He’s not just one of the city’s most powerful voices; he’s one of its biggest fans. Smith, 46, is the driving force behind “Smitty’s Notes,” a free, biweekly e-newsletter that tells us what’s happening in Winston-Salem. Want to know about the new restaurant in town or the big festival downtown? Smitty is your man. And while a recent Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis might have slowed his step, it sure hasn’t slowed his spirit. “It’s business as usual for me,” Smith says with a laugh.

How did Smitty’s Notes get started?
It was May 1997. Me and a group of friends used to email each other to see what was happening each weekend. I decided to take all the emails and compile them into one master list, then send it back out. I named it “Smitty’s Community Notes,” kind of as a joke. My friends started forwarding it to their other friends, and before long, it was off.

What keeps you going?
I just like seeing the community involved and engaged, whether it’s young professionals or whoever. Yeah, it’s a lot of information to process, but then I’ll start to see things happening … I’ll start to see a more vibrant side of the city. Being born and raised here, that’s what I love to see.

Is it hard always finding stuff to do in town?
You know, I’ve never had an issue of finding cool, meaningful things to do in town, even 25 years ago when I was hanging around Trade Street. That’s especially true now with the resurgence of downtown. If you find a good group of friends with a like mindset, you can always find something to do. There’s a lot going on and a lot to be proud of in this city…it really amazes me sometimes.