Press Release from Spruce Pine Main Street:

Main Street organization desires to mobilize its citizens for the collective good of our community using the process of building a pocket park as a catalyst project. 

ASU students and faculty from the Department of Technology and Environmental Design were in Spruce Pine the week-end of Feb 3.  The group kicked off the design phase of the Spruce Pine Main Street (SPMS) Central Park.  This team is comprised of approximately 24 students and 2 faculty.

Members from the team will be interviewing business owners, organizational leaders and residents as the design phase begins.  They will be visiting town several times during the project.  Chris McCurry, Main Street’s Economic Renewal chairperson and project coordinator states that “The project is intended to reflect the heartbeat of our community and increase the vibrancy of downtown.  We want to mobilize our citizens for the collective good of our community using the process of building a pocket park as a catalyst.”

Faculty includes D. Jason Miller, AIA, NCARB, a licensed architect and Lecturer with the Building Science Program.  He has conducted intensive studies on infill urban sites and pocket parks.  Jeanne Mercer-Ballard NCIDQ, LEED A.P, is an Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Interior Design Program.  Appalachian State University and the Department of Technology and Environmental Design was one of 19 teams selected to participate in the 2011 Solar Decathlon in D.C. this past October, and won the People’s Choice Award.

Jeanne Mercer Ballard states “It will be helpful for the public to talk to the students and share objects indigenous to the area that connect the community.  These visual aids will have a strong impact on the student’s creativity”.  You can drop them by the Main Street office at 167 Locust Street second floor or Highland Craftsmen at 534 Oak Avenue and they will be delivered to the team’s Headquarters.

The Main Street Central Park is located in front of the depot on Locust Street in the former Cheap Skates and Rexall Drug Store location.  It was purchased from Aaron and Grace Buchanan.  Herman Buchanan helped facilitate meetings that were integral to the process.

The idea for a pocket park received overwhelming support from the community during interviews with residents.  In 2010, the Samuel L Phillips Foundation provided funding to enact the Economic Renewal Arm of the Main Street program.  The UNC Kenan Flagler STAR Team was requested to create a proposal of projects that could change the trajectory of Spruce Pine.  They conducted numerous interviews and used the 2008 Cooper Report to formulate a plan.  A pocket park was first on the list.

The park gained its name because of geographic and cultural considerations.  It is located centrally to “Upper and Lower” streets and lies about half way between their two points of union.  In 2000, Penland, TRAC and SPMS conducted numerous community charrettes and identified Trees, Rocks and River as a unifying theme for art projects in downtown.  They were seen as the natural, cultural and economic foundations of the area and will be reflected in the park’s theme.

This project will be accomplished in phases as funds are raised.  The Town of Spruce Pine created necessary momentum to get the project underway by pledging to locate much needed public restrooms on the property.  SL Phillips Family Foundation, Quartz Corp, Spruce Pine Rotary, and SPMS pledged financial support before the closing of the property.  Unimin kicked off the next round of monetary contributions just after the closing.  We hope more donors will want to pledge their support for this important project.  In all the donations to date total over $200,000.00.   Local artisans are also donating art pieces for auction and individuals are volunteering their time. We are experiencing an overwhelming response to the vision that “We come together as a community to accomplish a good thing for Spruce Pine.”  The landscape, outdoor furniture and pavers are yet to be funded.

Chris acknowledges that there are many other projects to be done in Spruce Pine.  “This is the first”.  SPMS plans for this project to be a catalyst for future renewal.  Main Street is very interested in hearing from you … Please sign up as a volunteer or contribute your talents and resources.  Businesses are being asked via letter to contribute inventory items for a spring yard sale, for example.  Keith Buchanan and Starli McDowell have provided a space for the ASU team to use as headquarters.  It will also serve as a collection point during coming months for yard sale items.  Everyone has something they can contribute.  There will be upcoming fundraising events that will be posted on the website.  You are invited to contact Bryan Freeborn, Main Street Executive Director with your contribution at 828-765-3008.  For more information, you can go online to www.downtownsprucepine.com/park. 

CONTACT:
Chris McCurry, Highland Craftsmen Inc
Spruce Pine, N.C., www.barkhouse.com
Email: chris@barkhouse.com     Tel: 828-765-9010

Over the last year I have avoided publicly discussing politics. Later on that. The republican race for president has gotten the best of me. I could not resist it anymore. The state of things for republican voters is at an all time low. This situation has lead me to my political prediction for the month: None of the current republicans running for president will secure enough delegates to win the nomination. The current bloodletting will be too much for the party to heal from. There will be a reshuffling of the deck and party insiders will nominate a bland milquetoast current or former elected official with significant name recognition to run against President Obama.

