MARCH 4, 2010 ISSUE
News Watch
A Quick Look at News Across the Region
Buxton Appointed President of Lees-McRae College
The Board of Trustees of Lees-McRae College announced this week the appointment, effective June 1, of Dr. Barry M. Buxton as president of Lees-McRae College. Buxton becomes the 15th president in the 110-year history of the four-year liberal arts college.
Buxton currently serves as vice president for special projects at the Savannah College of Art and Design, where he is responsible for major gift solicitation, leadership development and foundation relations. He also serves as executive liaison to the Savannah, Atlanta and European Boards of Visitors.
“To be part of the Lees-McRae family, working in partnership with faculty, staff, students and alumni, while providing continuity, stability and leadership in the president’s office, is an honor and sacred trust. I am especially grateful to the Board of Trustees, Chairman Tommy Brigham and Interim President Scott Colley for the support and friendship extended to Debbie and me,” said Buxton in a press release.
A native of Blowing Rock, Buxton has a long history of involvement with institutions of higher education in Appalachia. During the 1980s, he served as executive director of the 16-member Appalachian Consortium. In this capacity, he worked with faculty on research projects, scholarly conferences and publications related to Appalachia. In 1987, he received a distinguished service award from the Blue Ridge Parkway in recognition of the historic studies he conducted of Mabry Mill, Moses H. Cone Estate, Davey Farm and Brinegar Cabin.
Buxton has served as president of science and history museums in North Carolina, Texas and Georgia. In Houston, he worked with former President and First Lady George and Barbara Bush and the Harris County Medical Society to establish the Museum of Health and Medical Science. He was vice president of the North Carolina Grassroots Science Museums and a co-founder of the Houston Museum District Association.
An award-winning author who has written and edited more than a dozen books, his centennial history of Blowing Rock, A Village Tapestry, was recognized as the best local history in North Carolina in 1989.
Buxton holds two degrees from ASU, where he received his teacher certification and was an E.F. Lovill Fellow. His Ph.D. is from the University of Nebraska, and his dissertation was titled “Job Satisfaction of College and University Presidents.”
Development Services Department Changes Name
The Boone Town Council voted February 26 to approve a name change for Development Services, the Town of Boone’s planning department. The department will now be known as Planning and Inspections.
Council members said that Development Services sent the wrong message that the department was only focused on development or working with developers. Council Member Lynne Mason said that “planning” should be the central focus. Mason noted that the town removed “inspections” from the department’s name in the past because of a negative connotation, but council members seemed to agree that is no longer a problem.
Boone Could Regulate Flashing Signs, Indoor Signs
Boone’s sign ordinance could see additional restrictions as the town works to update the document. For several months, planning staff and the town attorney have been updating Article 18: Signs of the Unified Development Ordinance to make it more simple and easy to understand.
At the February 26 planning retreat, the Boone Town Council directed staff to revise the ordinance to create specifications for signs based on use—not on zoning district, as the ordinance currently dictates. The council asked for greater restrictions on lighted signs and a possible prohibition of flashing signs.
In addition, council members indicated they would like to see regulation of the size of signs that are posted inside buildings but are visible from the outside. Planning staff will work with the Historic Preservation Commission for recommendations on signs for historic structures and with the Community Appearance Commission for advice on sign illumination and three-dimensional signs.
Revisions to the sign ordinance are scheduled for consideration at a Quarterly Public Hearing on Monday, May 3.
Laura Bush, Sarah Palin To Appear at Inaugural Complete Woman Expo in June
Former First Lady Laura Bush and Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will appear at the inaugural Complete Woman Expo in Wilkesboro on June 5 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The N.C. Blue Ridge Educational Resource Group will host the event at Wilkes Community College and, according to its website, the purpose of the event is to motivate, inspire and equip women of all ages in the region to find purpose and reach their full potential as businesswomen, entrepreneurs, wives, mothers, etc. Admission is free but advance tickets are required.
Bush is scheduled to speak first, following a fundraising luncheon for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and other charities. Tickets to the luncheon cost $500 each, with a 75-guest maximum. Palin will speak later on the same day. The first 75 people to arrive at the speech will also get to attend a book signing with the former Alaska governor. For more info, click to www.blueridge-erg.org or call 336-667-8777.
Boone To Require Deposits on Water Availability Fees
The Boone Water Study Committee unanimously voted March 1 to recommend that the Boone Town Council amend Public Utilities Ordinance 05-01 to require water service applicants to pay a non-refundable deposit on the availability fee within 30 days of an application’s approval.
