Greetings from BRCA 28605!

As we bring the 2025 season to a close, we want to thank all of you that have supported us financially, engaged in our weekly communication and been such strong and loyal supporters.  It is an honor to help you stay informed on community activity and events.

TDA Blowing Rock Survey

The Blowing Rock TDA is asking for residents to participate in a town survey.  The want to hear from all permanent and seasonal residents.  You can take the survey by clicking here: Please click here to start the survey >>

Christmas Parade Next Saturday
From TOBR:

Don’t forget to register for the Christmas Parade- it’s free to participate!

Blowing Rock Parks & Recreation will present the annual Christmas in the Park & Lighting of the Town next week! The festival will include all the usual favorites. Here is the schedule for the weekend:

Friday, November 28th:

Pictures with Santa- 12:00-3:00pm

Live Music- 12:00-7:00pm

Lighting of Town- Approximately 5:30pm

Saturday, November 29th:

Parade- 10:00am

BRCA Celebrates 10 Years!

As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, we thought we’d take a moment and remember all the wonderful things we have done for our community.  In the tradition of civic associations across the country, the Blowing Rock Civic Association has looked for opportunities to contribute to civic life in our wonderful town.  Below is a list of many, but not all, of our more recent efforts :

• Annually BRCA mails out a survey to seek input about residents’ priorities from BRCA members, and we publicize the survey online via BRCA 28605. Anyone who wants to can vote using an online link.   The majority of people who respond are registered voters in Blowing Rock.  The results are shared with town officials.  Past top vote getters are faster ambulance service, short term rental control, zoning that protects the character of downtown. 
• Various members attend Town Council meetings and retreats and review materials disseminated by the Town to understand Town issues. Our leadership occasionally comments or asks questions on such issues of town officials and at Town Council meetings.
• BRCA has provided input to the Town planning director in developing the current short term rental regulations and the website Q & A on this topic.
• BRCA 28605 online weekly is sent to about 1,000 email addresses (70% + open rate) to disseminate Town related information that we believe is o particular interest to homeowners.
• For the past three summers BRCA has hosted monthly summer concerts with a band at the Broyhill Park, and they are open to the community free
• BRCA assists with the annual Town Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day Celebrations, both by helping secure speakers and financially. We have also publicized and videotaped these events.  The videos were aired on BRCA 28605.   
• BRCA produced a history video for the Town and availed it to the Blowing Rock Historical Society, which shares it through their website.
• Because of the first history video a grant was given to the BRHS to produce a second historical video, with which members of BRCA again assisted in writing, producing, and hosting.
• Interviews were conducted with the CEO of UNC Health Appalachia (Chuck Mantooth- who has since retired) to share his views about health and ambulance care.  These were aired on BRCA 28605
• An interview was conducted with NC Representative Ray Pickett to provide information about issues being considered in the NC Legislature that affect Blowing Rock. This was aired on BRCA 28605.
• An interview was conducted with a national expert on radon, after we learned that Blowing Rock is an area of high concentration.  The interview was aired on BRCA 28605.
• The radon expert suggested that we invite Phillip Gibson, the radon expert for NC DHHS, to come to Blowing Rock to share information with residents.  On September 3^rd, 2025, BRCA hosted a public information meeting with Mr. Gibson at the BR Community Library and gave away free testing kits, as well as provide local resource information.  Given the high levels of radon in BR, we want to inform residents to help them be safe. 
• BRCA donated with the Kitchin family four maple library tables to replace worn out plywood tables in the Blowing Rock Community Library.
• Annually the BRCA recognizes community service contributors with our Broyhill Community Service Award; Tom O’Brien is this year’s honoree.
• In 2023 BRCA collaborated with the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce in the production of the Town Council Candidate Forum at the BR Elementary School. In 2025 BRCA was asked to partner with the Chamber’s Candidate Forum, along with 3 other nonprofit organizations.
• BRCA has conducted and recorded interviews with candidates for the Town Council and with Town Council members on several occasions to provide a forum for them to share their ideas and positions on topics of interest to residents.  These have aired on BRCA 28605.
• BRCA has long advocated for faster ambulance service through meetings with the Mayor, the Town Manager, Town Council members, Watauga County Commissioners and candidates and through conducting an information session at which Mayor Sellers and Town Manager Fox shared information with attendees.  Various employees from the hospital attended also.
• BRCA joined the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce as a silver sponsor.  We have appreciated being able to promote our summer concerts and the radon community service event in their weekly emails sent to members.
• On BRCA 28605 our online viewers were encouraged to donate to the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation to help victims of Hurricane Helene.  We researched to find an organization whose funds stayed in Watauga and Avery Counties.  An online appeal led to $150,000 in donations.

 
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Thank You!

On behalf of all of us at BRCA we sincerely appreciate your financial support and your ongoing engagement.  Thank you for following us.  We also want to welcome our new members and viewers; we welcome you to BRCA.  Have a great weekend.  If you are not a member of BRCA please consider joining for a little as $100 annually.

Tom Barrett
Executive Committee Member & VP