January - February 2013

Jean Bradley's flowering Christmas Cactus, over seven years old, blooms every November and December!

The Echo of the Gorge is the bi-monthly newsletter of the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Community Club. The Gerton Post Office has paper copies. The ECHO may be read online at our blog site: gertonecho.blogspot.com

The Editor welcomes news items: E-mail Margaret Whitt at mwhitt@du.edu or phone 625-0264 or ace reporter Barbara Earnhardt at lualice@bellsouth.net or 625-9255. Pictures of local Gerton activities, people, or places are always welcome.

UHNGCC Officers: President, Margaret Whitt; Vice-President, Jim Earnhardt; Secretaries, Jean Bradley and Lana Roberts; Treasurer, Sylvia Sane; Immediate Past President, Mel Freeman. Board Members: Gene Earnhardt, Syble Freeman, Jim Sane, Claudia Freeman, Jean Bradley. Board meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month. Community Dinner and Program are on the third Tuesday of each month.

Family and Friends gather at annual Christmas party.

Calendar of Events

Every Monday - Friday - Exercise by walking with your neighbors to a tape at the center. Daily at 9 a.m.

January 15 - 6:30 p.m.  - Community Covered Dish Dinner and Program. Sue Green of WNC GROW (a division connected

                                     to the Land of Sky Regional Government Council) will invite us to share ideas for Gerton and the Gorge.

February 19 - 6:30 p.m. - Community Covered Dish Dinner and Program. A PBS "Exploring North Carolina" DVD

                                   will tell us some things we might not know about our largest wild animal-neighbors in Gerton. Tom   Earnhardt, frequent visitor to the Gorge, who grew up summers here, is the DVD host.

President's Note

I greet you at the beginning of a new year, and as I write this note, the wind is blowing cold here in the gorge! The club is in good financial shape, and I want to share some of the highlights with you: we have a combined $12,000 in two savings accounts, and over $1,800 in our checking account.  The annual report and dues letter request sent out by Mel Freeman and Sylvia Sane netted about $450. Last year, Jim Earnhardt and Mel Freeman prepared a list of about 17 items that we needed to do before we could tackle the kitchen. Through the hard work of many volunteers, we completed ten of them this past year. As we look ahead to the coming months, we hope to be successful in our grant writing efforts--so that this year a new kitchen may become a reality. Beside our efforts for the kitchen, we will also be working on a ramp for the front doors and a handicapped-accessible restroom.

At the forefront of our activity for now will be the rental of our retail space. For many, many years Anita Owenby and her mother, Margie, have been familiar faces in that very space. We will miss Anita, who will move to a new location. And we will miss Margie, who has moved on to her rewards.

Happy New Year to everyone.                                                             

Margaret Whitt

Hickory Creek Market Seeks New Location

Susan Bost and Anita Owenby, owners of the Hickory Creek Market, have decided to re-locate their busniness to a new location that will enable them to expand their services and offerings. The space in the community center building is limited and does not permit any additional possibilities for physical growth. Though we are disappointed to lose good tenants and neighbors in the center's space, we wish them both well and look forward to frequenting their store in a new location, which will be announced in the next ECHO, but locals will know sooner!

Meanwhile, the community center will have retail space for rent in January. Please contact one of the officers of UHNGCC if you are interested or know someone who may want this space. If the space is not rented earlier through informal channels, we will place the space with a realtor in February.

Community Matriarch Dies

Marjorie Oates Owenby, 88, of Gerton, passed away on Tuesday, December 18, 2012, at Fleshers Fairview Healthcare. A native of Henderson County, she was born on February 27, 1924, to the late Roy Raymond Oates and Ella Jay Conner Oates. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Roy P. Owenby; a brother, Sam Hill; daughter-in-law, Cheryl Reeves Owenby; and her step-father, Luther Hill.

After graduating high school, she went to work for Grey's Hosiery Mill, Woolworths Department Store, and then to Manual Woodworkers. She then decided to return to school and become certified as a nurse's assistant. She worked for over 20 years at Valley Clinic and Hospital in Bat Cave. In her later years, she worked and "held court" at her daughter's store, Nita's Grocery.

She was a lifelong and active member of Bearwallow Baptist Church, the last founding member of the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Ladies Home Demonstration Club, as well as a lifetime member of the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Community Club. She was a wonderful cook and loved to can.

Marjorie was very well known in the Gerton Community and will be truly missed by all who knew and loved her. The entire family wishes to thank Dr. Culver, the nurses, the staff of Fleshers Fairview Healthcare.

She is survived by her son, Roy "Butch" Owenby of Marshall; her daughter, Anita Owenby of Gerton; her brother, Bill Hill of Hendersonville; her twin grandchildren, who were born on her 65th birthday, Tegan Owenby of Elizabethton, Tenn., and Alex Owenby of Marshall, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral service was held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 22, 2012, at Bearwallow Baptist Church in Gerton with Rev. Jonathan Jenkins, Rev. Charles "Buddy" Freeman, and Rev. Jane Nelson officiating. Pallbearers were Alex Owenby, Chuck Hill, Dwight Hill, J.R. Rathbone, Terry Short, and Jeff Sinclair. Burial followed in the church cemetery. The family received friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, December 21, at the Thomas Shepherd & Son funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Community Club, PO Box 222, Gerton, NC  28735 or to Care Partners Hospice, 68 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville, NC  28803.

UHNGCC Repeats as Community of Distinction

In the 63^rd year, UHNGCC competed with 61 clubs from western North Carolina for recognition from the WNCCommunities, an organization that rewards community achievement. Of those several hundred present at the Grove Park Inn on Saturday, November 17, 48 clubs received the designation of “Participating Community” and a check for $250. For the first time ever, eleven clubs were named “Community of Promise” and received a check for $1,000. Among these winners was Henderson County’s Edneyville, a club we compete with for county honors. Finally, two clubs were called for the top honor: “Community of Distinction” and a cash award of $2,000. One winner was Cowee in Macon County, the other was (drumroll here….) Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Community Club. We were the last name called of 61, but it was worth the wait.

