherokee County, there is one – and this instructor has, no matter where his service with the U.S. Marine Corps has taken him, always called these mountains home. Greg “Gunny” Chapman was born at the old Prov-idence Hospital in down-town Murphy. The hospital, operated by the Sisters of Providence Catholic mission, was replaced by Murphy Medical Center in 1979 after the sisters’ facility closed. He moved away from Murphy in 1975 to Louisiana, where his father worked on the Mis-sissippi River as a push boat deckhand. Chapman’s life took him into the Marines. He served in Operation Desert Storm, assigned with the task of training reservists in tactical air control. He came home in 2003, finding work in construction. He started with Cherokee

County Schools as adminis-trative assistant to the super-intendent and school board liaison in 2010. In addition to his clerical duties, he assists the directors with their needs. “The end result, if I can assist someone in creating a

JOSEPH MARTIN/jmar [email protected] “Gunny” Chapman teaches Marine f itness as one his classes at the Hiwassee Valley Pool & Wellness Center in Murphy. A Cherokee County native from Martins Creek, Chapman said no matter where one lives, the mountains stay in them.

Marine moves back to make his life at homeFitness & saFety

Native f inds calling teaching on f itness

“I enjoy watch-ing people achieve tings they have never done.”

Greg Chapman


better mousetrap, a better way to manage their responsibilities, that’s rewarding,” he said. Chapman also keeps the board of education in the loop, pre-paring informational packages. “As the liaison, I’m responsible for keeping the board informed of pertinent issues that affect the schools,” Chapman said. He prepares packages for meetings and releases notes of board actions. He stays out of the politics involving elected board members. “There’s no decision-making on my part,” Chapman said. “I don’t have any in part in policy or activities.” What he does have is a passion for fitness. “My wife and I got a membership [to the Hiwassee Valley Pool & Wellness Center in Murphy] because we wanted to stay in shape. There was an individual teaching a fitness class, so I encouraged her to do it,” Chapman said. Then one day the Zumba instructor left. “It left a void,” he said. Chapman said he would do a fitness class, and if it got enough people who liked the class he would continue to do it. “I dug into my old Marine Corps fitness bag. People enjoyed it. It was a challenge to them. It just took off. People started filling up the room.” Seeing people improve their fitness through his challeng-ing exercises is rewarding. “I enjoy watching people achieve things they have never done,” Chapman said. His defense classes also are rewarding. He started the class after a hearing about a disturbing event. “There was an incident in the news where an individu-al who had been abducted and killed,” Chapman said. He teaches the basics and facilitates classes where more advanced fighters sharpen their skills. They learn about targets on the body and how they can use the only weapons God gave them – hand, feet, knees, elbows, even fingers. “I enjoy watching the beginners who know nothing about self-defense. When a person gets to the point-strike package, they make the connection that ‘I’m not helpless.’ That’s really rewarding,” he said. His classes have given participants confidence and valuable skills. “It’s rewarding to see the light come on in their eyes,” Chapman said. Though his life has been taken to places around the world, he said none of them come close to giving the life the moun-tains have to offer. “For 20 years, I was in places that do not have seasons – subtropical areas, deserts jungles. My favorite thing is that first frost. Until you’re away from it and you don’t have a season, it’s one of those things that are there. It’s some-thing that I missed a lot while I was gone.” Cherokee County is as close to Mayberry [the fictional town from The Andy Griffith Show] as one can get in the real world, Chapman said. “I like the innocence of Cherokee County.” He talked about being stationed at Yuma (Ariz.) Marine Corps Air Base. His son was playing a Mexican football team just across the border, but one the first things he noticed was a human corpse under a bus, something he said is normal in other parts of the world. “Cherokee County, to me, is still unspoiled by all of the evils that other more populous regions suffer,” Chapman said. “We have problems in Cherokee County, but it’s still a good place to be. I like the people here, too. These are my people.” u


By KIM HAINGEThe Graham Star

Angelia Gibbe has lived in Gra-ham County all her life. She was born in Stecoah in 1971 and has

wonderful memories of playing in the woods, swinging on grapevines and drinking water from the creek with her siblings while her daddy logged. “That water is so good,” she said. “I can’t stand the smell and taste of city water.” Today, she is happily married to Roger Gibbe. They have a 10-year-old daughter, Sarah. Gibbe married during the summer be-tween her junior and senior year of high school. She remembers how difficult it was to continue school and work a part time job at the same time. “I remember there was one teacher who kept me going. She was an account-ing teacher named Rhonda Orr,” Gibbe said with a smile. “She encouraged and

Mountain LiFe

‘People care about each other’

KIM HAINGE/The Graham StarAngelia Gibbe in front of her home in Robbinsville. She is a lifetime resident of Graham County.


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supported me, and in many ways I have her to thank that I graduated with my class.” While her husband worked on his vintage Model A car out back, she said why she stayed in Graham County. “Family means a whole lot to me,” Gibbe said. “I was real close to my mom and daddy. My daddy was one of 17 children, and my mom was one of seven. My mom’s family was from Alarka, near Bryson City. Most of my dad-dy’s family stayed in Stecoah,

and the ones that didn’t are coming back as they retire. They live on the land where they grew up. “When I was growing up, I would start off babysitting one child, and the next thing I knew I’d have 12 kids at the house, all playing together. Church was a big part of our lives, and we all went to the

same church, Dry Creek Bap-tist Church. In fact, my mom, Vivian Cody, died in 1999, just before the fellowship hall was completed at the church. They named the hall after her. “When I went to work at the post office in Cherokee recently, I briefly considered moving closer to my job, but I didn’t want to leave Graham County.” Gibbe glanced back inside the house at her daughter. “I didn’t want to take my

Sarah away from her Papaw,” she said. “They are so close. To raise my daughter in the mountains is important to me. She can go outside and play in the yard without me having to worry about her. She’ll be safe. Everyone knows her and watches after her. “We don’t have to lock the car doors around here. People care about each other, and we know all the neighbors. Roger and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.” u

“Family means the world to me.”

