For the good of Glen Alpine, Stan Benedict pushes for public engagement

If you’ve ever been to a Glen Alpine Board of Aldermen meeting, you’ve likely seen a man at the podium during public comments, red and white book in hand, giving a lengthy spiel to leaders “for the good, betterment, and enhancement of Glen Alpine.”

Without fail, the board always expects town resident Stan Benedict to share his thoughts. Whether it’s asking for more transparency by sharing meeting minutes on the town’s website to advocating for certain items to be included in the annual budget, Benedict takes up every second of his allotted time.

He often relates his ideas to messages within “Crucial Conversations,” a book that provides insight on how to communicate when stakes are high. Benedict has read the book from front to back, with sticky notes, tabs, and highlighted segments helping lead his lessons.

Originally from New York, Benedict and his wife fell in love with North Carolina when traveling down to Florida to see his parents in Orlando. They took the back roads through West Virginia and camped with their five children at the base of Seneca Rocks, eventually making it to Mount Mitchell, where they camped out at the top.

“I loved what I saw, and I loved the people, and of course, I loved the mountains,” Benedict said.

He took a position as an administrator for the Tabernacle Christian School and worked there for about six years before the then-pastor took over leadership of the school. He also taught at the Western Youth Institution, a former youth corrections facility that has since been demolished.

Though Benedict has been a Glen Alpine resident since the late 1990s, he hasn’t always been a visible figure when it comes to involvement in local government. A few years ago, he became interested in the decisions that shape the town due to conversations about the Burke River Trail and the possibility of a new park coming to town.

“I’ve matured and realized that most people aren’t engaged, both in voting, and certainly in following what goes on,” Benedict said. “I know there’s no perfect town, there’s no perfect church, there’s no perfect person. I’m certainly not perfect, but we can work together, and there’s a group synergy where it helps you be accountable and motivated.”

The new park, which opened last year, was a point of contention for a while among leaders and community members, but as an avid bicyclist and outdoor enthusiast, bringing a new recreational space to Glen Alpine naturally gained Benedict’s support. He has also been a staunch supporter of the Burke River Trail.

“(Burke River Trail Association Executive Director) Beth (Heile) calls us the western terminus. I like to call it the western beginningus because this is where I would prefer to start,” Benedict said. “We’re the closest to Lake James. The potential is there, and I’m all for trying to see the community realize the potential, not just for our communities, but to benefit the people who come from the outside.”

He noted that while there’s truth to some of the community’s negative feedback, and it needs to be heard and addressed as much as possible, the small town has limitations. Even during tense moments of disagreement, Benedict’s goal has been to model healthy conversations, no matter the situation.

“At the core of every successful conversation lies in the free flow of relevant information, and the definition of dialogue is free flow of meaning between two or more people,” Benedict said, quoting from ‘Crucial Conversations.’ “It’s the pool of shared meaning, and the larger the shared pool, the smarter the decisions.”

He added that he feels public engagement is so important because when people openly and freely share ideas, the increased time invested is more than offset by the quality of the decision.

Benedict said he’d like to see the Glen Alpine community become more engaged through recreation, especially at the Glen Alpine Downtown Park. His vision includes more places for children to play, whether it’s a ropes course or water slide. He also hopes to see more programming for children and farmers markets to create positive memories for kids and their families.

Outside of town hall, Benedict spends a lot of his time growing heirloom tomatoes, Jubilee and Charleston Gray watermelons, and other fruits and vegetables. He uses the fresh fruits and veggies for juices and syrups to boost immunity. It all revolves around promoting a healthy lifestyle while also supporting the community by purchasing from local businesses.