WNCA Executive Director Julie Mayfield speaks about how the economic recession has effected the operation of Western North Carolina Alliance since her arrival in 2008.
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The Western North Carolina Alliance (WNCA) was recognized for its "exemplary performance in innovation" and awarded $10,000 from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation at the North Carolina Conservation Network's Annual Retreat in Raleigh.
WNCA continues to catch the eye of state-wide organizations. Recently our efforts to collaborate with other Asheville-headquartered environmental groups were noted in the North Carolina Center for Non-profits spring issue, Common Ground.
A big congratulations to Ned Ryan Doyle for winning this year's Esther Cunningham Award! We are so pleased to honor Ned with this award. As a 30-year environmental and sustainable energy activist, educator, writer, radio host, former WNCA steering committee member, and founder of the SEE Expo, Ned is more than deserving of this recognition. We were also pleased to be able to the award to him at the 10th annual SEE Expo.
Ned Ryan Doyle has served as the Director of Programs at the original Mother Earth News Eco Village Research Center in Transylvania County and is the founder of the SEE Expo as well as the Rational Earth Action’s Learning Institute, Thank You (REALITY), a sustainable technologies education center. He is also the host of Our Southern Communities on the regional public radio station WNCW.
Norma Ivey presents Ned with an afghan hand made by Esther Cunningham
Every five years, the Asheville region updates its long range plan for transportation projects. This plan includes major bike and pedestrian projects, greenways, and transit projects as well as road and highway projects. A new draft Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) update, which covers transportation projects in Buncombe, Henderson, and Haywood Counties, is now available for public review and comment.
The LRTP is key to how our region will grow and travel over the next 25 years, as it directs how we will invest the ever-shrinking pot of federal transportation dollars. Should we invest in transit, sidewalks, greenways, and bike paths? Should we plan for a future when gasoline will be expensive? Should we respond to the increasing demands of citizens who want ways to travel other than in their cars? Should we promote transportation projects that promote denser development rather than sprawl?
If your answer to any of these questions is Yes, then please take time to comment on the plan! Local government officials need to hear how you think we should invest our transportation funds. See the links below for ways to access and review the plan.
Groups from Tennessee and North Carolina, including WNCA, are challenging the wastewater permit issued in May to the Blue Ridge Paper Products Mill in Canton, NC because we believe it does not go far enough in enforcing the Clean Water Act and to protect the people that use the River and the fish and other organisms that live in it.
June 18-28, French Broad Riverkeeper Hartwell Carson lead a group of paddlers down the entire French Broad River to help raise awareness of issues currently facing the river. Along the way, we took water samples, checked fish health, and toured a sewage treatment plant. To read more about our trip, and to learn about how you can participate next year check out www.savethefrenchbroad.com!