Angelia Gibbe

song oF the south

By STACY [email protected]

Andrew Chastain looks like any other worker at Carquest in

Andrews – looking up parts on the computer with a little grease on his shirt is nothing out of the ordinary. But when he gets off work, he heads home, cleans up and gets ready to hit the stage at local venues like Chevelles 66 in Murphy. When Chastain uploaded his first song video, “Carolina Hills,” to YouTube in Sep-tember 2012, he had no idea his hometown could be his

own little Nashville, Tenn. While becoming a big name in local music seeking to branch out to the rest of the world, Chastain is proud to sing in his hometown among the “Carolina Hills.” He is a native of Cherokee County, using his roots as a way to inspire his music. Growing up in Martins Creek, his family ties are the root of why he continues to seek fame in the area. Com-ing from big families like the Chastains and Wilsons, he was surrounded by a big fam-ily and their love for music. Chastain remembers watching videos a quar-ter-of-a-century old of family gatherings where his grand-pa, uncles and other family

members would gather around with instruments in hand, then play bluegrass and gospel music. “My dad rented a video camera, one of those big ones that rest on your shoulder,

and it was a big deal to be able to record,” he said. “I remember trying to get in the video by ‘helping’ papaw play.” Chastain smiles at that and says, “Man, it would be cool to go back to then.”

Chastain bringing Nashville homeCounty native usesroots to inspire music


The Wilsons are a music-oriented family. Ray Wilson won a N.C. Folk Heritage Award in bluegrass, and his uncle, Jimmy Wilson, plays bluegrass and gospel with his wife, son and two daughters. Getting his first guitar at 9 years old, Chastain says music is embedded in him. His grandpa wrote down eight chords for him to play and let him sing one Sunday during his radio show broadcast on WKRK-AM 1320 radio. “Papaw was preach-ing, and then I came on singing ‘The Sun’s Coming Up,’ “ he said. “They had it on tape, and when I first heard myself, like anyone else, I said, ‘Do I sound like that?’ “ Chastain is used to

SCOTT WALLACE/[email protected] Goins joins Andrew Chastain (at right) during a per formance by Chastain at Chev-elles 66 in Murphy. Chastain, a local musician, has been gaining in popularity and his f irst CD, Carolina Hills, has been well received.


hearing himself now, with about 30 videos on YouTube, including both original and cover songs. He credits his athletic career, former teach-ers and influences for his music. As a football player for Murphy High School, Chastain loved every mo-ment on the field. He said ev-erything in his career led up to the pivotal senior season in 2005, when he was seriously injured, causing his football dreams to come to a screech-ing halt. “Football was everything to me. Music was not a passion of mine then. It was just something that I grew up around,” Chastain said. “I talked to colleges about playing football, and I had it all planned out. Then I broke my back playing and had to sit out my final season. If it hadn’t been for that, I wouldn’t be playing music now.” He said he didn’t realize at the time, but God was in con-trol of what was happening. “God is in control, but I do believe He lets you make your own choices,” Chastain said. “I’m glad I broke my back. I would do it 100 times again because it put me where I am now.” He always loved English in school, and was influenced by teachers to become a good writer and love the English language. “Going to Martins

Creek elementary and middle school, growing up in that community with friends and teachers, was great. That is a critical time for kids and helped me learn a lot,” Chastain said. Paul Wilson, formerly the middle school English teacher at Martins Creek Elementary, was influential in Chastain’s life. “We are cousins, and if I needed someone to go to for guidance I would go to him. He was my older, cooler cousin,” Chastain said. “I had a lot of great teachers who were really influential, and he was one of them that got my mind inspired to read litera-ture.” Chastain is inspired by his thoughts, ideas and where he lives. The way he was raised has helped mold the type of musician he is. “My parents are wiser than I am, and I cannot thank them enough for how they raised me,” he said. “I was raised on old-fashioned church values. Getting saved in vacation Bible school more than a decade ago was the best deci-sion I ever made.” He was saved on the same day as his brother and friend, Gary Chastain and Brodie Murphy. Chastain’s career took a giant leap in May with the release of his first CD, Carolina Hills, and launch of his website. His single, the al-

bum’s title track, is available to purchase on iTunes. “I have friends in Chapel Hill who work in a produc-tion studio and wanted to help out,” he said. “I’m just a speck on the map, but it is encouraging to have a little success. It’s cool to live in an age where everything is doc-umented. I can look back at my first video, and see how I’ve grown and changed.” Chastain has added his

friend, Ethan Goins of Mur-phy, on lead guitar. Goins is a 2008 graduate of Murphy High who plays drums and lead guitar. “People around here always have supported me. A lot of times I will be disap-pointed with something, and they will offer encour-agement,” he said. “So far everything has been positive, but eventually there is going to be negativity.” u

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By BECKY [email protected]

Bob Ellis wasn’t certain about his career path when he graduated from Hayesville High School in

