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Runners wait in the morning fog for the starterk signal at the marathon begining in Swannanoa.
(Dan Ward)
Crowds brave rain for fest
by Dan Ward
Despite driale and down
pour, spirits refused to be
dampened for the Swannanoa
Valley’ s first Sourwood
Festival August 9-12.
Although the weather ob
j viously kept some at home
during intervals Friday and
Saturday, the Jaycee’s Open
Market at die Primary School
experienced a large turnout
Alice Turner, a member of
High Country Crafters, said
that many craftspeople
exhibiting at the market said
that sales were good during
the two-day event. Food
concessions also reported
heavy sales. Proceeds from
rental of the booths went
toward the Muscular
Dystrophy Foundation.
A parade Wednesday,
featuring professional floats,
a marching band, rifle corps,
wagon train, beauty queens,
and emergency vehicles was
called by Chamber of Com
merce Manager Ed Weber,
“the best ever.” The parade
began at the Primary School
Sidewalks, free parking approved
by Dan Ward
Downtown improvements
tere highlighted August 14 as
he Black Mountain Town
loard thawed frozen funds
armarked for new sidewalks
n Cherry Street, voted to
pend up to $10,000 for other
idewalk improvements, and
nstitute free parking for
hoppers.
Jim Lauer of the antique
itore and Eon Thompson of
he Music Shop on Cherry
Street told the board that its
lecision to freeze funding for
inck sidewalks on Cherry
Street, because of fears of
revenue loss if the ABC Store
is closed, was unfair since the
money had been appropriated
18 months earlier.
The board agreed to release
13600 in revenue sharing
money to create as many feet
of brick sidewalk as money
will allow on Cherry Street
On the suggestion of Aid.
AF Tyson, the board ap
proved, then retracted, a
motion to accept low bid of
15,610 from paving En
terprises to pour cement
sidewalks on Montreat Hoad.
On the suggestion of Town
Manager, Mack Kirkpatrick,
the board withdrew approval
in hope that a better price
could be obtained by including
sidewalks on Church and State
Street in the package.
Also on the recommendation
of Tyson, the board voted to
put hoods on all downtown
parking meters and institute
free two-hour parking to
encourage shop
Ping downtown. They chose
to retain the meters in case
the time limit proves unen
forceable.
Also, on the subject of
streets, Kirkpatrick said the
Department of Transportation
will make a study of Black
Mountain street signs and that
new name signs could be in
stalled within two months. He
also recommended that the
town purchase a 90-second
traffic light at Montreat Road
and State Street to allow for a
longer pedestrian crossing
signal.
WATER
Kirkpatrick also told the
hoard that clarity of water
being pumped from the new
well at the golf course is
perfect,"but that the need for
a bigger pump there will put
full operation of the well off
for two weeks. He also noted
that the water level at the
reservoir is now down 48 in
ches, but that three pumps are
now pumping water back up to
the reservoir from the lower
overflowing collection pond.
ASSAULT CASE
a request by letter from
Lentz and Ball, attorneys for
three Black Mountain Police
and one fireman in a case of
alleged assault against
Charles Quinn of Black
Mountain over a year ago, the
board voted to reimburse the *
three policemen $100 each for
retainer fees paid the at
torneys. The town will also
pay an additional $775 legal
fee due Lentz and Ball.
Officer Myron Fineberg and
Chief Craig Slagle were found
guilty by a jury June 29 of
assaulting Quinn, but no fines
were imposed. Officer Gary
Sorrells and current Fire
Chief Gary Bartlett were
absoved of wrongdoing in the
caae.
The board agreed that
payment of legal fees for town
employees would be handled
on a case-by-case basis.
HUD MEETING
Mayor Tom Sobol an
nounced that another meeting
between area representatives
and U.S. Rep. Lamar Gudger
would take place in “three to
four weeks' ’ concerning
rejection by the Department
of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) of all but
two grant applications frqm
the western part of the state.
One of those rejected was
Black Mountain’s application
for up to 9700,000 to install
water mains and fire hydrants
in the Craigmont section.
CEMETERY STUDY
Most of the 'meeting was
devoted to a review by a
special committee studying
the old Black Mountain
Cemetery. The committee,
made up of Charlie Lindsey,
Bertha Jones and Bob Miller,
was able to track down most,
but not all, of the owners of
lots in the cemetery, and
found conflicting evidence as
to whether the town was
responsible for providing
perpetual care for graves it
sold. Other complications
resulted from the sale by the
town to the late Ray Harrison
in 1947 of all remaining graves
id the cemetery, according to
Lindsey.
