Trestle 17 — a Symbol of Strength and a Community's Remarkable Resilience

Trestle 17 — a symbol of strength and a community's remarkable resilience

When Hurricane Helene hit our region, Damascus Town Manager Chris Bell spent spent countless hours on and near Trestle #17 on the Virginia Creeper Trail, both during the flood and in its aftermath.

WNC program uses nature to teach students resilience a year after Helene

By Eric Tegethoff As the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene’s devastating landfall approaches, a program in western North Carolina schools is helping students cope with the tragedy. The “Ready, Set, Resilience” program was developed by Duke University, North Carolina State University and public schoolteachers in the wake of past hurricanes hitting eastern North Carolina. While it’s designed for middle schoolers, the program can be modifie…

One year after Helene: Lessons that shape our future

As we approach the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene, I cannot help but reflect — personally and professionally — on all that our region has endured over the past year. Living through Helene here in western North Carolina was both humbling and eye-opening. Like so many of our neighbors and students, I felt the disruption, uncertainty and even fear that came with the powerful storm. It was a stark reminder that no matter our walk of life,…