Center for Culture Preservation gets grant; BRCC receives check in honor of Hendrix

Staff reports
·4 min read

Weintraub's Center for Culture Preservation receives $20,000 grant

The Center for Cultural Preservation, Western North Carolina’s History and Documentary Film Center, has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the North Carolina Humanities Council to support the Center’s new project to create a searchable database to enable students, academics and history buffs access to its treasure-chest of nearly 500 oral histories.

Filmmaker David Weintraub films Ernie and Derek Bradford working on the family moonshine still.
Filmmaker David Weintraub films Ernie and Derek Bradford working on the family moonshine still.

According to Hendersonville's David Weintraub, Center Executive Director and filmmaker, the grant will allow the world access to a collection of oral histories from moonshiners, molasses makers, basketweavers, textile workers, farmers and much more.

"As our elders always say, ‘How do you know where you’re going if you don’t know where you come from?’ This wealth of history and culture will better connect all of us to the rich world of Southern Appalachian culture,” Weintraub said in a news release.

The Center has already begun work transcribing its collection of oral histories and is working with local web programmers to help synchronize the transcriptions with the videotaped oral histories. Volunteers are still needed to help transcribe oral histories, and donations are being sought since the N.C.Humanities grant will only cover a fraction of the cost of digitizing, cataloging, transcribing and programming this history.

To support this project, volunteer or for more information, visit the Center for Cultural Preservation’s website at www.saveculture.org or call 828-692-8062.

Money raised by tournament donated to BRCC in honor of Hendrix

Buchanan Construction presents a check to Blue Ridge Community College in honor of Ryan Hendrix. Pictured from left to right are front row: Thomas Hendrix, residential construction manager, Buchanan Construction; Jeff Hendrix, carpentry manager, Buchanan Construction; Vanessa Crook, office manager, Buchanan Construction; Dr. Scott Queen, vice president for economic and workforce development, Blue Ridge Community College; Trina Stokes, executive director, Blue Ridge Community College Educational Foundation; Chris White, chief of police, Blue Ridge Community College Police Dept. Back Row: Jason Norton, vice president of residential construction, Buchanan Construction and Rick Buchanan, owner and president, Buchanan Construction.

In honor of Ryan P. Hendrix, a Henderson County Sheriff’s Office deputy who lost his life in the line of duty in 2020, Buchanan Construction presented a $25,000 donation to Blue Ridge Community College on Oct. 17, according to a news release.

The funds were raised through the first annual Ryan Hendrix Memorial Golf Tournament to support aspiring officers enrolled in the college’s basic law enforcement training program. The event was organized by Buchanan Construction, where the fallen deputy worked prior to joining the sheriff’s office and where his brothers, Thomas Hendrix and Jeff Hendrix, remain employed.

HCEF distributes funds to area's principals

Thanks to many donors in the community, the Henderson County Education Foundation recently presented checks to the 23 Henderson County Public Schools principals. A total of $23,000 in checks was distributed, according to a news release.

The checks were presented in honor of National Principals Month in October. The HCEF Spring Fund, which has been a beacon of support for over three decades, ensures a minimum annual allocation of $1,000 to each school principal. This funding serves as a valuable tool to leverage the principal’s capacity to more effectively respond and support students facing immediate challenges, the release said.

Previously known as "The Special Fund for Children," this initiative was established by HCEF in 1989,thanks to an anonymous benefactor.

Guided Oklawaha Greenway walk set for Nov. 5

A guided exploration stroll along the projected Oklawaha Greenway extension into a greenspace area being developed as a future park is set for 2 p.m. Nov. 5.

Mark Stierwalt, Hendersonville’s public works superintendent, will lead the 90-minute walk, showcasing the city’s planned extension of Oklawaha Greenway along North Main toward a new greenspace bordered by Clear Creek.

Space is limited for the approximately two-mile trek. Reservations must be made by Nov. 3 by calling Mac Brackett at 828-243-8117. Details will be provided. The walk, which is sponsored by Hendersonville Tree Board, is open to the public at no charge.

62 trees planted in honor of retiring Tree Board president

Sixty-two trees are being added to Hendersonville’s tree canopy during October, supplied at no charge through the city’s NeighborWoods program, which is coordinated by Hendersonville Tree Board.

At a recent board meeting, it was agreed that all the trees will be planted in honor of long-time member and chair of Hendersonville Tree Board, Mac Brackett. According to a news release, Brackett has announced his retirement, which will be effective Dec. 31.

The NeighborWoods program aims to protect and provide tree cover, wildlife habitat, energy conservation, beautification, and health benefits to the community by enabling residents to plant more trees. This service is available to all Hendersonville residents.

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Center for Culture Preservation gets grant; BRCC receives check in honor of Hendrix