FAll 2010 news sm - Southern Appalachian Highlands

V iew
from the
36
years
H ighlands
Fall 2010, Volume XXXX, Number 4
protecting
the
World's
Oldest
Mountains
SAHC Purchases Two More Key Tracts in the Highlands of Roan
Avery County, NC- The Southern Appalachian Highlands
Conservancy (SAHC) has purchased two long time
conservation priority tracts in the Roaring Creek Valley
of the Highlands of Roan, preserving Golden-winged
Warbler habitat, scenic views from the Appalachian Trail
and a pristine waterfall.
What’s Inside
SAHC Purchases Two Tracts on Roan
page 1, 4, & 5
New Trustees, Staff, & AmeriCorps
Golden-winged Warbler habitat protected.
A $95,000 grant awarded under the Neotropical
Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA), along
with bridge loans from the Conservation
Trust for North Carolina, the Will Henry
Stevens Loan Fund and a substantial
private donation, enabled SAHC to
purchase these two tracts within three
miles of each other for a little over half a
million dollars.
The 63-acre tract contains nearly 7000 feet of productive trout
streams and headwater tributaries of Roaring Creek.
One of the tracts, approximately 63 acres,
is located in the nationally significant
Roan Mountain Natural Heritage Area
and includes 50 acres of rare neotropical
migratory bird habitat. Recognizing the
~ continued on page 4
page 2-4
Roan Stewardship
pages 5-8
Farmland Protection Successes
page 9-11
Bald Mountains - 500 acres protected
page 11
New Partnership with
Highland Brewing Company
page 12
Earth Day with Patrick McMillan
page 12-13
Annual Report
page 13
Hike and Events Calendar
page 19
Welcome New Trustees
Four new members of the Board of Trustees elected at SAHC’s
Annual Business meeting will offer their leadership and expertise to
the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy.
Board of Trustees
Witt Langstaff, Jr., President, Minneapolis, NC
Jeanette Blazier, Vice President, Kingsport, TN
Jay Leutze, Secretary, Minneapolis, NC
Bill Maxell, Treasurer, Charlotte, NC
Bruce Cunningham, At Large, Kingsport, TN
Gary Barrigar Leslie Casse Richard Coker Joe DeLoach Nancy Edgerton Doris Gove
Lindsay Hearn Bill Jones Florence Krupnick
Tom Laughlin Ken Maness David Ramsey Milton “Buddy” Tignor, Jr. Elizabethton, TN
Asheville, NC
Maggie Valley, NC
Jonesborough, TN
Asheville, NC
Knoxville, TN
Asheville, NC
Asheville, NC
Asheville, NC
Johnson City, TN
Kingsport, TN
Erwin, TN
Waynesville, NC
Staff
Cheryl Fowler William Hamilton Hanni Muerdter Judy Murray Gretchen Parlier Michelle Pugliese Angela Shepherd Carl Silverstein Kristy Urquhart Nora Schubert Chris Coxen
Claire Hobbs
Allison Kiehl
Ella Wise
Valerie True Membership Director
Farmland Protection Director
Stewardship & Conservation Planning Director
Roan Stewardship Director
Finance Compliance Specialist
Land Protection Director
Office Administrator
Executive Director
Associate Director Roan Seasonal Ecologist AmeriCorps Members
R
ichard Coker has been
actively involved with
the Cataloochee Ranch all
his life, where SAHC holds
several conservation easements.
Richard operates a residential
construction company. He
is helping SAHC
facilitate
Richard Coker
additional conservation activity
in the area adjacent to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In
addition to serving on the SAHC board, Richard also volunteers
with the American Chestnut Foundation.
N
ancy
Edgerton
is
a
dedicated participant in
SAHC’s hikes, outings and
special events, and is leader in
the Blue Ridge Society, a giving
society that benefits SAHC and
the Conservation Trust for NC.
Nancy is a talented photographer
and cellist, and she serves on
the Asheville Symphony board.
Nancy attended Wharton School
of Business at the University of
Nancy Edgerton
Pennsylvania and holds and an
MBA from Southern Methodist University.
K
en Maness has served as Southeast
President of Citadel Broadcasting
Company and as an Alderman for the City
of Kingsport. He has held key leadership
roles in his community, including Chair of
the Tri-Cities Airport Commission and the
ETSU Roan Scholars Steering Committee.
Ken is an active bicyclist, naturalist and
photographer with a strong personal
commitment to conserving our region’s
land and water resources.
Blue Ridge Forever Coalition Offices
Main Office
34 Wall Street, Suite 502, Asheville, NC 28801-2710
828.253.0095 • FAX 828.253.1248
sahc@appalachian.org www.appalachian.org
M
Stewardship Field Office
804 Rock City Road, Kingsport, TN 37664
423.323.4993 • roanwoman@aol.com
Cover photo: Witt Langstaff, Jr.
Ken Maness
2
ilton “Buddy” Tignor, Jr. is Chair of
the Natural Resources Management
Department at Haywood Community
College (HCC). Buddy has diverse interests
~ continued on next page
relating to land conservation, including
stewardship of properties; the economics
of preserving farms; and public education
opportunities. Buddy assists SAHC with
various land management and stewardship
functions. Buddy grew up on a farm in
Virginia, and has had a longstanding interest
in agricultural economics and viability of
farms. He holds a PhD, an MS and a BS in
Horticultural Science.
Buddy Tignor
Conservancy members also re-elected to
the Board of Trustees for their second threeyear term, Lindsay Hearn of Asheville, NC,
Bill Maxwell of Charlotte, NC, and David
Ramsey of Erwin, TN. SAHC is fortunate to
have such strong leadership.
Welcome New Americorps Members
The Southern Appalachian Highlands
Conservancy is pleased to announce
that four new AmeriCorps Project
Conserve members joined us in
September.
C
a member of AmeriCorps Project
Conserve; she worked for the The
Nature Conservancy at the N.C.
Mountains District Office after
graduating from JMU. She then
worked as the Stewardship Associate
for Marin Agricultural Land Trust in
hris Coxen, a graduate of the
Fisheries and Wildlife
Science program at North
Carolina State University, is
serving as an AmeriCorps
Stewardship Member. Before
coming to SAHC he worked
for an N.C. State graduate
student on Cape Lookout,
researching the American
oystercatcher. He also had
the amazing opportunity to
spend the summer of 2007 in
Sweden, studying how climate
From Left to Right: Ella Wise, Chris Coven, Claire Hobbs,
change has affected the Arctic.
Allison Kiehl
Chris enjoys playing the guitar
and keyboard, going to see live music, California for three years before she
playing soccer, hiking, riding his bike,
decided to return to the mountains
cooking, and trying new foods.
of Western North Carolina. Allison
enjoys hiking, ocean sports, gardening,
llison Kiehl is also assisting SAHC
biking, basketball, and softball. She
as an AmeriCorps Stewardship is interested in ecology, agricultural
Member. She graduated from James conservation, composting, and
Madison University in Harrisonburg,
music.
Virginia. This is her second time as
3
A
Trustee Send Off
SAHC extends our thanks to
board members Judy Coker,
Bill Lowndes, David Smith, and
Gary Barrigar, who rotated off
of the Board this year. These
individuals contributed to the
growth and positive development
of SAHC through their hard work,
dedication, and expertise they
shared throughout their terms
as board members. They played
a vital role in the development of
SAHC and we are very grateful for
their service.
C
laire
Hobbs
graduated from
Appalachian State
University and is serving as SAHC’s
AmeriCorps Public Awareness and
Outreach member. She interned
with the National Committee for the
New River in West Jefferson, North
Carolina during her last semester at
Appalachian State, writing articles for
their newsletter. Claire enjoys traveling,
hiking, the mountains, animals,
reading, music, and writing. She is
interested in geology, Appalachian
literature, and conservation.