1962, but he was convinced his journey would not lead him far from his native home in Clay County – and he was right. “In high school, you begin thinking about what you want to do,” Ellis said. “I knew I didn’t want to leave Clay County – my ancestors go back five gen-erations and include Native Americans. So I tried to think of something I could do and still live here. Back then, the ma-jority of graduates left here to find jobs.” Ellis discovered the perfect job. He graduated from Gainesville Barber College along with another Clay Coun-ty native, Tony Woody, who attended college at the same time. Less than a year after graduation, Ellis was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he eventually became a supply sergeant and cut hair as a secondary job “on my time off.” While Ellis went on to a career in barbering, Woody’s path took him in a different direction. In the 1980s, Woody became the longest-serving sheriff of Clay County and held office until he retired in 2006. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Kentucky. After college, Ellis moved about 13 miles down the road to Young Harris, Ga., where he thrived as a barber and enjoyed a booming business. “I used to have an open-door policy. I’d open the shop at 6 a.m. and have five people waiting when I got there,” Ellis said. “I had 16 waiting chairs, and they were always full. I’d work until around 10 p.m. That pretty much burned me out, so I went to appointments.” In 1984, he opened Bob’s Barber Shop in Hayesville and moved back home. With his 71st birthday approaching Dec. 18 and 48 years in the barbering busi-ness, Ellis appears content. “I’ve slowed down,” he said. “Back when business was in overdrive, I’d do 30 heads a day. Now I only take ap-pointments and work four days a week, Tuesday through Friday. It works well

for me.” Ellis says his clientele is made up of folks from across the region. When he opened the shop in Hayesville, many customers from Georgia followed. “Some have been coming for 40

years,” he said. One of those longtime customers is Leon Davenport from Blairsville, Ga. “He is a highly decorated military man,” Ellis said. “He has always got his hair cut once a week, so if I cut a little too much one week, I still have to go through the motions because no mat-ter what – he’s going to be here once a week.” Ellis said he loves his customers like family, and the feeling seems mutual.

no PLace Like hoMe

Ellis a cut above the rest

Photos by BECKY LONG/[email protected] County resident Aden Martin relaxes in hands of Bobby Ellis, who has been in the barber business nearly 48 years. Ellis understands why folks like to get a haircut. “I didn’t get to go to the barbershop until I was 14,” El-lis said. “It was a real treat, but I had to pay for it myself. I have so many great childhood memories of growing up here.”

“Change is inevitable, but Clay County will always be home.”

Bobby Ellis

During the inter-view, Aden Martin and his brother came in the barber-shop. Martin, an old-time mandolin and guitar player, and Ellis have been attending high school ball games together for years. “He comes by to see me every Friday,” Ellis said. When asked if El-lis is a good barber, Martin grinned and said, “Well, I keep coming back – that ought to tell you something.” Ellis may have slowed down a bit, and his haircuts are no longer $1.25 like when he first started in the business, but at $10 to $12, “depending on what you want,” the barbershop is still a bargain. “I try to keep

prices conservative,” he said. Ellis, who does not own a cell phone nor use email, prefers to communicate face to face. “I love people,” he said.

“When I’m here my time is totally dedicated to people. They tell me things one on one and it stays confiden-tial. Sometime I say I should have a barber shingle and a

psychologist shingle hanging up outside.” It’s not likely Ellis will ever retire. The love for his job and clients is only rivaled by how much he loves Clay County. “I never thought, ‘I’m going to move,’ ” Ellis said. “I love it here because of my heritage, and I have always enjoyed the people in Clay Coun-ty, especially our Appalachian heritage – I love to see and hear people use Appala-chian language. It’s the old slogan … no place like home. “I’ve lived in a time when we’ve witnessed the biggest changes

in the county, but even with changes, it still feels like home. Change is inevitable, but Clay County will always be home.” u


Haircuts at Bob’s Barbershop are still a bargain. Clay County barber Bob Ellis no longer takes new clients, but he still keeps rates reasonable for his regular clientele.

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By JEFFREY [email protected]

Cliff Touroo sits at a desk in his downstairs office, paintbrush in

hand, with an arrow spin-ning on a crester in front of him. He looks up and out the window of his cabin that sits atop a mountain in the Lau-rel Brook community near Hiwassee Dam, and the view takes his eyes across miles of mountains, across rising hills in both North Carolina and Tennessee. It’s a view Touroo takes in every day while making and designing arrows for CAS Custom Built Arrows, a business he started in his home state of Michigan and brought to his western North Carolina home two years ago. He’s a long way from his Northern roots, but the journey to the community just outside of Murphy, and to the business that serves clients all over the world, was even longer. Touroo, an avid hunter and archer, was working as a groundskeeper for a school system just outside of Ann Arbor, Mich., more than 20 years ago when he first started making and designing arrows. He and his friends

competed in 3D shooting tournaments – events that

feature life-size targets – but they couldn’t find the arrows

in local archery shops that they wanted to use in the competitions. So Touroo took matters into his own hands. Touroo (pronounced “Toro”) began building, designing and customizing arrows for himself and his friends. He painted, balanced and feathered the arrows. He enjoyed the meticulous work and got very good at it. After retiring from the school system in 2003, he had more time to spend on his newfound hobby. “I started taking it a little more seriously,” he said. It quickly began to pay off. Soon after retiring, Touroo decided to test the market. “I sent some arrows to three or four of the hot hunt-ing shows at the time,” he said. “But I never heard back from any of them.” Until one day while driv-ing in his truck near his home in Michigan. “I got a phone call, an-swered it, and the guy said it was Ted Nugent,” said Touroo. “I thought it was one of my buddies – they were always screwing around with me – so I hung up.” Only it wasn’t one of his buddies. “My phone rang again and

arrow Man

Hiwassee Dam business ships worldwide

Photos by JEFFREY LEE/[email protected] f Touroo, owner of CAS Custom Arrows, puts the f inishing touches of paint on an arrow while it spins on a crester in his downstairs of f ice atop a mountain in Hiwassee Dam.


