BRCO Newsletters On-line
Bethel students who demonstrated academic excellence and winning attitudes were recently recognized by Bethel Rural Community Organization (BRCO). BRCO's Education Committee annually grants awards to students at Bethel Elementary, Bethel Middle, and Pisgah High School.
BRCO recognized the following students at Bethel Elementary School: Highest score in Math - Noah Stone; Most Growth in Math - Lyric Coyne; Highest Reading Score - Lincoln Valentin and Most Growth In Reading - Aiden Stone. Each recipient received $50.00
BETHEL MIDDLE SCHOOL CITIZENSHIP AWARD
The BRCO David Curphey Citizenship Award recipient was chosen by eighth grade teachers at Bethel Middle School based on attitude, behavior, civic-mindedness, and treating others with care and respect. Eighth grader Josh Mehaffey received the Award and $50.
2025 Pigeon Valley Award for Historic Preservation - Carroll Jones
BRCO's Historic Preservation Committee granted the eleventh Pigeon Valley Award for Historic Preservation to Bethel writer Carroll Jones. Jones is the author of seven books, all of which have received a state history award from the NC Society of Historians. Rebel Rousers received the prestigious President's Award from the NC Society of Historians. While serving as President of BRCO, Jones also wrote a grant for BRCO's circle parking lot, conducted research for both the Calvin Filmore Christopher and the Truss Bridge #79 historic markers as well as the National Register application for Truss Bridge #79, which was granted in 2019.
2025 Bethel Rural Community Organization Awards and Scholarships
BRCO Receives White Oak “Best in Class” Honor Award from WNC Communities
Long's United Methodist Church Art Print
Bethel Rural Community Organization's (BRCO) Historic Preservation Committee's mission is to collect, document, and educate about Bethel history. In keeping with that mission, the committee recently added to its collection its thirty-first art print of historic sites in Bethel.
The latest art print is a painting of the collection's fourth church: Long's United Methodist Church. Painting a replica of the end of a sawn log as background, artist and former pastor of the church, Peter Constantian, created an impressive likeness of the worship center located on Coffee Branch Road in Bethel. Founded in 1890 and remodeled in 1948, the church was originally known as Morgan's Chapel. The congregation changed the name to Long's United Methodist Church to honor Dr. Carroll Summerfield Long, minister and Japanese missionary who delivered the dedication sermon. The adjacent Long's Community Cemetery was established at the same time as the church, with governance of the burial site under the auspices of a non-profit cemetery committee.
This recognition, named for the passenger pigeon whose extinction in 1914 left a void in the landscape and in the poetic imagination of residents, honors the bird whose migratory role played such a vital function in the ecology of the East Haywood community that the alternate name for Bethel is “Pigeon Valley.” Pigeon River, Pigeon Gap, and Pigeon Street names also pay homage to the bird. The Historic Preservation Committee's goal with the Pigeon Valley Award is to ensure that local history will not suffer the same fate as the passenger pigeon.
The WNC Communities Honor Awards luncheon was not held this year due to the impacts of Helene; however, during November, WNC Communities did mail a letter, certificate, and award funds to each community club that submitted an Honor Awards application. The award process recognizes each community club for its level of accomplishment during the period July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024.
The letter from WNC Communities stated that each community club that had submitted an application would be receiving $1000. Additional funds would be awarded based on level of achievement and whether or not “Best in Class” had been achieved.
BRCO once again achieved “Best in Class” at the White Oak level, the highest level of accomplishment, for which we were awarded $3000 (in addition to the $1000 that was awarded to each club). The White Oak level recognizes excellence in a broad array of categories including Good Governance; Leadership Excellence; Community Programs and Civic Engagement; and Collaboration with other entities. In addition to maintaining its on-going programs during the award period, BRCO also implemented a $20,000 grant from The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina to improve its Community Pantry operations.