E
lla Wise is serving as SAHC’s
AmeriCorps
Land
and
Farmland Protection Member. She
holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in
Environmental Studies from the
University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill and has worked doing
farmland protection with Wallkill
Valley Land Trust in New York as
well as the Conservation Fund in
Chapel Hill. She is interested in
cultural heritage and how it plays a
role in conservation practices. She
enjoys cooking, dancing, and good
conversation.
Welcome New Staff
The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy recently hired a new Office
Administrator, Angela Shepherd.
A
ngela came to SAHC after many years in the graphic design business. She gained
her Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations and a minor in Anthropology from
the University of South Carolina. She also recently finished her Masters degree from
Appalachian State University in Geography and Planning. She is interested in folklore,
mountain heritage, and sustainable communities. She enjoys playing with her kids,
hiking and camping, painting, and making jewelry.
Angela Shepherd, Office Administrator
Highlands of Roan land purchases, continued
importance of conserving migratory
birds, the Congress of the United States
passed the NMBCA in 2000. The U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS),
with assistance from an international
advisory group, manages a grants
program to implement the terms of
this legislation.
The tract shares a mile long boundary
with Pisgah National Forest, hosts
nearly 7,000 feet of productive trout
water and tributaries flowing off of
SAHC was chosen as one of only 37
organizations throughout the Western
Hemisphere to receive NMBCA
project funding. The grant helped us
acquire the 63-acre tract and restore
and maintain Golden-winged Warbler
habitat on the property. NMBCA
grants support projects in the United
States, Canada, Latin America and the
Caribbean.
“Until the property can be placed
under the permanent stewardship of
the U.S. Forest Service, SAHC will
own and manage the tract as part of
its Highlands of Roan focus area with
the goal of maintaining the Goldenwinged Warbler habitat and conducting
research and monitoring onsite,”
according to Jay Leutze, a Trustee for
SAHC familiar with the property. “As a
result of the proximity of this tract to
Forest Service land and prominence in
the viewshed of the Appalachian Trail,
the USFS has long desired to work
with SAHC to secure the tract to add it
to Pisgah National Forest.”
Hikers enjoying protected property.
U.S. Forest Service lands, and is part of
a network of high-elevation protected
lands in the Roan totaling 24,000
acres. Additionally, the Overmountain
Victory National Historic Trail crosses
the eastern section of the property.
“It’s rare that you have a tract that is
so prominent in the viewshed of one
national treasure, the Appalachian Trail,
and has another National Park Service
unit, the Overmountain Victory Trail,
4
passing through it,” said Leutze.
“This grant furthers the longstanding
partnership between SAHC and
the US Fish and Wildlife Service,”
said Michelle Pugliese, SAHC Land
Protection Director. “It only takes
one visit to this property, surrounded
on all sides by globally significant
conservation lands, to see the critical
connection between this property and
the greater Roan landscape. We could
not have come this far without the help
of our partners.”
Well-known for its grassy balds and
rich spruce/fir forests, the highelevation ecosystem of the Roan
Massif is a biological and recreational
treasure of the region. The landscape’s
steep slopes are largely undeveloped
and surrounded by large parcels of
protected land, providing essentially a
contiguous unbroken landscape.
Named the most scenic valley in
America by Backpacker Magazine
in 2007, “The Roaring Creek valley
of the Highlands of Roan has an
embarrassment of natural riches,”
said Leutze. “From waterfalls that
very few people have ever seen, to
an extraordinary inventory of plant
and animal life, and the nation’s most
popular footpath, this is a key part
~ continued on next page
Roan, continued
of one of the premier conservation
landscapes in the country. Some
of the area is still at risk of poorly
planned development but these two
acquisitions represent critical pieces
of a really special puzzle. Today we
mark great progress toward our goal
of preserving a very large and complex
ecological unit.”
SAHC has also recently purchased
a 5-acre tract in the Roaring Creek
Valley containing a spectacular
pristine waterfall. This property was
purchased out of foreclosure from
a bank and will be conveyed to the
state of North Carolina as part of the
new Yellow Mountain State Natural
Area.
“We feel very fortunate that we were
able to work out a good deal with
the bank on this small but important
parcel,” said Carl Silverstein, SAHC
Executive Director. “In the case of
Buggle Branch Falls, we owned most
of the cascade from a prior acquisition
but the top of the falls was at high
risk of trophy-home development.
That could have degraded the springs
feeding the falls and would have
spoiled a beautiful part of the new
State Natural Area.”
Both properties were on the real
estate market and at risk of being
sold for development. About 9,000
acres, including some of the most
ecologically important tracts of land
remain at risk in the Highlands of
Roan. Several high-priority sites near
the Appalachian Trail are currently
on the real estate market with more
expected in the near future.
~by Kristina Tarasan
More Kids in the Woods:
Roan Mountain Outdoor Program
Inspires a New Generation of
Environmental Leaders
SAHC secured funding
from the Southern Region
of the US Forest Service in
2008 and 2009, via a cost
share agreement, to support
SAHC’s More Kids in the
Woods: Roan Mountain
Outdoor Program (MKIW
Outdoor Program). This
project
has
provided
outdoor activities that
Botanist, Gary Kauffman and David LaPorte monitor
promote direct involvement
vegetation on Roan Mountain.
of youth of all ages in the
outdoors. The goal was to
participated in the program.
engage, recruit, mentor and nurture a
younger generation of conservationists The Highlands of Roan, situated
in the local communities surrounding
on Tennessee’s Cherokee National
the Roan Mountain massif.
Forest and North Carolina’s Pisgah
“Hands-on experiences leave the most
lasting impressions, providing us
with real-life experiences that increase
awareness and understanding of our
natural surroundings, often debunking
myths
and
misunderstandings
associated
with
the
outdoor
environment,” said MKIW Program
Coordinator and SAHC Stewardship
Ecologist, Nora Schubert. “As a result,
we are more likely to feel a sense of
ownership and therefore a desire to
protect what we can understand.”
The program consisted of two major
components: two ecology internships
and a series of outdoor young people
activities. The latter brought more than
150 youth from at least 10 counties
surrounding the Roan Mountain area
to participate in projects such as
monitoring water quality, surveying
for small mammals, removing invasive
plants and hiking on Roan. Over
300 parents and youth leaders also
5
National Forest, are an ecological
hotspot of biodiversity in the Southern
Appalachians. Roan’s exemplary
high elevation communities, rare
plants and animal species, unique
geomorphic features and scenic vistas
make it an ideal location to inspire
young naturalists and garner the
support of several natural resource and
conservation partnering organizations.
“Without programs like the Roan
Mountain
Outdoor
Program,
community youth will likely continue
to gravitate to the typical indoor
entertainment that can distance them
from real experiences in nature,”
said Schubert, “resulting in natural
resources going unnoticed and
unprotected for future generations.”
Schubert recommends reading Richard
Louv’s Last Child in the Woods:
Saving Our Children From NatureDeficit Disorder to learn more about
~ continued on next page
More Kids in the Woods, continued
reconnecting youth with the natural
world.
The MKIW Outdoor Program
engaged two summer Ecology Interns
who assisted SAHC’s Stewardship
Ecologist with field projects such
as Golden-winged Warbler surveys,
grassy balds management, rare plant
monitoring and habitat enhancement
and restoration. Each intern also had
the unique opportunity to work with
TN Eastman Hiking & Canoeing
Club members to relocate a section
of the Appalachian
Trail.
free time hiking. My science teacher
told me about it. I had heard about
SAHC along my rambles on Roan,
and I thought it would be a great
opportunity.