when I answered it, it really was Ted Nugent,” said Touroo. Nugent, a rock musician well known for the 1977 song “Cat Scratch Fever” as well as a strong advocate for hunting and gun ownership rights, today is host of the Outdoor Channel’s hunting show Spirit of the Wild. “He asked if I could send him another set of arrows, and asked if he could pay me,” said Touroo. It was the start of a business relation-ship that remains in tact more than 10 years later. Touroo has been making and designing Nugent’s arrows since that near-missed phone call. The musi-cian doesn’t hesitate to credit Touroo’s work, acknowledging Touroo’s arrows with plugs during his show. After gaining Nugent as a client, Tou-roo’s business started to expand. Diane, Touroo’s wife of 33 years, urged him to try and sell more of his arrows on eBay. It didn’t take long to see that her idea was a good one. “Ten minutes later, the arrows were sold,” said Touroo. With Nugent a client, and with sales on eBay, the orders started coming in and more arrows shipping out. Touroo added another television show to his client list when Brian “Pigman” Quaca, host of Pigman on the Sportsman Chan-nel, started ordering arrows. At the time, Touroo was providing arrows to two of the top hunting shows on television. With his hobby evolved into a new ca-reer, Touroo and his wife began consid-ering a move. They had called Michigan home long enough and started looking at settling in another part of the country. “I wanted to move out to Wyoming,” he said. “I had always wanted to move out there.” However, family and several trips to the tri-state area made him reconsider. “My sister lives in Blue Ridge (Ga.), so we started coming down and visiting her,” said Touroo. “We kept coming down, and I thought it was really pretty. And then the real estate prices came down, but they didn’t out West. Wyo-ming never saw any type of recession, so the prices on houses were so much better here.” The price of housing was just a bonus. “We liked it more and more every time we came down,” said Touroo. “The people here are really nice.”

In 2012, Touroo and his wife bought the cabin with the view in Hiwassee Dam. From there. Touroo customizes arrows for clients all over the world,

including Canada, France, Kazakh-stan, Sweden and Norway and they’re shipped out from his office atop the mountain in Hiwassee Dam. u

Clif f Touroo makes and customizes all types of arrows, including wooden and carbon, in dif ferent shapes, sizes and colors.

The arrows feature hand-painted designs, which is meticulous work for maker Clif f Touroo.


By LORRIE [email protected]

When people walk through the screen doors of the Best Lil Corner in Hayesville, they may expect to find someone like The Waltons’ Ike Godsey, an old-

time storekeeper sweeping the floors and wearing a full apron. Instead, a petite blonde named Sheila Bellassai and her hus-band, Sal Bellassai, own the unique sandwich and ice cream shop at the corner of Yellow Jacket Drive and U.S. 64 Business. While the candy racks, old-time counter and numerous other antiques were added by the Bellassais, it was the quaint

charm of downtown Hayes-ville that attracted them to the area a few decades ago.

“It was actually my hus-band, Sal, who found it,” Sheila Bellassai said.

She said he was immediately drawn to the area when he

visited from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., with a friend. “He loved the courthouse and the town caught him. The town the way it was. The people were so kind,” Ms. Bellassai said. Her husband bought the Clay County home they still live in while maintaining two residences and a business in both North Carolina and Florida. They also like all of the grass and trees. “Fort Lauderdale had it all,” she said about the town where she grew up. That all changed there, and things like trees and land – even grass – became a privilege to have, even though they require care. In 1991, Bellassai saw Johnny Beal’s old store property for sale and bought the buildings. “We wanted something for our future,” she said. “We

didn’t know how bad off it would be.” Her son, Sal Bellassai Jr., and her son-in-law, Randy Horton, refinished the build-ings to make them what they are now. “It took six and a half years,” she added. There are photos in her restaurant showing the previous

sweet southern charM

LORRIE ROSS/[email protected] Bellassai, owner of Best Lil Corner Sandwich & Ice Cream Shop in Hayes-ville, came to town about 25 years ago. She and her husband, Sal, bought a home and buildings, which they spent 6½ years renovating into their business.

Bellassai lovesthis lil’ cornerof the world

“People come here because it reminds them of the past and their history.”

Sheila Bellassai

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owners and buildings in the past – the restaurant when it was Gibson’s General Store, the barn that became the Best Lil Corner antiques building, a woman who grew up in the building and al-ways sat in her favorite chair at Best Lil Corner for many years. Bellassai said she loved hearing the history of the area so much that she began writing a lot of the stories down. “People come here because it reminds them of the past and their history. There’s no history in a new building, “ she said. They worked hard to make Best Lil Corner a popular destination for people who want good food and a bit of nostalgia. Her husband collected antiques for years, and Best Lil Corner was the perfect site to display them – and their histories. Ms. Bellassai made lots of friends with many older

