Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 98

guest column

the giving enriches
In 1980, John Cooper,
along with his wife
Faye, bought and
reopened the Original
Mast General Store in
the rural community
of Valle Crucis, North
Carolina. The Coopers,
with a lot of help
from their employees,
have opened eight
additional stores in
historic buildings in
towns and cities across
the region over the last
35 years.
by John Cooper

John and Faye Cooper have, over their 35 years of being
based in Valle Crucis, North Carolina, worked to give back
to the region, especially in the form of conserving lands
and heritage.

margaret mead's famous quote,
"Never doubt that a small
group of thoughtful, committed
citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that
ever has," seems to easily apply to the small towns and
cities that dot the Blue Ridge
Mountains. Since coming
to Valle Crucis 35 years ago,
98 BlueRidgeCountry.com

I have seen that principle
proven true over and over
again with groups not only
changing but improving the
world or community.
In 1985, a small group of
committed citizens saw an
opportunity to stop a develMore


http://www.BlueRidgeCountry.com

Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016

Mountain Curios 2016
Night! A Photoessay
Chang & Eng Bunker, Freaks or Solid Citizens?
Bark for the Nation: The Success of Highland Crafstmen
Pretty Spots, Pretty Structures: The Photoessay
Travel Guide I: The Great and Quirky Collections
Travel Guide II: Signature Foods of the Mountains
Travel Guide III: Tea Rooms of the Mountains
UpCountry Dining: South Carolina Mountain Cuisine
Mountain Aerials Photoessay
From the Editor
Contributors/Worth a Click
Creature Feature
Mountain Report
Reader Page
Mill Creek Stories
Country Roads
Great Buys
The Hike
Singing in the Garden
Events: Festivals for 2016
Guest Column: John Cooper
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - Intro
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - Cover1
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - Cover2
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 3
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 4
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 5
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 6
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 7
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - From the Editor
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 9
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - Contributors/Worth a Click
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 11
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - Creature Feature
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 13
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - Mountain Report
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 15
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - Reader Page
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 17
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - Mill Creek Stories
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 19
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - Country Roads
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 21
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 22
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - Great Buys
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - The Hike
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 25
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 26
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 27
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - Mountain Curios 2016
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 29
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 30
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 31
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 32
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 33
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 34
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 35
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - Night! A Photoessay
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 37
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - Chang & Eng Bunker, Freaks or Solid Citizens?
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 39
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 40
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 41
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 42
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 43
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 44
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 45
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - Bark for the Nation: The Success of Highland Crafstmen
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 47
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 48
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 49
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 50
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 51
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - Pretty Spots, Pretty Structures: The Photoessay
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 53
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 54
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 55
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 56
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 57
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - Travel Guide I: The Great and Quirky Collections
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 59
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 60
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 61
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 62
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 63
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 64
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 65
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 66
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 67
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 68
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 69
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - Travel Guide II: Signature Foods of the Mountains
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 71
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 72
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 73
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 74
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 75
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - Travel Guide III: Tea Rooms of the Mountains
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 77
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - UpCountry Dining: South Carolina Mountain Cuisine
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 79
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 80
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 81
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 82
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - Mountain Aerials Photoessay
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 84
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 85
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - Singing in the Garden
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 87
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 88
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - Events: Festivals for 2016
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 90
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 91
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 92
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 93
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 94
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 95
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 96
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - 97
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - Guest Column: John Cooper
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - Cover3
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2016 - Cover4
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