In conversation with Linda Lamp, executive director of WNCCommunities, after the lunch, she was asked if it was unusual for the same club to win the top honor twice in a row. She responded that she certainly could not remember a time in recent history that this had happened. The following is the article that appeared in the Hendersonville newspaper:

WNC Communities has announced the winners of the 63rd annual Honors Awards Program, which include Upper Hickory Nut Gorge and Edneyville Community Center, both in Henderson County.

A luncheon was held at The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa in Asheville Saturday, Nov. 17 with more than 200 community leaders from 14 counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee to recognize and reward exceptional community development programs across the mountains.

The awards program is built on the tradition of recognizing achievements in communities for their work on behalf of their residents. Awards are designed to serve as an inspiration for replicating community success.

Community programs range from addressing basic needs such as a food pantry, an emergency shelter, thrift stores, or litter sweeps to significant programs focused on education, heritage, economic development, farmland preservation or health and wellness.

“Communities of Distinction” is the highest honor, with a cash award of $2,000. Upper Hickory Nut Gorge was the recipient of this year's award. Their community was recognized for their work on refurbishing and upgrading their 80-year-old building as well as their donor appreciation dinner attended by permanent residents and part-timers from Florida and South Carolina.

Their community continues to have success with older traditions such as their monthly community dinners that have been going on for 54 years, or the popular summer productions put on by the Hickory Nut Players, to their more recent endeavors like GertonFest and the Pancake Breakfast held during the Sale on the Trail. Upper Hickory Nut Gorge created a blog at gertonecho.blogspot.com, an electronic version of their 50-year-old ECHO newsletter, which continues to be available at the Gerton Post Office.

“Communities of Promise” are given cash awards of $1,000 to continue their work on community initiatives. Edneyville Community Center won the award for 2012. The center was recognized for its programs on Alzheimer's disease, changes in State government and nutrition. The organization held blood drives, donated canned goods to the Rescue Mission, gave personal hygiene items to Mainstay, contributed supplies to the local elementary school and organized care packages for military personnel, as well as distributed 50 food boxes to local families in need.

When the Edneyville Post Office was threatened, the community stepped up to partner with “Occupy Hendersonville” to spend a day in front of the post office to voice their concerns. The community organized a meeting to inform residents about this potential cut in services to their rural life, members wrote letters to officials, as well as collecting numerous signatures on petitions. All these actions led to success in saving the Edneyville Post Office.

"Participating Communities” receive a cash award of $250 each and are recognized for their successful projects implemented during the past year. Crab Creek, Mills River and Upward from Henderson County were the communities that received this honor. 

"They are honored to recognize community development clubs for their innovative programs and hard work,” said Linda Lamp, executive director of WNC Communities. “These groups are the key to successful rural life in our mountains and will be for many years to come.”

Generous sponsorships from Harrah's Cherokee Casino & Hotel, Mission Health Systems, Buncombe County Farm Bureau, Carolina Farm Credit, Duke Energy, First Citizens Bank, HomeTrust Bank, and Wells Fargo made it possible to award over $27,000 to 61 communities throughout Western North Carolina for their innovative approaches to addressing community needs.

Communities voluntarily participate in the WNC Honors Awards Program by submitting an application to WNC Communities in September. Communities are judged on projects, fundraising efforts, collaboration with local organizations or businesses, economic development and sustainability, and their community future and vision.

From Left: Denis Connolly, V-P of Hospitality at Harrah's Cherokee Casino; Jean Bradley, Margaret Whitt, Mel Freeman (club president), Claudia Freeman, and Jim Earnhardt

Local Group Volunteers at Samaritan's Purse Center

Bearwallow Baptist had the pleasure of volunteering at the Operation Christmas Child warehouse in Charlotte on December 3. In our group there were nine able to go. (Don & Syble Freeman, Bonnie Moore, Linda Cisco, David & Roberta Pope, Jean Bradley, Karen McKay, & Jonathan Jenkins)  We left for Charlotte about 11 a.m. and returned to Gerton, tired and blessed, around 10 p.m. that night. We were able to help complete incomplete shoes boxes, which are given to children literally all over the world.  During our time at the warehouse we were able to truly experience how big a ministry we are blessed to be part of.  Although it was a long day, we surely enjoyed and were enlightened as to how important this ministry is to the millions (2.1 million) of children who will receive the shoeboxes filled with presents.                             Jonathan Jenkins, Bearwallow Baptist Pastor 

Local Gertonites gather for photo with group from Canton.

Roberta Pope and Jean Bradley help sort toys at the Samaritan's Purse warehouse.

Notes from the Desk of the Gerton Fire Chief Jay Alley...

.

As 2012 comes to a close, I wanted to look back at 2012 and reminisce. It was an interesting year starting out with an abnormal winter season. It was warm throughout the “cold” months, so we did not have as many winter-related calls. In the spring, we responded to a house fire with heavy fire on Chestnut Hills Loop Road. After a quick knock down and extensive overhaul, we were able to save about 40 percent of the house. The house has since been rebuilt and looks very nice. Everything went well, and we were happy that we were able to save what we did. The rest of the year has been uneventful. We had several alarms, mutual aid calls, and several medical calls. We have been on almost 100 calls for service this year. Next month, in my next column, I will release what we responded to in 2012. We gained two new firefighters: Preston Hubbard and Michael Luchton. We also gained three new junior firefighters: Kyle Stone, Jacob Lyda, and Mac MacCraw.

I want to remind everyone to please clean out your chimneys and flues. It is important to keep these clean to ensure you do not have a chimney fire. We recommend you clean out your flue every season, and then have it inspected at least once during the burning season. We also recommend that you have a working carbon monoxide detector in your home.  Please check your smoke detector and make sure they are working. If they are not or it has been a while since you changed the batteries, contact us and we will be glad to come up and replace the battery and/or replace the detector. We offer to anyone a free home safety check. Please contact us to schedule a time.  These tips may help to prevent us coming to see you by “accident."

