Each year the RiverLink Board of Directors honors non-board
members who serve as examples of exceptional volunteerism, providing RiverLink
with goods and/or services that have made a significant difference in
RiverLink's successful programming.
The board is proud to honor the
following volunteers for their long-standing contributions that have helped
make the French Broad River watershed a better destination where everyone is
invited to live, work and play:
2012 CriticaLink Award Winners
Margie Eblen - Margie served as
chair of RiverLink for two terms. During her tenure as a board member for
six years, Margie chaired the events committee and helped spearhead RiverLink's
strategic planning process which culminated in RiverLink becoming a land trust
focused on protection of the riparian buffer and steep slopes - the most
critical areas for preserving water quality throughout the watershed. The
strategic plan also adopted as a goal the establishment of a River Commission
comprised of a variety of interested parties including city, county, chamber
and landowners as critical to the commissions' success. The commission is in
operation today and has two RiverLink appointees.
Dr. Robert Quayle - Rob is a retired
scientist from the National Climatic Data Center bureau in Asheville. He
has lent his considerable expertise, time and talents to help establish and
maintain a soil moisture index for RiverLink's phytoremediation at Karen
Cragnolin Park. Often you will find Rob walking the site checking rain
gauges or testing the battery operated irrigation system. He prepares
graphs and charts on daily rain fall, compares them to annual rain fall
and then measures soil moisture at the site to determine whether we should
increase or decrease irrigation.
Terry and Russ Robertson - In June 2011,
RiverLink acquired a property at the base of the Pearson Bridge. In our due diligence, the survey reflected
that about one-third of the building was on the Robertson's property. The
Robertson family donated an easement to RiverLink of the property under the
building which enabled us to proceed with the acquisition. Without their
support and donation RiverLink would not have purchased the building and
therefore would not have been able to convert an old tire store into an outdoor
recreation and retail service offering commercial livery along the French Broad
River.
Mary Ann Willingham The Willinghams
have been members and donors to RiverLink since 2002. Their most recent
donation was over 5 acres of riverfront property along the French Broad River
that has been in Mary Ann's family since her father purchased the property to
enjoy the clean mountain air and treat his tuberculosis. The family
established a large farm and gave away whatever they could not consume to
neighbors and friends. This donation provides green open space in a
rapidly developing area. This property is also one of several new
RiverLink river overnight camping sites along the French Broad
River. This camp site like our other sights is free and will not
require a reservation, based on the Appalachian Trail model. The only way
to access this overnight camping site is by boat, and despite its location next
to an interstate highway offers a welcome respite for river lovers seeking to
explore the French Broad.
Rod & Bess Baird Rod and Bess can often
be seen riding their bikes around town or enjoying an afternoon on the
river. For the past several years they have helped provide an on-water
safety patrol dynamic duo for The Anything That Floats Boat Parade -
helping to ensure that these handmade crafts remain afloat. Rod is also
past President of Trout Unlimited and is an avid fisherman. Rod has
served on the RiverLink board of directors for several years often arriving to
board and committee meetings on his bike. Rod also served as one of two
RiverLink representatives on the Riverfront River Design Committee which reviews new projects in the
riverfront area. Although by city statuete the review is mandatory compliance with suggestions and
recommendations from the committee is voluntary, yet Rob would take extra care
to visit every project and share his vast knowledge with applicants. Rob
also successfully completed RiverLink's Muddy Water Watch training and can spot
an erosion problem with and experts eye.
Previous CritaLink award winners include: Jean Webb, Wilma
Dykeman, Marylyn Seyler, Peggy & Jim Brazell, Art Streppa, Lee
Towery, Sally Rhoades, Walt Damtoft, Jane Mathews, Bob Bowles, Kate
Mathews, Doug Wilson and a host of other notables.
2012 RiverBusiness Award Winners
Each year the RiverLink board also honors river
friendly businesses that have made a difference in the quality of
life for our region and the French Broad River watershed:
Montford
Neighborhood Association The RiverLink Board of Directors is
pleased to honor The Montford Neighborhood Association for raising and donating
$12,000 to RiverLink towards our $60,000 goal to help implement the greenway at
the former Health Adventure Site. This group of homeowners and
businesses have banded together to make not just their neighborhood better but
the entire greenway linkage better from the downtown to the river and the Wilma
Dykeman RiverWay. The greenway will help establish another vital link in
the system as well as improve an eyesore in an otherwise beautiful area, while
raising property values and improving the quality of life for our entire
community.
