news
by Jake Frankel
Newsdesk
B
L
O
T
T
R
E
openings andrew charles gallery, 60 N. Merrimon, Suite 105, 989-0111
improvements at graveyard fields Graveyard Fields, one of the Blue Ridge Parkway’s most popular recreation areas, is getting a major upgrade. Located at Milepost 418.8 about an hour north of Asheville, the National Park Service is constructing new parking spaces, toilets, boardwalks and interpretive signs at the beloved site. In the meantime, the site closed April 22 and will remain that way for approximately 11 weeks until the improvements are complete. Addressing safety issues at the site is a paramount concern, say officials. “Currently visitors to Graveyard Fields use the island of the existing lot, and several hun-
early voting dates april 24 through may 3 races on the ballot Buncombe County board of commissioners, district attorney, district court judges, clerk of court, N.C. senate 49, N.C. supreme court, U.S. senate, U.S. congressional districts 10 and 11 buncombe county early voting locations • William H. Stanley Building 35 Woodfin Street, Asheville • North Asheville Library 1030 Merrimon Ave. • Girl Scout Office — Upper Building (blue awning) 64 W.T. Weaver Blvd. • South Buncombe Library 260 Overlook Road • Skyland Fire Department 9 Miller Road • West Asheville Library 942 Haywood Road • Heaven’s Cloud Retreat — Old Union Hall Bldg, 130 Sardis Road • Black Mountain Library 105 N. Dougherty St., Black Mountain For more coverage of this year’s races, visit mountainx.com/news/politicselections. For a sample ballot and more information from the Buncombe County Election Services Department visit avl. mx/08p.
dred feet of the narrow road shoulder in both directions, for parking. This situation is unsafe and has resulted in numerous incidents. We’re pleased this expansion will relieve some of the congestion and improve safety for drivers and pedestrians at Graveyard Fields,”says Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent Mark Woods in a press release. The parking area will increase from 17 to 40 spaces. A partnership between the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service and the nonprofit Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, the project is being funded in part by a $261,336 National Scenic Byways Grant. The Graveyard Fields area features numerous trails, three waterfalls, wild blueberries and camping sites. cherokee language remains threatened The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians marked the 10th anniversary of the tribe’s effort to preserve its language on April 17, but their native tongue remains threatened. It’s estimated that fewer than 200 Cherokee residents are fluent in the Cherokee language, according to a press release. That’s despite the Kituwah Preservation and Education Program, which the tribe launched 10 years ago to try to revitalize the Cherokee language. Currently, the average age of fluent Cherokee speakers is 55 years old. The education program focuses on teaching children, from infancy to the fourth grade. In 2009, the Eastern Band opened the Kituwah Academy, a 42,000 square foot facility with ten classrooms where children from infancy through the forth grade receive instruction in their native language. “The immersion school stands as the tribe’s best hope for keeping the language alive,” says Michell Hicks, Principal Chief of the Eastern Band, in a press release. “Not only are we teaching our language to our children,
aldi, 58 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville
Western North Carolina
School of Massage
buffalo nickel, 747 Haywood Road, 575-2844 brasilia churraso steakhouse, 26 E. Walnut St., 785-1599 east end motorsports, 1945 US Highway 70, 774-5022 lex 18, 18 N. Lexington Ave., 575-9494 medea’s espresso & juice bar, 200 Julian Lane, Suite 220, 676-3101 nine mile west, 751 Haywood Road, 575-9903 seven juice bar, 58 Wall St., 239-9877 shelter collective, 7 Brevard Road, shopsheltercollective.com Quantum vintage, 46 Commerce St., 771-4757 seven juice bar, 58 Wall St., 239-9877 urban ashram, 62 Wall St., 209-8838 western north carolina school of massage, 46 Haywood St., Suite 200, 761-1553 moving
600 hour Massage Therapy Diploma Program $249/mo.
Next Class starts May 12th (Day & Evening)
Enroll Today!
studio b custom framing, 61. N. Merrimon Ave., Suite 109, 225-5200 — compiled by Aiyanna Sezak-Blatt
but native language experts associated with the Kituwah program are translating dozens of books and other materials, even movies, into Cherokee.” One challenge is that “there are few trained teachers,” according to the press release, which also notes: “Speaking a language means we have a culture. There is a big difference between people who have a culture and people with a history.”X
Phone:
828.761.1553
www.wncmassageschool.com
mountainx.com
april 23 - april 29, 2014
15