#highland county

[libraryofva]

Recent Acquisition - Photograph Collection

View from the South looking North at Monterey, Highland County, Virginia. October 1922. William Palmer Gray Photograph Collection

[middleland]

Barn on the hilltop (2) by Jeff Hickey

[summerfoxcrafts]

🍁 Spent Saturday at the Highland County Maple Festival! 🍁

I absolutely adore being up in the mountains, and even though it was rainy, the family and I had an absolute blast! For two weekends every year, Highland County in Virginia transforms into a maple wonderland, and let me tell you, it's something special! Events are centered in Monterey, with the main street bustling with vendor tents. Oh, and let me tell you about the pastries at one of the tents near the entrance to town – they are out of this world!

And if you're craving a break from the outdoors, Big Fish Cider Co. is just around the corner, offering some of the most delicious local ciders. I'm a sucker for sweets, so I indulged in their blackberry cider – it was divine! I couldn't resist bringing a bottle home with me.

Just a short stroll away is the Highland County Public School, where we found something to eat (we opted for BBQ sandwiches and homemade cupcakes for lunch!) and a bustling craft fair – my kind of place! From candles to soaps, jewelry to knitted items, and even paintings, there was something for everyone. And of course, I couldn't leave without snagging some of that beautiful hand-dyed yarn!

To cap off our day, we made our way to one of the sugar camps to stock up on maple-infused treats – maple-dipped peanuts, maple walnuts, maple donuts, maple BBQ, maple kettle corn, and, of course, some good old-fashioned pure maple syrup! It was so much fun seeing the maple taps on the trees along the way!

If you're in the area and looking for something to do next weekend, I highly recommend checking out the Highland County Maple Festival – there's one weekend left, and it's an experience you won't want to miss!

[rabbitcruiser]

Osoyoos Lake, WA (No. 3)

Oroville is a city located in the northern bulk of the Okanogan Highlands in north-central Washington, United States. Oroville is a member municipality of Okanogan County, Washington, situated between Omak and Penticton. The population was 1,795 at the 2020 census.

Oroville is located 4 miles (6.4 km) south of the Canada–US border, and features an official crossing into Osoyoos, British Columbia. It is located at the south end of Osoyoos Lake, which empties into the Okanogan River on the east side of the town; the town is bound to the west by the Similkameen River. U.S. Route 97 runs through Oroville.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.68 square miles (4.35 km2), of which, 1.64 square miles (4.25 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) is water.

Source: Wikipedia

[celticculture]

📷 vaidotas_maneikis

[kimberly40]

The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games at Grandfather Mountain in Avery County, North Carolina.

[bplant-org]

Photo © Ken-ichi Ueda, CC BY 4.0.

Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) is one of the most common conifers in eastern-to-central North America. Note how it is growing out in the open in a sunny area and is one of the few woody plants in the habitat where it is growing.

This species tends to grow on sites with nutrient-poor, barren, or poorly-developed soils, and is also tolerant of high pH which you find both in limestone outcroppings, and in more general habitats moving west into semiarid regions.

This one is growing in Dickson, TN, which is part of the Western Highland Rim ecoregion. This regions tends to have poor soils but also has a lot of calcium-rich soils which redcedars love.

[paulk19]

Proud to Be a Highlander!

I’m privileged to live in one of the best public school districts, both in New York State and in the entire country.  In the 2021-22 state standardized testing, Herricks placed sixth in English Language Arts and seventh in Mathematics out of 686 districts for grades 3-8.  In grade 8 Math (Algebra) it ranked FIRST.  Way to go, Herricks!  I’m proud to say that I am a product of that school system.  I graduated many years ago, it’s true, but the schools were excellent even then. Reading the recent newsletter, I believe the district has upped its game even more.

I can’t help but reflect on what has made Herricks Public Schools so good for so long.  It’s driven by many interdependent factors: motivated students, devoted faculty and administration, involved parents, great facilities and resources, and effective communication with and by all stakeholders.  Of course, none of this comes cheaply.  Our school tax levy is roughly twice what we pay for all other town and county services combined.  We pay the tax gladly, as our contribution to keeping this tradition of excellence going strong.  While funding alone cannot provide or ensure a top-notch education, a top-notch education cannot be provided without adequate funding.