county residents who en-joyed reminiscing with her. She said she used to go sit at Cutworm Phillip’s store on the downtown square and hear tales from him. Many of the items on display on the restaurant walls are for sale, but not those given to her by him or other local people. An old frying pan, an antique coffee tin and other things given to her have their stories attached to share with others. The Bellasais raised three children and have nine grandchildren, some who were born locally. None of them live in the area today, but she hopes they return someday. Sal Jr. died several years ago, but she said she still feels his presence in Best Lil Corner. Her restaurant and home are comforting to her. Ms. Bellassai enjoys being sur-rounded by so much history. “I have two wonderful

girls who work here, and they are like family to me,” she said with a smile. Bellassai maintains a huge garden to provide fresh veg-etables to the sandwich shop, and she considers that a priv-ilege, too. Upon entering Best Lil Corner, one can see the pride she has in her establish-ment and her adopted town. She has heard stories about Johnny Beal and how he was “good to ride the river with.” Translation – he was a good

person. The couple seem to be car-rying on the building’s tradi-tions. TripAdvisor online has many positive comments, not only about the food but about the nostalgia and friendliness. One comment sums it up about Ms. Bellassai but also represents what brought her here to begin with. “Sheila stopped to chat for a while, and shared stories of how she and her husband collect ‘old school’ shake joint.” u

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By KIM HAINGEThe Graham Star

Marcia Davies fell in love with Graham County after moving here in 1999, and she has lived

or worked all over the region. Ms. Davies was born in Cullowhee, and during her teaching career she has taught school in about every county west of Asheville. In 1998, Marcia’s hus-band, David, accepted the job of school superintendent for Graham County Schools. She followed him here shortly thereafter and was hired to teach fourth grade at the elementary school. Ms. Davies sat on her deck overlook-ing an incredible view of the mountains. “I think Graham County is the most beautiful place in the world,” she said. “We have seen just about every kind of animal on our land except a bear. We even had a weasel living here for a bit. The flowers and natural beauty are amazing.” The Davies rented when they first arrived in Graham County. When they realized how much they liked it here, they contacted a real estate agent, who showed them a beautiful piece of prop-erty. They returned for a second look and had a picnic lunch on a rock facing the valley below. As she gazed up at the mountains, Marcia thought to herself, “I want that view.” The decision was made, and in 2002 they moved into their new home. Seven years later, she completed her teaching career and retired. “I love the mountains. I hope I never take them for granted,” Ms. Davies said.

When asked what made Graham County so special to her and why she chose this place to retire, she replied, “I fell in love with the whole area. The peo-ple are so friendly. The lake is wonder-ful. Things move at a slower pace here; no bad traffic, much less stress. “The atmosphere is similar to what I remember about growing up in Cullo-whee. When I go to the post office, the

grocery store or the bank, people greet me by name. Everyone knows everyone, and it makes me feel like I’m home.” Ms. Davies added that her husband, who also has retired, rides a Harley Davidson motorcycle. He has ridden from Robbinsville to Alaska twice and traveled to 49 states, plus Canada, but he especially loves riding along the wind-ing roads in Graham County. u

Beauty in nature

An educated second look at new home

KIM HAINGE/The Graham StarMarcia Davies is surrounded by the native plants along the nature trail behind her home in Robbinsville.

JUNE26 Evening Harvest Farmer’s Market on the Square’s Outdoor Adventure is open from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, June 26, with featured ar tists Wesley Cash and Travis Bishop. Cooking demonstrations also are par t of the market in Hayesville. Visit eveningharvestmarket.com for details.

Andrews Brewing Co. at 565 Aquone Road presents Unplugged Thursdays with Andrew Chastain from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, June 26. See www.andrewsbrewing.com for details.

27 The 56th annual Wagon Train will gather in Andrews star ting Friday, June 27, and running through Friday, July 4. Saddle up to ride and explore the area in and around Andrews and the Valley River Valley with the nation’s oldest wagon train. Call 321-2376 for details.

The Clay County Community Revitalization Association’s Summer Concer t on the Square from 7-9 p.m. present Shani Hedden and Sweet &

Lowdown from Chattanooga, Tenn., playing blues, rock, jazz and country, especially Patsy Cline. Admission is free. Bring a lawn chair. In case of bad weather, the concer t will be at the gathering place at Hayesville Methodist Church. Visit cccra-nc.org or call 828-389-2121 for details.

Modern Vinyl will per form live at Doyle’s Cedar Hill Restaurant on Andrews Road in Murphy at 8 p.m. Friday, June 27. See www.doylescedarhill.com for details.

28 The annual Gala & Benef it Auction will be held 5 p.m. Saturday, June 28, in the Keith House at John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown. Admission prices are $20 in advance, $25 at the door, $15 for Friends of the Folk School. Tickets include admission, food and two drink tickets. Heavy hors d’oeuvres and wine/beer will be served at this event. There also will be live music. Call 800-365-5724 or visit www.folkschool.org for details.

Ranch Rodeo Finals will be held

Saturday, June 28. Gates open at 6 p.m. at a location to be determined. Call 828-321-3584 or email [email protected] for details. Andrews Brewing Co. at 565 Aquone Road presents its Summer Concer t Series with The Moon and You from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, June 28. Cover charge is $5.

Andrews Heritage Day star ts at noon Saturday, June 28, at Hall Memorial Park. Call 828-321-3585 for details.

Bear Ridge Speedway in Andrews will be hosting Maxx Daddy Go-Car t Races all day long Saturday, June 28. The event features more than 300 drivers from all over the United States. Call 828-321-1970 for details.