2. What was your favorite part of being
an Ecology Intern?
Richie: “I enjoyed the bat and fish
surveys with Cherokee National Forest
Service. It was exciting to collect
the bats in the net as they left their
caves. The fish surveys were exciting
because
we
caught fish by
using electric
SAHC
recently
current to stun
followed up with
them. Then
Richie
Winters
we scooped up
(2008 Intern) and
the fish in nets,
David
LaPorte
identified the
(2009
Intern)
fish by species
to
hear
their
and measured
reflections
on
them. I also
Richie
Winters
assists
in
a
fish
survey
conducted
participating in the
enjoyed hiking
by the Cherokee National Forest Service.
MKIW Outdoor
the balds of
Program. These
the Roan and
students are being recognized for
Hump Mountains. I loved hiking the
their efforts with a free membership
balds because of the beautiful scenery,
to SAHC for 2010.
being outdoors and working with
1. Tell us about yourself and why you
the Roan’s rare plants and birds like
wanted to intern with the Southern the Gray’s Lily and Golden-winged
Appalachian Highlands Conservancy?
Warbler.”
Richie: “I am 16 years old and will
be a junior at Cloudland High School
this year. I wanted to intern with
SAHC because I am interested in the
ecology of our area and I enjoy hiking.
I am also very interested in plants and
their uses.”
David: “I am 17 years old and just
graduated from Elizabethton High
School at the top of my class. I have
received scholarships to attend South
Dakota School of Mines in the fall. I
wanted to intern with SAHC because
I love the outdoors and I spend my
David: “My favorite part about last
summer was being so involved
in all the naturalist events on
Roan, particularly the Grassy
Ridge Mow-Off.”
a statewide 4-H wildlife competition
where I got first place in wildlife
judging. Parts of the judging consist
of walking through a parcel of land
and making suggestions about that
parcel and how it could be improved
for habitat of certain species to meet
the objectives of land owners or
those who manage the land. This can
include managing land for blue birds
to improve viewing opportunities
or managing land for black bears
to decrease their interactions with
humans.”
David: “I have learned so much
about the ecology of Roan and our
area that fascinates me. In hindsight,
I feel that I was hiking blindly before
the internship. Now I am much more
knowledgeable and admire nature
much more from an ecology standpoint
instead of just pretty views and
destinations. It has really broadened
my experience in the outdoors. I
started a Mountain Club at my high
school to encourage students to enjoy
our scenic area of mountains such as
Roan. It started out as a large group of
my friends that tried to get people to
hike with us. Now there are over 100
members, 3 teacher sponsors, and
will hopefully broaden the horizons
of students for many years.”
~by Kristina Tarasan
3. How have you benefited from
participating in the MKIW
Outdoor Program as an Ecology
Intern?
Richie: “I was able to use
the knowledge and skills I
gained from this internship in
6
David LaPorte cutting back an Alder at the Grassy Ridge
Mow-off this year.
Grassy Ridge Mow-off 2010 - Another Success!
Armed with weed-whackers and
lopping shears, 25 volunteers and staff
members, led by SAHC’s Highlands
of Roan Stewardship Director, Judy
Judy Murray flags areas for mowing.
Murray and Seasonal Ecologist,
Nora Schubert, participated in
the Annual Grassy Ridge Mowoff on the weekend of July 17-18.
Well into our second decade of
restoration and management of this
bald, SAHC volunteers can chart
our progress as we reopen former
grassy acreage now overtaken by
blackberries and shrubs. SAHC is
Sarah Fraser wades into a new restoration area.
working in cooperation with the U. S.
Forest Service and other management
partners in restoring Roan’s globally
rare grassy balds while retaining a
balance of rare shrub and spruce/fir
forest communities.
This year we maintained an area
we opened up two years ago and
initiated restoration in a new area of
thick blackberry. We played a brief
game of hide & seek with the weather
around noon on Saturday,
but the storm passed and
we were able to put in a full
day’s work plus a half-day
on Sunday.
A HUGE THANKS go
to our hardy volunteers
who once again put their
shoulders to the task of
balds management--Aaron
Randall Roger and Tom Gatti adjust their weedeaters in a
freshly mowed area.
Raulerson & 8-year old
son Jacob, Jim Martin, Bill
Davis, David Hall, David
Smith, David Joerling, David
LaPorte, David Ray, Tom
Kenney, Charlie Powell, Gary
Barrigar, Randall Rogers,
Susan
Simpson,
Craig
Thompson, Matt & Sarah
Fraser, Karel Bernady, Joe
DeLoach, Randy Burroughs,
Chuck Shelton, Gretchen Parlier,
Susan Parlier, Kristina Tarasan and
a special thanks to Tom Gatti who
made 2 1/2 trips in on Friday toting
food & supplies. Our work site is
2 1/2 miles off-road, so everything
must be transported in and out by
our staff, volunteers and the NC
7
Department of Corrections BRIDGE
Crew. Once again, our Seasonal
Ecologist, Nora Schubert outdid
herself in equipment maintenance
Matt Fraser trims up last year’s work.
and transport coordination, site
preparation, crew training and
supervision, and much, much
more! Thanks also go to National
Forests in North Carolina Botanist,
Gary Kauffman who is monitoring
some of our work, side by side with
the volunteers. Deep appreciation
goes to everyone for water fetching,
food prep, kitchen clean-up and allaround great attitude and team spirit!
The result of a hard weekend’s work.
Not only do we have the satisfaction
in knowing we are restoring a globally
endangered community, but we also
experience a warm fellowship that
keeps volunteers coming back year
after year!
~ Judy Murray
BRIDGE Program: Rehabilitating Young Inmates and
Restoring Grassy Balds
Devastating wildfires in the mid-1980s
destroyed over 5,000 acres of woodland
and more than forty homes and
buildings in Western North Carolina.
The phoenix to emerge from this
destruction was an organization called
the BRIDGE Program, which since its
inception has saved the state of North
Carolina over 19 million dollars and a
few Gray’s lilies along the way.
Following the 1985 fire season, the
North Carolina Division of Forest
Resources (NCDFR) partnered with
the North Carolina Division of Prisons
(NCDOP) to develop the concept of the
Young Offenders Forest Conservation
Program (BRIDGE), modeled after
inmate programs in California, Utah
and Washington, which focus on the
training of inmate crews to be readily
available to suppress wildfires.
The
mission of BRIDGE, an
acronym for Building, Rehabilitating,
Instructing, Developing, Growing,
Employing, is to assist the state of NC
in the rehabilitation of young offenders,
through forestry training and work
programs; with the added benefit of
reducing the operating cost for both
the NCDFR and NCDOP by utilizing
the available inmate population to
provide cost effective services for
the protection and management of
North Carolina’s natural, cultural and
economic resources.
Inmates must meet certain criteria to be
selected to participate in the program.
They must be between the ages of
18 and 25 years old and convicted of
non-sexually assaultive crimes with no
history of serious assault on record.
In the 24 year history of the program,
4,100 inmates have participated,
providing over 2 million hours of manual
labor to more than 382 state, federal,
local government
agencies, schools,
civic and non-profit
organizations,
saving
theses
entities millions
of dollars in labor
costs. Most of the
agencies assisted
are located in the
32 most western
counties of the
state.
BRIDGE Crew posing atop Roan Mountain.
One example of an organization
that benefits from the assistance of
the BRIDGE Crew is the Southern
Appalachian Highlands Conservancy.
The BRIDGE Crew assists SAHC
specifically on the Highlands of Roan
Mountain. Without management, the
grassy balds atop Roan would disappear
over time as they yielded to succession
and became invaded by blackberries,
trees and shrubs.