Right now you have four candidates vying for the nomination. Each one is is becoming less and less palatable to their own party, let alone the general electorate. You have Romney with his wealth, religious, and flip-flopping issues. Then there is Newt with his shear distain for anyone other than himself, his values problems, along with a mounting evidence of hypocrisy. The next guy in the room is Santorum, who wants to control our lives down to how we plan our family; straight or otherwise. Finally, you have Ron Paul, who just does not fit. With Paul I can not help but to think of the old kids song that goes, “One of these things is not like others.”

As more details come out about these men that have accumulated a long history of public record, financial transactions, and political votes we see a clearer picture that the other is using to persuade voters to, “not vote for me, just don’t vote for that guy.” The infighting between the republican candidates has reached a new level in viscousness. One, that is for once, is fulled by the truth. You this these sort of trickles of controversial histories come out ever election cycle, but to this degree, I think we can all say, is a new level.

Come convention time in Tampa Bay this August there will be no stone unturned, no closet left closed, no skeleton still hiding. The result will be a split convention where party leaders will be scrambling to dig up two individuals that the party insiders can get behind and the party base can vote for. These two individuals will emerge as the ticket of reason and excitability for the republican traditionalists. Should this actually occur republicans stand stand a chance of winning the White House in 2012.

If the republicans continue down their present course they will see a defeat similar to Reagan over Mondale in 84′.

Spruce Pine Main Street has two silent auctions going on right now at Mountainside Wine, 271 Oak Ave, Spruce Pine, NC. Open 11am – 7pm Tuesday through Saturday.

The Dry County Brewery and Pizza Shop is auctioning off a $45 value meal for the Spruce Pine Main Street Central Park Project. Receive a LARGE, Two Topping Pizza, Tw Pints of Dry County Brew, and a T-Shirt. You must be 21 or older to participate in this auction.

Elizabeth has donated this great piece of pottery art to be auctioned to benefit the Spruce Pine Main Street Central Park Project. Elizabeth Westveer of Silver Wings Studio was born in Columbia, SC. She has strong ties to the Western North Carolina Mountains and spent much of her youth visiting family in the area.

The Auction ends at 6pm on Feb. 4th. You can find out more at www.downtownsprucepine.com

In the fall of 2010 I took a job with Spruce Pine Main Street in the really awesome small town of Spruce Pine. I spent more time in the car commuting than I had in the last 10 years combined. I went from a 2 hour a day work out and 4.5 mile bicycle commute to a 2 hour round trip by car. I killed my car along the way, developed serious back issues, and went from 150 pounds of pure muscle to 160 pounds of pure fat. Well, maybe a bit of an exaggeration. I did not seem that fat, just really out of shape. I had a very hard time finding opportunities to stay in good condition. I was accustomed to swimming 3 to 6 miles a week, running 9 miles, and biking around 100 miles a week. I had it made when it came to a fit lifestyle. To top off my declining physical condition I had fallen down our basement stairs on Father’s Day weekend bruising my elbow bone, spraining my ankle, and bruising the bone too. I was out for months. No running, no biking, nothing.

With the new job and new situation we were able to move closer to my work and Bridget got her dream job at the Arthur Morgan School. It was late summer and I was able to starting riding my bike. I was able to get a few commutes in to work. about 30 miles round trip. Then the weather shifted a bit, the kids started school, and I was back to finding it hard to get solid workouts in.

I get to ride a good 20 to 30 mile ride with my bro Yuri Koslen at least every other weekend. That has been great, but his performance has improved and mine has fallen. He is beating me on every climb. I was able to run a few days a week and splitting wood was helping. Thanksgiving came and went. Winter barring down on me I was feeling desperate that I need to do something. I need a goal. Something to get me going.

Yuri has talked me in to competing in the Bath County Triathlon in VA this June. I have decided to take him up on it and raise him 2 Century rides and a hill climb. So here is my goal. Finish the triathlon and beat Yuri and Matt Raker (our other riding partner). I also want to compete in this years Town Mountain Hill Climb with a 23 min finish. The Hotdoggett and Roan Moan are on my list for Centuries that I would like to complete in under 6.5 hours. Gearing up for the Tri I would like to swim the 750 in 15 min, bike the 20k in 32 min, and run the 3k in under 24 min, while keeping my transitions under 45 seconds. If I reach this goal I could even place in the top 10.