Lastly, I want to let everyone know of a change in the way we will be performing CPR if we respond and find someone in cardiac arrest.  The newest standards released by the American Heart Association recommend that once CPR is started that the patient not be moved until after twenty minutes of CPR has been performed. It has been shown that good effective CPR is the single most important thing we can do to improve a patient’s chance of survival. Of course the paramedics will still come and administer medications and perform advanced skills, but we will be staying in place focusing on good quality CPR for the first twenty minutes.  Before, we would typically come in and quickly load the patient and do CPR while en route to the hospital. This has been tried in several different states and even in some counties in North Carolina. The survival rate jumped from >3 percent to over 40 percent.  This is a strategy that has been adopted in Henderson County. We just wanted you to be aware of why we are not moving toward the hospital like we used to.

Thanks for all of your support in 2012. It was a good year, and we look forward to 2013. As always, we are here to serve you. If we can help you in any way, please do not be afraid to contact us. We welcome your comments and feedback. As always, we still find funding to be our number one handicap. We would welcome any donations you can afford. Every dollar you spend is spent to make your community safer. Thanks for your support and I will see you somewhere during 2013. Be safe!

Neighborhood News

Bob and Diane Field will be starting the New Year with a new great grandson named Isaiah Javier. He was born on December 17 and weighed in at 8 lbs 3 1/2 oz. His mom, Danielle, is the daughter of our youngest son, John. Danielle is serving in the Army as a Paralegal and is stationed at Ft. Bragg, NC. Isaiah's dad is Jay, who is a corrections officer.

Fifth generation Gerton connection: Bob and Diane Fields' youngest great grandchild, Isaiah.

A word of thanks to Jim Sane for restoring and securing the flag to its upright position when a mighty wind blew it to the ground in early December.

Margaret Davidson, a long-time active community leader in the Edneyville clubs, passed away on November 25, 2012.

Mrs. Davidson was the owner and operator of Hunsinger Cottages and Kitchenettes in Edneyville and taught school for 37 years. She was a proud member of the following organizations: Alpha Delta Kappa, NC Teachers Association, Henderson County Teachers Association, Order of the Eastern Star, Grand Court Order of the Amaranth, White Shrine, VFW Ladies Auxiliary, Past President Henderson County Community Council, President of Edneyville Community Center Association.

Some of her honors: State FHA advisors of the year, Teacher of the year for East Henderson High and Henderson County, National Vocational teacher of the year and the National Distinguished Service Award. She served as Past Grand Royal Matron for the Grand Court of NC. She had served as Master/or President of Edneyville Grange. Mrs. Davidson was the sponsor for two Junior Grange – Edneyville and Apple Valley Middle School. She was inducted into the Henderson County Teachers Hall of Fame. She received the order of Long Leaf Pine from the Governor of the State of NC.

About l0 p.m. December 21, fierce winds slammed us with power outages and no electricity, and Christmas dinners waited in peril. Morning light showed many downed trees and branches. At Chestnut Hills, two roads were barricaded by enormous trees.  Somehow, those trees were sawed up and moved to the sides of what are state roads.  “Thank you, NC State Department of Transportation!” we all thought.  As it turned out, Bobby Dees was the Santa who made life easier, quicker, and jolly-er.  The power company got real busy, too—and sooner than predicted, the power and heat were restored, the Christmas tree lights twinkled on, and home ovens revved up all over Gerton.  Thanks, thanks to all those who brought us happier, warmer Christmas homes, and roads we didn’t have to back up to make U-turns on!

August, Nicole, and first grader Sophia Bretton decided they liked us enough to purchase the Jonathan Barrett/Tom White house on Kelly Hill, first one you see at the head of the road.  We’re glad they decided to stay in Gerton.  Welcome them when you meet them.  And Jonathan and Tom in Savannah, S.C., assure us we haven’t seen the last of them—they’ll be visiting friend Gayle Morris often.  We’ll hope for that!

Since we’re writing about the Kelly Hill side of the neighborhoods, did you notice how the little house, (once lived in by Roy, Margie, Nita, and Butch Owenby) was lit up for Christmas?  The house somehow resembled very much a Christmas card manger scene. 

And MORE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS than this writer ever remembers—from Sandy Jakubowski’s house, and the Danielsons’ just across Erskine Road, and then up on the hill, a lighted Christmas tree and porch lights at Scott O’Connor’s house.  And the Bearwallow Baptist Church, and then the Community Center’s big wreath in the window.  We could have taken a first prize anywhere!

Cutting and tying numerous greens with full red bows this time of year isn’t always easy or convenient—but each of the Gerton road signs got a cheerful decoration. Donnie Freeman and Jim Sane hung Christmas greens from 22 signs, including at the Post Office.  Thanks to the Freemans all, (Claudia, Mel, Donnie and Syble), Jim, Keith and Barbara Earnhardt (Jim made two wreathes for the Community Center’s front doors), and Sylvia Sane, Jean Bradley, Lynn Morehead—who brought more greenery just when needed.  “It lifts my heart,” said November speaker Edith Bond, “to drive through Gerton at Christmas time.  No other Gorge community welcomes the Season and passersby that way.”

UHNGCC Members tie up holiday greens with red bows for Gerton street signs.

Reflections on Losing Margie Owenby:  Well, we could have l00s of  stories to tell about our Margie. Some of us have known her for over 50 years, some longer.  “Like a second mother to me while I was growing up,” many of us said. “There’s a hole in my heart,” said another.  Her last two years at Flesher Fairview Healthcare Nursing Home were exactly right for her, but Gerton was where she longed to be, and she told many of her visitors over those two years she would be back here soon.  Of the l00s of us who knew her—there was standing room only at the Bearwallow Baptist Church funeral service—always, always we were made to feel welcome, each person important, worthy of  warmth and kindness.  If Margie thought you might not know another person’s name, she’d introduce the two of you. We were all equal in her sight.  But her face lit up especially when children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren visited the store, and until later years, she remembered each of their names.  “They’re my children too,” she’d say.

       Really, Margie was a missionary at daughter Nita’s store.  Her passing leaves holes in countless hearts. 

Butch and Anita Owenby sincerely thank everyone who has made this time easier for them, and are deeply grateful for the expressions of sympathy and kindness shown to them since their mother Margie’s death.  The family says thank you notes will be sent soon.               

One $300 UHNGCC  Scholarship is available to a local high school senior  planning to attend an accredited college.  Students must apply to qualify and will be chosen by the scholarship committee.   (Two local qualifying students once split the $300.)  And though the amount may not stretch far over today’s college costs, $300 can help!  Application forms can be found at the Post Office soon.  May 1 is the application deadline.

