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Sylva leaders are acting wisely in planning to invest
Even though Sylva’s elected officials don’t have the $3.5 million they will receive from North Carolina’s Clean Water Management Trust Fund in hand, they’re already making plans for the best way to invest and safeguard the money.
That’s a smart move.
It’s a lot of money, but it could be gone in a hurry if town leaders don’t make smart decisions and create guidelines for the kinds of projects they’ll fund with Sylva’s newfound wealth.
Investing the principal wisely and spending only the interest makes sense to us. That way the funds will be available to help generations of Sylva citizens.
What’s even better is that the windfall comes to the town because its leaders pledged to keep the beautiful Fisher Creek watershed – once the source of Sylva’s drinking water – safe from development.
Thanks to the CWMTF grant, money will soon flow into Sylva coffers, while the source of that bounty – Fisher Creek – remains sparkling and pure.
There’s time to support firefighters and Bridge Park
Two major fund-raisers are planned for this Saturday: Cullowhee firefighters will put on their 30th annual barbecue; and community and town leaders will sponsor the first event to generate money for a planned downtown park.
Luckily, it’s not necessary to choose one over the other – the two events’ overlapping schedules make it possible to support both.
The Bridge Park Project Festival, with live music, food and fun, will be from 1 until 6 p.m. at the town-owned Railroad Avenue parking lot; it will be followed by the Recreation Department’s Pumpkin Patch trick-or-treating event.
The Cullowhee VFD barbecue is from 3 until 8 p.m. at Cullowhee Valley School. It features some of the best-cooked pork around and live bluegrass and gospel music.
Those with children young enough to trick or treat can get their barbecue early and then head to town for festival and trick-or-treating fun. The rest of us can spend the afternoon in Sylva and then travel south for our barbecue.
Any way you slice it, Saturday should offer large portions of community-spirited fun.
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