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Today’s Email Announcements

End of Year Donations for The Watauga County Veteran’s Memorial, Through 12/31

As the end of the year approaches, the Town of Boone urges you to consider donations to the Town of Boone/Watauga County Veteran’s Memorial as part of your charitable contributions for the tax year. Since the High Country Military Officers Association of America is a non-profit veteran’s organization, donations are considered tax-deductible. Donating has been made easy, with PayPal links on the HCCMOAA website http://www.hccmoaa.org/ and on their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/HCCMOAA/. Donors that wish to mail in their donations can do so Watauga County Veterans Memorial c/o HCCMOAA Post Office Box 3312 Boone, NC 28607. You can rest assured that your donation will be used in a responsible manner for a worthy cause. Donors should make their contributions by December 31, 2017 in order to be deductible from taxes for the current year.

On July 4, 2018, our memorial will become a reality. The memorial, entitled “Time and Honor”, will be a place to honor all our Veterans, past and present and will serve as a reminder to all of us of their many sacrifices in securing our freedoms and keeping our country safe. It will be a place of reflection and a celebration of our community pride and spirit. This holiday season, join the Town of Boone in giving thanks to our veterans by contributing a tax-deductible donation.

 

Waterrock Knob Land Management Planning Begins

Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership and Pigeon River Fund provide grants to evaluate public use opportunities and natural resource protection

(ASHEVILLE, N.C.)  In the summer of 2016, the Blue Ridge Parkway acquired 5,329 acres near Waterrock Knob, milepost 451, for the largest expansion of the park unit in 60 years. In an effort to implement opportunities for the public while protecting the fragile natural resources, a collaborative process involving the National Park Service, Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, neighboring communities, land trusts, nonprofits, and additional stakeholders is underway to envision the future of this pristine landscape.

The Waterrock Knob region of Western North Carolina is one of the highest points along the Blue Ridge Parkway, and is one of the most rare and biodiverse landscapes in the East. Elk, rare salamanders, flying squirrels, and slowly disappearing high elevation spruce-fir forests all inhabit this breathtaking landscape also known as the Plott Balsams. The area is also home to vital watersheds and rich Cherokee and Appalachian cultural history. 

“This land is a remarkable and fragile environment,” said Carolyn Ward, CEO of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. “As a region, we must come together to take extra care to protect its future, and this careful and inclusive planning process is the initial step toward that goal.” 

During a workshop this fall in Waynesville, the National Park Service and community and state stakeholders gathered to lay the foundation for a report that will begin a long-term collaborative effort to develop the area to protect the resource while encouraging public enjoyment and use. The report, “Waterrock Knob Regional Vision Plan: A Collaborative Regional Vision for the Heart of the Plott Balsam Mountains,” will be drafted by Equinox, an Asheville-based consulting, planning, and design firm with a focus on conservation, sustainability, and environmentally responsible land development projects.

The plan represents a regional approach to conservation that extends beyond the specified acreage, taking into account the connections and needs of neighboring spaces and communities. The public will be invited to give their input and take part in the planning process during an open house in January. 

This project is made possible by grants from the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership and the Pigeon River Fund at The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. 

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About the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership
The mission of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership is to protect, preserve, interpret, and develop the unique natural, historical, and cultural resources of Western North Carolina for the benefit of present and future generations, and in so doing to sustain our heritage and stimulate improved economic opportunity in our region. For more information, visit www.blueridgeheritage.com.

About the Pigeon River Fund
Through May 2016, more than $5.8 million has been awarded in grants by the Pigeon River Fund to projects in Haywood, Buncombe and Madison counties. The Pigeon River Fund was established in 1996 through an agreement between Progress Energy and the State of North Carolina. The grant program is administered by The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, a nonprofit serving eighteen counties in Western North Carolina. The Foundation is a permanent regional resource that facilitated $18 million in charitable giving last year. CFWNCinspires philanthropy and mobilizes resources to enrich lives and communities in Western North Carolina. More information can be found at www.cfwnc.org.

About the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation
The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is the primary nonprofit fundraising partner, 501(c)(3), of the Blue Ridge Parkway, helping ensure cultural and historical preservation, natural resource protection, educational outreach, and visitor enjoyment now and for future generations. Since its inception in 1997, the nonprofit has worked with donors to invest in critical projects along the scenic road. For more information, visit www.brpfoundation.org.