The Town Council must approve the measure at a future meeting.
If approved for water and sewer service, applicants currently must pay an availability fee to the town calculated at $8.50 per gallon per day. The town uses a discharge rate schedule provided by the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to estimate total gallons per day for a project. Boone estimates predicted water usage at 60 percent of DENR’s schedule.
The new non-refundable deposit will be credited toward the total availability fee, which is due at the time a building permit is issued for the project. The applicant can opt to pay a deposit of 10 percent of the availability fee to have rights to the water allocation for a one-year period or a 20 percent deposit for a two-year vesting period.
The committee moved to require a deposit because of applicants who have reserved water for extended periods of time without following through on proposed projects. In some cases, applicants have changed names or development plans to avoid paying the availability fee after their vesting periods expired.
The amendment to 05-01 prohibits the transferring of the deposit from one property to another or from one site-specific development plan to another.
The committee also approved a recommendation to council for an amendment to 05-01 requiring a two-thirds super-majority vote of the Boone Town Council to approve any request for water service outside the corporate limits of the town. Committee members said the action was taken to avoid urban sprawl and to prevent over-extension of the town’s water service.
Million Dollar Fed Grant Will Help Boost Math and Science Education in Region
ASU’s Upward Bound program recently received a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to increase and augment math and science preparation for first generation, low-income students from Wilkes, Watauga, Avery, Ashe, Burke and Alleghany counties. The four-year grant will serve as many as 50 students in grades 9 through 11 annually through the Upward Bound Math/Science Program.
Students selected for the program will receive weekly tutoring; academic counseling; classroom instruction; vocabulary and other enrichment activities; college entrance exam preparation; study skills workshops; social, cultural and personal development activities; educational reward trips; and a comprehensive six-week summer component that includes extensive coursework and allows students to live on campus and adapt to the college environment.
Upward Bound is an academic support program funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s TRIO Programs division. The program, begun in 1965, is designed to provide the necessary support for families who meet federal income guidelines and/or first-generation high school students to complete high school, enroll in college and successfully obtain a four-year college degree.
Avery County Museum Closes Until Mid-April
The Avery County Historical Museum, located at 1829 Shultz Circle in Newland, will remain closed until mid-April. The exact date of reopening will be announced at a later date. For more info, call 828-733-7111.
Wear Blue on Friday To Raise Awareness about Colon Cancer
As part of National Colon Cancer Awareness Month, the Avery Cancer Resource Center will host “Dress in Blue Day” at Cannon Memorial Hospital this Friday, March 5. On Friday, everyone is encouraged to wear blue and visit the lobby from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to learn about the importance of colon cancer screenings. Refreshments will be served.
“Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the country,” said Andrew Spiegel, CEO of the Colon Cancer Alliance (CCA). He added that everyone 50 years old and older should talk to his or her doctor about getting a screening test.
Colorectal Cancer is one of the few cancers that can be prevented by getting screened early. Dress in Blue Day is one way to save lives by raising awareness of colon cancer.
For more info about Dress in Blue Day, call 828-737-7538.
N.C. State Health Plan Annual Enrollment Information
Due to the importance of this year’s State Health Plan Medical Annual Enrollment, ASU’s Human Resources Services will have information and assistance sessions for any active North Carolina state employee or retiree. Those employees in Watauga County who do not have a local human resources office to see for assistance are welcome to attend informational sessions being held on campus during the annual enrollment period, which is March 15 through April 9.
This is a very important and critical annual enrollment, and failure to act could alter the level of an N.C. State Health Plan participant’s current benefits.
Sign-up is not required, but please bring all the information you have received from the State Health Plan. Representatives from Human Resources will be on hand to assist with paper or online annual enrollment processes.
Information and assistance sessions will be held at the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center on:
• Wednesday, March 17, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., Northwestern Room
• Wednesday, March 24, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., Northwestern Room
• Wednesday, March 31, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., Northwestern Room
• Wednesday, April 7, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., Northwestern Room
These sessions will provide an opportunity for individuals to ask questions or receive assistance with the annual enrollment process.
For more info, call 828-262-6769 or email millerad@appstate.edu.