Annually SAHC works with its partners
to maintain and restore over 300 acres
of grassy balds, using a combination
of management techniques including
mowing operations as well as cattle and
goat grazing. A large team of dedicated
volunteers is needed for this effort. In
addition to a group of over 50 SAHC
volunteers that lend a hand each
summer, Pisgah National Forest has
been sending BRIDGE Crew members
to help with balds management on
Roan Mountain for over a decade.
Under SAHC’s guidance, the crew
hand-mows blackberries on Round
Bald with heavy-duty brush cutters,
and hauls equipment several miles to
work sites for use by SAHC volunteers.
“SAHC’s Grassy Ridge Mow-Off Crew
of volunteers began mowing Grassy in
1994,” said Judy Murray, SAHC Roan
8
Stewardship Director. “We initially
toted in our own equipment and
supplies, but as our group grew, the
BRIDGE Crew began devoting some
of their time to toting our equipment
to and from the work site. They are
invaluable to the Roan Grassy Balds
Management Program and we look
forward to working with them every
year.”
According to Keith Suttles, NCDFR
Assistant Camp Director, who oversees
the BRIDGE Program operations, “You
would be hard pressed to name an
organization or project BRIDGE is not
involved in. If I accepted every work
order I have now on my desk today, the
crew would be busy for the next two
months.”
Results of an informal recidivism study
conducted by NCDFR showed that
compared to the national average of
a 37.5% return rate for the general
population of inmates of the same
age, only 7.3% of BRIDGE Program
participants return to prison following
their release.
“We hope what they pick up here, they
will carry with them the rest of their
lives,” said Suttles. “Graduates of the
program leave here with the skill set to
work for a contractor and/or anyone
who does wildland fire suppression. ”
~by Kristina Tarasan
Land Donation Ensures 100-acre Working Farm
Protected Forever - Property to be an Educational
Resource for Agricultural Community
Buncombe County, NC — A 100-acre
farm in Alexander is now permanently
protected from development, thanks
to a recent land donation to Southern
Appalachian Highlands
Conservancy.
The
property’s
rolling
cattle pastures, stands
of hardwood trees, and
headwater
streams,
which are tributaries
to the French Broad
River, will continue to
be a resource for future
generations.
The land trust is
drafting a conservation agreement for
the property, and anticipates reselling
it to a conservation-minded buyer. The
intent is for it to remain productive
farmland that offers educational
opportunities to the agricultural
community. The organization is
exploring ways to enhance the quality
of the streams and woodlands of the
property.
“A donation of a tract of land
is doubly beneficial,” said Carl
Silverstein, Executive Director of
Southern Appalachian Highlands
Conservancy. “We will place a
conservation easement on the deed,
which will guarantee the qualities
of the property will be protected
forever. Then, reselling the property
will generate extra revenue for the
organization, which we can recycle
back into conservation work.”
Silverstein and Associate Director
Kristy Urquhart first started talking to
the 97-year-old landowner 10 years
ago. That was Silverstein’s first year
on the job as Executive Director as
well as his first visit with a potential
land donor.
maintaining a piece of property and a
cattle herd of 58 head.
All of that help spurred her to want to
do something with
the land to benefit
the
community,
which is when she
contacted SAHC.
“I like to be part
of progress,” she
said.
That community
assistance
has
View of the Black Mountain range from the farm.
come full circle,
as SAHC is now
reaching out to N.C. Cooperative
“Seeing this farm permanently
protected a decade after we first met Extension and the Soil & Water
the family is deeply rewarding,” said Conservation Districts to explore
holding educational workshops for
Silverstein.
the agricultural community on the
The landowner, who wishes to remain property.
anonymous, purchased the property
in the 1950s and immediately started “I think it’s great that SAHC can
working with local Extension Agents, continue the partnership that she
the Soil & Water Conservation started,” Urquhart said.
District, and the N.C. Division of
Forest Services to learn how to farm In the meantime, the house on the
property will provide housing for
the land while conserving its natural
AmeriCorps members that volunteer
systems. It was one of the first
properties in Buncombe County to for SAHC. Each year, the organization
works with four AmeriCorps
have a conservation plan.
volunteers, who provide stewardship,
While sitting in her Hendersonville public outreach and land transaction
retirement village, the landowner assistance.
recently reminisced about the
generous support she and her “Living on this farm will give a local
late husband received from the AmeriCorps Program member a
real-life opportunity to experience a
community. “Before I came to
Asheville, I just thought a farm was working mountain farm and to see
the values of our work first hand,”
a garden – everything was free,” she
said. She soon realized the hard work Urquhart said.
and emotional investment involved in
~by Megan Riley
9
Claxton Farm Easement Permanently Conserves
Iconic Working Farmland
Buncombe County, NCThe Southern Appalachian
Highlands Conservancy’s
(SAHC)
Farmland
Preservation
Initiative
grows with the addition
of Claxton Farm to 3,000
acres of SAHC-protected
working farmland. SAHC
has
partnered
with
landowners Porter and
A look as the sun sets on Claxton Farm.
Martha Ann Claxton to
permanently
conserve
school groups from the surrounding
480 acres of their 550-acre property communities.
through a working lands conservation
easement.
“We want to share our farm and
“SAHC has been talking with
the family for several years about
options for placing their farm under
conservation,” said Carl Silverstein,
Executive Director of SAHC, “Claxton
Farm is a landmark, a place that’s
visited and enjoyed by many people.
This easement assures that it will
be there to be enjoyed for future
generations.”
Claxton Farm holds the largest intact
breeding herd of registered Polled
Herefords (beef cattle) in western
North Carolina and is one of the best
examples in the area of a modern,
viable farming enterprise. The farm
incorporates traditional farming
including cattle and hay productions
along with cutting edge agri-tourism.
Weddings and other special events
are held frequently at Claxton Farm.
The events venue boasts 360 degrees
of unobstructed mountain views
which draw over 11,000 visitors each
year. A diverse assortment of livestock
such as ILR registered llamas,
AMHA registered miniature horses,
camels, donkeys and sheep attracts
enjoy having people come visit to see
the animals, walk the trails and share
their special occasions,” said Martha
Ann Claxton. “There is a location on
the farm, a spot in nature, we like to
share where you don’t see any other
buildings just mountain sides and
pastures with animals grazing on the
hillsides.”
Located in the Brittain Mountain
region of Buncombe County’s Flat
Creek Township, Claxton Farm is in
an area designated by the Buncombe
County Land Conservation Advisory
Board (BCLCAB) as a priority for
protection efforts. This is the first
project of the BCLCAB in the
northern part of Buncombe County.
The property is near 418 acres of
conservation easements held by
SAHC and is also near the 1,900-acre
YoungLife tract.
The conservation easement was
appraised at six million dollars, and
the Claxton family donated 84% of
the easement value. The Buncombe
County Land Conservation Program
10
Steven McBride Photography, Inc.
provided a $769,000 grant to cover
the purchase price and transaction
costs. Commissioner of Agriculture,
Steve Troxler, and the North Carolina
Agricultural
Development
and
Farmland Preservation Trust Fund
awarded a $200,000 state grant
to SAHC to match the county’s
contribution to the purchase price.
“The Claxtons are known for their
generosity and their love of our
mountain community,” said Meridith
Elliott Powell, member of the BCLCAB.
“Years ago, they made the decision to
open their farm for special events, and
this decision has given thousands of
people the opportunity to experience
the pristine beauty of our mountains
and the mountain lifestyle. As
residents of WNC we are lucky that
this land will be forever protected and
enjoyed for generations.”
