The city of Asheville is designating Tuesday, April 30, as National Therapy Animal Day -- and that includes a very special kitty that is one of only three therapy cats in the state of North Carolina.
According to nonprofit Pet Partners, Phillip Twitter is the only therapy cat in Western North Carolina. The group says many animal species can become therapy pets, including birds, rabbits and even rats.
Phillip's owner says therapy cats have a different style than therapy dogs.
“They visit much slower than the dogs. The dogs are used to going from person to person," Crouse explained. "The cats like to stay put for a while, and that makes them especially good when they’re visiting older people in facilities because they want to visit for a while they don’t want to be rushed."
Phillip Twitter got his name because he likes to chirp as much as he likes to meow.
There are 62 scenic byways in North Carolina. Some of Western North Carolina's most famous include the Blue Ridge Parkway and Mount Mitchell Scenic Drive.
There is another one closeby worth checking out: The Forest Heritage Scenic Byway starts in Brevard and leads drivers to scenic locations like Looking Glass Falls.
Forest Heritage Scenic Byway winds through about 64 miles of scenic WNC, passing through the Pisgah National Forest and intersecting the Blue Ridge Parkway and Waterfall Byway along the way. Like the parkway, the Forest Heritage Scenic Byway area is chock full of things to do and see. Here's your guide.
Where is the Forest Heritage Scenic Byway?
A dedicated page on Scenicbyways.info states that the Forest Heritage Scenic Byway is 64 miles in length, a drive of around two hours. Beginning in Brevard and ending in Rosman, the road features areas perfect for recreation and scenic views including Sliding Rock, Pink Beds bog, several waterfalls and plenty more.
According to Romanticasheville.com, elevation of the byway ranges from around 2,100-5,340 feet.
CHEROKEE, N.C. – Myrtle Driver Johnson, Beloved Woman of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), made history by making the first legal purchase of cannabis in the State of North Carolina. She purchased several cannabis products at the grand opening of the Great Smoky Cannabis Company, located in Cherokee, N.C., on the morning of Saturday, April 20. Eric Bird, an EBCI tribal member and employee at the company, showed her products and made the first sale.
The Great Smoky Cannabis Company is run by Qualla Enterprises, LLC, an entity of the EBCI.
“We built this thing with our Tribe and for our Tribe. We all work for the people.”
Parker stated that the wording under the company name on its logo is in Cherokee syllabary and translates into English as “Medicine from the Earth”.
CHEROKEE, N.C. – The Great Smoky Cannabis Company opened its door for the first legal sales of medical cannabis in the State of North Carolina on Saturday, April 20. The day before, officials with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Public Health and Human Services Division (PHHS) released results from a survey regarding cannabis legalization on the Qualla Boundary – the tribal lands of the EBCI.
The Great Smoky Cannabis Company is operated by Qualla Enterprises, LLC, an entity of the EBCI.
The survey respondents were asked, “How do you feel about legalizing cannabis in the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Community?” They responded as follows:
- Strongly support – 338 (64.14 percent)
- Strongly oppose – 68 (12.90 percent)
- Somewhat support – 63 (11.95 percent)
- Somewhat oppose – 21 (3.98 percent)
- Neutral – 37 (7.02 percent)
A total of 529 people completed the survey with 394 (74.62 percent) being EBCI tribal members, 13 (2.46 percent) enrolled with another federally recognized tribe, 10 (1.89 percent) EBCI first descendant, 91 (17.23 percent) not a member of a federally recognized tribe, and 20 (3.79 percent) who listed ‘other’. One person skipped this question entirely.
The age range of the respondents was as follows:
- 18-24 years: 31 (5.87 percent)
- 25-34 years: 106 (20.08 percent)
- 35-44 years: 138 (26.14 percent)
- 45-54 years: 122 (23.11 percent)
- 55-64 years: 89 (16.86 percent)
- 65+ years: 42 (7.95 percent)