Unaka – The Unaka Community Center hosted a Meet & Greet Brunch on Saturday with Cherokee County Commissioner Alan Bryant and other crucial members and businesses in the community, including the Unaka Fire Department, Grape Creek Fire Department and High Lonesome Equestrian Center.
The event was meant to allow local residents to get together and hear about updates, goals and community events. This is an event new Unaka Community Development Club President Holly Willis has worked tirelessly to put together.
Alan Bryant is the county commissioner for District 5, which includes Unaka, calling it a “best-kept secret” due to the amount of care members have for the community despite its size. Bryant shared a bit about the process of creating change and the various challenges he’s faced since being elected as commissioner.
“There’s a lot that goes into accomplishing things in politics,” he said. “A lot of legalities between the county and state.”
Bryant is proud of Unaka, especially regarding the efforts that have been made to prepare the community center as an emergency hub in light of Hurricane Helene. This includes training in how to organize and distribute supplies, the installation of Starlink internet to aid communication in an area with no cell service and the use of a grant procured by Alan Keith that allowed a generator to be installed at the beginning of March.
“The little things we do in our communities highlight who we are, and the Unaka Community is committed to providing support to its members,” Bryant said.
It’s important to Bryant that he can also be someone the community he serves can reach out to and encourage individuals to contact him.
Both the Unaka Fire Department and Grape Creek Fire Department are active with the Unaka Community Center. With a lot of ground to cover, these two rural fire departments must work together.
The Unaka Fire Department recently celebrated its grand reopening of the newly renovated station, while Grape Creek hopes to break ground on their new station this year. Unaka Fire Chief Ann Lukens and Grape Creek Fire Chief Alan Andrews both encourage community members to volunteer with their respective departments.
“Even if you think there isn’t something or if you think you can’t do the physical work, we can find a job for you,” Lukens said.
The Unaka Fire Department recently aided the community by providing an automated external defibrillator at the Unaka Community Center for anyone to access in an emergency. A challenge these departments face is the distance to the nearest hospital and other emergency services, so this is one way they are working to help the community feel safe and prepared.
Andrews said the Grape Creek Fire Department will be hosting a movie night at 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 25, for kids of all ages. During this time, the fire department will also share fire safety tips, including demonstrations to help kids be more prepared and less fearful of fire emergencies.
High Lonesome Equestrian Center provides experiences for children and adults with mental and physical disabilities. “Our goal is to support the growth and healing of the mind, body, and spirit through partnership with equines,” according to the organization.
High Lonesome recently finished building an official-size area to continue growing their business and increase the number of people they can help and encourage interested volunteers to contact them. High Lonesome participants will showcase their talents during the Special Olympics in September.
On Saturday, April 12, High Lonesome will host an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast at 9 a.m. for just $5, followed by an Easter Egg Hunt and pictures with the Easter Bunny at 11 a.m. On Saturday, May 31, they will host a Tack & Yard sale, where those interested can set up a table in their new arena for $10 to sell anything. High Lonesome will also have tack and other items for sale.
Holly Willis, president of Unaka Community Development Club, shared recurring events at the community center. Adult game night is on every last Friday of the month from 5-7 p.m., youth game night is every third Saturday from 5-7 p.m., Heart & Hands a sewing and craft group is every third Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon and weekly yoga is at 6 p.m. Thursday.
John Mason spoke about the club’s efforts to pick up litter in the area, something community members have been doing for decades. The club aims to have organized pickups four times per year and focus on the Unaka fire district but go further if they have the help to do so. The volunteers clean up their assigned sections and some even permanently adopt sections to clean.
Mason wants to encourage Unaka residents to be involved with cleanup efforts as a way to take care of the community..
“Everyone can do something even if it’s just cleaning the area by your driveway or mailbox,” he said.
Details: Visit the Unaka Community Center, 14945 Joe Brown Highway, or call 828-835-8313.