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NEWS AND EVENTS
April 2011
Congress cuts RC&D Federal funding-
April 15, 2011
After almost 50 years of assisting rural communities, the
RC&D Councils across the United States lost federal funding this week.
RC&D was included in other federal spending cuts that were passed this week,
resulting in a loss of federal support for RC&D Councils across the country.
Rolling Hills RC&D Council has plans in motion to continue operations as an
independent non-profit organization and keep serving their communities.
Feel free to call the Council office if you have any questions about this
transition. The Council wants to reassure all partners and constituents
that they are still working to serve the region! Effective immediately,
RC&D Coordinator Cindy Haygood will be reassigned to other duties.
March 2011
NW GA Farmers Market Coalition-
March 10, 2011
A coalition of farmers market managers and board members
has formed in the northwest Georgia area. This group will be meeting
regularly to promote successful farmers markets in our region, support local
farmers, and strive to provide more locally grown produce. A listserv has
been established to share information and create a networking tool. To
join, visit
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nwga-farmmarkets
. Market managers, market board members, and vendor farmers are welcome to
join. The site will host a calendar of events.
Southern
Quilt Trail and Winter Chatauqua!-
March 7, 2011
Gloria Hilderbrand, Diane Reese, and Cindy Haygood participated
in this year's Winter Chatauqua in Cartersville, Georgia on March 7th. The
Winter Chatauqua is an annual event that provides a venue for local communities
to share ideas and learn new concepts regarding tourism and promotion. The
Southern Quilt Trail was highlighted during the event through a breakout
session. Communities from around Georgia came to learn about the
Southern Quilt Trail and how it can benefit their regions!
November 2010
GA RC&D Councils Receive Outstanding New
Initiative Award from GA Urban Forest Council -
November 22, 2010
The Rolling Hills RC&D Council along with
the Limestone Valley RC&D, Oconee River RC&D, Chestatee Chattahoochee RC&D, and
Upper Ocmulgee River RC&D Councils received recognition at this year's annual
Georgia Urban Forest Council Conference. GUFC awarded the five northern
RC&D Councils with the Outstanding New Initiative Grand Award for
Tree Planting for Ecosystem
Restoration and Green Jobs on November 18 at Athens’ Classic Center. The
award recognized the RC&D Councils for implementation of the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act Georgia Growing Green Program. Collectively, the
Councils have implemented this program across north Georgia, supporting local
green industry businesses ands jobs and planting hundreds of trees!
The Georgia Urban Forest
Council (GUFC), a state-wide nonprofit with the mission of sustaining Georgia’s
green legacy by helping communities grow healthy trees. Each year GUFC
bestows its
Excellence in Urban Forestry
Awards
to individuals and
organizations that have demonstrated outstanding service toward the preservation
and enhancement of our urban forests.
Each
Grand Award recipient received a framed, limited edition print of a painting by
artist Barry Nehr of this year’s GUFC Award Tree, the Athens Flowering Dogwood
Tree, located beside Prince Avenue at the Athens Regional Medical Center.
Also in
the photo are Georgia Forestry Commission board member (on left) Chuck Williams
and Georgia Forestry Commission Director Robert Farris and GUFC President Rusty
Lee (on right).
October 2010
Coweta- There's Help For Failing Septic Systems (Times Herald- Newnan) -
October 18, 2010
Through the Upper Middle Chattahoochee Watershed Project,
landowners may receive assistance to repair and replace failing septic systems.
This assistance will be available through May 2011.
August 2010
Class to Help
Small Farmers - August 19, 2010
Cooperative Extension and Rolling Hills will be
co-sponsoring a class for small acreage and beginning farmers on August 31,
2010. The class will provide information on business structure, liability
and insurance, marketing, and other topics of interest to growers wishing to
market their products locally.
Cedartown Tree Inventory Completion - August 13, 2010
The tree inventory for the City of Cedartown was completed this summer thanks to
a grant from the Georgia Forestry Commission's Urban and Community Forestry
Program. The inventory documented 1,022 trees.
