Mountain Findings Awards $20,000 Impact Scholarship to Highlands High School Senior Claire Worley

 Mountain Findings Awards $20,000 Impact Scholarship to Highlands High School Senior Claire Worley

HIGHLANDS, NC — Mountain Findings, a 100% volunteer-run non-profit organization, is proud to announce Claire Worley as the recipient of the 2026 Impact Scholarship Award. Worley, a graduating senior at Highlands High School, will receive a $20,000 four-year scholarship to support her upcoming studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The Impact Scholarship Award recognizes a graduating senior who demonstrates financial need and a deep, firsthand understanding of the Mountain Findings mission through active volunteerism. Over the past year, Worley worked extensively alongside the organization's volunteers, assisting shoppers, moving furniture, loading vehicles, and operating the register.

Worley’s long-term career goal is to become a critical care nurse, providing vital medical services both domestically and internationally. By lessening the financial burden of higher education, Mountain Findings aims to empower students like Worley to achieve their academic goals and drive positive future change through their careers and life actions.

According to Dan Rupp, President, "We are incredibly proud to support Claire as she takes this next big step toward her dream of helping others.  She has been an invaluable asset to our volunteer team, and we know she will bring that same dedication to her nursing career."

This award is part of a broader commitment by Mountain Findings to support local youth. This year, the organization handed out $64,000 in scholarships to Highlands High School seniors. Additionally, Mountain Findings continues to endow approximately $40,000 in scholarships to past recipients to support them through the completion of their degrees.

About Mountain Findings:

Mountain Findings is a 100% volunteer-run non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the local community and investing in the future of area students through financial aid, ongoing scholarships, and financial support in college, trades, certification, and technology programs.

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Mountains Findings Membership Elects Board of Directors

 

PRESS RELEASE 08-22-2025

Mountain Findings membership elected the following board members to serve for the 2025-2026 term during their annual meeting: from left to right, Dan Rupp, Vice-President; Delaine Mehder; Lisa Burgess, Secretary; Beth Townes, Treasurer; John Warner; DeeDee Thompson; Amy Cooper, Co-President; and Cal Isaacs, Co-President. 

The board, in collaboration with committees, is responsible for overseeing the annual allocation of community grant awards and high school senior scholarships, as well as managing donations, volunteers, and the Mountain Findings Thrift Store. 

Cal Isaacs stated, “I’m proud to be part of a community that supports so many non-profit organizations and graduating high school seniors with scholarships, all achieved through a 100% volunteer force and 100% community donated items for close to 60 years. Nearly $460,000 in grants and scholarships awarded in 2025 - truly amazing!”

To learn more about how to donate gently used furniture and housewares to support Mountain Findings’ mission, visit www.MountainFindings.org, call 828-526-9929 or drop by the thrift store at 452 Spruce St., Highlands, NC.  Open to the public every Thursday-Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm until November. 

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Mountain Findings Awards $51,000 in Scholarships

 PRESS RELEASE (05-12-2025)

MOUNTAIN FINDINGS THRIFT STORE 

Focus on certifications, trades, and 2-year degrees highlighted $51,000 in scholarships awarded

For nearly 60 years, Mountain Findings in Highlands, NC has been dedicated to enriching our local communities. This year, Mountain Findings proudly recognize thirteen outstanding graduating seniors with a total of $51,000 in scholarships, celebrating their achievements and fueling their future endeavors.

Jill Helmer, president, highlighted a significant focus on this year's awards, which proudly recognized seniors pursuing careers in the trades, certification programs, and 2-year degrees. 

• Caleb Burrell

• Brooklynn Petrone

• Aislynn Wyatt-Luck

• Emily Craig

• Gabriela Diaz-Martinez

• Shirley Diaz-Ovando

• Mallory Shriver

• Max Deppe

• Katie Earp

• Carson Forrester

• Yasmin Mendoza Cortez

• Rea Miller

• Finn Garner

Mountain Findings is honored to recognize a senior who has demonstrated remarkable dedication and commitment to their community. Finn Garner, who has volunteered at Mountain Findings for nearly three years, embodies the spirit of community and commitment that drives the 100% volunteer-run nonprofit organization.

In recognition of his exceptional contribution, Mountain Findings proudly awarded Finn Garner a $20,000 scholarship to support his college career, empowering him to continue making a positive impact.

