Tar Heel of the Week
The Raleigh News & Observer has chosen an Ashvegas man as its Tar Heel of the Week.
Nature has taught Dave Genova a lot in his nearly three decades of working with Outward Bound, a program that uses outdoor challenges to encourage character development. But about 10 years ago, during an excursion for North Carolina Outward Bound’s Asheville office, where he is based, Genova realized that the organization that had worked so hard to help people find common ground was actually perpetuating one of the most powerful social barriers: racial segregation.
I posted a YouTube video about Genova winning the Nancy Susan Reynolds award here on Dec. 4.
Forest threats online
You can track forest threats at www.forestthreats.org, the new site launched by the Forest Service’s Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center.
The organization partnered with the University of North Carolina Asheville’s National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center to develop the tool.
The viewer is a user-friendly, Web-based tool searchable by forest threat (e.g., hemlock woolly adelgid) or by state. Threats are categorized by today’s familiar forest concerns, including invasive plants, insects and diseases, loss of open space, climate change, and wildland fire. The user is also provided current and credible Web links to other federal, state, and local resources that offer additional in-depth information. This initial version of the multi-phased tool will be continually updated with environmental threats as well as additional search features.
Wine consulting
The folks at Asheville Wine Consulting will teach you all about wine.
Christmas at Biltmore
Christmas at Biltmore is magical, says the Asbury Park Press. Good story, but no photos!