Jon Neumann has spent plenty of time in Beacon Village since Tropical Storm Helene. One of several friends, who in an effort to assist victims of the natural disaster with crucial repairs and remodeling projects, established ReGroup WNC, his work through the nonprofit organization has taken him to the small Swannanoa neighborhood many times.
The historic hamlet, constructed in the 1920s to house employees of Beacon Manufacturing Co., faced the brunt of the storm’s fury, as more than two dozen homes were severely damaged or destroyed. Over the past year, as volunteer-led ReGroup WNC partnered with local businesses and fellow nonprofits to get current residents back into their homes, Neumann has learned a lot about the challenges they face.
When he read about a lingering drainage issue in an opinion piece published, Sept. 8, by Asheville Watchdog, Neumann was stirred by the community’s ongoing plight. The column by veteran Western N.C. journalist John Boyle highlighted a lingering drainage concern…