A heartfelt gratitude goes to all the donors, volunteers, and patrons, whose generosity has made this possible.

Mountain Findings is a 501(c)3 organization that accepts donations of gently used furniture, housewares, artwork, and other miscellaneous items. The funds raised are allocated toward scholarships and community enrichment grants to nonprofit organizations. For more information, please visit www.MountainFindings.org.

Donations may be dropped off at 452 Spruce Street, Highlands location or call 828-526-9929 to arrange for a pickup.

(Lf to Rt) Board members John Warner and Jill Helmer, along with scholarship committee member Steve Parnell, present Finn Garner with a $20,000 scholarship to support his pursuit of a degree in Construction Management from Western Carolina University.

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Highlands-Cashiers Hospital: 2024 Veterans Day Luncheon and Pain Management Program

(photo provided)

Highlands-Cashiers Hospital will be hosting two events, a Veterans Day Luncheon and a Pain Management Program. Details are posted below.

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Highlands-Cashiers Hospital to Host Veterans Day Luncheon 2024

In honor of Veteran’s Day, Highlands-Cashiers Hospital and Eckerd Living Center will host a free lunch in the hospital cafeteria for all veterans on Monday, November 11, from Noon to 1 pm. The luncheon will honor our veterans and their service to our country. There will be a brief presentation at 12:30 pm. The hospital is located at 190 Hospital Drive, Highlands.

For more information, please call 828-526-1345.

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Lunch with the Doc | Highlands-Cashiers Hospital to Offer Chronic Pain Management Program

Join Eric Roslonski, DO, with Comprehensive Pain Consultants, on Tuesday, November 18, from Noon to 1 pm as he presents a free program on chronic pain management options. The program will be held at Highlands-Cashiers Hospital, 190 Hospital Dr., in the Whiteside Cafeteria.

Registration is available online at www.missionhealth.org/calendar or by calling 844-630-5295. Attendance is limited to 50 people, and a buffet-style dinner will be provided.

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Published at 12.52pm on Friday, November 01, 2024

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Tornado-Warned Storm Approaching Scaly Mountain and Highlands Area

**3.57pm** The Severe Thunderstorms has been cancelled. It looks like most of the storm will passing through Jackson and Transylvania Counties.

**3.34pm** The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for southeastern Macon Macon for this storm.

A tornado-warned thunderstorm is in the Habersham/Rabun County area headed northeast and may reach the Scaly Mountain and Highlands are in the next 30 minutes or so.

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Published at 3.25pm on Wednesday, September 25, 2024

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Thrift Store Proceeds Help 31 Highlands Area Non-Profits

PRESS RELEASE (07-24-2024)

MOUNTAIN FINDINGS 

Thrift Store Proceeds Help 31 Highlands Area Non-Profits

Mountain Findings, Highlands’ Community Thrift Store, distributed $369,000 this week to 31 non-profit organizations serving the needs of the Plateau.  Earlier this year, another $50,000 of the store’s earnings went for scholarships for graduating seniors at Highlands High School.   Taken together, these contributions represent 90 percent of the store’s 2024 earnings. 

With no payroll or mortgage, Mountain Findings’ 65 volunteers turned their sweat equity into grants that strengthen the Highlands-Cashiers, NC community, especially for the economically distressed or disadvantaged, including animals.

“We receive hundreds of lightly used items each week,” says Board President Jill Helmer.  “Our volunteers sort, clean, and price the items quickly and efficiently.  Those items with high appeal are posted to the Mountain Findings Facebook page each Wednesday, showing shoppers what’s available and building excitement for Thursday’s opening.”

Mountain Findings assists organizations in these areas:

• Human welfare
• Youth Enrichment
• ​Conservation and the Environment
• Animal welfare
• Cultural Enrichment
• Civic engagement
• Public Safety
• 
  

The 2024 grant recipients include:

Appalachian Animal Rescue Center

Appalachian Wildlife Refuge

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of WNC

Blue Ridge Free Dental Clinic

Boys and Girls Club of the Plateau

Carpe Diem Farms

Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society

Community Care Clinic of Highlands-Cashiers

Counseling Center of Highlands

Glenville Cashiers Rescue Squad

Highlands Emergency Council

International Friendship Center

Highlands Historical Society

PAC Educational Theatre

Highlands Plateau Greenway

Highlands School Athletic Booster Club

Highlands School Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Highlands School Parent-Teacher Organization

Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival

Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust

Highlands Cashiers Players

Literacy and Learning Center

Magnolia Mission

Mainspring Conservation Trust

PAWSITIVE Shelter Volunteers of Macon County

Peggy Crosby Community Service Center

REACH of Macon County

Sky Valley-Scaly Mountain Volunteer Fire & Rescue

The Gordon Center for Children

Town of Highlands Recreation Department

Wreaths Across America, Highlands

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Mountain Findings Community Thrift Store is Looking for Donations

Photo Provided by Mountain Findings.