Lindsey said the committee
recommends that the town get
a legal opinion on the status of
the cemetery, that it try to
locate remaining grave site
owners by advertisement, and
that a survey be done. Sobol
directed Kirkpatrick to
examine the cost of im
plementing the committee's
suggestions, and to look into
the alternative of getting the
right, through a local bill at
the state level, to maintain the
cemetery.
APPOINTMENTS
On recommendation of the
Library Board, the board
elected Marie Kaplan to fill a
vacancy created when a
member of the Library Board
moved.
Also regarding ap
pointments, Aid. Ruth
Brandon read a letter from
Howard Rogers asking that
the board establish a policy of
accepting new appointments
to various boards and com
mittees, rather than rubber
stamping recommendations
for reappointment from the
committees.
Aid. Mike Begley said that he
preferred that toe board does
not set a binding policy, but
deal with appointments on a
case-by-case basis, a
statement that seemed to be
accepted by the board. Sobol
noted that Rogers’ recom
mendation will be kept in
mind for future appointments.
onDt business
Sobol, following a
declaration by Gov. Jim Hunt,
proclaimed October 9 • 19
French Broad River
Awareness Week He also
commended the Black
Mountain Fire Department
for consideration they showed
a Black Mountain couple after
a town fire truck destroyed
their house, noting that
firemen maintained a watch
at the house to prevent looting
or vandalism.
BURNETTE COMPLAINT
Following the meeting, the
board met in executive session
with William Burnette, who
had been pushing for
disciplinary action against
police officer Myron Ftaeberg
for what Burnette called
favoritism in releasing the
father of another Black
Mountain policeman without
charges, when the man had
appeared to be driving under
the influence.
According to Town Manager
Mack Kirkpatrick and Mayor
Tom Sobol, die board, Bur
nette, Fineberg and two others
involved in the incident came
to an agreement in the closed
session and no further action
will be taken.
and ended at WNC Shopping
Center.
Baaed on registration, those
events drawing the most
persons from outside the
Valley were various athletic
tournaments held during the
four-day festival.
One of the more novel
contests was a 4.S mile
marathon from Swan nan oa to
Black Mountain Saturday
morning. Black Mountain
Police, who sponsored the
event, reported that 75 per
sons up to age 70 took part in
the run.
Winners in the various age
categories were Tim Epley,
Asheville, 26-35 year-olds, 25H
minutes; Stan Lou, Montreat,
36-50 year-olds, 26 minutes;
Bob Strunk, Ridgecrest, 16-25
year-olds, 27 minutes; Kevin
Logan, Black Mountain, 10-15
year-olds, 31 minutes; and
Kenneth St Clair, Missouri, 50
and older, 40 V4 minutes. St
Clair was the oldest con
testant, at 70.
Avery Allen of Black
Mountain emerged the winner
from a field of 72 in the
Sourwood Golf Tournament
held Wednesday. Allen scored
67, followed by Harry Jeeter of
Asheville with a 66. Paul
Vemarsky had the lowest net
score with 72. (See related
story in sports section.)
For the younger set, turnout
was heavy for skateboard
competition held at the
Primary School Saturday. In
the freestyle competition,
winners were Jennifer
Williams, IS and older;
Martin Culbreth, 10 and un
der; and Steve Bowden, 11 to
14.
Despite threatening clouds,
swimming and diving com
petition was held at the Black
Mountain Pool Friday.
Winners in a number of
divisions and classes received
silver dollars for their per
formances. Those winners
who did not receive their
awards may pick up the
dollars at Northwestern Bank
in Black Mountain, according
to Carl Bartlett. (See list of
winners in sports section).
One of the more heated
competitions took place in the
horseshoe pits on Cherry
Street during festivities.
Seasoned tossers from
throughout the state arrived
for the competition. Winner
in the singles division was a
Mr. Edmonds of Asheville,
who threw 12 straight ringers.
He Joined with J.B. Fuller of
Asheville in winning the
doubles competition. James
Flack of Black Mountain
earned honorable mention.
Athletics of a non
competitive nature were
displayed in heavy turnout at
three of four scheduled street
dances in Swannanoa and
Black Mountain. Exceptional
crowds showed up for rock
and square dance music at
Ingles Shopping Cotter in
Swannanoa Wednesday and on
Cherry Street Thursday and
Friday, according to Keith
Osteen. A fourth dance set for
Saturday was the only event
cancelled because of rain.
