Obtaining reliable, high speed internet service in the mountains can sometimes be problematic at best. For those of us in Junaluska Highlands who have DSL service through AT&T, speed is an issue. For others who have a “hot spot” through one of the cell service providers, data can be an issue and an expensive one. For some time now we have asked AT&T to improve their DSL speed in the community, without success. Additionally, many residents have solicited Charter Communications to provide broadband cable into Junaluska Highlands, also without success. Presently, we are in discussions with a firm called Skyrunner out of Asheville to provide a wireless internet system into Junaluska Highlands. Skyrunner’s technology uses line of sight signaling from a central transmission point, such as Chambers Mountain to our north east or Mt. Pisgah to our south, to bring a signal into the community and then through a series of repeaters to the individual homes that opt for the service.  Internet speed could be up to 5 times (or more) faster than DSL, depending on the Skyrunner plan chosen. We are presently doing our due diligence to vet Skyrunner and are working out some of the details of the arrangement, including the costs and I would hope we would be in a position to make a decision within the next 60 days.  In the meantime, I would direct you to Skyrunner’s website, www.skyrunner.net for further information and plan details and costs. Skyrunner has no required contracts, a 30 day money back guarantee and a $10 per month suspension of service fee.

Mark your calendars now for the Junaluska Highlands Community Association’s annual meeting on Saturday, October 15, 2016 at 2:00pm at the Bethea Welcome Center at the Lake Junaluska Retreat and Conference Center. This is our membership meeting and a time in which information is shared regarding the events during the previous year that have impacted our community. It is also a time in which we elect our Officers and members of our Board. I will be sending out a formal notice of this meeting to all property owners in September with more details but wanted to give all members a chance to reserve this date on their calendars.

That’s all for now.

Mac

Our annual Independence Day celebration and community picnic for 2016 was a great success. 33 home owners, family members, and guests attended the event at the pavilion and the weather was perfect. We sang patriotic songs, heard testimonials about what the day meant to some individuals in attendance, and then enjoyed each other’s fellowship with a covered dish picnic including all the trimmings. Many attendees were decked out in Independence Day garb and the pavilion itself was beautifully decorated in red, white, and blue buntings with American flags adorning the grounds. It was truly a celebratory event with the real reason for our gathering, the recognition of the Declaration of Independence and the 240th anniversary of the birth of our nation, being at the focus for our gathering. Many thanks to our Social Committee: Joyce Brunsvold, Susan Huckaby, Kathy Gross, Bonnie Manga, Barbara Jo White, and Kathy Bell for the time and effort they contributed to the planning, organizing and execution of a very successful event.

We have scheduled our Annual Membership Meeting for Saturday, October 15, 2016 at 2:00pm at the Gains Auditorium at the Bethea Welcome Center at Lake Junaluska. Please mark your calendars now to attend. More information will be mailed to our members in September.

I hope everyone enjoys the summer, visits from family and friends, and vacations.

Mac