 
PRESS RELEASE (02-28-2024)
MOUNTAIN FINDINGS

Spring Cleaning Alert!

Is your home bursting at the seams with items you no longer need or love? At Mountain Findings in Highlands, North Carolina, we believe your unwanted items can become someone else's treasures!

As a non-profit thrift store, we specialize in giving furniture and housewares a second life. All proceeds from your generous donations support local grants and scholarships, making a difference right here in our community.

Easy Pick-Up Service

No need to worry about how you'll get your items to us! Give us a call at (828) 526-9929, and we'll schedule a convenient pick-up from your home.

Drop-Off Anytime

Got your items ready to go? Drop them off 24/7 at our store located at 432 Spruce Street, Highlands.

Email Us

Prefer to reach out electronically? No problem! Email us at MountainFindings1@gmail.comand we'll get back to you.

So, why wait? Let’s make this spring cleaning season meaningful. Declutter, donate, and make a difference with Mountain Findings today! Call (828) 526-9929 or visit us at www.MountainFindings.org

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Mountain Findings Takes Action for Fire Safety with Highlands Fire Department

PRESS RELEASE (01-18-2024)

MOUNTAIN FINDINGS

As part of our commitment to the safety of our volunteers and visitors, Mountain Findings recently invited the Highlands Fire Department to conduct a fire safety review. 

The fire department demonstrated how to properly use a fire extinguisher using the PASS technique, an easy-to-remember method for fire extinguisher use. PASS stands for PULL the pin, AIM the nozzle, SQUEEZE the handle, and SWEEP the nozzle back and forth at the  base of the fire. Our volunteers even got the opportunity to use this technique first-hand, practicing with the fire extinguishers under the guidance of trained professionals.

In addition to our training, we have also upgraded our safety measures in both of our buildings. Brand new fire extinguishers have been strategically located throughout, with clear signage indicating their location. We have also taken care to ensure these essential safety devices are installed at an accessible height.

To further bolster our commitment to safety, first-aid kits will be installed above the sinks in our annex and cottage. 

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Highlands Fire Department for their time, expertise, and dedication to community safety. 

Mountain Findings remains committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all. Together with the guidance of local safety professionals, we continue to take proactive measures in fire safety and emergency preparedness. 

We encourage everyone to familiarize themselves with the PASS technique, a key tool for preventing the spread of small fires. Remember: the key to fire safety is preparedness. By taking these steps now, we hope to never need them in the future.

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Mountain Findings Donates to Combat Food Insecurity

PRESS RELEASE (12-12-2023)
MOUNTAIN FINDINGS

Community partner Mountain Findings has extended a significant donation to the Highlands Emergency Council (EC) as a part of their social impact initiative.

The donation facilitated the purchase of a new food storage refrigeration unit for EC, allowing the council to provide fresh, nutritious food boxes to the region’s food-disadvantaged population. The funds also went toward upgrading several windows in the EC building to high-efficiency models, making for a safer, more sustainable environment for both EC volunteers and beneficiaries.

Highlands Emergency Council's Vice President, Marie Johnson, expressed her gratitude, highlighting how such private donations stretch federal, state, and local funds, thereby increasing their ability to serve the community. Johnson along with 14 other volunteers, oversees the monthly distribution of food boxes to nearly 400 families. Additionally, the council is committed to serving those in need beyond food support by also providing heating fuel, furniture, housewares, and clothing.

Mountain Findings’ President, Jill Helmer, echoed Johnson's sentiments. She affirmed the empowering effect of assisting others, stressing that their organization prioritizes projects with significant social impact – specifically ones targeting human welfare. Helmer, further expresses, “that working alongside Highlands Emergency Council reflects a conscious, systemic, and sustainable approach to local community needs.”

