Archives for December 15, 2022

The power of cinema to keep community

In a divisive time, with heated political and social climates, anything that creates unity is valuable. Theaters could play a great role in this than we realize. Greg Israel, the owner of Sylva’s “Catamount Cinemas” and “Smoky Mountain Cinemas” in Waynesville, says “Theaters create social opportunities and unify people in many ways.” Israel, among many […]

The steam-powered magic behind local “Polar Express”

The magical “Polar Express” train ride has returned to Swain County for December, but what is the true “magic” according to some passengers and crew members? Since 1988, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, otherwise known by its reporting mark “GSMR,” has served as a major North Carolina tourist attraction and sees nearly 200,000 visitors yearly. […]