One of the busiest sites in
Black Mountain was the Old
Depot, where business
greatly surpassed ex
pectations, according to a
Depot spokesperson. Craft
demonstrations continued all
day during each of the festival
days at the Depot.
Carl Bartlett, who co
ordinated various events for
the Chamber of Commerce,
said he was pleased with the
response to the first of what
the Chamber plans to make an
annual event.
“There are a few things we
should have done differently,
but it came off real well
considering this is the first
time around, ’’Bartlett said.
He said die chamber will
begin planning for the Second
Annual Sourwood Festival in
January.
ABC vote-a waiting game
by Dan Ward
Anti-liquor forces in Black
Mountain, like the mostly pro
liquor town board, are wat
ching the September 12 liquor
by-the-drink referendum
results before implementing
new strategy. *
John Mundy, who has been
working with Black Mountain’
s Free Will Baptist Churches
in passing a petition for a
referendum to dose the town’s
ABC Store, said that although
the anti-liquor coalition now
has enough signatures to call
for a referendum, pastors
here want to be sure of their
odds before pressing for a
vote.
“We’re not sure we want to
force a vote on something we’
re not sure we can win.’ ’
Neville Day, new chiefs in Montreat
by John Abernethy
Sunday, August 20, has
been proclaimed by Montreat’
s Board of Commissioners as
Susan Neville Appreciation
Day. For 10 years whe has
been Montreat’s Tax Collector
and Municipal Accountant.
Her resignation has been
accepted by the Board and
becomes effective the end of
this month. Sunday afternoon
from 3-5 p m. there will be a
tea and reception honoring
Miss Neville at the home of
Mayor John Abernethy on
QuUlan Lane in Montreat. All
residents and friends are
invited.
In other action by the
Commissioners Thursday
night, all Montreat property
owners and tenants were
reminded of that section of the
town’s general ordinances that
requires them to keep ditches
and culverts cleaned for
proper drainage of the streets.
“Occupants or tenants of
improved property and
owners of all vacant property"
are “to do such clearing,
scraping or cleaning as will
keep ditches and culverts free
from trash and debris and
insure the free flow of water
therein or thereby.’ ’ This
reminder is particularly
important as leaves begin to
fall and during the season of
heavy rains.
Because of Miss Neville's
resignation, the board has
employed James A. Lee,
C.P.A., of Asheville as
municipal accountant and has
named Police Chief O R. Post
as tax collector and super
visor for the town. Both began
their responsibilities August 1.
Chief Post will devote half of
his time to his work as head of
the police force and the other
half to his expanded
responsibilities for Montreat.
It was announced that
Montreat was awarded an
Honorable Mention in the
Western North Carolina
Beautification Contest in
spection that took place
August 8. The committee,
headed by former mayor
Betty Maxwell and Ed Berg,
were commended for their
work and planning.
Mundy said.
“What the churches are
really worried about is liquor
by-the-drink,” Mundy added.
“Most of them can live with
the ABC Store — they just don’
t go by there — but they can’t
tolerate liquor-by-the-drink.
I» it takes dosing ABC Store,
they'il’do it,”
Mundy said that he felt that
if the miged drink referendum
fails, the issue of closing the
ABC Store will probably be
dropped unless the vote is so
lopsided as to make closing
the store easy.
The Rev. Edgar Farrell of
the First Baptist Church said
he takes a different view.
“The ABC Store was voted
in some years ago by a very
narrow margin. There have
been so many asking for a vote
to close the store, I think the
time might be right to take
another vote — whether
liquor-by-the-drink passes or
not.
Mundy also differed
somewhat from Farrell in
explaining the motivation for
fighting liquor-by-the-drink.
Although most persons
signing the petition have been
opposed to liquor on moral
grounds, the approach of the
coalition has been based on
government statistics relating
mixed drink laws and
alcoholism, Mundy said. He
said some social drinkers
have signed the petition
because guide lines will
probably aot be established
lor mixed drink sales before
the rei'erentijui. “When you
look at statistics, even an
athieat would vote against it, ”
Mundy said. Farrell said
most have spoken out against
mixed dfftnks on moral
grounds because it makes the
liquor all the more available.