This act is representative of the strategic mission to address disparities within the healthcare field. By improving access to nutritious meals, both organizations are aiming to positively influence several health factors including improved activity levels, maternal health, immune system function, and the reduction of non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

To learn more about the ongoing efforts and initiatives of Mountain Findings, please visit their website at www.MoutainFindings.org.

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Challenge Hearing in Macon County Disqualifies Candidate for Highlands Board of Commissioners

**note** The previous title was changed to more accurately reflect that one of the members of the quasi-judicial panel was a member of the Jackson County Board of Elections.

PRESS RELEASE (08-21-2023)

MACON COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS

MACON COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS HELD A CANDIDATE CHALLENGE HEARING TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2023 AT 10:00 AM AT THE MACON COUNTY COURTHOUSE IN THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOARD ROOM.

THE CHALLENGE WAS AGAINST OVERTON TUCKER CHAMBERS.

THE CHALLENGER WAS DEREK TAYLOR-REPRESENTING HIGHLANDS FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT.

THE CHALLENGE AGAINST MR. CHAMBERS QUESTIONED HIS RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. TO QUALIFY TO  RUN FOR A MUNICIPAL ELECTION SEAT YOU MUST LIVE INSIDE THE MUNICIPALITY, INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS.

THE PANEL CHOSEN BY THE NCSBE INCLUDED CHAIRMAN KATHY TINSLEY, VICE CHAIRMAN GARY DILLS, MEMBER JOHN VANHOOK, MEMBER JEFF GILLETTE, AND CHAIRMAN OF THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS KIRK STEPHENS.

THE PANEL HEARD THE EVIDENCE FROM BOTH PARTIES INVOLVED IN THE CHALLENGE.

THE PANEL VOTED UNNAMOUSLY TO UPHOLD THE CHALLENGE AGAINST MR. CHAMBERS.

THEREFORE MR. CHAMBERS WILL NOT BE QUALIFIED TO RUN FOR THE SEAT OF COMMISSIONER IN HIGHLANDS.

MELANIE THIBAULT DIRECTOR

End Press Release

Macon Media streamed the hearing live on Facebook. The livestream has been embedded below in the public interest.

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Mountain Findings Awards $25,000 Grant to Literacy and Learning Center for Pre-K Initiative

(photo provided) Mountain Findings President, Jill Helmer presents a $25,000 donation to Literacy & Learning Center Executive Director, Bonnie Potts

PRESS RELEASE (08-14-2023)
MOUNTAIN FINDINGS

The Literacy and Learning Center in our community has received a $25,000 grant from Mountain Findings, to support their new prekindergarten (pre-K) initiative. With over 70 children on the waitlist, there is a clear and pressing need for this program.

The center's pre-K program sets the tone for these young students' futures by inspiring them to learn, enhancing their verbal and cognitive development, and improving their social and emotional skills. This type of early childhood education has been proven to be one of the most cost-effective ways to close achievement gaps and break the cycle of poverty.

When the pre-K at Highlands School was put on hold indefinitely by the Macon County Board of Commissioners, the Literacy & Learning Center stepped up to create its program that will be certified by North Carolina.

Mountain Findings' President, Jill Helmer, expresses the organization's 100% support of this initiative and recognizes the hard work that went into creating this robust program.

Helmer further adds the grant will go towards supporting the pre-K program's development and ensuring that children in our community have access to quality early childhood education.

The Literacy and Learning Center's dedication to education and serving the needs of our community is admirable, and we can't wait to see the positive impact this program will have on the children it serves.

For more information on Mountain Findings visit www.MountainFindings.org.


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They provide complete tree care, are licensed and insured. Specializing in low ground impact. Danger tree removal. Crane Service, Pruning, Views, 24 hr emergency service. Call 828-421-0967 for more information.

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NCDOT Develops New Plan for Highlands Paving Plan saves weeks under ideal conditions

PRESS RELEASE

NCDOT

HIGHLANDS – N.C. Department of Transportation officials, a paving contractor and town officials have developed a plan to resurface state roads in the town limits with limited interruptions by working from intersection to intersection in a 24-hour period.

Harrison Construction of Asheville will begin milling, paving and painting operations on March 15. The contract calls for completion by Memorial Day weekend starting on May 28. Yet the plan — if it goes uninterrupted by weather — calls for completion much earlier.