SANTA WAS SIGHTED in Gerton for sure Christmas Eve on Highway 74A.  Santa was strolling along in the foggy dark, his reindeers no doubt a bit confused by the weather.  With a quick u-turn by a driver to check to see if he and his six-year old son were imagining things, sure enough—there was Santa, bent over with a bulging backpack, knocking at Sandy Jakubowki’s door!  (And we are not making this up!!)        

November - December 2012

Fall in Gerton

Reds, Yellows, Oranges Came in all their Glory

The Echo of the Gorge is the bi-monthly newsletter of the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Community Club. The Gerton Post Office and Hickory Creek Market have paper copies. The ECHO made be read online at our blog site: gertonecho.blogspot.com

The Editor welcomes news items: E-mail Margaret Whitt at mwhitt@du.edu or phone 625-0264. Space determines use, and editor may revise. Roving Reporter: Barbara Earnhardt. Photographer: Barbara Earnhardt. Pictures are always welcome.

UHNGCC Officers: President: Mel Freeman (Outgoing), Margaret Whitt (Incoming); Vice-President: Jim Earnhardt; Secretaries: Jean Bradley and Lana Roberts; Treasurer, Sylvia Sane. Board Members: Jean Bradley, Gene Earnhardt, Syble Freeman, Jim Sane and Claudia Freeman (Incoming), Patty Tanner (Outgoing). Immediate Past President: Mel Freeman (Incoming). Board Meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month. Community Dinner and Program is held on the third Tuesday of each month.





On the lookout for Thanksgiving: Wild Turkeys haunt Gerton all fall!

GertonFest IV - Labor Day Weekend 2012

Our Annual GertonFest, now a well entrenched tradition (of four years), is held on the Saturday of Labor Day. We began the day with a pancake breakfast, which kicked off a day-long celebration of the following events: a silent auction, the second annual Gerton 5K, a home-baked goods sale, a dog show, a team spelling bee, bar-be-cue dinner with music and a square dance with more music.Winner of this year's Gerton 5K is Richie Farmer. In the afternoon, Bearwallow Baptist Church provided inflatable jumping equipment for the kids and free snow cones, cotton candy, popcorn. At day's end, we made over $2,500 (before expenses). Several hundred people enjoyed all or part of our day.

Deep Thought in Action

Kids at Team Spelling Bee

Adults at Team Spelling Bee: David Pope, Lana Roberts, Jim Earnhardt

Bob Stepp and Friends play during the bar-be-cue dinner...

while Will Hamilton and the Berry Pickers play for the square dance,

and the dancers, of all ages, enjoy the action.

Calendar of Events

Every Monday - Friday - Exercise by walking with your neighbors to a tape at the center. Daily at 9 a.m.

November 6 - ELECTION DAY. Remember to vote (if you haven't already done so)

November 17 - Noon. Annual Awards Luncheon for WNCCommunities at Grove Park Inn.

November 17 - NEW POST OFFICE HOURS: 12 - 4 p.m., Monday - Friday. Saturday delivery continues, but no PO Hours. 

November 20 - 6:30 p.m. - Community Thanksgiving Dinner with turkey (thanks to Mel and Claudia Freeman) and oyster dressing (thanks to Helen Brown) provided. 

                       Program: Edith Bond from Lake Lure will detail Western North Carolina Foundation Programs that could benefit our immediate area. 

November 22 - Thanksgiving Day

December 3 - Light Up the Gorge competition.  Winners to be announced.

December 18 - 6:30 p.m. Community Christmas Dinner. Program: Christmas Party. Carol singing. Gift Exchange ($5 White Elephant). "My Most Memorable Christmas" - Stories Exchanged.  Bring Canned Food for the food bank at Hickory Nut Gorge Outreach

December 24,  7 p.m. Christmas Eve Service at Bearwallow Baptist Church

December 25 - Christmas Day

December 29 - Due date for Anna-Sophia Kay West -Chelsea Erskine's Daughter; Lorri Erskine's first

 granddaughter; Joan and David Erskine's first great granddaughter.

Flowers in the midst of fall color

President's Note

As the year begins to wind down, I have to reflect over the year.  We have had many volunteers, working on many different committees, the storage area renovations,  UHNGCC Garage Sale,  the summer play “Going Up?” and GertonFest.  These events happened because we all came together--local folks and summer folks--as a community family, giving time and donations to accomplish these things.   Many good comments can be heard about UHNGCC throughout the county.   Thank you all for your efforts and contributions.   It has been a pleasure serving the community over the past year.  Everyone has always been willing to say YES when asked to do something.  With this type of willingness, we can continue to accomplish many good things for the community.

I am looking forward to serving on the board next year as Past President. 

Happy Thanksgiving and God’s blessings to everyone.

Mel Freeman

 

Henderson County Community Development Annual Awards

The annual awards banquet for Henderson County was held on Saturday, October 13, at the Justus Center in Edneyville. UHNGCC was the cash awards winner this year, taking home the prize in the following categories: First place in Beautification ($115); Outstanding Programs Award (No cash, but a nice certificate!); First Place in Club Fundraising ($65); Second Place in Senior Citizen Program Awards ($90); and finally First Place in our division for Community Club of the Year ($115) for a grand total of $385. This year, the County organization accepted the regional organization report, so we did not have to write separate reports. Jean Bradley prepared an attractive notebook to accompany our report. Lynn Morehead and Margaret Whitt attended the banquet and claimed our prizes. Within the county, Mountain Page and Barker Heights no longer participate in the competition. Crab Creek, Upward, Edneyville, and UHGCC are all still active and viable community clubs.

Lynn Morehead accepts the UHNGCC award for Outstanding Programs from

Renay Knapp, NC Cooperative Extension Henderson County Center

 

Gerton Post Office:  New Hours

New hours at the Gerton Post Office will begin on Saturday, November 17. Though there will be no hours on Saturdays, the post office will be staffed from noon until 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Every September there will be an evaluation to determine if Gerton hours will stay the same, be increased, or decreased.

