Just got back from Boston and the whale watch there and incredible "MIT +150 = Inventional Wisdom" being touted at MIT (150 MIT-related inventions that changed the world.) Well, we have our own it seems - of both - right here within 10 minutes of THE COVE AT CELO MOUNTAIN. It sounds improbable, but the rescue of a young whale (the endangered humpback), was accomplished by one of our local citizens (Blue Ridge Mountains) while in the Sea of Cortez with friends. He has made the rounds of national TV programs - including 20/20. His YouTube video has had close to 4 million visitors.
And from Florida to the Pensacola area of Burnsville, NC
"A planned solar energy facility in Yancey County could provide more than 50 jobs for area residents if a joint effort between the county and three other counties becomes a reality. The proposed solar energy project is being developed by a Florida company on a tract of land already purchased in Pensacola. Part of the 14.7 acre location off Hwy 197-S would be used for non-reflective solar panels that would not distract from the surrounding landscape, according to Yancey County Manager Nathan Bennett who unveiled the plan to commissioners last week. The company, Nationwide Renewable Energy is working with Mayland Community College and McDowell Technical Community College to establish a certified education and jobs training program to support the solar energy business in Avery, Mitchell, Yancey and McDowell Counties. The high tech program will be based around four individual solar farms, one in each county and is estimated to cost around $65 million.(This is near the 450 acres the owners of THE COVE AT CELO MOUNTAIN have for future development.)
In Micaville - close to THE COVE AT CELO MOUNTAIN
Mountain Heritage Expo Center, Burnsville, Yancey County will implement energy-efficient retrofits and upgrades to an existing center for small businesses. Measures implemented will include: improved insulation, daylighting, solar thermal hot water system, and a photovoltaic system to offset energy use. This project will create or two to four jobs and save 2,905 MBTUs annually. Total grant: $378,020.
In Spruce Pine - near The Blue Ridge Regional Hospital (part of Mission Hospital of Asheville)
East Carolina has selected Mitchell County as one of ten locations to locate a dental facility for 4th-year students enrolled at the University’s new dentistry school. The school recently announced that it will build a $3 million service learning center near the Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine. Full time dental school faculty members will staff the center that will provide a general dentistry office with 16 treatment rooms and classroom space for students in their final year of study. The center will serve Mitchell County residents and those of surrounding counties, providing lower cost dental care for those in need. The Samuel L. Phillips Family Foundation gift of three four year dental scholarships to Mitchell, Avery and Yancey County area students played a big part in ECU’s decision to locate the facility in the Tri-County area. The project should be up and running by 2014.
On the campuses of our award-winning middle schools
Yancey County Schools was awarded $500,000 through the Health Resources and Services Administration to fully construct and equip two 1,400 square foot facilities at East Yancey and Cane River middle schools. These facilities will become the new home for the school based health centers and will free up the space currently being used at each school to make new classrooms, offices, etc. The size and the layout of the new space used will be upgraded to provide for improved clinic staffing, enhancement of current services, and the addition of new services. “This project is a tremendous opportunity for our school system to improve the quality of care our students receive at our health centers,” said Superintendent Dr. Tony Tipton. “We are very appreciative both of this grant award and our partnership with the Toe River Health District which provides the staffing for the health centers. Through their work, our students are healthier and better prepared to learn.” These new facilities will be paired with telemedicine - the technology based on Internet videoconferencing and using specially equipped stethoscopes and camera so a health care provider can examine a student, listen to his or her heart and lungs, look into ears, eyes, nose and throat. Doctors would be able to assess the effectiveness of a newly prescribed asthma medication or determine if a child with a stomach ache needs to be seen urgently in the emergency room or could return to class. The intent is to promote healthier and happier students and ultimately improve attendance and graduation rates."
News featured from:
http://www.healthyyancey.org/telemedicine.html
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