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Email Announcements We Are Receiving Today: See What’s Going On Around The Community

1) Plentiful Water Lulls Consumers and Utility Managers Regarding Water Quantity Issues

Northwest North Carolina is the headwaters for eight major watersheds, supplying water to portions of five southern states. Despite droughts in Western North Carolina’s mountains in 2002 and 2007-08, the region’s water supply seemingly has been endless. That may be why so many water utility managers, elected officials, planners and even the public focus on the area’s supply-side management of water vs. demand-side management. Kristan Cockerill, an assistant professor in the Department of Cultural, Gender and Global Studies at Appalachian State UNiversity is an environmental policy analyst. One of her areas of study is how perceptions and culture drive water management. Cockerill has surveyed water managers and government leaders in Western North Carolina about their views on data used to make decisions about water supply. Cockerill found that 35 percent of the decision makers in Northwest North Carolina who responded to her survey believed most people in their jurisdiction were not concerned about water quantity. Thirty-one percent expressed no concern about the potential impact of drought on water availability and only half reported they were very concerned about a drought’s potential to reduce water supply. While 66 percent of the respondents said their jurisdiction had a drought plan and 62 percent had implemented water conservation measures in their community in the past, only 19 percent reported implementing educational campaigns related to water supply. Less than a third of the respondents said their community or jurisdiction had initiated any scientific studies to better understand the physical characteristics such as flow rate or recharge rate of their water supply while 62 percent had consulted population growth or development forecast data when considering the demand for water. Cockerill said that while per capita consumption of water has plateaued, the demand for access to water to produce electricity increases as the population grows. Steam-driven electricity production, which includes coal and nuclear plants, accounts for about 49 percent of water withdrawls in the United States.

2) Maass Named Associate Dean at Appalachian

Kern Maass has been named associate dean of the College of Fine and Applied Arts at Appalachian State University. He replaces Dr. Gordon Hensley who served as interim associate dean for one year and will return to teaching full time in the Department of Theater and Dance. Maass will assume his role in the dean’s office July 1. Maass is an associate professor in industrial design in the Department of Technology and Environmental Design. He came to Appalachian in 2006. “Kern Maass will be a positive addition to the administrative team in the College of Fine and Applied Arts,” said Dr. Glenda Treadaway, dean of the college. “He has maintained an excellent reputation as a teacher while serving in service and leadership roles that have prepared him for his duties as associate dean. It is important that anyone in this position have a respect and love for higher education as well as the ability and drive to provide positive and responsible leadership for a diverse collection of academic departments.” Maass has led Appalachian’s industrial design program since 2008. He has chaired the university’s Academic Policies and Procedures Committee (AP&P) since 2010 and led the NASAD accreditation process for the Department of Technology and Environmental Design, helped implement procedures for the initial rollout of DegreeWorks, a web-based academic advising and degree audit tool for students and their advisors, and assisted with the Institutional Effectiveness Committee for SACS reaffirmation. In 2012, he received the Outstanding Service Award from the College of Fine and Applied Arts in recognition for his commitment to service. “Leaning upon what I have learned chairing AP&P for four years and leading the industrial design program since 2008, I look forward to developing new and creative solutions that help and enable our faculty and college to focus on what we do best,” Maass said. “I also hope to utilize my experience building industry and community partnerships to help weave together collaborative experiences for our students and faculty that push innovation, entrepreneurship and social awareness.” Before coming to Appalachian, Maass founded Maass Design in 2001, designing furniture and table-top accessories. He has also taught at Binghamton University and the Worcester Center for Crafts. His work has been featured in various shows and exhibitions throughout the country including SOFA Chicago, ICFF, Fine Furnishing Providence and the American Craft Museum’s Horizon Award. Maass serves on the board of directors of the Bernice Bienenstock Furniture Library and is a former president of the Furniture Society’s Board of Trustees.

3) Mt. Vernon Baptist Church Hosts Vacation Bible School

Vacation Bible School at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church will be held June 23-26 from 9 a.m.-12:15 p.m. This Weird Animals VBS is a breed apart. We invite children ages 4-rising sixth grade to join us on this wondrous adventure where together we will take a peek at the unique and discover Jesus’ love is one of a kind. Register online at MVBCB.org or call the office at 828-266-9700.

4) Todd Summer Music Series Announces Dates

The Todd Community Preservation Organization will offer a free summer music series. The dates of the series are as follows:

  • June 21 – King Bees
  • July 5 – New River Boys
  • July 19 – Eric Ellis
  • Aug. 2 – Elkville String Band
  • Aug. 16 – The Tillers
  • Sept. 6 – Melissa Reaves

5) Elkland Art Center Announces Planning Sessions for Liberty Day Parade

Did you hear? This year’s Liberty Parade will be all about sound! We are listening for a title, do you have an idea? Please share it and more at a brainstorming session on Tuesday, May 27 at 6:30 p.m. at Bald Guy Brew on King Street in Boone. Fridays in June are Artist Work Days from 1-4 p.m. for serious adult artists. Saturdays in June are dedicated to free workshops from 1-3 p.m. These workshops are for folks of all ages and talent levels.A kid’s art camp will be held June 23-26 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Blackburn Methodist Church in Todd. Volunteers are needed at anytime and especially on July 3-4 with plenty to do. Please let us know how we can help you get involved.