The property contains working
farmland, a variety of healthy forest
types ranging in age from 30 to over
100 years old, significant wildlife
habitat and 13,950 feet of tributaries
of Flat Creek as well as portions of the
creek itself. Flat Creek is a tributary
of the French Broad River. The tract
also boasts a rich diversity of native
~ continued on next page
Claxton Farm, continued
plant species and encompasses its
own watershed. Claxton Farm also
includes a prominent ridgeline that
can be seen from Interstate 26 where
it intersects Flat Creek at Exit 17.
Beginning with 60 acres in 1976, the
Claxtons converted the farm from
commercial cattle to a registered
Polled Hereford operation certified
and accredited by the state of North
Carolina and the United States
Department of Agriculture. The cattle
operation has Beef Quality Assurance
certification which ensures safe beef
products through the implementation
of proper management techniques
and humane animal treatment. The
Claxtons have partnered extensively
with the Buncombe County Soil and
Water District to implement a number
of Best Management Practices on
their farm, and in 2000 Claxton Farm
was given the River Friendly Award
for their effort in improving water
quality in the Upper French Broad
Watershed.
The Claxton family has made an
enormous contribution towards
preserving Buncombe County’s rural
character and natural heritage,” said
William Hamilton, SAHC Farmland
Program Director. “The farm is
a beloved scenic landmark in the
community and incorporates sound
and sustainable farming techniques
that preserve the integrity of the land,
water and rural community. The
Claxtons have a keen understanding
of the value in protecting our state’s
working landscapes, especially given
the rapid rate of development and
loss of farmland in recent decades.”
~ by Megan Riley
Major Easement Donations Help Conservancy
Protect 500 acres in the Bald Mountains
Madison County, NC- The Southern
Appalachian Highlands Conservancy
has partnered with landowners in
Madison County to protect over
500 acres of scenic and biologically
valuable land in the Bald Mountains,
a focus area for the Conservancy’s
land protection efforts.
The Ball, Chambers and deJuan
families in Laurel Township have
collectively donated over $7 million
in conservation easements to SAHC
as well as transaction and stewardship
costs. The families plan to place an
additional 105 acres of adjacent land
under easement in the near future.
“Fragmentation is one of the biggest
threats,” said landowner Charlie Ball.
“Donating a conservation easement on
our land to SAHC is an opportunity to
glue some contiguous properties back
together. This will enhance not just
the viewshed from the Appalachian
Trail but the watershed protection
and wildlife habitat.”
The Appalachian Trail is 2.5 miles these important land transactions,”
east of the newly protected lands and said Michelle Pugliese, SAHC Land
parts of the property are visible from Protection Director. “In our current
the trail. Parts of the Pisgah National economic climate, funding for land
Forest, seven State Natural Heritage conservation is more limited and
Areas and
743 acres
of SAHC
protected
tracts are
in
close
p r ox i m i t y
to
the
p r o p e r t y.
O v e r
30,600 feet
View from Appalachian Trail, North of Ball Easement
of streams
are estimated to run through the competitive. In addition to becoming
tract, including Shelton Laurel Creek, eligible for potentially significant tax
Spillcorn Creek and Big Laurel Creek, incentives, donated conservation
easements enable us to complete
a tributary of the French Broad River.
All three streams are designated as projects we might not otherwise have
high quality trout waters by the NC the resources to complete. We are
sincerely grateful to the landowners
Division of Water Quality.
who make these significant donations
“We are increasingly relying on the to preserve our landscapes.”
generosity of landowners to complete
11
For Love of Beer and Mountains: SAHC Annouces
Partnership with Highland Brewing Company
The day after he arrived in Asheville, spruce-fir moss spider, the world’s
Ben Wicker, an employee of Highland smallest tarantula which lives in the
Brewing Company, was invited to
moss beds beneath the spruce and
paddle the South Toe River by a fir tree canopy. SAHC has protected
near stranger – an event that helped over 10,000 acres of important land
solidify his love of
these mountains and
his fondness for the
area’s people. Today,
Ben is helping drive
an effort by Highland
Brewing to give back
to the mountains that
provide
Highland
employees with offduty recreation, supply
Cattail Peak as viewed from the Observation Deck atop Mt. Mitchell.
the water for its beer,
and lend their names to the company’s and water resources in this mountain
seasonal brews.
range. Several of these tracts of land
have been transferred to Mount
Coinciding with the release of its
Mitchell State Park for the public
summer seasonal beer, Cattail Peak
to enjoy forever. Highland staff and
Wheat, Highland Brewing announced
SAHC members hiked to Cattail Peak,
in June an educational partnership with the namesake of Highland’s latest
SAHC and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife
seasonal, in mid-June.
Service to support to conservation of
some of the most important mountains
“We really feel this partnership will
in the Appalachians.
be a good way to strengthen the
community of people who love high“Highland Brewing Company is so quality local beer and who love our
tied to the mountains of the Southern incredible mountains,” said SAHC
Appalachians, we felt it just made executive director, Carl Silverstein.
sense to form this partnership and
work toward the conservation of a Twelve-pack cartons will carry
landscape we all love and that supplies information about the partnership
our beer with quality water,” said and the importance of the mountain
brewery owner Oscar Wong, “Our
peaks. Highland will play host to
staff is so driven by two things – love
beer release parties and other events
of beer and love of mountains.”
that will bring attention to mountain
conservation, and the new Highland
Cattail Peak sits in the Black tasting room will sport maps and
Mountains and at 6,600 feet elevation
other information about these areas.
is among the six highest summits in
the eastern United States. It is home The Seven Sisters, an abbey-style ale,
to a spruce-fir forest, one of the rarest will be releaseed on November 1st and a
natural communities in the southern release party will be held on November
Appalachians, found only on the tops
5th at Highland Brewing Company.
of the region’s highest mountains. The This is the third seasonal brew this
peak is also home to the endangered
year and is named after the Seven
12
Sisters, a
well-known
mountain
range above
the towns
of
Black
Mountain and Montreat, NC. The
range is three and a half miles long
and encompasses seven ascending
peaks: Solomon Morris (Tomahawk),
Stomping Knob (Little Piney),
Brushy Knob (Big Piney), Unnamed
Fourth Sister, Unnamed Fifth Sister,
Little Slaty Mountain, and Big Slaty
Mountain (False Greybeard) that is
the tallest sister with an elevation of
5,240 feet. The seven peaks ascend to
Greybeard Mountain. A guided hike
that will explore the Seven Sisters will
take place on Saturday, November
6th.
SAHC Celebrates
Earth Day with
Patrick McMillan
Commemorating the 40th Earth Day
on April 22, SAHC, in partnership
with the NC Chapter of the Nature
Conservancy, hosted a premiere
for a new documentary about the
Roan Highlands at the Fine Arts
Theatre in downtown Asheville.
The documentary was produced
by filmmaker Patrick McMillan, a
Clemson University botany professor
and the host of the PBS series
“Expeditions with Patrick McMillan”.
Two episodes featuring the incredible
biological story of the Roan Highlands,
including the global significance of
its balds, forests, and rock outcrops,
and the continuing challenges
~ continued on next page
to maintaining the
integrity of these unique
ecosystems will air on
PBS. More than 200
attended the premiere
which was followed by a
reception at Blue Spiral
1 Gallery. TNC and
SAHC have worked to
protect the Greater Roan
Highlands since 1975
and together manage
the Big Yellow Mountain
Preserve
in
Avery
County. They are active
‘Roan Highlands Benefit’ seen on the Fine Arts
in land protection and
marquee off of Biltmore Avenue
in downtown Asheville, NC.
management throughout
the 17,000-acre Greater
Roan Highlands landscape and work closely with the U.S.
Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, North Carolina
and Tennessee state parks, private landowners, and other
conservation groups.