February Weather Off the Charts at Grandfather Mountain
The weather data recorded at the official U.S. Weather Service reporting station located next to Grandfather Mountain’s Mile High Swinging Bridge shows unseasonably cold temperatures and more precipitation than normal for February. Employees were able to make it to the top of the mountain to record weather 17 of the 28 days this month. Two weather records were broken.
The average high temperature of 29.31 degrees was 8.1 degrees cooler than normal for February, and the average low temperature of 16.38 degrees was 5.35 degrees below normal for this time of year.
A daily low temperature recorded was broken February 12. A reading of 1 degree beat the previous record of 2 degrees set for the day in 1986 and tied in 1995. The lowest temperature ever recorded in February at Grandfather is minus 19 degrees on February 25, 1967.
The rainfall total of 7.32 inches for the past month was 2.58 inches, or 54 percent, above the 54-year average rainfall total for February of 4.74 inches.
The snowfall total for the month was 39.1 inches, measuring 25.2 inches, or 181 percent, more than the 54-year average snowfall total for February of 13.90 inches. This equates to almost three times more snow than normal for the month. This month's snowfall total breaks the record for February. The previous record for the most snow ever recorded in February was 34.8 inches set back in 1979.
Grandfather Mountain has had 81.5 inches of recorded snow for the winter-to-date compared to the norm of 38.08 inches for this point in the season. With 11 days when no one was able to get to the top of the mountain to record weather in February, there are approximately 15 inches of snow that weren't officially recorded.
Wind gusts more than 60 mph were recorded nine times. The highest three-second gust during the month was 95.5 mph recorded February 11.
Donate Crutches, Canes and Walkers to Earthquake Victims in Haiti, Chile
Blue Ridge Physical Therapy is accepting donations of crutches, canes and walkers to help the earthquake victims in Haiti and Chile. Blue Ridge Physical Therapy will be accepting crutches, canes and walkers from now until Wednesday, March 31, at two locations—the Blue Ridge Physical Therapy office, located at 232 Boone Heights Drive in Boone, and at the Cannon Memorial Hospital Outpatient Therapy office, located in the Sloop Medical Office Plaza at 434 Hospital Drive in Linville.
The items will be delivered to Samaritan's Purse, who will then transport them to Haiti and Chile and ensure delivery to those in need.
Blue Ridge Physical Therapy is open from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more info, call 828-268-9043.
AppalCART Keeps Moving Despite Snowy February
AppalCART, Watauga County’s transportation authority, reported 113,790 passenger trips during February in 46,797 miles of service. Adverse weather conditions decreased miles of service 17.6 percent and ridership 17.8 percent from February 2009.
While fixed route bus service in the Boone area experienced a 10 percent decline in miles and hours of service, the rural routes experienced a 36 percent decline in miles of service and a 49 percent decline in ridership. AppalCART closed for four days in February due to snow and had another four days when routes were delayed.
BRAHM Hosts ASU Faculty and Staff, Plans Partnerships
The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (BRAHM) hosted faculty and staff from ASU at a reception on February 24 at its new location on Main Street in Blowing Rock.
The event allowed the ASU community to learn about the history of and plans for BRAHM, which will open in fall 2011, as well as provided an opportunity to view a sampling of the museum’s growing permanent collection of visual arts and historic artifacts. The museum staff is excited to begin the process of developing partnerships with various liaisons from the university.
“We are appreciative of the opportunity to learn from the expertise of the faculty and staff at ASU,” said Joann Mitchell, BRAHM executive director. “They will be a tremendous resource for us as we move forward into the next phase of our planning and development.”
In addition to nine members of the BRAHM Board of Trustees, the following ASU representatives attended: Jody Servon, Michael Grady and Dr. Jim Toub, Art; Sharon Jenson, Career Development Center; Dr. Tony Calamai and Dr. Neva Specht, Arts and Sciences; Katherine Ledford, Appalachian Studies; Dr. Lucinda Beier, Dr. Andrea Burns, Ralph Lentz and Dr. Peter Petschauer, History; Dr. Janice Pope, Communications; Dr. Mike Evans, Hospitality and Tourism; Dr. Edelma Huntley and Dr. Pollyanne Frantz, Office of Research and Graduate Studies; Amy Sandors, Conferences and Institutes; Tom Hansell, University Documentary Services; Lynn Drury, Office of Communications and Cultural Affairs; Denise Ringler and Megan Hayes, Office of Arts and Cultural Programs; and Hank Foreman and Brook Bower, Turchin Center for the Visual Arts.
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