“Engineers have worked diligently with all parties involved to create the best plan,” Division 14 Construction Engineer Mitchell Bishop said. “We considered various options including working one side of a road at a time, but that adds an additional week and a half. This plan drastically reduces delays and returns people to the resurfaced roads as soon as possible.”

The following plan is based on good weather conditions with no unforeseen issues. Dates are subject to change based on daily inclement weather. All lanes will be open on Easter weekend.

Yet traffic must drive on milled surfaces between tasks on occasion. The prelude to resurfacing potentially begins on the night of March 1 with overnight closures, one intersection at a time with no detour, for installation of signal-loop detectors at traffic signals.

The phases correspond with the attached map for a visual representation of the plan. A link to the map will be available online and drivers may follow NCDOT on social media for current traffic conditions.

Phase 1
-Day time operation install detour to route traffic (March 15)
•    Detour Main Street to 1st street to 2nd Street back to Main Street
-Night operation (March 15 into March 16)
•    Mill entire area from 1st Street to 2nd Street
-Daytime operation (March 16) 
•    Pave entire area from 1st Street to 2nd Street (March 16)
•    At the end of the paving operation, main-line striping (everything except parking spots) 

Phase 2 
-Night operation 
•    Install closure/detour of Main Street from 2nd Street to 3rd Street (March16 into March 17)
•    Mill entire area from 2nd Street to 3rd Street 
-Daytime Operation 
•    Pave entire area from 2nd Street to 3rd Street (March 17) 
•    At the end of the paving operation, main-line striping (everything except parking spots)

Phase 3 
-Night Operation
•    Install closure/detour of Main Street from 3rd Street to 4th Street (March17 into March 18)
•    Mill entire area from 3rd Street to 4th Street
-Daytime Operation
•    Pave area from 3rd Street to 4th Street (March 18)
•    At the end of the paving operation, main-line striping (everything except parking spots) 

Phase 4
-Night Operation
•    Install closure/detour of Main Street from 4th Street to 5th Street (March18 into March 19)
•    Mill entire area from 4th Street to 5th Street
-Daytime Operation
•    Pave area from 4th Street to 5th Street (March 19)
•    At the end of the paving operation, main-line striping (everything except parking spots)

Phase 5
-Night Operation
•    Install closure/detour of Main Street from 5th Street to end of project. (March 22 into March 23)
•    Mill entire area from 5th Street to end of project
-Daytime Operation
•    Pave area from 5th Street to end of project (March 23)
•    At the end of the paving operation, main-line striping (everything except parking spots)

Phase 6 
-Night operation 
•    Install closure/detour (U.S. 64) from Main Street to the Maple Street intersection (March 23 into 24)
•    Mill entire area (U.S. 64) Main Street to Maple Street
-Daytime operation 
•    Pave area from (U.S. 64) Main Street to Maple Street (March 24)
•    At the end of the paving operation, main-line striping (everything except parking spots)

Phase 7 
-Night operation 
•    Install closure Main Street to Spring Street (March 24 into March 25)
•    Mill entire area Main Street to Spring Street
-Day time operation 
•    Pave area from Main Street to Spring Street (March 25)
•    At the end of the operation, main-line striping (everything except the parking spots).

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Published at 4:39pm on Wednesday, February 24, 2021

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Bill Harrell Named New Franklin Police Chief

A copy of the press release is posted below.

New Police Chief by Bobby Coggins on Scribd

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2019 Municipal Elections Filing Update

An update to this article has been posted. [LINK]




Candidates continue to filter in and sign up to run for local offices in both the Franklin Town Council and Highlands Board of Commissioners races. 

Here is how things stood as of 4:30pm this afternoon:

Franklin Mayor

Bob Scott (incumbent)
Barbara McRae

Franklin Town Council

Joe Collins (incumbent)
TJ Wright
Jack Horton
Michael Lewis

Appointed Seat (two years)

Dinah Mashburn (incumbent)


Highlands Board of Commissioners

John "Buzz" Dotson (incumbent)
Eric Pierson (incumbent)
Mark Hehn
Hank "Henry" Ross
Nicholas McCall

The filing period closes tomorrow (Friday) at noon.


