For the 12th straight year Montreat has been recognized as a “Community Wildlife Habitat” by the National Wildlife Federation. The award was made in recognition of the town’s “exceptional action to preserve, enhance, restore and connect wildlife while communicating the importance of habitat stewardship to the public.” At an October Town Council meeting a plaque certifying the award was received by mayor Tim Helms (at right in photo) and commissioner Ann Vinson (center), with presentation made by Martha Campbell, chair of Montreat Landcare. Montreat was the eighth community in the nation to receive this designation, 12 years ago. The community is grateful for the dedicated leadership of O’Neil Tate and his team for continuing this important work on behalf of Montreat’s green infrastructure. Homeowners wishing to join their neighbors to certify their yards or gardens as a Wildlife Habitat should visit these websites, http://www.montreatlandcare.org/project/certified-wildlife-habitat/ and https://www.nwf.org/en/Garden-for-Wildlife/Certify. (Photograph courtesy of J. Standaert.)