Montreat Minute 7/11/25
Montreat Minute for July 11, 2025
Mayor’s Summary of July 10, 2025 Town Council Meeting
Hello Montreaters,
Summer is here and Montreat is rocking! We were grateful for a good crowd at the July Town Council meeting. My meeting summary follows below. But remember the official minutes will be in next month’s agenda packet. And, you can view tonight’s meeting recording by CLICKING HERE.
Public Forum
- Wade Burns announced there will be a community meeting on Saturday, July 12, at 2:00 pm at his home 779 Foreman Siding Road in the ETJ for discussion of his pending request for a conditional zoning permit.
CLICK HERE to continue reading the meeting summary
CPR Class a Success
The Montreat Police Department, under the instruction of Officer Justyn Whitson, conducted a free CPR training class on Thursday. Fifteen Montreaters took the opportunity to either learn or refresh their CPR skills. Justyn is a highly qualified instructor. He is certified by the American Heart Association to teach Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, and Pediatric Advanced Life Support classes. He also became the AHA’s Training Center Coordinator, overseeing 160 AHA instructors. Needless to say, the Montreaters received some excellent training.
We are grateful not only for Justyn’s expertise on our police force, but also the Department’s desire to connect more personally and practically with the Montreat community. Watch for more opportunities in the future.
Young Montreaters Make Donation for Hurricane Restoration
Gettys and Emma Anne presenting donation to Commissioner Widmer
Emma Anne (9) and Gettys (6) Dudley have been coming to Montreat since they were born. Fifth generation Montreaters, they told their parents, Clay and Sarah Dudley, they wanted to do something to help the Town in the recovery. They decided to set up a lemonade and cookie stand in front of their grandparents’ (Bill and Jackie Dudley) home on North Carolina Terrace and donate all proceeds to the Town. They did not set a price for the lemonade or cookies, but instead accepted donations.
At the end of the day, they had received $300 in donations! To “sweeten the pie”, their father told them he would match the funds they raised. Little did Clay know how successful they would be! They called Commissioner Widmer to receive the precious $600 donation for the Town’s recovery efforts. We are extremely grateful to Emma Anne, Gettys, and their family for this special act of kindness.
Montreat Cottagers Annual Meeting July 19
The Montreat Cottagers will hold their Annual Meeting on Saturday, July 19th, at 10:00 am in Upper Anderson. All Montreaters are invited to attend.
The meeting will feature the presentations of Vice President for Communications Tanner Pickett on behalf of MRA, President Paul Maurer for Montreat College, Mayor Tim Helms for the Town of Montreat, and Executive Director Anne Chesky for the Presbyterian Heritage Center. These leaders’ annual presentations, which focus on the news, plans, and happenings of their respective institutions, are always one of the highlights of the Montreat summer season.
Additionally, Cottager Directory Updates will be available at the meeting.
PHC Ice Cream Social Also on July 19
The Presbyterian Heritage Center invites you to a delicious, old fashioned ice cream social on Saturday, July 19th, from 2:00-4:00 pm at the PHC, 318 Georgia Terrace. Young and old will enjoy greeting old friends as well as making new while enjoying freshly churned, homemade ice cream and music by Montreat’s own Rock Hoppers!
You will also have the opportunity to check out the latest PHC exhibits, including a new, dramatic display on Hurricane Helene’s impact on Montreat. The Ice cream and the fun are free!
Montreat Adult Summer Club Summer Speaker Righton McCallum on July 16th
The Montreat Adult Summer Club will host Montreat’s own Righton McCallumin Upper Anderson on Wednesday, July 16th at 2:30 pm. She will be speaking on Scottish roots in the modern world. Righton is an expert in Western NC history and has extensively studied and taught Scottish history.
As a teaser, did you know that one-fourth of the US population has at least one Scottish ancestor? And even closer to home, nearly every Cherokee Native American has at least one Scottish ancestor. Come hear Righton talk about Scottish migration and life in the United States and, particularly, in Western North Carolina.
Righton’s presentation will be followed by a time of refreshments and fellowship.
Updates and Reminders
- As noted in the Mayor’s meeting summary, Town Manager Savannah Parrish announced the hiring of Rich Caplan as the new Montreat Zoning Administrator, effective July 1. Rich has extensive experience in municipal management and zoning administration. Rich will work Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
- The Montreat Planning & Zoning Commission will meet on Thursday, July 17th, at 10:30 am, in the Town Hall Community Room. The meeting will be live streamed and all are invited to attend. For streaming instructions and a copy of the agenda, CLICK HERE.
- The Presbyterian Heritage Center continues to offer a weekly writing class: “Stories from the Storm” every Wednesday from 1;30-2:30 pm (please note change of start time) through July 23rd at the PHC, 318 Georgia Terrace. CLICK HERE to register.
- Do you receive your own copy of the Montreat Minute or know someone who doesn’t? Sign up for the Sunshine List to receive the Montreat Minute and stay “in the know” about the Town’s happenings. CLICK HERE to sign up for the list!
- Do you receive Montreat Code Redalerts, an emergency communications system used a number of times during the hurricane and wildfires? To learn more about Code Red or to be added to the list, CLICK HERE.
Questions or Comments?
Do you have Town-related questions or comments to offer? If so, please send them to Angie Murphy at info@townofmontreat.org and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Have a great weekend