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Published at 4:47pm on Thursday, July 18, 2019

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Meeting Excerpt: Franklin Town Council Blue Zone Presentation by Sallie Taylor

Sallie Taylor presented information about the Blue Zones Project to the Franklin Town Council at their regular meeting for January 2019. The above video is the entire presentation and exchange with the board. The goal of the presentation was to get the members of the Franklin Town Council to attend a presentation currently scheduled for the end of June.

Presentation on Blue Zones by Sallie Taylor
Recorded by Macon Media on Jan 7, 2019
Runtime: 25 minutes 19 seconds

The Franklin Town Council held their regular meeting for the month of January 2019 on January 7th in the town hall. This is an excerpt from that meeting, featuring a presentation on Blue Zones by Sallie Taylor.

Here is the text, translated by Optical Character Recognition software that converted the scanned image provided in the meeting agenda into a searchable document.

THE BLUE ZONES®

Blue Zones® are places where people live measurably longer, happier lives with lower rates of chronic diseases and a higher quality of life. Scientists found five Blue Zones in different parts of the world, and Dan Buettner documented these findings in his New York Times best-selling book, The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who Have Lived the Longest. Physically, socially, and emotionally these people are living their lives longer and better.

This research, coupled with an eight-year worldwide longevity study, has been used to develop tools and programs that help people live longer, healthier, and happier lives by optimizing their surroundings to best replicate the nine principles the Power 9® observed in the original Blue Zones areas. This public-private collaboration around a common approach makes the Blue Zones Project® initiative unique. Blue Zones Project deploys a unifying campaign that drives permanent changes by engaging the business community (employers, grocery stores, restaurants), government entities, non-profits, schools, the faith-based community, the media, and individual citizens.

The Blue Zones Project approach to improved well-being is to enhance the environment within critical sectors of the community by implementing evidence-based best practices. Coupled with an extensive community engagement and marketing program and active support from civic and faith-based leaders, Blue Zones Project drives heightened awareness, support, tools, and programs for individuals and community organizations to improve well-being.

To date, forty-two communities in nine states (including Ft. Worth, Texas, and Naples. Florida) have undertaken this process with varying time frames for implementation. The longest-tenured community is in its seventh year of involvement in the Project and implementation of the model. Blue Zones Project is a long-term initiative designed to drive value over a 3-7 year period, depending on the size of the community.

TIE BLUE ZONES PROJECT DIFFERENCE

Blue Zones Project takes a unique, systematic approach to improving well-being focusing on our "life radius." By optimizing the settings where we routinely spend our time, we make healthy choices easier and naturally adopt healthier behaviors together as a community.

PEOPLE

We engage people to optimize their homes and social environments with the Personal Pledge; provide opportunities to discover their purpose; facilitate volunteer experiences to connect with community, and offer programs that deliver support through healthy social networks.

PLACES

We orchestrate a critical mass of worksites, schools, restaurants, grocery stores, and faith-based organizations across the community to optimize environments toward healthy living. By working together to make permanent or semi-permanent changes, healthy choices become the easy choices to make in all the places people live, work, learn, and play.

POLICY

We work with city leaders to suggest evidence-based best practices to impact food policy, tobacco policy, and the built environment. By improving community infrastructure and public policies, we maximize residents' abilities to move naturally, connect socially, access healthy food, and improve quality of life.

A PARTNERSHIP THAT PAYS OFF

1. Measurably increase well-being as quantified by Gallup: The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index® is the gold standard of population health. This project aims to measure and statistically improve well-being, annually reporting that well-being to stakeholders and media.

2. Lower healthcare costs: Blue Zones Project measurably lowers smoking rates and average BMI, while increasing physical activity and healthy eating, which results in lower healthcare and claims costs. 

3. Improve productivity: People with higher well-being cost less and perform better. Blue Zones Project works with employers, organizations, and worksites to make tangible and measurable changes to their environment, thus supporting and improving well-being.

4. Position your company as an innovator and leader in preventive health: Blue Zones Project has a strong reputation for generating local and national press for marshaling innovation, creating healthier environments, and attracting visitors and businesses to communities.

5. Attract grants: Blue Zones Project work meets criteria for dozens of national, state, and local grants. Our demonstration communities have been extremely successful in attracting grants for healthier schools, built environments, food policy, active living, and other community development opportunities.

