Council used part of its Nov. 3 meeting to recognize local preservation and community organizations and to announce upcoming community events.

The Community Appearance Advisory Commission presented two merit awards. CAAC chair Cheryl Gratton said the first went to the Enola Group (Dawn Curtin, Linda Wilson and Nancy Wood) for renovations to the 1891 Burson House at 200 Lenore Street, a locally designated historic structure in the Avery Avenue–Lenore Road National District. The second award recognized Trish Keane, Matilda Kistler, Rocky Wiznett and the Rev. John C. Simpson for maintenance and ongoing stewardship of the historic 1845 structure at 303 King Street (St. [Grama] Episcopal Church), including landscape, cemetery and fencing.

Mayor Ronnie Thompson read a proclamation designating Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, as Burke County Nonprofit Day and urged residents to support the county’s Giving Day. Abigail (Abby) Taylor, marketing director at Burke County United Way, said the Giving Day is a 24-hour online event (1burlkgives.org) that began in 2020 to support nonprofits; she said about 32 nonprofits were signed up so far and past single-day totals have exceeded $100,000.

Main Street manager Mackenzie McGinnis announced winners of the MADE (Morganton Arts, Design and Engineering) student competition and congratulated middle- and high-school teams for the rescue-robot challenge. McGinnis described the event as a partnership between local education and industry to give students STEAM experience.

Council also listed several upcoming seasonal events, including a holiday farmers market (Nov. 22), winter carnival and tree lighting (Nov. 22), Breakfast with Santa ticket dates, downtown Christmas parade (Dec. 2) and performing-arts center shows. No formal council action was required for these recognitions and announcements.