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| June 2010 | |||
| Dec – Nov 2010 | May 2010 | ||
| April 2011 | October 2010 | April 2010 | |
| March 2011 | September 2010 | March 2010 | |
| February 2011 | August 2010 | February 2010 | |
| January 2011 | July 2010 | January 2010 |
SWANNANOA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION CALENDAR OF EVENTS
[Please make submissions to SwannanoaBiz@gmail.com]
SWANNANOA NEWS AND CURRENT EVENTS
Swannanoa ‘Highway of Heroes’ Update
U.S. Highway 70 named “Highway of Heroes”
The Swannanoa Business Association and THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION invites the Swannanoa Valley community and anyone interested in supporting our veterans to a dedication ceremony on Friday, August 12 at 10 a.m. to DESIGNATe A SEGMENT OF U.S. 70 FROM PATTON COVE ROAD TO GROVESTONE ROAD IN SWANNANOA
AS THE HIGHWAY OF HEROES. The ceremony will be held in the parking lot at Harley-Davidson of Asheville; 20 Patton Cove Road; Swannanoa at I-40 at Exit 59. Indoor meeting space provided in case of inclement weather.
The resolution below was passed at a Spring County Commissioners meeting, and words of appreciation from the Swannanoa Business Association are on the Buncombe County website & TV station.
Hundreds of military families each year ride on U.S. Highway 70 from I-40 Exit 59 to Grovestone Road en route to bury their military loved ones at the Western Carolina Veterans Cemetery at 962 Old U.S. Highway 70. Honoring them by naming this part of U.S. Highway 70 the “Highway of Heroes” is very appropriate and provides the Swannanoa Valley a very meaningful and uniting activity !
Swannanoa fortunately has a growing connection to veterans as we look forward to a new state of the art Veterans Nursing Home in the Grovemont area. Also near Swannanoa is the VA hospital in Oteen and the Asheville Buncombe County Community Ministry Veterans Quarters on Hwy 70 at I-40 exit 55.
In addition, mark your calendars for September 21st through 25th when the traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall (half size) will once again be visiting the Swannanoa Valley. The Wall That Heals last visited Swannanoa in 2007 when over 7,000 visitors were here to see the Wall including veterans, their families and thousands of school children from throughout Buncombe and surrounding counties.
Asheville Quickprint, on Whitson Avenue in Swannanoa, is selling American flags to fly on these special days! We hope you will buy one to wave in front of your business or house on August 12 and other special veteran days. The Swannanoa Business Association is taking orders for flags (& poles) for businesses and interested individuals to sponsor on this special section of Highway 70 at 337-4718.
RESOLUTION:
WHEREAS, the Swannanoa Business Association, the Buncombe County Veterans Council and the Board of Commissioners for Buncombe County find it to be fitting and proper to honor veterans in our area; and
WHEREAS, last year, the Buncombe County Veterans Memorial team conducted military rites at 143 funerals at the State Cemetery located off US Highway 70; and
WHEREAS, there are hundreds of funeral processions every year that follow the route from I-40 to the military graveyard off Grovestone Road; and
WHEREAS, naming of the section of US Highway 70 from the intersection of Patton Cove Road (I-40, Exit 59) to Grovestone Road the “Highway of Heroes” would be one last honor for these men and women on their final journey; and
WHEREAS, this Board finds that it would be in the best interest of the citizens of this County to honor our veterans living and dead with the naming of this section of US Hwy. 70 “Highway of Heroes”.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners for the County of Buncombe as follows:
1. That this Board does hereby request that the Department of Transportation for the State of North Carolina designate the section of US Highway 70 from the intersection of Patton Cove Road (I-40, Exit 59) to Grovestone Road as the “Highway of Heroes”.
2. That upon said designation the State Department of Transportation cause to have erected appropriate signage to make the general public aware of said dedication.
3. That this Board further requests that this decision and signage be installed prior to September 2011 as The Wall That Heals (Vietnam Memorial replica) will arrive in Swannanoa with a multiple motorcycle escort on September 20th and will be passing through Black Mountain to Swannanoa via US Hwy 70.
4. That this resolution be effective upon its adoption. ADOPTED this the 5th day of April, 2011
Buncombe County Commissioners
Swannanoa Highway of Heros Initiative
The Swannanoa Business Association, in coordination with the Buncombe County Veterans Council, has sponsored an initiative to rename a section of Old US Highway 70 as “Highway of Heros” for the purpose of honoring military personnel and their family traveling in the area. Every year, hundreds of funeral processions follow the route from I-40 to the military graveyard off Grovestone Road.
