Blue Ridge National Heritage News Feed
2012
April 13, 2012
The Town of Rutherford is the oldest continuous government in Western North Carolina. It was home to the first school chartered by the state in the region as well as the first post-office and the first newspaper. It too is home to the first $1 gold coin minted in this nation. read more
April 13, 2012
Ever wanted to become a ranger in one of our National Parks? You'll have the opportunity to see what it's like on Monday, April 23, with a day behind the scenes at Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, in Flat Rock, NC. read more
March 30, 2012
Walker Calhoun, a respected Cherokee elder who sang the traditional sacred dance songs of the Cherokee and played an important role in maintaining and passing on these traditions to the next generation, died on March 28, 2012 at the age of 93. In his later years, he led two traditional dance groups that accompanied him to performances, The Raven Rock Dancers and the Warriors of AniKituhwa. He also played the old-time banjo. In 1990, he received the North Carolina Folk Heritage Award, and in 1992 he received a National Folk Heritage Award from the National Endowment for the Arts. read more
March 29, 2012
Known as the "Father of Bluegrass Banjo," Earl Scruggs died of natural causes on the morning of March 28 at the age of 88. Perhaps the most influential banjo player of the past century, Scruggs popularized a three-finger picking style that defined bluegrass banjo playing and spread like wildfire among banjo players all over the world. Today, Scruggs-style banjo playing is still the standard in bluegrass. Scruggs was born and grew up near Shelby in Cleveland County, North Carolina. read more
March 29, 2012
On Thursday, March 22nd, the White House honored Carolyn Ward, CEO of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, as one of 13 leaders being recognized as “Let’s Move! and Physical Activity Champions of Change” for their work to inspire and empower America’s youth to lead active, healthy lifestyles. read more
March 22, 2012
Many challenges face small farmers across Western North Carolina, and a grant announced today from the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina will help farmers in Mitchell and Yancey counties address some of them. read more
February 27, 2012
The Surry Arts Council's Old-Time Music Heritage Hall has a new home at the Earle Theatre at 142 North Main Street in downtown Mount Airy. A ribbon-cutting was held at the Tommy Jarrell Festival on Saturday, February 25. The hall was previously located beneath the Andy Griffith Museum. read more
February 13, 2012
The Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center invites hoteliers, innkeepers, outfitters and other tourism related businesses in the far western counties of North Carolina to attend the Tourism Partnership Forum, a free event, to be held at the Center on Wednesday, March 7 from 2 to 4pm. The focus of this year’s Forum will be the value of regional partnerships. read more
February 07, 2012
The Blue Ridge Parkway has announced the following closures south of Asheville which will begin Monday, February 13, 2012: read more
February 02, 2012
Interstate 40 near the North Carolina/Tennessee state line is open for visitors traveling from Tennessee to North Carolina, following a rockslide early Tuesday morning one mile west of the Tennessee state line. The interstate is also open for visitors traveling on Interstate 40 west to all North Carolina attractions in Asheville, Cherokee, Waynesville, Maggie Valley and North Carolina's areas of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Interstate 40 is closed near the Tennessee border (exit 20) for westbound traffic. It is estimated to be closed until mid-February. read more
