Montreat News Archive

Happy New Year from the Town Council and Staff The Town Council and staff wish all Montreaters Happy New Year. We hope and pray that 2026 will be a positive year for you and your family. Town Council Meeting Thursday, January 8, at 6:00pm The Montreat Town Council will meet for its monthly meeting next…

Merry Christmas from the Town Council and Staff! Holiday Hours and Sanitation Pickup The Montreat Town offices will be closed for the Christmas holiday Thursday and Friday, December 25th and 26th. Normal hours will resume on Monday, December 29th. Of course, police services will be available as usual. The offices will also be closed on…

Town of Montreat offices will be closed today, December 18th, from 12:00 to 2:00 PM for a staff Christmas lunch. We will reopen at 2:00 PM. Thank you for your patience!

Mayor’s Summary of the December 11, 2025 Town Council Meeting Greetings Montreaters, Even on this cold December night, we had a very good turnout for this, the last Council meeting of the year. My meeting summary follows below. As you probably know, the official minutes with far more detail will be in next month’s agenda…

A quick reminder about the annual Post Office Christmas Party tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 9, from 10:30–12:30 in the PO lobby. Many thanks to Jordan and Nova who have generously encouraged having the party in the lobby. If you have signed up to bring food, please have it there between 10:00-10:30.  But most of all please…

Reminder: Holiday Gate Lighting Set for today, December 5th The Montreat Holiday Gate Lighting will be held today Friday, December 5th, at 5:15 pm. Sponsored by the Montreat Adult Summer Club and the Town, the event is for the entire family, especially children. Besides the “flipping of the switch” by the Mayor and children, there…

The Montreat Town offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 27th and 28th, in observance of Thanksgiving. Sanitation pickup will occur as usual on Monday, Dec. 1st. The Convenience Center will be open its normal schedule during the holiday. Have a safe and enjoyable holiday!

MPD Schedules Community Gatherings  Last August, Montreaters completed a survey sponsored by the Montreat Police Department. The purpose of the survey was to learn what Montreaters thought to be the most significant public safety concerns. A report summary was given at the September Town Council meeting (CLICK HERE for a slide summary). Town Manager Savannah Parrish…

After observing traffic patterns over the past few weeks and listening to feedback from nearby residents, the Town has removed two of the recently installed stop signs at the intersection of Appalachian Way and Oklahoma Road. We will continue monitoring the area to ensure traffic is flowing safely and efficiently.

The Montreat Post Office Christmas Party Date was incorrectly identified in Friday’s Montreat Minute. The correct date is Tuesday, December 9th. Be sure to stop by the Post Office and visit the sign-up sheet to bring party food and beverages!

Mayor’s Summary of the November 13, 2025 Town Council Meeting Greetings Montreat friends, We’ve had an early cold snap here in the mountains. It’s been fun to pull out the sweaters and even the gloves, reminding us that winter is on its way. My meeting summary follows below. Remember that the official minutes with far…

Happy Halloween! Bulk Pickup a Success! Public Works Director, Barry Creasman, reports that Tuesday’s second bulk pickup of the year was a success for residents and the Public Works team. The team started early Tuesday morning and by day’s end had collected 77 cubic yards of bulk items, three dumpsters full. Items included 10 mattresses,…

The Treasured Tree nature/history walk originally planned for tomorrow, October 29, has been postponed to Wednesday, November 12, at 3:30 pm. Participants will meet at the Nature Center on what hopes to be a nicer day, weather-wise, than tomorrow!

Don’t Forget to Put Out Your Bulk Pickup Items for Tomorrow Despite the rain, remember to place your bulk Items/white goods curbside for pick up tomorrow, Tuesday, October 28th for the second and final pickup of the year. This free service is offered at no cost, except for a $15 per-item fee for mattresses, TVs,…

Don’t Miss Bulk Pickup This Tuesday, October 28th Remember to place your bulk Items/white goods curbside for pick up on Tuesday, October 28th for the second and final pickup of the year. This free service is offered at no cost, except for a $15 per-item fee for mattresses, TVs, and computers. Acceptable items include furniture,…

Town Council Discusses Sanitation Ordinance In a special called meeting last Friday, the Town Council and staff discussed possible revisions to the Sanitation Ordinance. No decisions were made, but good thoughts about important sanitation and safety issues were discussed, including: The next step in the process is for staff, in conjunction with our Town Attorney,…

Mayor’s Summary of the October 9, 2025 Town Council Meeting  Greetings Montreat friends,  It was a beautiful, cool, Montreat fall day today—one that makes you happy to be in the mountains. My meeting summary follows below. Remember that the official minutes with far more detail will be in next month’s agenda packet. And, you can…

Making Helene Restoration Progress Detours were the norm over the past several weeks in Montreat. But those detours were signs of progress! Seven paving projects were completed as the Town made progress in restoration after Hurricane Helene. Six road patches and the Town Hall parking lot were repaired for a total of approximately $135,000 in…

Weather Update for Montreat Residents Models continue to indicate that heavy rainfall will be possible across Western North Carolina on Monday and Tuesday as the remnants of future Imelda move through the region. At this time, wind gusts do not appear to be a major concern with this system, but localized flooding remains very possible,…

‘One Year After’ Reception this Tuesday, September 30th Montreat residents Anne Seaman, Anne Stone, and Kathy Putnam have organized a reception to honor the staff of the Town of Montreat and the Montreat Conference Center for their hard work responding to the damage caused by Hurricane Helene nearly one year ago. The event will be…