The
Asheville Brewers Alliance
The
RiverLink Board of Director is proud to honor the Asheville Brewers Alliance
and its members for making the greater Asheville area a destination for craft
beer. ABA members include:
- Asheville Brewing Company
- Bruisin' Ales
- Brews Cruise
- Craggie Brewing Company
- French Broad Brewing Company
- Green Man Brewing Company
- Highland Brewing Company
- Lexington Avenue Brewery
- Oyster House Brewing
- Wedge Brewing Company
- Southern Appalachian Brewery
- Catawba Valley Brewing Company
- Heinzelmannchen Brewing Company
- Nantahala Brewing Company
- Pisgah Brewing Company
- MALT
- Thirsty Monk
The ABA
established Asheville as "Beer City USA" through their creativity,
entrepreneurship, hard work, sophisticated brewing and dedication to excellence
of product. The reputation and products of the greater Asheville brewing
community were instrumental in gaining this national reputation and recognition
for our region. Their combined efforts and impact was also instrumental
in attracting Sierra Nevada (second-largest craft brewer in the nation) and New
Belgium Brewing (third-largest) to our region. Our local brewers welcomed
and partner where possible with these larger companies in an effort to make the
beer scene even bigger and better for everyone. Since over 90% of their
product is water, our brewing industry partners are collectively and
individually the best advocates for clean water and the very best example of
the economic impact that protection of our natural resources -- water in
particular -- can bring to our region.
Self-
Help Credit Union
The
RiverLink Board of Directors is pleased to honor the Self-Help Credit Union as
a lender in the emerging riverfront areas. The Board recognizes that
access to capital, particularly in an emerging area, is a critical first step
to sustainable development. Self-Help participated in the construction
loan from SunTrust to do the affordable housing development at the Glen Rock
Project. SunTrust was paid off by a package of financing that was just on
the housing part. Self-Help was the sole lender on the commercial part-the
Glen Rock Commercial building, which offers affordable commercial space in the
river district. This project led to additional development in the River
Arts District like the Pink Dog Studios, a RiverBusiness 2011 award
winner. Self-Help also invested in an early 2002 loan in the historic but
then largely unknown Chicken Hill neighborhood. That project didn't work
out, Self-Help didn't lose any money but they demonstrated the willingness to
invest and did invest in a project in a part of the urban riverfront neighborhood
called "Chicken Hill" that was virtually unknown in 2002.
Sundance
Power Systems & FLS Energy
The
RiverLink Board of Directors is pleased to honor Sundance Power Systems &
FLS Energy as alternative energy leaders for our region. Developing
affordable alternative energy sources to add to the existing basket of energy
alternatives is an ongoing goal of every town, city and nation. These two local
companies have demonstrated their entrepreneurship and risk-taking by
establishing successful solar power companies that have help fuel WNC as a
destination for sustainability, alternative energy production and
creativity. The employees at FLS donate regularly to RiverLink as part of
their community support and outreach program. In addition FLS has had two river
locations for its business including its most recent move to the River Arts
District. This past summer Sundance Power Systems took a leap of faith
with RiverLink to provide solar power for our five-night concert series, RiverMUSIC.
In order to volunteer and help sponsor RiverMusic Sundance purchased backup
generators and had operators and staff at each concert to ensure that the
systems worked. .
PSNC Energy
The
RiverLink Board of Directors is pleased to honor PSNC Energy for its donation
of a historic building in the heart of the River Arts District to be used as a
much-needed public restrooms and central information center. PSNC Energy
undertook several structural studies of the building as well as environmental
cleanup prior to offering to donate the building for public use and
benefit. PSNC took special pride in the brick building that once housed
its administrative offices, and was commonly referred to as the "Gas
Works Building." Built in 1910, one of the unique features of the
building is that it sits on piers that allow a stream to flow just under it
right into the French Broad River. It is a one-story building with a
gabled roof with peaked parapet end walls and pilaster corners with projecting
capstones. The Gas Works Building was identified as a historic structure
in the 1987 historic building inventory undertaken by RiverLink in cooperation
with the local chapter of the American Institute of Architect before holding
its first charette in 1989. It was later included in the list of industrial
historic buildings that form the riverfront industrial historic district.