6. Improve the living environment for the long run: With a focus on sustainable environmental and social change, our programs draw from more than two hundred evidence-based interventions designed to break down silos, maximize collective impact, and yield benefits long after our tenure in the community.

7. Boost economic vitality: Blue Zones Project has been shown to attract new businesses to the area, increase the tax base, drive economic development, increase property values, generate new housing starts, and attract grants, gifts, and funding.

THE POWER 9®: Nine healthy lifestyle habits shared by people who've lived the longest

1. Move naturally

The world's longest-lived people don't pump iron, run marathons or join gyms. Instead, they live in environments that constantly nudge them into moving without thinking about it. They grow gardens and don't have mechanical conveniences for house and yard work.

2. Purpose

The Okinawans call it "Ikigai" and the Nicoyans call it "plan de vida;" for both it translates to "why I wake up in the morning." Knowing your sense of purpose is worth up to seven years of extra life expectancy.

3. Down Shift

Even people in the Blue Zones experience stress. Stress leads to chronic inflammation, associated with every major age-related disease. What the world's longest-lived people have that we don't are routines to shed that stress. Okinawans take a few moments each day to remember their ancestors, Adventists pray, Ikarians take a nap and Sardinians do happy hour.

4. 80% Rule

"Ham hachi bu" the Okinawan, 2500-year old Confucian mantra said before meals reminds them to stop eating when their stomachs are 80 percent full. The 20% gap between not being hungry and feeling full could be the difference between losing weight or gaining it. People in the Blue Zones eat their smallest meal in the late afternoon or early evening and then they don't eat any more the rest of the day.

5. Plant Slant

Beans, including Cava, black, soy and lentils, are the cornerstone of most centenarian diets. Meat mostly pork is eaten on average only five times per month. Serving sizes are 3-4 oz., about the size of deck or cards.

6. Wine @ 5

People in all Blue Zones (except Adventists) drink alcohol moderately and regularly. Moderate drinkers outlive non-drinkers. The trick is to drink 1.2 glasses per day (preferably Sardinian Cannonau wine), with friends and/or with food. And no, you can't save up all weekend and have 14 drinks on Saturday.

7. Belong

All but five of the 263 centenarians we interviewed belonged to some faith-based community. Denomination doesn't seem to matter. Research shows that attending faith-based services four times per month will add 4-14 years of life expectancy.

8. Loved Ones First

Successful centenarians in the Blue Zones put their families first. This means keeping aging parents and grandparents nearby or in the home (It lowers disease and mortality rates of children in the home too.). They commit to a life partner (which can add up to 3 years of life expectancy) and invest in their children with time and love (They'll be more likely to care for you when the time comes).

9. Right Tribe

The world's longest-lived people chose—or were born into—social circles that supported healthy behaviors, Okinawans created "moais"—groups of five friends that committed to each other for life. Research from the Framingham Studies shows that smoking, obesity, happiness, and even loneliness are contagious. So the social networks of long-lived people have favorably shaped their health behaviors.

INITIAL EFFORTS

Initial efforts are underway to measure community interest in pursuing the Blue Zones initiative as set out by their comprehensive development plan. Phase I in this initiative is a Community Leadership Presentation for which key stakeholders and community leaders are being identified and contacted within Highlands, Cashiers, Sylva and Franklin. The purpose of the presentation is to educate, inform and inspire these stakeholders with Blue Zones Project (BZP) research and value, gauge leadership commitment and support to pursue BZP in the community. This presentation has been funded by a private individual. If community leaders are in mutual agreement, then Phase 2, the Community Development Process, would start



Meeting coverage Ends

---

Additional Information about Blue Zones

Below is a video from TED-Ed of Dan Buettner [Wikipedia] giving a presentation in 2013 about his Blue Zones [Wikipedia]. [Blue Zone Website]

Video TED-Ed "How to live to be 100+ featuring Dan Buettner

Description: To find the path to long life and health, Dan Buettner and team study the world's "Blue Zones," communities whose elders live with vim and vigor to record-setting age. In his talk, he shares the 9 common diet and lifestyle habits that keep them spry past age 100. (Filmed at TEDxTC.)

Talk by Dan Buettner.




Below is a recent video from the Blue Zones Project highlighting Fort Worth Texas.

