Bridges

Current events, close to home - warning these photos are current but show damages remaining from Sept. 27, 2024's floods from Hurricane Helene.

 When driving by the Swannanoa "business district" it's still full of the remains of buildings, and huge drop-offs looking down into the waterway where parking lots were washed away after Hurricane Helene.

A remaining ruin was here one day (months after the storm), and then...

Just an empty lot!

While next door the wreck of the warehouse still stands.

But the bridge connecting Old 70 and US 70is now open, and well used again to get to the many homes up around Old 70. My friend, Judy, lives in that area, and has been driving circuitous routes to get places for 5 months!

A red trailer rescued from the river, was pulled onto the bridge perhaps to use for storage while workers were repairing it. 

Below shows the bridge has been repaired and is now in operation (we went over it) March 1, 2025

 (Incidentally, the red overhand of roof on the far upper left belongs to one of the ruined buildings still hanging over the river .)

There was a ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of the repaired bridge on Wed. Feb. 27!

Much of the debris has been hauled away...though larger objects and buildings still show the damage a flood of water did to this little town. As I was in a passenger seat driving along on last Thursday, I just clicked away at what we drove by...

A favorite vet practice now gone.

Ditches dug deeper to remove further runoff problems from any new rains!

Taken on Feb 28, 2025. The newer looking small structures might have been donated sheds, some of which were used for shelters by owners of the property during the winter months (almost over now.) FEMA provided motel rooms for many of us who were displaced by the storm, but the vouchers are due to be ended this month, though they've been extended several times already. People just didn't have any place to return to in many cases.

We live in the next town up the Swannanoa Valley, in Black Mountain...and support all the local businesses we can, and my friend's car says what we feel.

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And for more upbeat sharing, 

Not my photo, but snowdrops! We didn't get that much snow (as of now anyway)

And since we just looked at a real neighborhood, here's Mr.Rogers' neighborhood - the actual sets used in the many programs my children watched!

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Today's quote:

From everything that man erects and builds in his urge for living, nothing in my eyes is better and more valuable than bridges. They are more important than houses, more sacred than shrines. Belonging to everyone and being equal to everyone, useful, always built with a sense, on the spot where most human needs are crossing, they are more durable than other buildings and they do not serve for anything secret or bad. -Ivo Andric, novelist, Nobel laureate (1892-1975)

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Today's art:

Van Gogh, The Gleize Bridge over the Vigueirat Canal

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Open Yesterday's Pages, featured yesterday Learning their ABC's thanks to Swannanoa Valley History Museum

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My family album sharing:

Daughter-in-law, Michelle and middle son, Russ 2025

Supreme Court Ruled

 The news in detail from Litigation Tracker:

Global Health Council v. Trump (D.D.C.)

Case No. ​​1:25-cv-00402

Feb. 11, 2025

A group of for-profit and nonprofit organizations that contract with USAID sued the Trump administration over its recent actions to defund USAID, lay off or furlough employees, and transfer the Agency to be under the State Department. Plaintiffs provide a detailed chronology of the actions, memoranda, and statements that the Administration has issued. In addition to imperiling future projects by freezing future funds, plaintiffs also allege that there is money unpaid for services already performed. ($3,376,832 for Democracy International, approximately $120 million for DAI, $103.6 million for Chemonics, and tens of millions for SBAIC’s members.) Plaintiffs allege that neither the President, nor the Secretary of State, nor the USAID Administrator have the authority to unilaterally withhold already-appropriated funds, citing the Constitution and statutory law prohibiting the unilateral withholding: the Impoundment Control Act and the Anti-Deficiency Act. Plaintiffs also claim violations of the Administrative Procedure Act; that the Executive’s actions were arbitrary and capricious, and contrary to statutory and constitutional law. Plaintiffs ask the court to vacate and set aside all of the defendants’ actions to implement Executive Order 14169 and seek injunctions to prevent defendants from continuing to implement EO 14169 and from “dismantling USAID.”
Update 1: On Feb. 11, Plaintiffs moved for a TRO enjoining implementation of the Executive Order and State Department Memorandum.
Update 2: On Feb. 13, the court granted a TRO in this case and AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition v. United States Department of State on narrower terms than originally requested. The order enjoins implementation on the blanket suspension of foreign aid funding, but does not enjoin enforcement or implementation of Executive Order 14169, individual personnel decisions, or termination of individual contracts.
Update 3: On Feb. 20, the court granted in part plaintiffs’ motion for enforcement of the court’s TRO “to the extent Defendants have not complied with the terms of the TRO,” but did not make a finding of contempt, citing “Defendants’ explicit recognition that ‘prompt compliance with the order’ is required.” The granted motion applies to this case and AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition v. United States Department of State.
Update 4: On Feb. 24, plaintiffs filed an emergency renewed motion to enforce the TRO. The court held a hearing the following day and, on Feb. 25, granted the motion for a proposed order requiring the Administration pay all invoices and letter of credit drawdown requests for work completed prior to the TRO, as well as reimbursements on grants and assistance agreements by 11:59 pm on Wednesday, Feb. 26. The court further mandated that the Administration take no actions to impede and must ensure the prompt payment of appropriated foreign assistance funds going forward. The court also reportedly ordered the government to provide the court, by Feb. 26 at noon, with all internal directives to agency employees concerning compliance with the TRO.
Update 5: On Feb. 25, the Government submitted a notice of its decision to appeal the court’s decision to the DC Circuit, and a motion to stay the court’s order pending appeal.
Update 6: On Feb. 26, the district court rejected and the D.C. Circuit dismissed the Government’s motion for a stay.
Update 7: On Feb. 26, the Government filed an application with the U.S. Supreme Court (while the decision before the D.C. Circuit was still pending) to vacate the district court’s TRO and grant an immediate administrative stay. That evening, Chief Justice Roberts granted an administrative stay and ordered a response by the plaintiffs by Feb. 28 at 12:p.m. EST.
Update 8: On Feb. 28, the Plaintiffs filed its opposition to the application.
Update 9: On Mar. 5, the Supreme Court rejected the Defendants’ petition in a 5-4 decision.