He added, however, that the
lack of guidelines will make
voting for mixed drinks a
“shot in the dark’Yor drinkers.
Mundy, a former town
alderman, conceded that
closing the Black Mountain
ABC Store would result in a
large loss of revenues, but
disputed the amount the town
stands to lose.
Mundy said Mayor Tom
Sobol overestimated the Ion
to the town by about at least
$35,000, saying that closing
the ABC Store would have
little or no effect <*. beer and
wine taxqs returned to the
town. The town is estimated
to lose $80,000 to $90,000 in
ABC Store revenues if the
store is closed. Sobol had said
that beer and wine tax losses
could push that amount to
$125,000.
“I’m not saying there won’t
be a tax increase, but like one
fellow said to me, “They’ve
heard of Proposition 13, haven’
t they?” Mundy said. &
He said anti-liquor groups
will meet soon to map strategy
for the upcoming referendum.
BlackMountain fire
Approximately $150 damage
resulted from a (ire in a gas
water heater at Blue Ridge
Assembly the morhing of
August 12. Two engines and 15
men responded to the fire at
Florida Cottage.
Sourwood honey—the labor of thousands
by Du Ward
Ed Buchanan of Black
Mountain didn' t need a
festival to praise the value of
the sourwood tree last week.
He does it every summer his
bees produce the clear, bit
tersweet nectar that is craved
by tourists and locals alike.
Buchanan, who works for
the Department of Tran
sportation, takes his
beekeeping sideline seriously
— so much so that ha was
awarded a third place for dark
chunk honey at the N.C.
Beekeepers Association Fall
Festival in Cullowee August 3
5. His wife, Paula, won a
second place for chocolate
fudge candy cooked with
honey.
True sourwood honey,
Buchanan said, is much rarer
than jars with sourwood honey
labels.
“It's doubtful you ever get
pure sourwood honey,”he said.
“Once in awhile you can, but
it’s difficult to prove. Now,
they can test it to see if it* s
been altered — if corn syrup
has been added to it or
whatever.”
Moreover, since bees roam
up to five miles collecting
nectar, even hives sitting in a
forest of sourwood trees will
have traces of other nectar in
the height of sourwood
blossom season, he said.
“You can tell what type of
honey it is mainly by the color.
Poplar honey is dark with a
reddish tinge. Locust honey is
a golden honey. Sourwood, of
course, is clear."
Buchanan is quick to win
converts to beekeeping.
“Once you start, you’ re
hooked, "he said. He seems to
take as much pleasure in
watching the habits of the
insects as he does in producing
honey. Although North
Carolina has always been a
leading state for honey
production, interest in raising
bees has blossomed recently,
he said. When he and a
handful of fellow beekeepers
decided to organize the
Buncombe County Beekeepers
Association last November, 75
persons Joined at the first
meeting. Over 100 belong
now.
Hazards of beekeeping are
few, but devastating. A
current crisis for Buchanan’s
bees is a chemical pesticide
sprayed on com blossoms that
has killed thousands of his
bees. The Buncombe County
Extension Service, which
hosts the Beekeepers
Association, has offered to
help find the source of the
pesticide.
Disease can also wipe out a
hive, he said. Two ,a
beekeeper is particularly
watchful of are foul-brood and
dysentery.
One of his smallest worries
is getting stung.
“It dosent take long to learn
when you’ re going to get
stung. I don’t take chances
with my face — I wear a
netted hat. I don’t wear
gloves, though.”
Does he still get stung?
“Yes, but you get used to it.
You build up a tolerance.”
Bees can be kept from
stinging by using a smoker —
a funnel can with a bellows
that Buchanan stuffs with
burning rags.
The smoker does not harm
the bees, but covers up scents
the guard bees put out to
alarm the others that the hive
is in danger. The smoke
triggers another reaction in
the bees that is to the
beekeeper’s advantage.
“The honey bee, when she
smells smoke, goes after the
goods. She dives into the
comb and gorges on honey.
Once she does that, she can’t
bow up to sting you,"he said.
Buchanan explained why
comb honey is more ex
pensive than extracted honey.
To make enough wax for a
■to' v a
comb, bees must eat four
pounds of honey, he said. By
extracting the honey from the
comb in a cetrafuge and
replacing the comb in the
hive, the beekeeper has more
ar
honey and less wax to show
for his efforts.
But then, honey production
seems secondary as he gently
checks up on the activities of
his thousands of tiny friends.