A new feature was also added this year-- winners of the WNC Communities Impact Award would receive $3000. BRCO was the first to win the Impact Award (in 2022) for establishing the Fresh Produce Coupon Program with local produce stand operators. At that time, there was no cash award associated with the Impact Award. Because we won the Impact Award in 2022, WNC Communities awarded us $3000 this year for the impact we made in 2022. This “retro” cash award ensured that each Impact Award Winner from 2022 to 2024 received the same benefit. It is hoped that the significant cash award will serve to inspire all community clubs to pursue impactful programs in the future.
Susan Garrett, with WNC Communities, summed it up nicely with this note: “Bethel continues to be a shining star, and WNC Communities was very grateful to have additional funds to retro-award you for the Impact Award. Thank you for all you do to support your community, your farmers, your sense of place via your historical efforts, your youth, seniors, and those in need through your pantry.”
Stephanie Quis-Garrett takes a break from preparing BRCO food boxes to admire the Honor Award certificate BRCO received from WNC Communities during November. Stephanie had coordinated the implementation of the $20,000 grant to increase the food storage and improve the efficiency of the BRCO Community Pantry, an effort that contributed to BRCO's White Oak level of achievement.
Historic Preservation Committee members Frances Adamson, Roxie Billings, Carol Litchfield, Evelyn Coltman, and Ted Carr are holding the Long's United Methodist Curch painting by the Reverend Peter Constantian.
l to r: Greg Christoper, Noah Stone, Lyric Coyne, Aiden Stone, Lincoln Valentin
Education Chair, Greg Christopher presents the 2025 David Curphy Citizenship Award to Josh Mehaffey.
PISGAH HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP
BRCO Scholarship Winner - Ayla Griffith
BRCO's Education Committee selects the winner of the $1000 BRCO Scholarship from the applications of graduating high school seniors who reside in Bethel community. Ayla Griffith is the scholarship winner for 2025. Griffith is looking forward to attending Clemson University to study Animal Sciences with a focus on agriculture.
BRCO Receives Grant from Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation
Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation and BRCO are teaming up to provide access to nutritious food and address food insecurity. The Foundation provided a $3,000 "Nourishing Our Neighbors" grant to support local families experiencing hunger. Thank you for helping provide food and hope for families in our community. The grant also supports our agency by helping our neighbors increase their access to nutritious food and providing nutrition education to eliminate health risks for those experiencing food insecurity. During a time when the need is critical, we thank Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation for supporting our local families. Together we are providing more than a meal for our neighbors in need; we are givign them hope.
BRCO NEWS and EVENTS
Front Row (l to r) Dale Treadway, Carol Litchfield, Evelyn Coltman, Frances Adamson; Back Row (l to r) Roxanna Billings, Mike Yates, Marty Yates, Sue Beard, Ted Carr, Carroll Jones, Maria Jones, Richard Hurley, Mike McLean, Phyllis Vance, Phil Paxton
Carroll Jones accepting the 2025 Pigeon Valley Award for Historic Preservation. Also shown is Evelyn Coltman, Chair of BRCO's Historic Preservation Committee
Country Home Art Print
Stephanie Love, artist with Blue Ridge Artway at the Folkmoot Center in Waynesville, produced the latest painting in Bethel Rural Community Organization's art print collection: the County Home. Love's watercolor on canvass depiction of the historic building captures the integrity of the edifice with accuracy while infusing her own special adaptation of the structure's spirit, essence, and beauty.
A stable presence in Bethel Community since 1911, the County Home was North Carolina's benevolent response to the dilemma of homelessness during the 20th century. After North Carolina's passage of the law that required each county to provide a “County Home” for the indigent population, Haywood County selected the location in Bethel that now serves as the Pigeon Valley Assisted Living Home at Silver Bluff Village. From 1911 – 1954, however, the structure was referred to as “the County Home.”
Front Row:
Carol Litchfield
Frances Adamson
Second Row:
Roxanna Billings
Evelyn Coltman
Stephanie Love, Artist
Rylan Love