Monthly Archives: June 2014
Brevard Project 365 – Day 295
… did you know that Hobnob at the Cradle is open? Next time you’re in Pisgah Forest, stop by the Forest Discovery Center at the Cradle of Forestry and have lunch!
Located off Highway 276 in Pisgah National Forest, Hobnob at the Cradle serves salads, soup, hot sandwiches and more… ;-)
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Brevardian of the Week: Dan Schuessler!
Place of employment (what do you do & where?):
I work for a major oil/petrochemical company in Houston Texas. Have been with them for 28 years moving eight times including the opportunity to work in Brussels and Tokyo. I am originally from Philadelphia and am married to Mary K (native of Baton Rouge) for 25 years and have 4 children: Abbey (age 24) who is a teacher in Baton Rouge, Evan (age 20), a sophomore at the University of Houston studying computer science, Ashton (age 14), a freshman in high school, and Yuto (age 8) in third grade. I am very thankful for all the support my family has provided as it has been tough moving so many times and changing schools but they also had a great adventure living in other countries.
How did you first learn about Brevard?
I first learned of Brevard through my parents as we asked them to scope out North Carolina back in 2002 for potential places to build a retirement home as we were living overseas in Brussels. My parents said Brevard was the place for us. In 2004 while I was in Tokyo and Mary K was in U.S., she flew up to North Carolina and bought a camp in Sylvan Habitat which I could not see until 2008 when we returned to the U.S.! We finished our home in 2011 and spend as much time as possible up here.
What are some things you love about Brevard (specific things, locations, people, etc.)?
For me, Brevard is an escape from reality surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, waterfalls, strong community mindset, and best of all, the people. The people are so welcoming and you always feel comfortable walking in to the shops downtown and talking to the store owners. It is a very different environment from city living and we find It so relaxing to be in a community that has the outdoor adventure experience with great people! It is always hard for us to return to Houston and once back in Houston, we countdown until our next trip to Brevard and also have a countdown close until we can be up here permanently!
What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?
People would be surprised that I worked on a farm for several summers. My grandparents had a farm in southeast Missouri and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of baling hay, milking cows, and gathering eggs among all of the other activities.
What are some items on your bucket list?
Bucket list items include getting llama and alpacas when we retire in Sylvan Habitat. Has been something my wife and I have wanted to do and we are getting closer! Would also like to rent an airstream and travel the U.S. Having spent a fair amount of time overseas, we want to take our time and explore the U.S. more. Finally, we want to go to Antarctica as that is the only continent we haven’t been to.
How do you like to spend time (and what hobbies do you have)?
Most important to me is my family. They come before all else and given my work schedule, I love to spend the weekends and the kids sports events and activities. We love to travel, tent camp, hike, and horseback riding.
Ever had a brush with a celebrity?
I guess Mickey Mouse at Disney World if he counts as a celebrity :-)
What are you most proud of in your life?
I am most proud of my family and helping others. I feel it is so important to give back to the community. Adapting our youngest son Yuto from an orphanage in Japan is another moment I am so proud of. It feels so good to provide a home to a child without parents. We had 3 children while in Japan but thought we could still adapt and raise 4 children.
Click below to read Dan’s complete profile…
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Brevard Project 365 – Day 290
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Brevard Project 365 – Day 286
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Brevard Project 365 – Day 285
… I’m proud to be a board member at TC Arts (Transylvania Community Arts Council) here in Brevard… and I love the role we play in making possible the Number 7 Fine Arts gallery at 12 Main Street downtown (a retail operation run by a cooperative of local artists). Please support Number 7 Arts by stopping in and shopping… as well as supporting TC Arts by making regular visits to our art exhibitions at the TC Arts Center gallery at 349 South Caldwell (and financially supporting the work being done to promote the arts here)… if you’re interested in supporting TC Arts, please send me an email and I will share the many ways you can help!
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Brevardian of the Week: Ansley Chappell!
Place of employment: Capturing WNC Photography (828-553-2299). We have a new studio located at 22 West Main St. above Mayberry’s. The business is made up of myself and my fiancé Kurt Reise.
When/how did you first get interested in photography?
I feel like I have always been an image person. I have always been a very visual learner and have loved art and being part of creative projects, so it felt natural to find a passion in photography. Actually, it was more Sean Parrish the art teacher from Brevard High than it was me just stumbling across photography. I had been in his art classes since my first year in high school. When we started our first section on photography in Art III, I immediately fell in love with it. Sean started us on B&W film in 35mm film cameras and taught us to process our own film and to make our own prints in the darkroom. He has a real passion for photography as well he actually graduated from ECU with a degree in photography. I really was just so lucky to have that experience so early; my career path was pretty much mapped out in my head from that point forward.