Investing in the Future
2009 Financial Summary
At June 30
Cash & equivalents 1,510,739
823,447
Investments
306,642
408,713
Receivables
281,978
374,412
Other current assets
9,081
106,500
2,108,440
1,713,072
639,430
499,869
Conservation Lands 12,388,768
10,715,303
Conservation Easements
50,435,829
29,764,382
Total current asset
Long Term Assets:
Endowments
Life Estates
1,011,011
184,011
Restricted Assets
1,771,497
2,200,263
Fix Assets, Net
44,627
46,801
66,291,162
43,410,629
$68,399,602
$45,123,701
Total long-term assets
Total assets
Liabilities & net assets
Current liabilities
Accounts payable & accrued liabilities
30,459
29,171
1399698
1420039
1,430,157
1,449,210
Notes payable, net of current maturities 676,682
1,029,304
Total current liabilities
Long-term liabilities
Total liabilities
2,106,839
2,478,514
Total net assets
66,292,763
42,645,187
$68,399,602
$45,123,701
Total liabilities & net assets
Leave A Legacy
2008
Current Assets:
Current maturities of notes payable
Remember SAHC with a gift of cash or stock. Our Wells
Fargo account number is 5885-3209 and the DTC number
for transfers is 0141. Your broker can arrange the transfer
for you or call our office for assistance.
2009
Assets
Conservation easements are capitalized and reflected on the
financial statements
To obtain a copy of the complete SAHC financial statements,
please send us a note: 34 Wall Street, Suite 502, Asheville, NC 28801
or email: sahc@appalachian.org
Send us your e-mail to receive the SAHC newsletter
on-line and e-news. Help us cut down on our cost.
Wish List
SAHC’s office space is growing and we are in need of the following:
Bookshelves
100-page paper shredder
Digital camera for photo and video documentation
Sheet Fed Scanner
Binoculars that are of birding quality
Label Maker
The donation of these items - or the funds with which to
purchase them - will be greatly appreciated! All in-kind gifts
are tax deductible up to the value of the donated item.
Laptop computer either PC or Mac,
compatible with the newest operating systems
13
Thanks to the following businesses for their support!
Appalachian Vacation Cabins
Bank of America
Barley’s Taproom & Pizzeria
Bellagio Art to Wear
The Biltmore Company
Bio Wheels
Black Dome Mountain Sports
Blue Spiral 1 Gallery
Botanical Treasures
Carolina Native Nursery
Cataloochee Ranch
Catawba Valley Brewing Co.
Chevron Trading Post
Chimney Rock State Park
Common Ground Distributors
Crooked Condiments
Dancing Bear Toys
Depot Street Brewery
Diamond Brand
Dicks Sporting Goods
Early Girl Eatery
Equinox Environmental
Fine Arts Theatre
Firefly Design Studio
First Citizens Bank
Flour Fancies Bakery
Flying Cloud Farm
theFoundling.com
Four Corners Home
GoAsheville.com
Grandfather Mountain
Greenlife Grocery
Green Man Ales
Green Sage
Hearn’s Cycling & Fitness
Henco Reprographics
Hickory Nut Gap Meats
Highland Brewing Company
Image Smith
Jack of the Wood
Kee Mapping & Surveying
Kelty
Laughing Seed Cafe
The Laurel of Asheville
Lea Kibler, flutist
Leslie & Associates
Lighten Up! Yoga
Loretta’s Cafe
M@in-fm 103.5
Mahoney’s Outfitter
Malaprops Book Store
Mast General Store
Mayfel’s Restaurant
Mellow Mushroom
Mountain Harvest Organic
Mountain XPress
M R et cetera, LLC.
Nantahala Outdoor Center
Natural Foods Market
The Natural Home
Navitat Canopy Adventures
Network Computer Solutions
New Morning Gallery
News of the Blue Sky
Nona Mia Italian Kitchen
Omnium Body Works
Outdoor Bird Co.
Paul Taylor Custom Sandals
Pies in Disguise
Pisgah Works
REI
Ritrovo Pizzeria
Rush Street Neighborhood Grill
SalesForce.com
Sam’s Club
Sandy Mush Herb Nursery
Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian
Second Gear
Sheville.org
Shoji Retreats
Star 104.3
Steven McBride Photography, Inc.
Ten Thousand Villages
Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site
TPennington Art Gallery, Inc.
Turning Leaf Wine
Walmart Foundation
WCQS
Weinhaus
Wild Birds Unlimited
WLOS News 13
WNCW 88.7
We are lucky to live in one of the most biologically diverse and scenic regions in the world, which also provides clean
drinking water to millions of residents in the Southeast. In this time of economic change the support of our Corporate
Members is more important than ever to protect this treasured region.
If you are a business owner and would like more information on Corporate memberships contact Cheryl Fowler
at cheryl@appalachian.org, 828.253.0095, ext. 209, or visit our website www.appalachian.org.
Grants Strengthen SAHC’s Programs
American Farmland Trust
Wal-Mart Foundation
SAHC received a $4,000 grant to support SAHC’s
Farmland Preservation Program initiative in Buncombe
County, NC.
SAHC received a $4,000 grant to support SAHC’s
Farmland Preservation Program.
Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Wildlife Action Opportunities Fund
SAHC received a $5,000 grant to support SAHC’s Roan
Stewardship Program.
SAHC has secured a $50,000 grant to support habitat
restoration and management in the Highlands of Roan.
Beattie Foundation
Parsec Financial Managment
SAHC received a $5,000 grant to support SAHC program/
operating costs.
SAHC received a $9,000 matching grant to support
SAHC program/operating costs.
14
Membership Benefits
The Southern Appalachian
Highlands Conservancy
As a member of SAHC you are helping to preserve some of the
most unique habitat, clean water, local farms, scenic views and
landscapes of the Southern Appalachian Mountains.
Annual Membership Application
Please enroll/renew me as a member
As a member you help expand our protected greenway system
here in the Southern Appalachians - You help provide places for
people to hike, bike, fish and camp - You help provide scenic
vistas for our Sunday drives.
Name
Address
City/State/Zip
Phone
E-mail
When you give, you receive something in return aside from
supporting the work of SAHC, your membership benefits you
personally! If you’re not a member, join today! If you are a
member, THANK YOU!
(Donations and annual membership dues are tax deductible.)
Special Benefits for All Members Include:
❀ ‘View From the Highlands’ quarterly newsletter
❀ Discounts on merchandise
❀ E-mail announcements for guided protected Please check applicable boxes.
New Member ❏ Renewal ❏ Gift Membership ❏
Corporate Membership ❏
❏ Other
$
❏ Organization
$100
❏ Family
$50
❏ Single
$35
There are many special ways our members give to the
Conservancy - tributes, time, in-kind donations, matching
gifts, memorials and bequests. Our membership draws from
a wide variety of backgrounds and income levels. Please
know that whatever you give will go toward active, focused
and sensible land conservation work. Contributions of any
amount are accepted and acknowledged. Please include
gift member recipient name and address on a separate
sheet of paper.
Thank you!
property hikes. Members hike free.
❀ Invitations & discounts to special events.
Mail to: 34 Wall Street, Suite 502, Asheville, NC 28801
Ways of Giving
Yes, I want to learn more about the many ways of
giving to the Conservancy. Please send me information
about the following:
❏ Endowment Funds
❏ Charitable Gift Annuities
❏ Life Estates
❏ Bequests
❏ Conservation Easements
❏ Land Donations
❏ Donations of Appreciated Assets
❏ In-Kind Contributions
❏ Volunteer Opportunities
Group of SAHC members hiking at Cataloochee Ranch
in Maggie Valley, NC.
Visit SAHC’s new blog for the latest news and updates at
southernappalachian.wordpress.com.
