The Franklin News-Post
P. O. Box 250
310 Main Street, SW
Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151
540-483-5113
Fax: 540-483-8013
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Friday, August 17, 2012
The executive director of the Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail made a stop Wednesday in Rocky Mount to promote the organization's effort to be designated by Congress as a National Heritage Area (NHA).
About 15 residents attended the public meeting, hosted by Crooked Road Executive Director Jack Hinshelwood, on the efforts to achieve the national designation.
Hinshelwood's presentation included an overview of the Crooked Road that stretches from Rocky Mount to Dickenson County. Because of the cultural heritage of traditional music in Virginia, Hinshelwood said "an NHA designation is appropriate for the Crooked Road. Achieving this designation would be a feather in our hat."
Public meetings being held this month across the region are part of the process in gaining the NHA designation. Other requirements in the process include a feasibility study, review of the study by the Crooked Road staff and board, and recommendations. Once the process is completed, Hinshelwood said an application will be made to Congress to approve the designation.
Congressmen Robert Hurt and Morgan Griffith, along with Sen. Mark Warner, have endorsed the Crooked Road designation as a NHA, Hinshelwood said.
The benefits of having the designation include national recognition, funding assistance, recognition of private foundations and technical assistance from the National Park Service, Hinshelwood said.
Hinshelwood said 49 NHAs have been designated by Congress since 1984. The Crooked Road would be the 50th.
Hinshelwood said the process to seek NHA designation is expected to be completed by the end of this year at which time an application would be made to Congress.
"We welcome letters of support for the effort from all," Hinshelwood said.
Written comments may be sent by email to info@thecrookedroad.org or by mail to The Crooked Road, One Heartwood Circle, Abingdon, Va. 24210.
Hinshelwood can be contacted at 276-492-2402. |
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