Video Blue Zones Project - Fort Worth
Published on Dec 3, 2018

Fort Worth, Texas, is now a certified BLUE ZONES Community®, the biggest in the country. But the bigger news is we’re also BETTER. Since 2014, Fort Worth has undergone a neighborhood by neighborhood transformation, improving well-being through permanent changes to our built environment, policy, and social networks. More than 400 organizations and 88,000 people joined the movement to make it happen.



Below is a video from The Aspen Institute

Video Blue Zones: Secrets of a Long Life
Published by The Aspen Institute on Mar 1, 2016

Presented by the Murdock Mind, Body, Spirit Series. Featuring Tony Buettner, national spokesperson and senior vice president of business development at Blue Zones, an organization that puts the learnings of the world's longest-lived people to work in cities and communities across the country. As the lead on all Blue Zones Community projects, Tony helps build partnerships between state agencies, community leaders, and employers to bring health and longevity initiatives to each community’s citizens.


And one more presentation by Dan Buettner at another location in 2016

Video Dan Buettner: Blue Zones: The Secrets of a Long Life
Published by St. Luke's Wood River Foundation on Aug 6, 2015


What People are Saying or Reporting About the Blue Zones

Slide Share "Secrets from the Blue Zones" [LINK]

Macleans "How ‘blue zones’ offer secrets for long lives and shorter ones, too" [LINK]

Mission.org on Medium "What’s the Truth About the Blue Zones?" [LINK]

Post and Courier "An expensive wellness project is moving forward in Charleston. But cost and funding are a secret." [LINK]

Scientific American "Blue Zones: What the Longest-Lived People Eat (Hint: It’s Not Steak Dinners)" [LINK]

News-Press "Blue Zones' Buettner explores longevity" [LINK]

STATIN NATION "Did Dan Buettner make a Mistake with his Blue Zones?" [LINK]

The New American "U.S. Communities Targeted for "Blue Zone" Social Engineering" [LINK]

New York Times "My Dinner With Longevity Expert Dan Beuttner (No Kale Required)" [LINK]

The Guardian "Ethical questions raised in search for Sardinian centenarians' secrets" [LINK]

Food Science Institute "What is the Blue Zones Project?" [LINK]

The Atlantic "The Next Gluten: Plant proteins called lectins are an emerging source of confusion and fear" [LINK] 

NPR "Can 'Blue Zones' Help Turn Back the Biological Clock?" [LINK]



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Published at 12:01 am on January 9, 2019

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Press Release: Here We Go with Mike & Dooley Segments Will Appear on WATC-TV

PRESS RELEASE 

Mike & Dooley

Highlands, NC

May 29, 2018

Highlands, NC : Today, Mike & Dooley, a local show filmed in and around Highlands, NC, in partnership with Backlot Cinemas located in Franklin, NC, has announced that they have recently come to an agreement with WATC channel 57 out of Atlanta, GA to produce and air daily segments of their “Here We Go with Mike & Dooley” show.

The two minute segments will air daily on WATC in the mornings as well as throughout the day as needed. The goal of the show will be to provide inspirational and uplifting messages so that viewers can start their days off with positive thoughts. WATC has been broadcasting their shows focusing on family, Christian, and educational programming for over 22 years. They are located in Atlanta (the 10^th largest television market in the U.S.) and their programs can be seen on Roku, the WATC app, and online at www.watc.tv in addition to airing in over one million cable and satellite homes.

With regards to the opportunity to help promote daily positive thinking on a national basis, co-hosts Mike Carrier and Jeremy Dooley said, “We started our Mike & Dooley in the Morning show to help promote local news and events. Now we have the opportunity to reach a large audience with positive messages. The whole thing seems somewhat surreal and a little crazy but as the doors seem to keep opening for us we keep walking through them!”

Mike & Dooley are also excited to have the opportunity to work with Backlot Cinemas on this project. Backlot Cinemas is owned by Phil and Josh Drake and run and managed by Ben Walker. On their partnership Mike said, “Backlot has a beautiful studio and state of the art equipment and Ben and his team do incredible work. We’re really looking forward to working with them on something that we all feel is important and needed in today’s media.”

About Mike & Dooley in the Morning: Mike & Dooley is a local and national show that is taped in Highlands, NC and Macon County, NC and aired throughout the country via www.MikeandDooley.com, their social media outlets, and seen locally on Highlands Cable Group channel 14.

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