Opinion

Teamwork on display in lighting project

Good things happen when people work together. A perfect example of that simple philosophy will soon be seen shining in Highlands when new stadium lights are installed at the town baseball field on 4th Street.

Mayor on Duty - Taking off the mask requirement

The wording on the masks signs downtown has been changed to read, “masks suggested in crowded areas.”  I know some may think that weak mayor caved in and changed the mask requirement. Others might say it was about time for that overreaching mayor to come to his senses about mask wearing.

Being BearWise is a group effort

If there was a common theme throughout Sunday’s virtual forum on bears and how to coexist with them presented by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, the Town of Highlands and the BEAR task force it was – the bears are usually not the problem.

Mayor on Duty - The impact of future innovation

Some of the changes that are happening now are rather unnerving, even depressing to this aging Baby Boomer. Social media, the political climate, actual climate change, and population pressures are changing the way we live.  On the other hand, I am intrigued by the prospects for the future.

Bear Shadow shows growth potential

Any time a new event pops up on the calendar, there are unknowns. Such was the case for the inaugural Bear Shadow music festival, which took place Thursday through Sunday in and around Highlands.

Mayor on Duty - Budget session to feature water/sewer projects

The second budget planning workshop for the town is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 6 at the Highlands Conference Center.  At this meeting the town manager will present a draft of his proposed budget.

Observations from the Plateau Pickup

Highlands may have a reputation as an upscale mountain community, but that doesn’t mean the people who live here are afraid to get their hands dirty. Take the annual Plateau Pickup, sponsored by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center, as an example.

Mayor on Duty - Road debris more than just litter

I was playing cleanup on Monday, that is patrolling the corridors and picking up the orange trash bags from the Highlands Plateau Pickup.  Over 50 volunteers hit the corridor roads this past Saturday .

Town planning for water system needs

There is no such thing as a magic crystal ball. No one could have imagined the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts across nearly every aspect of society.

Mayor on Duty - Vaccines available at multiple locations

After this past vaccination clinic on Saturday, Tom Neal sent out a message to volunteers that it was time to shift strategies in getting people vaccinated.