Helene Restoration Continues At long last, the Assembly Drive/Lookout Road intersection is returning to pre-Hurricane Helene standards. Paving, including the stamped concrete crosswalk, is being completed today. Other smaller projects are also being completed, including the Shenandoah bridge paving, Tennessee Road patching, Mississippi Road patching, and several other projects. More will be done soon, including…

Mayor’s Summary of the September 11, 2025 Town Council Meeting Greetings Montreaters, We had a full house tonight, which always encourages me and the Commissioners. Thank you for your interest in our Town government. My meeting summary follows below. Remember that the official minutes with far more detail will be in next month’s agenda packet.…

Town Council Meeting Thursday, September 11, at 6:00 pm The Montreat Town Council will meet for its monthly meeting next Thursday, September 11th, at 6:00 pm in the Town Hall Community Room.The Public Forum precedes the Council Meeting, beginning at 5:30 pm. Everyone is invited to attend. The agenda is available by CLICKING HERE. The…

Hurricane Helene Update Town staff continue to meet regularly with FEMA representatives. Progress is steady, though the process remains slow. We anticipate receiving nearly $150,000 in reimbursements in the near future. You may notice contractors around Town working on projects in the coming weeks. Please remain mindful of speed and follow any posted signs. If…

In an Emergency, Do You Know the Evacuation Routes? In the recent Montreat Police Department survey, approximately 38% of respondents said they are ‘completely’ or ‘very’ prepared for an emergency evacuation. That means the majority don’t feel well prepared. One of the keys for emergency evacuation is knowing how to get out of Montreat. An…

We would like to share some important traffic updates along Appalachian Way. In recent months, the Town has experienced increased vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Feedback from our recent Townwide survey showed that residents’ top concerns are speeding and overall traffic safety. While we recognize these changes may cause some initial inconvenience, they are important steps…

Mayor’s Summary of the August 14, 2025 Town Council Meeting Hello Montreaters, Although summer activities are largely concluded, Montreat continues to rock with Montreat College students arriving for the fall semester. My meeting summary follows below. But remember the official minutes with far more detail will be in next month’s agenda packet. And, you can…

One More Reminder: Please Take the Police Department Survey We recently made a Montreat Police Department special survey available to be taken online. The purpose of the survey is to make sure our community remains a safe and welcoming place for all. Your input will help us identify the concerns that matter most to you.…

Please Take the Montreat Police Department Survey The Town of Montreat is committed to making sure our community remains a safe and welcoming place for all. We’re inviting you to share your thoughts and opinions on public safety issues through a brief survey. Please know that all responses are completely anonymous, so tell us what…

The Town of Montreat is committed to making sure our community remains a safe and welcoming place for all. We’re inviting you to share your thoughts and opinions on public safety issues through a brief survey. Your input will help us identify the concerns that matter most to you. Once survey results are in, we’ll…

Traffic Alert: New Stop Signs Installed on Greybeard Trail The Town of Montreat would like to inform residents and visitors that two new stop signs have been installed on Greybeard Trail at the intersection of W Virginia Terrace, creating a three-way stop. This change has been implemented to improve traffic safety and enhance visibility at the intersection. Please approach…

Convenience Center Hours Changed The Town trash Convenience Center hours have been changed to 7:00 am to 7:00 pm seven days per week. The change was made for security and safety reasons as well as to better control usage. The dumpsters have been filling up quicker than normal, and non-Montreaters have been caught on video…

Do You Know About CodeRed? Recent news of the Texas floods focused on the warning systems, some of which were not operating effectively. The nationally accepted warning system, CodeRED, was not existent in certain localities, and residents were not aware of the flood risks. Montreat has been operating the CodeRED warning system for a number…

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,…

Reminder of Town Council Meeting Thursday, July 10, at 6:00 pm The Montreat Town Council will meet for its monthly meeting this Thursday, July 10th, at 6:00 pm in the Town Hall Community Room. The Public Forum precedes the Council Meeting, beginning at 5:30 pm. Everyone is invited to attend. The agenda and packet are…

4th of July in Montreat! Other Important Notes About July 4th Gate Race Coming July 4th Get ready for the Montreat Annual Gate Race! The 5K race begins and ends, of course, at the Montreat gate. The mayor will start the race at 7:00 am, with the runners taking off on Assembly Drive up to…

New Bear Signs to be Installed It has been a challenging year with bears in Montreat this year. Incidents include three different bears gaining access inside people’s homes, several incidents of bears getting into automobiles (with one bear getting locked in and destroying the car’s interior), and untold incidents of bears getting into trash. Additionally,…

Hurricane Progress Update A few weeks ago, we gave a Hurricane Helene Progress Update. Here’s the latest. Welch Field in October 2024…     And Welch Field today! Monte is Back! After nearly 10 months of rest, Monte has returned! You may remember that last summer, Monte wandered around Montreat, with residents guessing where he was located.…

Officers with the Montreat Police Department have responded to 3 different calls during the past 3 weeks with bears getting stuck in unlocked cars. The damage in the photo above did not happen in Montreat but it is a great example of what could happen. Bears have an amazing sense of smell and smells can…

Mayor’s Summary of the June 12, 2025 Town Council Meeting Hello Fellow Montreaters, It turned out to be a beautiful evening after the rainfall and we had a good crowd for tonight’s meeting. My meeting summary follows below. Remember that the official minutes will be in next month’s agenda packet. And, you can view tonight’s…