Please send an e-mail to cheryl@appalachian.org or call
828.253.0095, ext.209 if you would like someone to speak to
your group or club about the important work of SAHC.
We would welcome the opportunity.
Visit our website at appalachian.org for more information.
✂
15
Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license
are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at
(919) 733-4510. The license is not an endorsement by the state.
New Members
Welcome to the Conservancy!
Marie Anderson
Hendersonville, NC
Shaun Armistead
Asheville, NC
Deidre Aust
Waxhaw, NC
Justin Baker
Lake Lure, NC
Ervin L. Ball, Jr. & Carol Cousins
Asheville, NC
Mr. & Mrs. Jerry L. Ball
Bullard, TX
Lindsay Ball & Adam Coulter
Portland, OR
William Barsch
Asheville, NC
Jenn Beck
Asheville, NC
Monica Beresford
Asheville, NC
Kim Blaine
Redondo Beach, CA
Elizabeth Blakely
Kingsport, TN
Drs. Paul Blanchard & Dorothy Kelly
Newton, MA
Merlin & Pam Blessman
Waukee, IA
Patrick Boland & Tracy Hopkins
Asheville, NC
William Borom & Cindy Shealy
Asheville, NC
Jean Paul Bouvret
Asheville, NC
Wayne & Melissa Bowers
Fletcher, NC
Barbara Bradshaw
Fort Worth, TX
Margaret Brannon
Banner Elk, NC
Horace Brumit & Sarah Mack Brumit
Banner Elk, NC
James & Elizabeth Bryan
Chapel Hill, NC
James & Deborah Bubany
Asheville, NC
Neil Buckley & Kimberly Lay
Portland, OR
Helen Burleson
Newland, NC
Thomas & Linda Bushar
Asheville, NC
Carmen Cabrera & Tammara Capps
Candler, NC
Geoffrey & Patricia Cantrell
Rocky Mount, NC
Mr. & Mrs. Steve Carlile
Marshall, TX
Mr. & Mrs. Brad H. Carmichael
Bridgeport, WI
Joan Carter
McMinnville, OR
Karen O’Neal Casey
Asheville, NC
Mr. & Mrs. Peter Champagne
Alexandria, VA
Kate & Ed Daigle
Asheville, NC
Curry First
Asheville, NC
Sandra Foster
Arden, NC
Mr. & Mrs. Alexander Franqui
Hendersonville, NC
Mr. & Mrs. Todd Fredin
England
Stacy Garcia
Nanuet, NY
Anna Gerhardt
Weaverville, NC
Betty Gibson
Asheville, NC
Mr. & Mrs. William Gisel
Buffalo, NY
Mario & Karen Godino
Weaverville, NC
Claude & Helen Griffin
Mars Hill, NC
Deborah Griffith
Asheville, NC
Cynthia Gruber
Asheville, NC
Dani Daniel
Wilmington, NC
Elizabeth Davis & Scott Utz
Weaverville, NC
Josh & Wendi Diamond
Asheville, NC
Brenda Dillingham
Asheville, NC
Pamela Ditto
Hendersonville, NC
Kelly Droege & Sophie Becham
Asheville, NC
Mignon Durham
Fairview, NC
Mr. & Mrs. James Guerrieri
Willoughby Hills, OH
Liz Gunn
Alexander, NC
Christian & Clear Gunther
Austin, TX
Amy Hales
Asheville, NC
Bob & Caryn Hanna
Asheville, NC
Helen Hansen
Maggie Valley, NC
Mr. & Mrs. Peter Heckman
Springfield, IL
Elizabeth Dyer
Fletcher, NC
Earthtone Builders
Asheville, NC
Mr. & Mrs. Fred Raymond Ellis
Raleigh, NC
Tom Fanslow
Asheville, NC
Cheryl Hemmer
Asheville, NC
Ed Hemphill
Weaverville, NC
Joel & Pamela Herning
Downers Grove, IL
Rita & Rodney Hessenius
16
New Members Continued
Fletcher, NC
David Hillier
Asheville, NC
Ada Howell
Coral Gables, FL
Jarvis Hudson
Asheville, NC
Patrick & Angelia Hunt
Asheville, NC
Joshua Jackson
Swannanoa, NC
Richard Jennings, Jr. & Jenn Trout
Canton, NC
Mary Ann Keifer
Asheville, NC
Marcia Keith
Arden, NC
Susan Keller
Asheville, NC
Mary Lou Kemph
Asheville, NC
Matt Kennedy & Cynthia Reed
Asheville, NC
Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Kern
Bellair, FL
Lynn Kindley
Robbinsville, NC
Terry & Laura Knight
Penrose, NC
Nancy Kreml
Columbia, SC
Tony Lacovelli
Leicester, NC
Larry & Sandra Layton
Asheville, NC
Robert G. Leger
Flag Pond, TN
Tom Leslie
Asheville, NC
Lou Lieb
Asheville, NC
Dean & Audrey Little
Asheville, NC
John & Jill Little
Candler, NC
Mike Longley
Leicester, NC
Janet & James Ouzts
Bakersville, NC
Theresa Marlow
Johnson City, TN
Mr. & Mrs. Jon R. Parsons
Waynesville, NC
Patricia A. McCauley
Weaverville, NC
Mr. & Mrs. William Phoenix
Irvington, NY
Mr. & Mrs. Ellis McCracken
Travelers Rest, SC
Sherry Rauschenplat
Candler, NC
Pat McKee & Terry Lee
Asheville, NC
Renate Rikkers
Asheville, NC
John & Cynthia McMahon
Asheville, NC
Richard & Mary Schulte
Marshfield, WI
Vicky Moody
Todd, NC
William Shelnutt
Cookeville, TN
Connie Morris
Weaverville, NC
Sharon & Jeffrey Skolnick
Asheville, NC
Connie Musselwhite
Raleigh, NC
Becky & Rocko Smucker
Asheville, NC
Mr. & Mrs. J. Peter Natale
Kinnelon, NJ
Ellen & Mark Starkman
Fairview, NC
Sheri & Louis Nemeth
Elizabethton, TN
Daisuke & Naomi Sugimoto
Asheville, NC
Patrice Newcomb
Pittsboro, NC
Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Thode
Knoxville, TN
Brent & Lisa Manning
Asheville, NC
Catherine Ownbey
Swannanoa, NC
Cynthia Mayer
Asheville, NC
Lisa Phillips
Asheville, NC
Carol & Hugh McCollum
Asheville, NC
Tyler Ramsey
Asheville, NC
Janine McCreery
Belton, SC
Allen & Amanda Rigell
Johnson City, TN
McKern Construction
Asheville, NC
Chad & Jenny Schoenauer
Weaverville, NC
Autumn Merritt
Asheville, NC
Benjamin Seeman
Asheville, NC
Aaron & Anna Morris
Miami, FL
Jesse Shepherd & Megan Hansen
Asheville, NC
Katharine Tilson Murray
New London, NH
James & Janet Smith
Cordova, TN
Anna Nagy
Weaverville, NC
Peter & Linda Sotriffer
Leicester, NC
Stacy Neiman
Port St. Lucie, FL
Dale Strother
Johnson City, TN
Mr. & Mrs. Marvin Neuwirth
Bald Head Island, NC
Douglas Taylor
Bellbrook, OH
17
New Members, continued
Leslee Thornton
Asheville, NC
Milton “Buddy” Tignor
Waynesville, NC
Steve Towe
Candler, NC
Robert & Linda Whitehurst
Matthews, NC
Natalie Whiteman
Asheville, NC
Anthony & Janice Warren
Weaverville, NC
James Watson
Roan Mountain, TN
Vickey Watson
Waynesville, NC
John & Jane Williams
Clyde, NC
Yardy & Barbara Williams
Marietta, GA
Debbie Wood
Asheville, NC
Bill & Chris Wrobel
Royalton, OH
Friends Remembered
Dedicated members of the Conservancy passed away recently.