A town hall kind of meeting was held at the Gerton Post Office parking lot at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, October 10. Jackie Williams, a postmaster in a town on the east coast of North Carolina, has the job of delivering the news to the communities whose hours of staffed service will be cut. Gerton is one of the 13,000 smaller post offices across the country that will be affected. She is presently working out of Clover, SC, where our surveys were mailed. Gerton received 88 surveys and, according to Williams, we were the ONLY patrons to return all 88, coming in at 100 percent.

About 40 people attended the October meeting. We were handed a paper with information that said our new hours would be noon to 4 p.m. Questions arose as to how these hours were determined. The answer we were given appeared on the information sheet: "After reviewing the surveys that were returned, and taking into account Postal Service operational needs, retail hours for this location will likely be Mon-Fri 1200 to 1600." (Post Office hours operate on military time.)  A vote was taken among those present, and all but three in attendance were actually for morning hours. Williams promised that our vote of those present would be taken to her co-workers and others in decision-making positions.

Apparently, the main consideration was the part of the sentence that stated "TAKING INTO ACCOUNT POSTAL SERVICE OPERATIONAL NEEDS," for when the final decision was announced, the response was the seemingly less popular (among those who attended the meeting) afternoon hours.

The responses to the questions that were asked on the postal survey were the following:

Realignment of Hours         83 or 94 percent

Delivery Option                    1 or 1 percent

Village Post Office option     0 or 0 percent

Nearby Post Office option    0 or o percent

No selection made                4 or 5 percent

Clearly, the dominant opinion shared by almost all of those returning the survey is that we wanted to keep our Post Office building and were willing to accept a decrease in hours. As at present, no Saturday window service hours will be available and access to delivery receptacles will not change as a result of the POST plan realignment (the Post Office name for what is happening within the post offices nationwide) of weekday window service hours. Access to delivery receptacles will not be reduced from current hours.

For additional information, please consult https://usps.com/ourfuturenetwork and click on the link under "preserving post offices."

September and October Programs

Travis Smith, local botanist, was the speaker for our September program. Travis brought with him several staff members from the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy. The topic was non-native invasive species. Smith reported that the problem has become so widespread here in the gorge that any number of agencies are making these "unwanteds" a high priority. The Department of Transportation, for example, is being more careful as to when they mow the sides of the road, for doing so when various seeds can be blown everywhere compounds the growth by many times.  Smith told us that he used to be a proponent of only organic ways to control the invasives but now, along with everybody who takes the problem seriously, realizes that chemicals do have their place in this warfare. He focused our attention on the kudzu, bittersweet, the misnamed Tree of Heaven (should be Tree of Hell), and the Japanese Knotweed. We all need to be aware of what does and does not belong among our gorge species.

Burntshirt Winery was the Community Dinner’s October program. Kathleen Watson of Burntshirt Winery, a newly established business owned by the Lem and Sandra Oates family, described for club members the various ins-and-outs of tending vineyards for successful wine production. Nearby Middle Fork is the site for four acres of a now three-year-old vineyard. Sugarloaf Mountain, on the south edge of Hendersonville beyond Manual Woodworkers, is the second site with twenty acres for wine production and a tasting room for visitors. Watson, public relations director for the winery, has had extensive experience in the winery business of race-car driver Richard Childress near Lexington.

     “The Burntshirt property is the highest vineyard in North Carolina—of which there are l00,” she explained.  “With its cool nights, bright sunshine and altitude of 3,400 feet, it is a perfect place to grow grapes.”  “Altitude 3400” is the name of one of their red wines, now available at the “A Day in the Country” store in Hendersonville and at the tour site.  Tours of the vineyard are led every week Wednesday through Saturday. (See www: Burntshirt Winery.com for more information.) 

     During the question-and-answer time following Watson’s talk, one person queried about what problems wild animals might present.  “Oh—turkeys!” she smiled.   “They roost, and feast!”  Mechanized canon sounds booming at intervals were successful for a while—but, “The turkeys have learned to ignore them,” she added.

Neighborhood News

Gerton is counting many new neighbors--some have been here a good while, others are just months settled in.

- Mary Jennette from down east NC, and Peg Hudson, originally from Columbus, Ohio, moved here from North Asheville.  They love living in the former Tom and Lynda Hartwell house on Chestnut Hill. "We love it here--it's hard to leave for work," they both agreed.  Mary manages ACE Hardware on Merrimon; Peg keeps the books and generally manages at Ethan Allen Furniture Company on Brevard Road. They live with lovely friendly canines Cody and Molly, and lucky cat Kevin, all three Brother Wolf rescues. Peg likes to paint and write, and Mary loves working with wood.  They both value the lovingly detailed renovation Tom worked so skillfully to accomplish.

--John Solomon Hathaway, who's come to live with his momma and dad, Becca and John Hathaway on Bearwallow Road, weighed in at 8 pounds, 6 ounces, at 21.5 inches on Friday, October 26.

--Sophia Bretton, age 6, and her parents Nicole and August, moved here from Savannah, Georgia, and are leasing the Johnathan Barrett/Tom White house on Kelly Hill Road.  Sophia attends first grade at Asheville Country Day School where her mother teaches 7th grade English, and coordinates and develops curriculum. August (or Auggie) is an historic home renovator, and at present, is helping Dave Scoggins with some projects. The family moved here in late July, are enjoying seeing the season changes, and appreciate the Gerton star-light. Except for the bear stories they've heard, they're feeling quite at home.  Sophia loves visiting Hickory Creek Market for special treats.

--Susan Murray and Ann Weiss have lived here for a year now, moved from Oregon to be closer to family.  Susan is the daughter of  the Murrays, former long-time summer residents, whose house sits on Cottage Hill.  Susan is a supervising Hospice nurse.  Ann collects data on special research projects at the VA Hospital.  In August, she presented a fascinating program on clinical studies. They attend community dinners, and before their new full-time jobs took them away, joined the daily exercise class. 

...Julie and Bruce Brushett live on Kelly Hill in what was formerly the Jeffcoat house.  They love hiking around here with companion dog Fruff, and enjoy meeting with their two daughters, Megan and Melissa, here because of work in Asheville and Spartanburg. The Brushetts also have two grown sons, and beam about becoming brand new grandparents of granddaughter Sophie. They have attended community dinners, and hope to come more. Bruce can work from Gerton doing computer work for a Durham company. 