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That is all (for now)

The rest of the Weaverville day trip

  

We stopped at "All Good Coffee" to split a vegan pumpkin chocolate chip muffin three ways, as well as our choices of drinks. 

We then went to another gallery, where I found some cute earrings that matched the necklace I was wearing, fused glass in silver settings. The first photo on this post is outside their doorway. We had to read a lot of humorous cards, and purchase a few as well. Then it was time for lunch! Oh yes, the bakery called us!

 

Just the cakes...there are so many more pastries, one can just go crazy.

It was difficult to choose just which goodies to take home, as well as our lunch choices!

My "to go" slice of carrot cake, which has coconut in it. 

We love chatting, while waiting for lunch to be served!

My tuna salad and African Chicken Peanut soup...I took home half of each for later. They had a combo of two sides for $8. What a deal!

Helen's noodles and kale salad.

Teresa chose the soup with a grilled cheese sandwich (Gruyere cheese) and took some soup home.

Teresa's adult daughter gave her heck because she didn't bring her some treats for her family (but Teresa did bring home treats for her own family for later!) Can't miss Well Bred Bakery in Weaverville, NC

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Open Yesterday's Pages, my blog about history, featured a woman aviatrix you probably never heard of,  Beryl Markham.

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Today's quote:

Jackie Collins, novelist, said, "My philosophy for women is this: if you’re going to get married and have a fabulous marriage … then you’re going to have to do everything you’ve ever wanted to do before you get married."

Today's art: 

Looking Glass Falls, by Christopher Guilkey, 2021

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My family sharing for today:

Cayenne, William and Michael, children of oldest son, Marty. 2013, Tampa FL

Cinnamon and her daughter, Cayenne, by the back of her head, and pet Severus. (Stuffed moose is not known to have a name.) Cinnamon is my continuing friend, the mother of Will and Cayenne, and now Marty's ex-wife.  Riverview FL, Christmas 2023

Day tripping...Weaverville, NC

 Last Thursday my friends Helen and Teresa and I finally (it had been postponed several times due to health issues of one or another of us!) drove to nearby Weaverville. We went there some years before, and wanted to see if there were changes, and  especially some local businesses where we could give our slightly touristy dollars. We knew lunch would be our big expense of the day, but we each bought some smaller gift items at various shops as well.

Sorry, but there are lots of photos, which I may have to break into two posts (so y'all don't go crazy and just skip them entirely!)

First, in the parking lot, I saw a holly tree much like the one where my neighborhood robins have been munching. Lots of berries here, and no robins! 

Helen, me, and Teresa, who pushed the button on my phone...a real group effort! We finally got a really good selfie shot. The trick? Take it when we're first starting out, I think! 

Our first stop, (Artisans on Main) and we must have looked at each display, picking up things and sharing them with each other! Such fun! 

Oh look,  a pregnant mug!

Look at this, a napkin holder that's hand crafted from Cedar! 

The wood bar is a separate piece, which keeps napkins from floating away!

They have a separate studio where they make custom-made lamp shades...just look at the paper rack of what's available!

 

Next stop, the gallery/studio combination  of Magnum Pottery. It had a few changes, but as always had lovely pieces which we ooo'd and awwww'd over.

Sitting outside a bakery where we'll return later, this young woman was fine with me capturing a photo of her hair-do! Her hand was about to cover her face, and you can just see a corner of her friend's response to my request.

I'll give you a few more shots tomorrow!

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Current events and also art:

I stand with Ukraine!

Art by Watercolors by Rachel Facebook page

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Today's quote:

Being unappreciative might mean we are simply not paying attention.

DAVID WHYTE

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My family photo of the day:

My oldest son, Marty as a safety provider for the "Mustang Sallies Krewe" of women in the Gasparilla Parades (yes multiple ones) in Tampa, FL.