We share in the sorrow of their families.Their presence is greatly missed.
In memory of Charles W Thomason
Ms. Joan S Bridges
David Bowman
Jack & Mary Ruth Garren
Bobbie Mcfarland
Gloria & Francina Rogers
In memory of Harry R. Gamble Jr.
Juan Ascoli
Marshall & Beverly Bush
Matthew & Karen Clark
John & Janet Dale, III
Betita Gamble
James Gorny & Aubie Abernathy
John& Nyela Cohoon
David Hart
Helen R. Hart
Mr. & Mrs. Robert M. Harvey
Nancy Kost & David Robinson
Teddy & Maxie McKeehan
Judith B. Murray & Tom Gatti
John & Genevieve Reed
Philip Robinson
Dan & Rosalie Russo
George & Virginia Vincent
Janeve Whalley
Tributes are gifts in honor of
someone or special occasion.
In honor of
Jonah S. the Bird Boy of Hillside
Jenna Collins
Dairen Wilcox
Candler, NC
Roxanna Trejo
Weaverville, NC
Tributes
In memory of Devon Burgess
Joan W. Worth
In memory of Roger Prescott
Mike Bowden
Ellen Ford
David Melich
Jillian Van Dresser
Edward Western
Michelle Wild
Lanark Wallcovering
Pinnacle South, Llc.
In memory of Ms. W.J. Vaughn
Richard C. Phelps
In honor of M&M Webster
Christine & William Folwell
In honor of Karin & Bucky Brown
Sheila & Stace Horine
In honor of
John Rambo & Nancy Cameron
Jennifer Rambo
In honor of Joyce Brown
Mr. & Mrs. Leonard G. Pardue
In honor of Dorothy Stanfiel
Michael Skrzynski
In honor of
Dr. & Mrs. Chris Flanders
Lisa & George Francisco
In honor of
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Flynn
Lisa & George Francisco
In honor of Kay Hultquist
Louise Carlson & Robert Martin
In honor of Kay Hultquist
Ginger Hain & Larry Hart
In honor of Ruth Kimberly
Laura Kimberly
In memory of Jim Crews
Donald & Priscilla Bynum
In honor of
Steve Melton & Cheryl Fowler
Judy B. Murray & Mr. Tom Gatti
In memory of Ben Scharfstein
Mountain View Garden Club
In honor of Bob & Mabel Harvey
Mr. & Mrs. Norris Stowe
In memory of John H. Bronson
Helen C. Gift
In honor of Jay Leutze
Ellen and Rountree Collet Fund
In memory of Ivan David Ingram
Mr. Floyd M. Hindelang, III
Mike & Sandy Hindelang, Jr.
Memorial gifts are gifts of flowers in perpetuity
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In honor of
Dawn Godwin & Erik Leonard
Regina D. Barratt
Group Hikes - www.appalachian.org/news/hikes
Please bring warm clothes, hiking shoes, rain gear, water bottle, backpack lunch, and camera. All hikes begin at 10:00 a.m.
unless announced otherwise. Meeting location and directions will be sent upon RSVP. Please ask permission before bringing
your dog. * FREE to SAHC members; $10.00 Non-members. View appalachian.org/hikes for more detailed descriptions
and contact Claire Hobbs at claire@appalachian.org or 253-0095 ex. 205 to RSVP.
October 26, (Tuesday) - Drovers Road Sunset Hike, Fairview, NC (5:00 pm) Moderate - 3 hours - Led by John Ager, partner in Drovers Road Preserve, Chairman of
the Buncombe County Farmland Perservation Board and Claire Hobbs, SAHC’s PR &
Outreach Associate. The hike will begin on Drovers Road Preserve, but will climb up
to Rocky Point on a rather steep trail.
November 6, (Saturday)- Seven Sisters Hike, West Ridge Loop, Montreat Wilderness,
Black Mountain, NC (9:30 a.m.) - Strenous - 11 miles - Hike to celebrate the release
Mac Hager Atop Rocky Point
of Highland Brewing Company’s Seven Sisters Abbey Style Ale on the Seven Sisters
on Drovers Road Preserve
Range in the Montreat Wilderness. Led by Ben Wicker, Highland Brewing Company.
It begins at the end of Stomping Knob Tail and ends at the intersection of Graybeard Trail on the summit of Big Slaty Mountain
(False Greybeard). Hikers will take the Graybeard Trail back down.
November 6, (Saturday)- Seven Sisters Hike, Moderate Loop, Montreat Wilderness,
Black Mountain, NC (9:30 a.m.) - Moderate - 4.75 miles - A shorter loop also starting
on the Stomping Knob Trail but only going over two of the Seven Sisters and coming
down Big Piney Ridge Trail and then Lower Piney Trail. Led by Claire Hobbs, SAHC’s PR
& Outreach Associate and Chris Coxen, SAHC’s Stewardship Associate.
Stream crossing in the Montreat
Wilderness
November 17, (Wednesday)- Hike the East Ridge Loop in the Montreat Wilderness
Area, Black Mountain, NC (10:00 am) - Easy/Moderate- 2-3.5 hour hike. Led by Joe
and Mary Standaert, co-authors of the Arcadia Press book on Montreat history (Montreat,
Postcard History Series) and Claire Hobbs.
Upcoming Events - www.appalachian.org/news/events
October 29 - 30 (Friday and Saturday) - Grassy Balds Habitat Restoration Volunteer Work Days - Volunteers needed
to remove woody vegetation from grassy balds community along the Appalachian Trail corridor on the Roan Mountain
Massif.
November 4, 2010 (Thursday) 6:30 - 9:30 pm -“Expose Yourself to Brews & Views” - Held at Highland Brewing
Company’s Tasting Room - $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Ticket includes food, beer, and music by the Overflow Jug Band
and the Trainwreks. All proceeds go to SAHC.
November 5, 2010 (Friday) 4:00 - 8:00 pm- Seven Sisters Abbey Style Ale Release Party - A party at Highland Brewing
Company to celebrate the latest seasonal beer release. Live music with “Actual Proof”.
April 10, 2011 – (Sunday) 3rd Annual Egg Hunt - 3rd Annual SAHC Egg Hunt. The past two years we’ve held this event
at Hickory Nut Gap Farm in Fairview. The location for next years hunt is yet to be determined, but will be on an SAHC
protected property. Mark your calendars and join us for this fun event.
June 18, 2011 – (Saturday) June Jamboree - June Jamboree in the Highlands of Roan. Members and friends hike the Roan
Highlands during peak Rhododendron season and nearby protected properties. A celebration will follow a day of hiking.
Location to be determined.
July 15 – 17, 2011- (Friday - Sunday) Grassy Ridge Mow Off - Mark your calendars for next years Grassy Ridge Mow-Off.
A weekend work trip managing the grassy balds of the Roan Highlands.
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Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Asheville, NC
Permit No. 460
34 Wall Street, Suite 502
Asheville, NC 28801-2710
(828) 253-0095
Appalachian.org
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M I S S I O N
Protecting the
World’s Oldest
Mountains
The mission of the Southern
Appalachian Highlands Conservancy
is to conserve the unique plant and
animal habitat, clean water, farmland
and scenic beauty of the mountains
of western North Carolina and east
Tennessee for the benefit of present
and future generations. We achieve
this by forging and maintaining
long-term conservation relationships
with private landowners, owning
and managing land and encouraging
strong, healthy local communities.