--Local author Jack Brody, born in Bat Cave and who grew up spending summers in Gerton, is the pen name of David Earnhardt, who has written a novel, The Moroni Deception, reviewed last Sunday (October 28) in the Asheville Citizen Times. You can read Rob Neufeld's review of the mystery novel on "The Read on WNC" website.

--THANKS again to our Gerton Fire Department staff who raised the flags for Memorial Day in May, and took them down again for us after Labor Day.  Some flags need replacing, looking droopy, exceedingly uninterested in their jobs.  Somebody should bake those men a cake!

Resident Passes Away...

James (Jim)  H. Wiggins, 53, who lived in Gerton for 19 years, died on September 4. He leaves his wife Jennifer; two daughters, Rachel Lloyd and Brittney Wiggins; two stepdaughters, Misty and Lindsey Bayne; a step-granddaughter, Jaylynn; mother and stepfather, Dee and Wayne Glover; four sisters, one niece, five nephews, and one great nephew. The funeral was held on September 9 at Forest Lawn Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Jonathan Jenkins officiating.

Jim enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson and his membership in the Southern Patriots Motorcycle Club of Hendersonville for over 21 years. He was a member of Bearwallow Baptist Church.

"He was one of the best friends I ever had," Sam Freeman said about his neighbor. Another neighbor observed, "Jim looked out for me, and I looked out for him. You couldn't ask for a better neighbor."

 

Yoga Classes

Jane Vogelman, who lives in Hickory Nut Forest Eco-Community, is a certified yoga teacher and will be offering a weekly yoga class at Laughing Waters retreat center.  The details of the class are listed below:

-All are welcome to join

- Class style is gentle flow

- The class will be offered weekly (on Thursdays) beginning on 10/26 

- Class time is  9:30 am-11am

-Location : Laughing Waters Retreat Center @ Hickory Nut Forest Eco-Community

- Cost: $12/ class (cash or check)

 Items for Sale (Check with editor to place items for sale. Reasonable rates help defray cost of printing the ECHO.)

1. an antique child's school desk; it has the drop down seat on the front that would have gone with the desk in front of it - probably from the 1940s.

 2. a 28" round etched tabletop with sea grass and fishes; it comes with a cypress stand so it can be used vertically as a fireplace screen in summer or on a table in front of a window as a beautiful seascape.The glass is 3/4" thick and very heavy, but it is perfect in every way; no scratches or chips.

e-mail Bonnie Moore (bmoore2816@aol.com) to request pictures and prices.

 

September - October 2012

Doe with her fawn. (Courtesy: Shirley Boone)

The Echo of the Gorge is the bi-monthly newsletter of the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Community Club. The Gerton Post Office and Hickory Creek Market have paper copies. The ECHO may be read online at our blog site: gertonecho.blogspot.com

The editor welcomes news items. E-mail Margaret Whitt at mwhitt@du.edu or phone 625-0264. Space determines use, and editor may revise. Reporter: Barbara Earnhardt. Photo credits are noted on site.

UHNGCC OFFICERS: Mel Freeman, President; Jim Earnhardt, Vice-President; Secretaries, Jean Bradley and Lana Roberts; Sylvia Sane, Treasurer; Margaret Whitt, Immediate Past President. Board Members: Jean Bradley, Patty Tanner, Gene Earnhardt, Syble Freeman. Board meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month.



Neighbors gather at annual community July 4 cook-out and fireworks event. About 80 people attended this year's event. Fireworks were coordinated by Ned Beck, David Earnhardt, with the help of neighborhood youth.

Calendar of Events

Every Monday-Friday - Exercise by walking with your neighbors to a tape at the center. Daily at 9 a.m.

September 1 - GERTONFEST IV - 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.

                          8 a.m. - noon - Pancake Breakfast

                          8:30 - 2nd Annual Gerton 5 K Run/Walk

                          8 a.m. - Bake Sale (Cakes, Cookies, Bread, Fudge,

                                         Candies, and Pies)

                          8 a.m. - 6 p.m. - SILENT AUCTION

                          Noon - 5 p.m. INFLATABLES for kids. Games,

                                    Cotton Candy, Popcorn, Snow Cones.

                          2 p.m. - Dog Show

                          3 p.m. - Team Spelling Bee

                          5 p.m. - Bar-B-Que Dinner and Music by

                                         Dr. Bob Stepp and Friends

                          7 p.m. - Square Dance - with Dr. Will Hamilton

                                         and the Berry Pickers

September 8 - 1 - 5 p.m. 5th Annual Apple Fest Fundraiser.

                            Hickory Nut Eco-Community

                            Sunrise event at Chimney Rock

September 18 - 6:30 p.m. Community Dinner.

                               Program: Travis Smith, Botanist. Invasive species.

September 23 - 3 p.m. Baby Shower for Chelsea Erskine West at UHNGCC.

September 27 - 6:30 p.m. County-Wide Dinner.

                             UHNGCC hosts all the community clubs in the county.

October 16 - 6:30 p.m. Community Dinner.

                          Program: Burnt Shirt Vineyard in Bat Cave    

President's Note              

The summer season is winding down.  I think all have had a good time
assisting and participating in our summer events: the 4th of July celebration; great
FIREWORKS.  Enjoying the outstanding play, "GOING UP?", written and
directed by our own Helen Brown. Remodeling of the storage area and pantry,
done by many volunteers, contributing many hours of time.

As we come to the last fundraising event of the year, GERTONFEST IV,
activities are being finalized for the Pancake Breakfast, 5K Race, Dog Show,
Team Spelling Bee, Silent Auction, Children's activities and treats, music by

Dr. Stepp and friends, Bar B Que Dinner, capped off by a Square Dance, 

with music by Will Hamilton and The Berry Pickers.  Many of the Gerton folks

are helping. A good time will be had by all, so come and join us.  Get the word

out to the surrounding areas.

We are getting close to the time to hold club elections.  If you would like to be
one of the committee chairmen or a committee member, contact someone on the
board.   All of you are important to the success of the Community Center.

Mel Freeman

        

         Gerton's Summer Play: "Going Up?"

Another Success Story!