Now I have to just get some rest, eat right, run, bike, find a place to swim, and drop 10 pounds. Oh yeah…work and family. Good luck in 2012.

I just spent the last four days relaxing at our house in Celo, NC. In my company was Bridget, the kids, and Bridget’s mom. We ate great food, played card games, enjoyed the new toys Santa brought, and explored the National Forest from our door step. Yesterday Bridget and I started the day of milking the cow and a few other small farm chores and ended the day with a hike around the area. It felt great to spend some quality time with the wife. The kids seem pleased with their haul from Santa. My legs soar from the Sunday hike up to the top of the ridge line behind our house. Life is good.

Time: December 12, 2011 from 3pm to 4:30pm
Location: Asheville Chamber of Commerce

 

Eco-tourism, responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and sustains the well-being of the local people, offers enormous potential to Western North Carolina. Our area is rich in biodiversity, breathtaking landscapes, and authentic local cultural experiences. However, the development of this lucrative market is still in its infancy, despite the area’s identity as a vacation destination.

Speakers at the Blue Ridge Sustainability Institute’s December 12th Green Monday will discuss some of the initiatives underway to expand eco-tourism attractions in Western North Carolina.

• Alex Naar of Eastern Carolina University’s Sustainable Travel Program, will talk about the growth of eco-tourism, nationally and in North Carolina, and about his office’s programs to enhance that growth;
• Sarah Marcinko, Environment Leader for Navitat, will talk about the efforts her company has made to develop an environmentally-responsible zipline attraction;
• Julie Judkins, Manager of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s A.T. Communities Program, will talk about this effort to enhance the benefit local communities obtain from use of the Appalachian Trail; and
• Alice Cohen, U.S. Forest Service, will talk about a public dialog the Forest Service is initiating to provide input to the strategy they will be developing for non-motorized trails. The availability of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding is one of the major eco-tourism attractions our area offers.

Join us for what promises to be a lively discussion.

The December 12th Green Monday will be held in the Board Room of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Building, 36 Montford Ave., from 3:00-4:30 p.m. Green Mondays are funded by a grant from Progress Energy, with support from the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and Purplecat Networks.

Short presentations from speakers will be followed by a general discussion.    

  

Green Mondays are open to the public.

Join us on December 12th  from 3:00 – 4:30p.m. 

 

Monthly Green Monday events take place at the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce located at 36 Montford Avenue, Asheville.

This weekend is the 18th year of the Toe River Studio Tour presented by the Toe River Arts Council. Starting today, Dec 2nd and runs all weekend. The Toe River area is home to over 500 fine artists and studio craftsmen. The December Tour features 100 studios an 8 galleries exhibiting glass, pottery, metals, wood, fiber, paintings, photography, and more. You can visit the the Toe River Arts Council Galleries in Downtown Spruce Pine, NC and Downtown Burnsville, NC.

Download a Studio Tour Map

See a list of participating artists and studios

Download a full Studio Tour Guide

To find out more visit www.toeriverarts.org

In the small mountain town of Spruce Pine, NC Christmas is a big deal. For several years the Mineral City has been the Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree. With the name came the expectation of celebration. The last two years Spruce Pine took  the Saturday after Thanksgiving to close off a main street in downtown to set up a winter scene of winter extravagance.

This year Spruce Pine has spread Christmas festivities out over the week of Dec 12th – 17th. Already sparkling, the store fronts of downtown are decorated for the “Best Downtown Christmas Storefront” contest. There will be a Santa’s Mailbox, Food drive, Old Fashion Caroling, Children’s Cookie Decorating Social, Toy Drive, Photo’s with Santa, and a Tree Lighting.

I will be there all week enjoying the fun of a real ole school small town Christmas. You can not buy these memories for the kids.

After what seemed to be a way too long drive we made it to our camping destination. Waiting for us was a spread from a local restaurant Gula Grub. The kids got straight to work getting the tents together. I am amazed by the work ethic. After camp was made and food was consumed we hit the beach for some stars. The sky was brilliant. The kids were ready to get some energy out before bed.

This morning it seemed like all 45 of us awoke at the same time. Bagels, water, coffee for the adults, and then a brief trip to the beach before heading out to the Penn Center for some work time.

Bridget and Wild spotted a few dolphins just a few feet off shore. What a great way to start. We are all trying to ignore the overwhelming amount of bugs trying to feed off us.

Sometimes there are difficulties getting going when you have a crew of 45 and 3 old buses. Today we made it all of the way to Burnsville before needing to reorganize switch the canoe trailer from one bus to another.