The Stecoah Valley Cultural Ar ts Center of f N.C. 28 in Graham County will launch An Appalachian Evening with a concer t by The Kruger Brothers at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 28. Kruger Brothers per formances are exciting, calming, enter taining and spontaneous


2014 suMMer caLendar oF events

SCOTT WALLACE/[email protected] racers in one of the youth divisions vie for position during a pro-circuit kar t race held last summer at Bear Ridge Speedway in Andrews. With divisions for both youth and adults, and races nearly every weekend, the track has proved popular with fans as well as par ticipants.


all in one, exhibiting their sheer joy in playing music. Call 828-479-3364 for details.

Radio Birds will per form live at Doyle’s Cedar Hill Restaurant on Andrews Road in Murphy at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 28. See www.doylescedarhill.com for details.

JULY3 Evening Harvest Farmer’s Market on the Square’s Heritage Day-themed program will feature Nadia Choucair and Matty Griswold. The market is open from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, July 3, in Hayesville. Visit eveningharvestmarket.com for details.

Andrews Brewing Co. at 565 Aquone Road presents Unplugged Thursdays with Lon Eldrige from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, July 3. See www.andrewsbrewing.com for details.

4 At 8 a.m Friday, July 4, the Hiwassee Valley Pool & Wellness Center in Murphy will be hosting its annual Firecracker Run. The race includes a 10K, 5K and 2-mile walk. You can register at the center before the day of the race or on race day star ting at 7 a.m.

The Andrews Four th of July Celebration will be held at Andrews Recreation Park. There will be food, music, contests, f ireworks and fun. Call 828-321-2135 for details.

The Murphy Four th of July Celebration will be held at Konehete Park. Call 828-837-2510 for details.

The July Murphy Ar t Walk is from 5-8 p.m. Friday, July 4, through downtown Murphy. The theme is “Celebrate America’s Troops, Made in the U.S.A., red, white and blue.”

The Postcards Show, a traveling exhibit, will be held 5-8 p.m. Friday, July 4, in a location to be announced. Opening reception will be held during Murphy Ar t Walk. Email kathleen@cherokeear tscouncil.org for details.

The Clay County Fireworks Celebration, with old-time fun day on the Hayesville square, of fers food, fun, music and parade Friday, July 4. Fireworks will be at 9 p.m. at the Riverwalk. Parade will begin at 6 p.m. Call the Clay County Chamber of Commerce at 828-389-3704 for details.

Tri-County Racetrack in Brasstown presents racing Friday, July 4, with an Independence Day championship and a huge f ireworks extravaganza. Tickets: stand adults, $18; ages 11-16, $10; ages 10 and under, free. Pit tickets: adults, $30; ages 11-16, $15; ages 10 and under, free. Visit www.tricountyracetrack.com for details. John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown

presents the Lone Mountain Band in concer t at 7 p.m. Friday, July 4, in the Keith House. See www.folkschool.org for details.

The Heritage Festival in Graham County will be held in downtown Robbinsville on Friday and Saturday, July 4-5. Downtown will be blocked of f for vendors, music, a greased pig contest and logging contest. A visit from the cast of Moonshiners, including Jim Tom Hedrick, will be featured. Call 828-479-3250 for details.

Fontana Village in Graham County will have f ireworks and festivities Friday, July 4, through Sunday, July 6. Enjoy f ishing, Fontana Lake, the marina and f ine restaurants. Call 800-849-2258 for details.

Four th of July f ireworks will be set of f from the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds of f U.S. 76 in Hiawassee, Ga., at 9:45 p.m. Friday, July 4. See www.georgiamountainfairgrounds.com for details.

Audio Alliance will per form live at Doyle’s Cedar Hill Restaurant on Andrews Road in Murphy at 9 p.m. Friday, July 4. See www.doylescedarhill.com for details.

5 Songwriters Showcase featuring Rob Tiger and Friends will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 5, at the Peacock Playhouse in Hayesville. This popular series of original Americana/folk music spotlights talent from near and far in an intimate, round-robin concer t style. Tickets are $11. For details, visit www.peacockplayhouse.org.

The Stecoah Valley Cultural Ar ts Center of f N.C. 28 in Graham County will feature An Appalachian Evening concer t by Town Mountain at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 5. In 2013, the prestigious IBMA gave Town Mountain two Momentum Awards – one for Per formance Band of the Year, and one for Rober t Greer as Vocalist of the Year. Call 828-479-3364 for details.

Andrews Brewing Co. at 565 Aquone Road presents its Summer Concer t Series with Megan Jean & the KFB from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, July 5. Cover charge is $5.

Southeastern Summer Series Race 2 will be held Saturday, July 5, at Bear Ridge Speedway of f U.S. 19/74 in Andrews.

Will Taylor will per form live at Doyle’s Cedar Hill Restaurant on Andrews Road in Murphy at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 5. See www.doylescedarhill.com for details.

10 Evening Harvest Farmer’s Market on the Square presents Hippie Day with music from the 1960s by featured ar tist Dr. Paul Constantine. The market is open 4-8 p.m. with locally grown produce and craf ts.

Cooking demonstrations are also par t of the market. Visit eveningharvestmarket.com for details.

Andrews Brewing Co. at 565 Aquone Road presents Unplugged Thursdays with Heidi Holton from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, July 10. See www.andrewsbrewing.com for details.

11 The 34th annual Festival on the Square will have activities from Friday, July 11; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 12, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 13, with vendors, food stands and enter tainment. Visit clayhistoryar ts.org for details.

The Wilson Family will be in concer t at the Brasstown Community Center at 7 p.m. Friday, July 11. Admission is $5, with kids under age 12 free. Visit www.clayscorner.com for details.