The Hickory Creek Players presented Helen Hudson Brown's "Going Up?" on Friday and Saturday, July 27 and 28 at the UHNGCC. A full house on Friday and a nearly full house on Saturday enjoyed the remarkable talents of ten cast members: Debbie Hill (from Atlanta), Ruth Ann Nappi, Freddie Ann Nappi, Bonnie Moore, Jacob Lyda, J.D. Nappi, Gracelyn Perry, Don Lewis (from Black Mountain), Margaret Whitt, and Julie Delich (from Fairview). Something very special about neighbors coming together for an evening of laughter!

During intermission Robert Wagner (Doug Colwell) stopped by to sell his inside/outside mortgage reversal ploy. Helen Brown took time from her busy duties to inteview that laconic race car driver Richard Petty (Mac McAdams). Special thanks to the following people who contributed to making the play a success: Katie DuMont, Carrie and Brandon Knox, Barbara and Gene Earnhardt, Toni and Marc Eastman, Jason Moore, Harold Lyda, Ruth Hudson, Mary Kay McAdams, Claudia Freeman, Fred Nappi, Pam Lewis, Virginia McGuffey, Jean Bradley, and Faith Perry.

Bonnie Moore, with her "grandsons" J.D. Nappi and Jacob Lyda ("that's right"), explains to Debbie Hill what they would like included in Big Daddy's funeral celebration. (Courtesy: Frankie Tipton)

Ruth Ann Nappi, as the gambling, loose woman Anitaka Daver, discusses her problems with "boss" of the only all-female funeral parlor  (Graves Mortuary and Crematorium) in town, Debbie Hill, as Alotta Graves. (Courtesy: Frankie Tipton)

J.D. Nappi and Jacob Lyda, posing as seductive sisters to the blind-without-his-glasses Don Lewis, who has just taking a beating earlier in the play from his wife, is up to no-good as Smiley McGee. (Courtesy: Frankie Tipton)

Complete cast of "Going Up?": Front Center, Debbie Hill. Standing from left: J.D. Nappi, Bonnie Moore, Jacob Lyda, Margaret Whitt, Don Lewis, Gracelyn Perry, Freddie Ann Nappi, Julie Delich, Ruth Ann Nappi (Courtesy: Roni Peterson)

July and August Programs

Gene Earnhardt, retired history professor at Pfeiffer University, gave the program at our July community dinner. In anticipation of our upcoming general election in November, Gene spoke on the duties of the President of the United States. He cited five duties that are in the Constitution, and five other duties that have through time become part of the President's role. Folks in the audience were asked to offer suggestions for which President, in modern times, fulfilled which particular duty best. The program got us all to think about the role of President apart from the political party commercials that have become a very present part of our daily lives!

Ann Weiss, registered nurse, delivered an informative short overview of clinical trials, a subject with which she is involved in her professional life. Quoting from the Old Testament Daniel, she read us the passage that mentions what could well be the first reported "clinical trial." These trials have been going on for hundreds of years and often, what a product is being tested for will yield different results once the product has been approved.

We are fortunate to have both Gene and Ann in our community, and both programs, it was easy to tell, could have gone on much longer.

Apple Festival

Hickory Nut Forest Eco-Community is sponsoring the 5th annual Apple Fest Fundraiser on Saturday, September 8, 2012, from 1 – 5 p.m. in its organic apple orchard on Rt. 74A in Gerton/Bat Cave.  It is a family-friendly fun event in support of Hickory Nut Forest’s organic orchard and gardens.  Suggested donations are $3 per car load (carpooling is encouraged) and $2 per bag of organic apples.  Apple picking, apple bobbing, apple cider pressing, apple goodie sampling, an apple cake walk, and an apple pie contest will be the featured events.  All pie entries should be brought to Jane Lawson by 2 p.m. to be entered into the contest.  (Our own Barbara Earnhardt won first place in last year's contest!)

 For more information, see www.HickoryNutForest.com or www.LaughingWatersNC.com.

Sunrise at Chimney Rock: Special Event on September 8

Annual Passholders are invited for a rare opportunity to watch a sunrise from Chimney Rock on September 8. If you've been to their Easter Sunrise Service, you know how impressive the sunrise can be overlooking Lake Lure. Gate opens at 6 a.m. and sunrise will be around 7 a.m. Meet at the Sky Lounge, where a continental breakfast of donuts, fruit, hot coffee, and juice will be served. Cost is $5 per passholder; kids five and under are free. Bring your smartphone or camera and upload your sunrise pictures to Facebook.  Please call 800-277-9611 to RSVP for breakfast by Sept. 5.

Guided Hikes at Chimney Rock

Complimentary guided hikes (with paid Park admission) are available on three Saturdays in September (8, 15 & 22). Hike with a naturalist on the Four Seasons trail to witness nature's changing seasons on a 0.6-mile moderate-to-strenuous trail that climbs 400 feet.  Meet at 1 p.m. at the climbing tower on the Meadows. No sign-up is necessary. Hikes are limited to 25 people.

Neighborhood News

 

Richard Silwedel carries one of the snapping turtles that he removed from Chestnut Hills pond. Now, the baby ducks might have a fighting chance to enjoy the pond.



Lorri and Cassidy Erskine traveled by Amtrak for a ten-day visit with daughter/sister Chelsea West--and to check out the newest 3-D sonograms of the newest Erskine-West family member.  Due date is December 31. September 23 is the date for Chelsea Erskine West’s Baby Girl Shower at Community Center, 3 p.m.

FESTUS HAYES’ CATFISH STEW RECIPE: Mr. Hayes from Blythe, Georgia, has been coming here to his summer house for almost 60 years.  He cooked up a pot of this stew—and brought some to neighbor Sonny Freeman.  Sonny says it’s almost the best thing anybody could eat.  If you like catfish, and if this cool weather suggests heartier fare, here’s Mr. Hayes’ recipe:  Cut up 2 pounds of catfish.  Peel and slice 4 pounds of Irish potatoes.  Peel and slice 2 onions (any kind).  Slice and fry 5 pieces of fatback (or bacon slices) until crispy.  Layer the three first ingredients into large casserole dish, continuing until all is used up.  Top with pieces of the crispy fatback (or bacon), and cover with water.  Cover, and cook on a low simmer until done.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  (“Sounds delicious to me,” I told Sonny.  “Hit IS,” said Sonny.)



