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www.yanceycountynews.com vTo be a voice, and to allow the voices of our community to be heard.v May 22, 2014 • Vol. 4, No. 21 v Recipient of the E.W. Scripps Award for Distinguished Service to the First Amendment v
Cracking down, downtown By Jonathan Austin Yancey County News Burnsville Police reacted quickly after hearing complaints from a downtown merchant about speeding and loud vehicles on Main Street. “The Burnsville Town Council has requested that our department place a focus on traffic enforcement efforts on Main Street,” Police Chief Brian Buchanan wrote in an email after being asked how the department was responding. “Our officer have issued 142 citations on Main Street over the last two weeks, with the vast majority being for speeding and noise related violations,” Buchanan reported. “I think it’s great,” said V.J. Famularo, the merchant who told the town council that something needed to be done to reduce speeding and
unsafe travel on Main Street. “Just to see that something was done so quickly; it seems they are sincere in their efforts.” Famularo had told the council that empty businesses make downtown unappealing to tourists. If tourists do come, he said the speeds at which vehicles barrel up and down Main Street threatens them, and they feel they are risking their lives if they step into the crosswalks. “Drivers do not stop” for pedestrians, he said. “If you step into the crosswalk” you feel like you are in danger, despite signs that suggest that pedestrians have the right of way in the crosswalks.” This week, at least one empty storefront had been decorated as a display for the upcoming Parkway A town police officer watches traffic on the town Playhouse performances. square.
Come celebrate the public arts in Burnsville The public is invited to a celebration of Burnsville’s Public Art that will take place at the Burnsville Town Center on Friday, May 23, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. A few years ago the Burnsville Public Art Board was formed to direct the selection and placement of works of art on Town property and oversee the public art program. The board consists of five members: a Burnsville Town Councilor (Ron Powell), a Toe River Arts Council (TRAC) Board Member (John Elsegood), a local artist recommended by TRAC (Armin Wessel), the town’s Code Enforcement Officer (Ronnie Tipton), and a member at large (Chad Fox). Public Art has existed in our town prior to the Public Art Board with many murals, artwork on private properties and the longstanding sculpture of Otway Burns that sits prominently in the center
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of the Burnsville Square since 1909. New additions include the many quilt squares sponsored by the Quilt Trails of NC, artwork initiated by Armin Wessel and Dick Kennedy, and now artwork administered by the Burnsville Public Art Board. On Friday the town will celebrate the works created by Barron Brown, John Doyle, Jack Ferrell, Rolf Holmquist, Randall Honeycutt, Robert Johnson, Rob Levin, Rhea Ormond, Carl Peverall, Norman Rabek, Eric Blau, Ila Seltzer, Barbara Webster, and Martin Webster. South Main Street will be closed at 6 p.m. to allow walking traffic to view the art and artists who will be available to discuss their work. Also in honor of the celebration, Choice Award for a beautiful town many of town stores will be Hometown Heros). Just recently, Burnsville was and square. staying open later and there will be a special music event on the awarded the 2014 Great Places in See Page 7 square at 7 p.m. (sponsored by the North Carolina, winner of Peoples