Press Release
For immediate release
ü
Mount Sterling receiving
funding and growing.
Press Release date:
Friday, August 13th, 2010
Contact Information: Marion
Stahl, contact 888-601-2455 x 205
Mt Sterling, KY. - Lets dispel the curse! Friday the 13th is not always
a bad day.
Mt Sterling is growing in leap and bounds. But is it also expanding in a
healthy and eco friendly way. After Governor Steve Beshears announces $1
million grant for a community enhancement project on August 4th, the
KY Proud:
Howard’s Mill
Area Tourism Project has received a modest but hopeful
"matching grant for $10'000" from CorpWell Foundation.
The Foundation support revitalization projects of building of eco
friendly towns.
The area for this project is a beautiful part of Mt Sterling, south of
town. Located between the Orchard and the Morgan House and Hope Village,
the Howard’s Mill area it is
still very rural.
Figure 1
Mrs Asselin, who is in charge of the Development of this project shared:
"It is a beautiful area full of history to be shared. The example of the
Apple Orchard that Cindy Peake has developed with her husband and put so
much love into, the area will attract more visitors to Mt Sterling to
enjoy its very unusual landscape. It is will become a repose for it’s
citizen as the town grows.”
In 2002, Kentucky generated an estimated $1 million in agritourism,
which grew to $3.2 million by 2007. We are hoping to bring
one day accommodations such as cabins as well as public land that
will attract hikers and people in search of calm and peace.
While the economy is slow and recovering, it is time to invest in
local value. Perhaps a trip to Texas or Mt Everest is not possible, but
one in the confine of our neighborhood could be as well.
On the brim of the Eastern Mountains of KY, the area has a beauty shown
in the pictures of James Archibambeault. The Appalachian Foothills’
early morning fogs and breathtaking sunsets. Cows and bird symphonies
are a daily musical experience.
"I don't know if it is because it reminds me of my native country:
Switzerland, but I have been quite taken by this untouched piece of the
world. I think that Mt Sterling residents should realize that this is a
prize that need to be nurtured and cherished. I just wanted to do
something to give people an idea or vision", said Nicolette, a long time
graduate of the University of Kentucky. "While life has brought me to
have to leave Kentucky twice now, my heart is still here somewhere and I
hope that this project will take form and be realized."
In the past years, students from the University of KY Tourism class
headed by Desmond Brown, had selected this as a project and designed
various plans for activities that would attract visitors to the area.
The project was in relation to the use of Heavenly View Farm Inn. While
many past owners have added to the original structure, the house on the
Hill, has sustained the proof of time since early 1800.
Located between
Bramble Ridge Apple Orchard and the
1793 Morgan’s Station, Heavenly View Farm Inn has been the site
of many family and friend events and reunions.
The Inn that was developed in hopes to bring people an interest to this
beautiful area, as a
meeting place, a retreat, perhaps the site for
star gazing and some plentiful enduring sunsets,
evening with KY fiddles,
all in the spirit of KY Proud Spirit. Unfortunately, this house
needs serious work. The grant given today is to save the serious problem
encountered with the foundation. The rest of the house is still in
pretty good shape and contain many artifact of time, wood work. The
fortunate aspect of this problem, Toney Oney, remarked is that we can
now address the long term survival of the structure for years to come.
During the work done with Mr. Oney‘s workers, a very old cistern was
uncovered and the logs of the original house..
Toney Oney, President of Oney Construction and a long term community
contractor in Mt Sterling has been very devoted to the rescue of this
house. Given the slow
economy, he has put many of his workers back to work. Mr. Oney has taken
extreme pride in the work he has done and Margaret Balley said: ”We
sincerely hope that this will be the beginning of an upstream success.
Now that we have are building stronger foundation.”
The owners of the property: Williamson & Balley are still committed to
this development and contributing significantly to
these efforts. The matching grant does need the involvement of Mt
Sterling residents and businesses to come to fruition. It is part of the
efforts this town has made to take Mt Sterling from a Mt Starving” to a
much better place thanks to all the efforts that have been expended by
its members and businesses in the area. Hopefully it will keep
attracting new visionaries to the area.
Several large grants have been received in the past for the project. It
was used to address maintenance, landscape as well as development with
student internships. Other volunteers have helped with landscape and
developing goodwill.
"Every time, it is a small step in the right direction, as long as we
keep moving forward, says Nicolette, it is all that counts. However, I
wish, to hear more from the residents of the community that they know
they own a jewel in their community, beside the downtown and that it
needs to be attended to. The efforts that Cindy Peak has expanded in the
Orchard has been an example we are trying to follow. Since this is not a
full time residence, we need more volunteers and leaders in this
endeavor." The resource offered at this time is a matching grant.
Contributions from local businesses or individual family will set an
example of care we need to give to a community and preserving some of
its natural resource for every one to enjoy and receive renewal
strengths like so many parks we enjoy today.
For those who are not in a position to help financially, volunteers are
also welcomed. If you are a grant writer, have a class of students
leaning something related to these efforts, this is a perfect
opportunity to learn and grow in this town.
In a time of a slower
economy and unemployment, people can be active in their community and
probably achieve more than if they were working. “A sense of pride is
important, life is not always just about paying bills, says Margaret
Balley, after all is said and done, you want to know you have left
something behind that will make a difference for the generation to
come."
The goals of the Howard’s Mill Area Tourism project remains an economic
development project.
Some of the plans for the restoration of this House are to offer, KY
Proud seminars to encourage local farmers to develop new lines of
businesses such as craft and products from their farms that will attract
visitors from far and supplement their annual income. Assist historical
acknowledgment in the area and new ideas.
If any one is interested in participating in these efforts, please call
Nicolette Asselin at 1-859-309-6028. You may also find information about this
project at: CorpWell.org/HOWRAP, the e-mail is service@corpwell.org