A Hiker’s Guide to the Hickory Nut Gorge is a helpful paperback that should be on any Gerton bookshelf or side table somewhere in the house.  Useful for guest hikers, useful for those who don’t hike but like to study and wonder about our gorgeous gorge, Gerton resident Ryan Lubbers and Nate Ballinger wrote and produced the first edition, available at Hickory Creek Market.  “35 trail descriptions, l00 color photos, 19 color maps”—all for $l7.95.  A bargain!  And light weight to carry, too—along with a cell phone, remember.

BEAR REMINDERS:  They live here too.  Bears know(!) when our garbage days are—and bird feeders are their specialty.  Keep your refuse closed up in a garage, or stored in a freezer, until garbage day.  Bird feeders should be taken in at night—unless you like to tell stories of night visitors. Someone spotted a momma bear with 4 (!) cubs, a lot of mouths to feed!

(Courtesy: Shirley Boone)

JOE PYE WEED can be so beautiful this time of year, seeing them can make you almost weep with joy—cooler weather on the way, and those mauve and lavender blossoms ten feet high waving in the breeze and capped with busy yellow swallowtails.  Named for an Indian medicine man—who sold dried weed for a tea cure for every ill under the sun, even its name feels friendly.  Cutting the stems in late spring, just beyond where the five-leaved joints are attached, the plant will sprout five or more blossom heads in a shorter version.  

  

MONARCH BUTTERFLIES begin their parades of color in September.  As they are on their way to winter in Mexico and beyond, imagine their trip!  You can see them floating over the Blue Ridge Parkway at higher elevations.

PART OF GERTON’S HISTORY: On the Occasion of its 90th Anniversary

In 1926 the Cyclone Auction Company was the real estate company which sold lots for Chestnut Hill.  Still existing for anyone to look at is a map of what plans and lot sizes were offered.  Established in 1922 after the old Grant farmhouse and outbuildings burned to the ground (no fire department, remember), several developers put their ambitious heads together and bought the apple orchard and what we know today as Chestnut Hills. Land was cleared, trees toppled and dragged off.

     The very young Modeen Merrell Bradley remembered that on Sundays, after Bearwallow church services, she and friends were sometimes given permission to walk around the construction sites, careful not to muddy their Sunday dresses and shoes.  “It was so exciting to us,” she told us years ago while she was living at Flescher’s, “to see this land opening up for new people to come to Gerton.”  Kelly Owensby remembered, “Chestnut Hills was bald as my head,” with the trees gone.

     Following is one of the development’s advertisements, dated July 7, 1926, eight years after the property’s purchase:

     “Where do you expect to build your summer home?  Let us suggest “Chestnut Hill,” as the ideal place.  This development is now on the market.  As you know, in building a home, two of the most important things to consider are climate and location.  At “Chestnut Hill” you have both.  We are located just one mile from the top of the Blue Ridge, in the famous Hickory Nut Gap, on Wilmington-Charlotte-Asheville paved Highway no. 20, which is North Carolina’s “Main Street,” seventeen miles to Asheville, four miles to Bat Cave, seven miles to Chimney Rock and Lake Lure, and seventeen miles to Hendersonville—so you see we are in the center of the famous Mountain Section of Western Carolina.

     “Easy to reach either by auto or train.  Gerton post office is in three hundred yards of us.  You can get your Asheville Daily paper before breakfast and mail from the south each day.  Church in one-fourth mile, stores and filling station convenient.  We have electric lights, water piped three thousand feet from the mountain, pure and cold, plenty of other good cold springs. Ponds for children, swimming pool, fishing and hunting.  Plenty of fruit trees and chestnuts galore.  All kinds of lovely mountain shrubbery.  Beautiful view from every lot.  We are trying to make this a place for a home where you can spend your vacation or live comfortable and reasonable the year around. 

    “No more desirable place can be found in North Carolina.  Not too hot in summer nor too cold in winter.  3,200 feet above sea level.  The lots are nice big lots, good enough for the richest and cheap enough for the poorest.  Lots not rough, so you save big expenses of excavating for building.  Also have some desirable business lots.  A dandy proposition for either a home or an investment.  Two homes and three business houses completed and others to be built soon.

     “You will have to see this property to appreciate what we have.  We can’t tell you—“Seeing is Believing”—so we extend to you a hearty invitation to come, look it over, and convince yourself.

       “Don’t forget we have “Lights,” “Water,” and “Streets.”

                                   Respectfully Yours,          CYCLONE AUCTION CO. 

       (Ninety years later, though the advertisement would not be presented in quite the same style as this one, much here in Gerton we can still value and protect by our careful stewardship of our beautiful setting.  Wonder what happened to that gas station, though?  And we can mourn the passing of the chestnut trees most of us never saw in “creamy blossoms that made the mountainsides look covered with snow….”)

This is the Knox Box that has recently been installed at the community center. We are showing the picture here so that you can take a look at the size of it and decide if you would like one for your home. Inside the Knox Box is a key to the building. The Gerton Volunteer Fire Deparment has the key to the box. Should there be some reason for entry into the building--fire, alarm system going off, etc.--the fire department will be able to enter the building without breaking a door or window. Those who live part-time in Gerton might want to consider getting a Knox Box for your home here. You may do this by contacting the Gerton Volunteer Fire Department and ordering one through them. OR you may e-mail Mel Freeman (melandclaudia@hotmail.com) and ask to be put on a list of people who are interested, and we can see if we are able to negotiate a less expensive price. The cost from the fire station is appoximately $200.

(Courtesy: Jean Bradley)

The women of the community hosted a baby shower for Becca Hathaway on Saturday, August 25. Becca's mother joined the gathering, all of whom enjoyed refreshments and oohing and aahing over clothes for really small humans! John and Becca will welcome their new son into the world in mid-October. Thanks to Syble Freeman, Jean Bradley, Roberta Pope, Margaret Colwell,  Patty Tanner, Betty Cameron, and Sylvia Sane for preparing the refreshments and decorating the room. (Courtesy: Meris Jenkins)