Archived Document from Buncombe County Commissioners Meeting 04/05/2011
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution and made a formal request that the Department of Transportation for the State of North Carolina:
- Designate the section of US Highway 70 from the intersection of Patton Cove Road (I-40, Exit 59) to Grovestone Road as the “Highway of Heroes”
- Erect appropriate signage
- Decision be made and signage be installed prior to September 2011 as The Wall That Heals (Vietnam Memorial replica) will arrive in Swannanoa with a multiple motorcycle escort on September 20th and will be passing through Black Mountain to Swannanoa via US Hwy 70.
January 2011 ‘Taste of Swannanoa’
- With attendance at over 170, the “Taste of Swannanoa” held recently was, by all accounts, a great success, thanks in no small way to many Swannanoa individuals and businesses who gave their time, energy, expertise, and financial support. Sponsored by the Swannanoa Business Association, the event was well attended also due to the coverage by the Mountain Xpress, Black Mountain News, Asheville Citizen Times and friends’ facebook entries, blogs, and twitters.
- Ticket-buyers stated they were impressed at the high quality of the food in Swannanoa, the lovely venue, music, and camaraderie. The Swannanoa Business Association owes a huge debt of gratitude to many kind folks, including Warren-Wilson Presbyterian Church for use of their lovely and warm building, Gary Aiken at Can-Do Graphics and Signs, Brian Eckard, Tim McCoyle (TADS), Stephanie Coleman, Hidden River Events, Zach Boren, and especially Jennifer M. Bullman Consulting.
- Diners discovered that Doghouse and Dairy Bar sells the best meatloaf in the Valley, Subway has a great breakfast, Fresh As Can Bee Catering makes wonderful home-cooked recipes, and that Michael Gentry offers classes for his fresh, organic and gourmet vegetable dishes at “Everyone Cooks”. Swannanoa chefs also offered award winning Bar-B-Q, Brunswick Stew, and vegetables from Okie Dokie’s Smokehouse; super pizzas from Chow Time; and a large variety of home-baked pies from Auntie-M’s Pies. At this first “Taste of Swannanoa” we were also served fabulous vegetables from gourmet caterer Anne Foreman of Moments Café and Anne’s Custom Catering, scrumptious homemade ice cream pies from Eye Scream Parlour, fresh greens and unbelievable homemade truffles from the French director of the Seasonal School of Culinary Arts who teaches chefs from all over the world and leads food and wine tours to Europe. The evening was topped off with fabulous fresh roasted dark chocolate samples from Swannanoa’s Black Mountain Chocolate who sells world-wide, has a chocolate of the month club, and will be selling retail from his shop in historic Beacon Village soon.
- Wonderful music was provided by “Joe Hallock and the Flat Creek Boys”, lovely live centerpieces were by Jeff Seitz at Appalachian Creek Nursery and Landscape, recycling was by Tim McCoyle of T-A-D-S (also in Swannanoa)! Drinks were donated by Craggie Brewing and Hidden River Events. We also thank The Merry Wine Market.
- An intriguing exhibit was on display showing preliminary ideas for a possible North Carolina Museum of Textile and Culture in Swannanoa. Many thanks got to Cynthia Fountain for her time and professional work on this and for getting volunteers to help get it started!
- Thanks also go to Dreams Salon & Spa of Black Mountain and all participating caterers and restaurants listed above for helping sell tickets and to Asheville Quickprint, of Swannanoa.
- Raffle items were donated by CelebrateSwannanoa.com , Peggie Billodeaux massage therapist, Valley Trucking, and Pam Tegge of Edward Jones.
- Many coats, food cans, backpacks, and personal hygiene items were collected from generous diners and taken to the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministries by Can-Do Graphics and Signs. Being a part of this kindness to the less fortunate in our community was the most satisfying part of it all! We almost ran out of storage space for these due to the generosity of people in Swannanoa, Black Mountain, Asheville, and others who attended the evening’s festivities.
- We have had many requests for a repeat (outdoor?) performance in the summer or fall, so stay tuned to Clear Channel radio stations WWNC and WKSF 99.9 and to MY40 –TV who also helped publicize the first “Taste of Swannanoa”. In the meantime, please take advantage of the many services and great food available from our incredible Swannanoa vendors and sponsors.