There will be a volunteer work day on Saturday July 28, 2018 from 8AM- 12PM. Meet at the Piney Knob Trail head in Murphy, NC.
NC Department of Commerce “listening session” May 10, 2018
Smoky Mountain Host is pleased to work jointly with the N.C. Department of Commerce to organize a “listening session” for the new Office of Outdoor Recreation, approved by the N.C. General Assembly and housed in the N.C. Department of Commerce. David Knight was recently appointed to head up the office. He is conducting “listening” tours across the state. He will be in our region on May 10, 3:30 P.M. to 5:30 P.M. at Southwestern Commission Offices (Region A Council of Governments). The Commission Offices are located at 125 Bonnie Lane, Sylva, or better know as Webster…..directly across from the main entrance to Southwestern Community College.
This is an important initiative and we at Smoky Mountain Host encourage you to attend. We at Smoky Mountain Host are about to embark on a major regional outdoors initiative that will include the development of a strategic regional plan to develop and promote outdoor recreation. We are encouraging specifically that owners of businesses that support the outdoor recreation industry in our region attend and give Mr. Knight input as we seek to raise the profile of the contributions the outdoors industry makes to the state’s economy.
I wanted to make you aware of a listening session being conducted by David Knight, Director of the Outdoor Recreation Industry Office for North Carolina. The intent of the session is to hear form you and understand your perspective on the industry. Below are a few meeting objectives.
- Build relationships and a common understanding of the opportunities and barriers around growing the outdoor recreation industry in your region.
- Gain a common analysis on what is working to grow an outdoor recreation economy in your region, and what challenges current efforts face.
- Highlight key outdoor recreation assets and attractions in your region.
- Identify new ideas to support, promote, & expand outdoor recreation employment opportunities locally and regionally.
The meeting will be held at the Southwestern Commission Offices on May 10th at 3:30. The address is 125 Bonnie Lane, Webster, N.C., right across from the main entrance to Southwest Community College.
Refreshments will be provided by Smoky Mountain Host.
For additional details contact:
David P. Huskins
Managing Director for Operations
Smoky Mountain Host of N.C., Inc.
4437 Georgia Road
Franklin, North Carolina 28734
Cell: 828.691.3300; FAX: 828.524.2416
david@visitsmokies.org
Weekly Group Road Rides Start Tuesday, May 8th
Our weekly group rides on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturdays are cranking up for 2018. See our weekly road ride schedule here.
Weekly Group Road Rides!
SABA hosts several weekly group rides each week. The schedule is as follows:
Road Rides 2018:
Tuesday Nights: 6:00 PM – Leaves from Hayesville Square in Downtown Hayesville, NC. Approximately 20 miles out and back through the Tusquittee area.
Thursday Nights: 6:00 PM. Meet at John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC. Park in gravel lot at intersection of Harshaw and Brasstown Roads. 15 mile loop.
Other Rides:
Saturday Morning – Please check our Facebook page to see if there are any unscheduled rides.
Volunteers Needed for Event at Jackrabbit Sunday, May 20th
The Go Nuts sprint mountain bike race will be held at Jackrabbit on Sunday, May 20th. Volunteers are needed from 7:00 am until approximately 3:00 pm to assist with registration, course marshal’s, etc.
SABA will receive a portion of the proceeds based on the number of participants. We hope that many of you will actually be a participant in the race, but if not please consider helping out that day. Please contact Joanna (828-361-2088) if you are available.
Tour of Georgia Gran Fondo Discount for SORBA Members
On Sat/Sun May 5 & 6, 2018, Helen, Georgia welcomes Tour of Georgia Gran Fondo. SORBA members are offered special pricing to participate; details below. Come join the fun!
Per Event Promoter Reuben Kline:
We offer a discount to all SORBA members who would like to ride the event on Sunday/May 6. I’ve created a coupon code for a 20% discount. the code is: SORBAridesGFNS. On Saturday/May 5 we have a time trial, I’d be happy to extend an invitation to all SORBA members to ride the TT on Saturday for FREE. If they are interested, all they need to do is check in for it in person at the registration / check-in at Unicoi State Park on Saturday from 1pm to 4pm.
13 projects that will impact riding in the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest – Take the Survey
The USFS has developed 13 projects that will impact riding in the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest, and the Pisgah Ranger District has released a scoping letter identifying suggested changes to the trail system in the National Forest. Many of our members have at least some knowledge of the trails in the Pisgah area, we thought we would take this opportunity to ask for broader input. In order to help Pisgah Area SORBA, NAS, and SORBA main prioritize advocacy efforts, we ask that you complete the following survey. It is important to read the scoping letter before taking the survey and then only make constructive comments for only the trails that are familiar to you.
The suggestions range from creating connector trails to removing access to mountain bikers on some trails.
Comments are due to the Forest Service by April 27th and we want your input.
Please take our survey by April 10th if possible! Please SHARE! We need as many responses as possible. Thank you!
What else can you do?
The Forest Service is holding an open house on Tuesday, April 10th from 5-7 pm at Pisgah Station Visitor’s Center. We encourage all to attend, but please note that this is an open house, not a public comment event, this is an opportunity to learn what the FS is trying to achieve. You are free to let them know what you think, but please be respectful.
PAS will be hosting a meeting on Wednesday, April 11th at Oskar Blues Brewery North Carolina at 6 pm. We will review the proposed changes along with the maps and we will share the results of the survey at that point in time.
We Need Your Input!
The long range plan for Clay County has a bike lane suggested with the widening of Myers Chapel Road. This is something we have been pushing for at the DOT and SW Commission planning meetings. It would be great, even if you don’t reside in Clay County, to do the survey and have input into this recommendation. Remember, if the public does not comment and make recommendations, they consider that as if the public does not want it.
About the Survey:
The Southwestern Rural Planning Organization (RPO) provides transportation planning services for the Southwestern Commission Council Governments. We are conducting a public input survey on transportation priorities in the six far western counties of NC – Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, and Swain.
Please take a few minutes to offer your opinion on transportation projects that are being considered for funding through NCDOT. We would also appreciate you sharing this opportunity with your contacts throughout the region. Please respond by April 30. Thank you!