Of all the photography jobs you’ve done, which ones are you most proud of?
That’s actually funny because I think about that all the time. I honestly feel that every week I have a different photo or project that we are working on that I am really excited about. With photography as with any trade you just keep progressing and trying new ways to do the same projects that we have shot before. Especially with the fact that we are involved in so many different industries with photography, one day we are really proud of the latest wedding or engagement session we shot and the next day we can’t stop talking about the new biking image or corporate group shot that we are working on.
What are some items on your bucket list?
Traveling is definitely my number one. Traveling is always good but for a photographer being at a different location opens your eyes and help restore your creativity. Some of my top places would be Argentina/Chile, Indonesia/Thailand, Nepal, and New Zealand.
How do you spend your free time?
I am always moving, even in my free time. I love riding my bike and exploring the forest, working in my garden, hanging out with my family. I also really like fixing things, lots of things like house projects; building stuff, working on cars (I have a thing for old Volkswagens), painting the walls, working in the yard. I really enjoy that sort of thing. Kurt and I also LOVE snowboarding, we travel to go ride whenever we get a chance.
Ever had a brush with a celebrity?
My favorite brush with a photo celebrity was at the Photo District News Conference in New York. I had the opportunity to meet Steve McCurry the National Geographic Photographer, his most famous photo is “Afgan Girl” which originally appeared in National Geographic in 1985 and is the most recognized photo in history. This image is a girl in an orange cloak with the most mesmerizing eyes, the photo was shot in a refugee camp in Pakistan. He was such a friendly and humble guy.
What’s your favorite thing about living in Brevard?
Whoa, where would I start? I love the public land, the music, walking down Main Street and always seeing familiar faces, the old-time culture, adventure sports, the feeling that great things are really happening in Brevard right now and that we are all here at the perfect time. I love the weather, the southern hospitality; there really are not many things not to like about this place.
Click below to read the rest of Ansley’s profile…
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Brevardian of the Week: Marlaine Belanger!
Spouse/child(ren)/pets: husband: Ed; Rotten kid: Derek; Pups: Beau & Belle & Nephew Pups: Henry & Louie
Place of employment: I own La Petite Travel Agency (828-862-3423).
Where are some of your favorite spots in the world where you have visited? The Norwegian fjords, London, Paris, Venice
Where do you want to go next? At the top of my list is New Zealand, but it isn’t on the radar yet.
So, where do you recommend I book a trip if I want a relaxing “do-nothing” vacation where all I do is sit on the beach with a drink in my hand?
If you just want a beach…pick a coast. If you want a tropical beach…pick an island in the Caribbean, or a beach in Mexico or Hawaii.
Where do you recommend I book a trip if I want a busy see-everything “pack-as-much-as-I-can-in-one-week” vacation?
I would choose London or Paris…you’ll never see it all. At home there’s NYC, Washington, DC, New Orleans…almost any major city in the U.S.
What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?
I get nervous when I have to make presentations.
Have you ever gotten away with doing anything illegal?
Yes…I borrowed a street sign when I was in high school, and didn’t give it back. I probably still have it.
Have you ever had a brush with a celebrity?
My girlfriend in New Orleans had a gift shop at the corner of Jackson Square and the St. Louis Cathedral. Whenever there was filming in that area, the police would bring the actors into her shop to take a break from the crowds. If we knew far enough ahead of time, I’d take off work and hang out at her shop. I met Clint Eastwood and Sharon Gless, was an extra in some Days of Our Lives scenes and met the crew and got their autographs, and worked as an extra on “Angel Heart” and met Lisa Bonet, Mickey Rourke and Robert deNiro.
What’s your favorite music? Oldies
What’s your favorite thing about living in Brevard? Absolutely everything but summer traffic.
Do you have a secret you never told your parents? I’m sure I do, but I’ve conveniently forgotten.
What’s your favorite way to spend free time? Traveling and reading.
Tell a family nickname that you had. How did you get it?
Mameen…my cousin couldn’t pronounce my name.
Do you know how your first name was chosen?
I was named after Marlene Dietrich and the German beer drinking song Lili Marlene.
Click below to read the rest of Marlaine’s profile…
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