Wine under the Stars at Eagle Fork Vineyards will be held Friday, July 11, with music and fun from 7-10 p.m. The Tommy Jo Conner Duo from Olde Dawgs Band will be the enter tainment. Visit www.eagleforkvineyards.com for details.

12 Contra square dancing with David Kaynor, Charlotte Crit tenden & Dance Musician Staf f will be held 8-11 p.m. Saturday, July 12, in the Keith House at John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown. Admission is $7 for adults, $4 for ages 12-18 and $3 for under 12. Call 828-837-2775 or 800-365-5724, or visit www.folkschool.org for details.

The annual Shape-Note Singing, which draws more than 70 singers from four states, will be from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 12, in the Davidson Hall Music Studio at John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown. Admission is free. Call 828-837-2775 or 800-365-5724, or visit www.folkschool.org for details. Bubbles in the Park is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 12, at Konehete Park in Murphy. There will be water play, bubble play and ice cream. Call Family Resources at 828-837-3460 for details.

Andrews Brewing Co. at 565 Aquone Road presents its Summer Concer t Series with Pierce Edens & the Dir ty Work from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, July 12. Cover charge is $5.

The Stecoah Valley Cultural Ar ts Center on N.C. 28 in Graham County presents An Appalachian Evening concer t with The Freight Hoppers at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 12. The band has been heavily praised around the world for their rich old-time and Americana sound. Call 828-479-3364 for details.

Steady Flow will per form live at Doyle’s Cedar Hill Restaurant on Andrews Road in Murphy at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 12. See www.doylescedarhill.com for details.




17 Evening Harvest Farmer’s Market on the Square’s Everything Corny will feature music by Ben Shirley from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, July 17. Visit eveningharvestmarket.com for details.

Andrews Brewing Co. at 565 Aquone Road presents Unplugged Thursdays with Dr. Paul Constantine from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, July 17. See www.andrewsbrewing.com for details.

18 The Clay County Community Revitalization Association’s Summer Concer t on the Square from 7-9 p.m. Friday, July 18, features Leather and Lace. Admission is free. Bring a lawn chair. In case of bad weather, the concer t will be at the gathering place at Hayesville Methodist Church. Visit cccra-nc.org or call 828-389-2121 for details.

Tri-County Racetrack in Brasstown presents the Street Stock Summer Shootout, with $500 to win, plus a full racing program, on Friday, July 18. Tickets: stand, adults $18, ages 11-16 $10, ages 10 and under free. Pit tickets: adults $30, ages 11-16 $15, ages 10 and under free. Visit www.tricountyracetrack.com for details.

John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown presents Cornbread Ted & the Butterbeans in concer t at 7 p.m. Friday, July 18, in the Keith House. See www.folkschool.org for details.

The Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds runs Friday, July 18, through Saturday, July 26, at the fairgrounds of f U.S. 76 in Hiawassee, Ga. General admission is $12, including music shows, with ages 12 and under and parking free. See www.georgiamountainfairgrounds.com for details.

19 The Stecoah Valley Cultural Ar ts Center on N.C. 28 in Graham County presents An Appalachian Evening concer t with The Snyder Family at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 19. The band has delighted and surprised audiences at venues nationwide. Call 828-479-3364 for details.

Andrews Brewing Co. at 565 Aquone Road presents its Summer Concer t

Series with the Scott Holt Band from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, July 19. Cover charge is $5.

Southeastern Summer Series Race 4 will be held Saturday, July 19, at Bear Ridge Speedway of f U.S. 19/74 in Andrews.

24 Evening Harvest Farmer’s Market on the Square presents Eat Your Veggies with music by Appalachian Monk. The market is open from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, July 24. Visit eveningharvestmarket.com for details.

The Licklog Players present Smoke on the Mountain from Thursday, July 24, through Sunday, July 27, as well as Thursday, July 31, through Sunday, Aug. 3. This is story about a Saturday night gospel singing at a country church in Nor th Carolina’s Smoky Mountains in 1938. Visit licklogplayers.org for details.

Andrews Brewing Co. at 565 Aquone Road presents Unplugged Thursdays with Scott James Stambaugh from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, July 24. See www.andrewsbrewing.com for details.

25 Evening Harvest Farmfest from 2-6 p.m. Friday, July 25, presents Bread to Wool featuring the music of Cool Papa DJ. Visit eveningharvestmarket.com for details.

The Clay County Community Revitalization Association’s Summer Concer t on the Square presents Just Us from 7-9 p.m. Friday, July 25. The band from Englewood, Tenn., plays all kinds of bluegrass, gospel and the Beatles. Visit: cccra-nc.org or call 828-389-2121 for details.

John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown presents a Dulcimer Celebration Concer t at 7 p.m. Friday, July 25, in the Keith House. See www.folkschool.org for details.

Johnny Red Robot will per form live at Doyle’s Cedar Hill Restaurant on Andrews Road in Murphy at 8 p.m. Friday, July 25. See www.doylescedarhill.com for details.

26 Evening Harvest Farmfest will

be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 26. Pasture-raised cheese, eggs and meat is the theme for the day. Music will be by Heidi Holton at noon and Scott James Stambaugh at 2 p.m. Visit eveningharvestmarket.com for details.

Nations and Blackwell will be in concer t at the Brasstown Community Center at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 26. Admission is $5, with kids under age 12 free. Visit www.clayscorner.com for details.

