“I filled out the questionnaire to see how we were doing working toward our sustainability goals and was surprised to learn that for a restaurant, we are doing pretty good!” owner Bernadette Peters wrote on the café’s Facebook page. “Compostable, recyclable, energy-efficient, organic and local ingredients, incentives for customers, etc. all played a role in getting the two-blossom designation. Thank you City Lights Staff and customers for keeping us moving in the right direction!”

N.C. GreenTravel gives recognized businesses a rating of one, two or three dogwood blossoms, three being the highest. City Lights, which earned a two-blossom rating, is now one of 47 restaurants recognized statewide and one of two entities in Jackson County, the other being the Green Energy Park. 

The N.C. GreenTravel Initiative is administered through the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality. Application information is online at https://bit.ly/2Ki79XR.