July 2010
Big Cedar Creek Watershed Project Update - July 26,
2010
Activities within the Big Cedar Creek Watershed Project
have resulted in 40 septic tanks being repaired and 224 septic tanks being
pumped to date. This project will continue to address water quality issues
related to fecal coliform in the watershed area in Polk and Floyd Counties.
Upper Middle Chattahoochee Watershed Project Expansion -
July 9, 2010
The GA Environmental Protection Division granted Rolling
Hills RC&D approval to expand the scope of work for their ongoing watershed
project on the Upper Middle Chattahoochee Watershed project until May 2011.
The expansion will allow funding to be available to address potential water
quality concerns related to failing residential septic systems in all or parts
of Paulding, Douglas, Coweta, Carroll, and Heard Counties
(see map). Cost
share will be available for landowners to repair or replace failing septic
systems at a 50% cost share rate over the next year.
Click for flyer.
April 2010
Van Wert
Elementary School (Rockmart) Receives New Trees! -
April 20, 2010
Van Wert Elementary School now has 23 new trees to provide
shade for their playgrounds and energy conservation for the school grounds
thanks to the Georgia's Growing Green program. The program is funded
through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support the local
landscape industry. More trees will be planted on more sites through the
years.
February 2010
RC&D Founding President Passes- February 4, 2010
It is with great sadness that Rolling Hills RC&D and the agricultural community
has lost a leader and visionary. Norman Heatherington passed away on
January 30, 2010. Please
click here for his obituary.
The Southern Quilt Trail is growing!-
February 16, 2010
The City of Ephesus and Haralson County both received grants from the Grassroots
Arts Grant program to fund quilt blocks in their communities. In addition,
Rolling Hills RC&D will be working with the Southern Quilt Trail to implement a
Tourism Product Development Grant to expand the Southern Quilt Trail through the
region! Both projects must be completed by this summer. We will have
more news as new quilt blocks are installed throughout the region!
We are seeking historic buildings and barns to place quilt blocks through the
region. To participate, please contact our office or submit a
Participation Application! Grant funds may
also be available!
GA RC&D Councils receive
funding from ARRA funds to plant trees! --February
23, 2010
Rolling Hills RC&D and Limestone Valley RC&D were recently
awarded $344,000 through the GA Forestry Commission to plant trees. These
funds came through the US Forest Service from American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act (ARRA) funds to support the Georgia's Growing Green Grant Program in order
to support green industry jobs and businesses through tree planting projects.
Trees will be planted across both councils on school grounds, parks, and other
community properties for the purpose of ecosystem improvement, shade, energy
conservation, and increased tree canopy. In addition to supporting green
industry businesses through this project, the communities will enjoy the lasting
benefits of the addition of tree canopy cover. All projects will be
completed using local landscaping and tree nursery businesses!
May 2009
Wendy Crager wins National RC&D Award- May
27, 2009
Council Member, Wendy Crager, has been selected to receive
the national award for Outstanding Council Member from the National Association
of RC&D Councils at the National Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico this
June. Wendy receives this awards for her outstanding support of RC&D both
locally and nationally and her commitment to the success of Rolling Hills'
programs. Wendy has served on the Rolling Hills Council since 1994 and
serves as Council Treasurer. She will be travelling to Albuquerque in June
to accept her award.
April 2009
Portable Logging Bridges- April
16, 2009
Applications for cost share towards the purchase of portable logging bridges are
available through Pine Country RC&D. Eligible participants are loggers and
wood dealers. Click
here for an application.
February 2009
Lower Little Tallapoosa Watershed Project- February 5,
2009
The Lower Little Tallapoosa Watershed Project is a
contract with the Environmental Protection Division which began January 2009 to
address water quality impairments within the Lower Little Tallapoosa Watershed.
See article from Times Georgian dated February 5, 2009.
Welcome to our new Council Arborist! John
Hendrickson began work on February 17, 2009 as the Community Forester/Arborist
to serve the Rolling Hills RC&D Council area. He will be working in all
nine counties this year doing outreach and education.
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