Tri-County Racetrack in Brasstown Race presents SEMDTRA f lat-track motorcycles, plus kids bicycle races, Saturday, July 26. Stand tickets: adults $18, aged 11-16 $10, ages 10 and under free. Pit tickets: adults $30, ages 11-16 $15, ages 10 and under free. Visit www.tricountyracetrack.com for details.

The Peacock Playhouse presents The Red Hot Sugar Babies with vintage jazz, blues, swing, ragtime, Dixieland and New Orleans music at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 26. Tickets are: adults, $20; students ages 13 and up, $11; children ages 12 and under, $6. Visit peacockplayhouse.org for details.

Andrews Brewing Co. at 565 Aquone Road presents its Summer Concer t Series with Husky Burnette from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, July 26. Cover charge is $5.

The Stecoah Valley Cultural Ar ts Center in Graham County will have An Appalachian Evening concer t with Special Consensus. This bluegrass out f it in a classic vein was nominated for a Grammy in 2012 for Best Bluegrass Album. Call 828-479-3364 for details.

Gnarly Fingers will per form live at Doyle’s Cedar Hill Restaurant on Andrews Road in Murphy at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 26. See www.doylescedarhill.com for details.

30 There will be a country music dance at Jimmy’s Pick N Grin of f U.S. 19/74 in Andrews at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30.

31 Evening Harvest Farmer’s Market on the Square’s Farmer Bingo will feature the musical talents of Jay Drummonds. The market is open

from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, July 31. Visit eveningharvestmarket.com for details.

Andrews Brewing Co. at 565 Aquone Road presents Unplugged Thursdays with CaroMia from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, July 31. See www.andrewsbrewing.com for details.

Appalachian Monk will per form live at Doyle’s Cedar Hill Restaurant on Andrews Road in Murphy at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 31, during the Farm to Table dinner. See www.doylescedarhill.com for details.

AUGUST1 The August Murphy Ar t Walk is from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, through downtown Murphy. The theme is “Vintage America – old times, good times.”

2 Andrews Brewing Co. at 565 Aquone Road presents its Summer Concer t Series with Mangas Colorado from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2. Cover charge is $5.

7 Andrews Brewing Co. at 565 Aquone Road presents Unplugged Thursdays with Dr. Paul Constantine from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 7. See www.andrewsbrewing.com for details.

The Georgia Mountain Moonshine Cruize-In will be held Thursday, Aug. 7, through Saturday, Aug. 9, at the fairgrounds of f U.S. 76 in Hiawassee, Ga. See www.gamoonshinecruizin.com for details.

8 John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown presents the Graham County Line in concer t at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8, in the Keith House. See www.folkschool.org for details.

9 Andrews Brewing Co. at 565 Aquone Road presents its Summer Concer t Series with Angela Easterling & the Beguilers from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9. Cover charge is $5.

Southeastern Summer Series Race 6 will be held Saturday, Aug. 9, at Bear Ridge Speedway of f U.S. 19/74 in Andrews.



14 Andrews Brewing Co. at 565 Aquone Road presents Unplugged Thursdays with the Wilhelm Brothers from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 14. See www.andrewsbrewing.com for details.

15 John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown presents Spirit Fiddle in concer t at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15, in the Keith House. See www.folkschool.org for details.

16 Andrews Brewing Co. at 565 Aquone Road presents its Summer Concer t Series with Jerry’s Bones from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16. Cover charge is $5.

Clockwork will per form live at Doyle’s Cedar Hill Restaurant on Andrews Road in Murphy at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16. See www.doylescedarhill.com for details.

21 N.C. Writers Network West will hold a reading Thursday, Aug. 21, with Glenda Beall and Estelle Rice at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21, in the Keith House of John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown. Visit www.folkschool.org.

John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown presents Jim Lloyd in concer t at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21, in the Keith House. See www.folkschool.org for details.

Andrews Brewing Co. at 565 Aquone Road presents Unplugged Thursdays with Heidi Holton from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21. See www.andrewsbrewing.com for details.

22 Copious Jones will per form live at Doyle’s Cedar Hill Restaurant on Andrews Road in Murphy at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22. See www.doylescedarhill.com for details.

23 Andrews Brewing Co. at 565 Aquone Road presents its Summer Concer t Series with Wyatt Espalin and Trees Leaves from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23. Cover charge is $5. See www.andrewsbrewing.com for details.

The Valley River Run Car Show in Andrews is planned Saturday, Aug. 23, with times to be announced. Call 828-321-3584 for details.

28 Andrews Brewing Co. at 565 Aquone Road presents Unplugged Thursdays with Dr. Paul Constantine from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28. See www.andrewsbrewing.com for details.

29 John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown presents Hot Duck Soup in concer t at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, in the Keith House. See www.folkschool.org for details.

Johnny Red Robot will per form live at Doyle’s Cedar Hill Restaurant on Andrews Road in Murphy at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29. See www.doylescedarhill.com for details.

30 Andrews Brewing Co. at 565 Aquone Road presents its Summer Concer t Series with Puddle Jumpers from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30.

WEEKLY The Cedar Valley Farmers Market will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays through October at the L&N Depot on Hiawassee Street in Murphy. Call Jeremiah Smith at 828-837-3400 for details.

The Andrews Farmer’s Market runs through Saturday, Oct. 11. Hours are from 8 a.m. to noon at Andrews Mercantile on Main Street. Call Rachelle Clark at 828-321-5960 for details.

STACY GREEN/[email protected] Andrews Heritage Festival features parades, food, fun and numerous displays for residents and visitors alike. The annual festival is being held Saturday, June 28, at Hall Memorial Park downtown.

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