One of my pet peeves is when I hear someone say, “I don’t have children in school, why should I have to pay?”  My former neighbor used to spew this nonsense regularly, and we got into several arguments over it.  Already, American education lags behind that of most of the developed world, with China and India catching up fast.  If the United States has any hope of remaining an economic superpower, then we need to leave these ignorant viewpoints behind and start moving toward a world-class educational system that is forward-looking, student-centric, and devoid of culture wars fought by the extremists on both sides.  These are abstractions, and often prove to be unconvincing debate points.

The best counterpoint to the “why should I pay” complaint is that good schools boost property values.  If you want your house to command a good price, then support your district.  I guarantee that if our schools here deteriorated, home prices would soon follow suit.  That can be seen in other parts of Nassau County.  Those complaining about the Herricks tax bill now would really have something to gripe about then.  Or how about when YOUR kids were in school, others supported them even though their children had already graduated, or perhaps they had had no children at all.  Pay it forward, bro!

It’s more than just dollars and cents, though.  We all benefit from living in an educated society.  Study after study has shown that a strong educational system can have societal benefits far beyond economics.  Reducing crime, equalizing opportunity, and promoting understanding across diverse social groups are a few that immediately come to mind.  Americans talk a good game when it comes to education; it’s time to put some substance behind it, like we do here at Herricks.

[thisisdrea]

Discover the Best Kept Secret in Celina - Parks at Wilson Creek

Located on the Collin County Outer Loop If you’re looking for a peaceful, nature-filled community in Celina, Texas, look no further than Parks at Wilson Creek. This charming development offers stunning views, top-notch amenities, and a fantastic location. Whether you’re a first-time home buyer or looking for your next family home, Parks at Wilson Creek has everything you need. At Parks at…

[the-busy-ghost]

Alright ancient Scottish counties were already weird enough, but I strongly advise anyone who knows Scotland to go and look up the rules for what defined the old shire of Cromarty. 

Now I knew that Cromarty existed, but thought it confined to to the Black Isle or at least vaguely on the east coast north of Inverness- BOY WAS I WRONG. 

You see, Cromarty had a severe case of Enclaves. One of these enclaves included not only Ullapool (yes on the completely OPPOSITE side of Ross, on the west coast) but according to wikipedia one source even claimed that Royston/Caroline Park near Edinburgh was *technically* part of the shire of Cromarty. 

[svalleynow]

Tennessee American Announces Recipients of 2024 Firefighting Support Grants

Tennessee American Announces Recipients of 2024 Firefighting Support Grants...

Tennessee American Water is awarding over $22,000 to multiple firefighting agencies in the area through the Company’s 2024 Firefighting Support Grant program. The grants provide supplemental funding to emergency responders for items such as critical equipment, training and community education. “As we remember 9-11 this week, we think of our first responders who stand ready to serve our residents…

[racingliners]

Gonna have to make a Scottish Counties quiz on Sporcle bc the one's I keep clicking on aren't quite right

[middleland]

Red-shouldered Hawk with a snake for lunch (2) by Jeff Hickey

[steves-auto-repair-va]

The air conditioning system on a Toyota Highlander isn’t blowing cold air.

We learned that the a/c condenser is leaking and needs to be replaced.

Condensers can also become constricted or get clogged by debris.

[rabbitcruiser]

Omak, WA (No. 2)

Omak is a code city governed by a seven-member council and located in the state's 4th congressional district. Omak's economy is dominated by the primary sector industries of agriculture and forestry, although economic diversification has occurred with sawmills and recreational tourism. Nearby recreational destinations include walking trails, state parks and national forests, such as Conconully State Park, Bridgeport State Park and Osoyoos Lake State Park. The city is home to a weekly newspaper, the Omak–Okanogan County Chronicle, and a Wenatchee Valley College campus. Standards for education in Omak are higher than the state's average, though drugs and alcohol remain a problem among students. U.S. Route 97 passes through the town, while Washington State Route 155, as well as Washington State Route 215, connects the city to Okanogan and Nespelem, respectively. By road, Omak is located approximately 235 miles (378 km) from Seattle, Washington, 140 miles (230 km) from Spokane, Washington and 125 miles (201 km) from Kelowna, British Columbia.

Source: Wikipedia

[eclecticchick]

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