Options the week of September 1, 2025
- Blowing Rock Persisters
- Sep 1
- 2 min read
Whether you picnicked or protested today, we wish you a happy Labor Day.
Indivisible High Country posted an excellent 3-minute video with images and interviews from the Moral Monday march. Check it out at this youtube link.
The Watauga Democrat recently included a report on the Moral Monday march.
Calendar of upcoming events
Tuesday, September 2, 5:30 pm
Watauga County Administrative Building in Boone
Wednesday, September 3, 4 pm
Watauga County Board of Education work session
175 Pioneer Trail, Boone
Thursday, September 11, 9-10 am
Blowing Rock Town Hall
State Rep. Ray Pickett is Chamber’s featured speaker. Given the essential value of Blowing Rock Elementary and Watauga High School to the Blowing Rock community, we hope he will explain why he voted to give millions in vouchers to private schools that serve a fraction of the state’s population and often refuse to accept students, especially those with disabilities. Meanwhile, the legislature hasn’t yet passed a budget to fund our public schools. We also question Pickett’s choice to sponsor legislation that would make it harder for a community to aid those experiencing homelessness.
Call your representatives to share your concerns
*MountainTrue shared a call to action to protect our USFS Southern Research Station. Otherwise, the proposed plan would result in the elimination or relocation of more than 100 forestry, administrative, and research jobs in Western North Carolina. Find out more at this link.
We encourage you to contact your representatives about any other concerns – helpful resources can be found at 5calls.org and https://ncnewsline.com/. Contact information for your representatives is posted at https://blowingrockpersisters.blogspot.com/p/contact-your-representatives.html
Worth Reading
Our report on the August meetings of the Watauga County Commission is available.
Robert Reich provided a persister-like pep talk this week, arguing against denial and despair.
In honor of Labor Day, you might appreciate this report by NC Newsline on how North Carolina is rated a top state for business but apparently comes in 52nd in the list of states where it is good to be a worker.
