March 1 in Gerton
The Echo of the Gorge is the bi-monthly newsletter of the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Community Center. The Gerton Post Office and Hickory Creek Market have hard copies. The ECHO may be read online at our blog site: http://gertonecho.blogspot.com/The editor welcomes news items. E-mail Margaret Whitt at mwhitt@du.edu or phone 828-625-0264. An ECHO pad at the PO is another place to add your items of interest. Space determines use, and editor may revise.
UHNGCC Officers: President Mel Freeman; Vice-President Jim Earnhardt; Secretary Jean Bradley and Lana Roberts; Treasurer Sylvia Sane; Past President Margaret Whitt; Board Members: Jean Bradley, Patty Tanner, Gene Earnhardt, Syble Freeman. Board meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month. Margaret Whitt is editor of the ECHO; Debbie Posturino is photographer and blog designer.
Old trees, like old people, just may want to lie down
Calendar of Events
Calendar of Events
Every Monday-Friday - Exercise by walking with your neighbors to a tape at the clubhouse. Daily at 9 a.m.
March 13-17 - Workdays at the clubhouse.
March 20 - 6:30 p.m. Covered Dish Dinner. PROGRAM: GOOD NEWS FOR RE-CYCLERS--Or for you folks who have an uneasy hunch you should be one--March's Program features two people who will bring samples of what can and cannot be thrown into those bright blue recycling bags every week. The speakers will also bring easy-to-read pamphlets, the kind you can post in your pantry or inside a cupboard, to remind you whether you can/cannot toss in used milk cartons, yogurt containers, printed matter and fliers, newspapers and magazines. Do we have to UNstaple printed matter? Can we throw in a tin can? Do they have to be rinsed? What about those numbers on plastic? How long do Styrofoam plates and cups last again in our landfills? Come to dinner and be enlightened!
March 22 - Friends of Hickory Nut Gorge will have a board meeting (open to the public) from 6-6:30 p.m. and a workshop on LIVING with WILDLIFE will run from 6:30-8 p.m.
March 28 - A tour of the Buncombe County Garbage
Ever wonder where your trash goes? Interested to learn about the amount of waste we Buncombe County
March 30 - Hickory Nut Gorge Outreach Fundraiser. SHRIMP and GRITS at Camp Lurecrest, 5 - 8 p.m. Tickets: $10 - adults; $5 - child. May be purchased at the door.
April 7 - Easter Egg Hunt! 2 p.m. on the walking track greens
April 7 - Easter Egg Hunt! 2 p.m. on the walking track greens
April 17 - 6:30 p.m. Covered Dish Dinner. PROGRAM: Caring for Our NeighborsHow do we care best for those who need us? How can we do this without burning out? How can we be a community of caring when the needs can be so great?
Lynn Pace will offer some thoughts from her years of experience training support teams. As a social worker, a community organizer, community outreach coordinator, and a trainer, Lynn knows and deeply appreciates how a community cares for its own. In times of social change and an aging population, it is important to create safety nets of caring. She will also offer resources from the NC Home Care Association for in-home care.
Lynn Pace will offer some thoughts from her years of experience training support teams. As a social worker, a community organizer, community outreach coordinator, and a trainer, Lynn knows and deeply appreciates how a community cares for its own. In times of social change and an aging population, it is important to create safety nets of caring. She will also offer resources from the NC Home Care Association for in-home care.
April 21- 8 a.m. Breakfast and 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. SALE ON THE TRAIL. Begin bringing your garage sale items to the clubhouse on April 16.
April 26 - Friends of Hickory Nut Gorge will host a workshop on INVASIVE SPECIES from 6-8 p.m. There will be no board meeting, but there will be 15 minutes at the beginning and the end for mingling, making the formal presentations from 6:15-7:45 p.m.
May 22 - Noon Luncheon Fundraiser to support the Chaplaincy Ministry at the Swannanoa Correctional Center for Women. The program will feature an inmate telling her story. Come and meet the chaplains and the superintendent of the SCCW. Save the date.
July 27-28 - Summer Play: "Going Up?" Save the dates. More information to follow in our next issue.
President's Note
Things are going well with the Community Club. Committee chairmen have been elected and they are recruiting members. If you are asked to serve on one of the committees, remember to say YES. The more we work together the better the community is and improves. We will begin to rework the storage area on March 13. This is the first part of our kitchen renovation. Come down and give a hand; we have something for everyone to do. Everyone's help is greatly appreciated. ----Mel Freeman
Hickory Creek Market Re-Opens
Hickory Creek Market will be opening for the spring and summer season on March 7. We will be open Wednesday - Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. for the month of March. Starting in April, we will be open 7 days a week from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Hickory Creek Market will be offering a new line of sandwiches & baked goods. You may also purchase your Asheville Citizen Times newspaper. So stop by and see us as we look forward to seeing everyone again.
Nita & Susan
Long-Time Gerton Resident Passes
She worked for the Valley Clinic and Hospital in
She was very active in her church, The Church of the Transfiguration. She gave freely of her time in singing in the choir and as a lay reader. Ellen was also on the Alter Guild. She especially loved her time spent in
A special thanks to the staff at Fleshers of Fairview for the loving care that was given.
She is survived by her daughter Marjorie Lynn Morehead; daughter-in-law, Carolyn Moorehead; three granddaughters, Catherine Dabrowski, Jennifer Morehead, Tammy Kenning; and three grandsons, Todd Morehead, Tom and Tim Moorehead. She was the proud great-grandmother, of Zack Buck, Cameron Baca, Chase Dabrowski, Jordan Kenning, and Nyle Kenning. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend and she will be truly missed by all that knew and loved her.
A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 28, 2012, at The Church of the Transfiguration in Bat Cave with The Reverend Mickey Mugan officiating. The family received friends following the service in the fellowship hall. A private burial will take place at a later date.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to The Church of the Transfiguration, PO BOX 130, Bat Cave, NC 28710.
HEADS UP, you About-to-Graduate High School Seniors: If you'd like an application form for the $300 UHNGCC scholarship, phone Barbara Earnhardt (625-9255) and she'll see that you receive one. Any other student now in a state accredited program can also apply for such help, with preference always being given to the graduating senior. $300 isn't much, but the fact is, it could help out. Deadline is May 15 for completed form.
An overdue thank you to Sylvia Sane for having our flag dry cleaned and to Dillon Schimmel for painting and re-furbishing the flag stand.
An overdue thank you to Sylvia Sane for having our flag dry cleaned and to Dillon Schimmel for painting and re-furbishing the flag stand.
Neighborhood News
Bob Field has been appointed as an alternate member to the Henderson County Zoning Board of Adjustment. The term of his appointment will expire on December 31, 2014. Bob also serves as a member of the Home & Community Care Block Grant committee. This committee advises the County Commissioners on the distribution of funds to organizations that provide services to the senior population of Henderson County
Bob and Diane Field visited Margie Owenby on Christmas morning and delivered a couple of presents to her. Margie said she really misses Gerton and wished more of her Gerton friends would come to visit with her. She looks well and is alert but at 87 years young, it is a little difficult for her to get around. If you have a few minutes to spare, why not drop in to see Margie at Fleshers in Fairview.
Our sympathies to Lucas and Chelsea (Erskine) West in the passing of Lucas' mother, Paulett McMinn, 47, inHendersonville
I saw a cluster of daffodils
Congratulations to Debby Jennings, who graduated in January from the Academy of Five Element Acupuncture in Gainesville, Florida. Debby will be returning to North Carolina in March to begin study for the National Board exams and to prepare for her acupuncture practice opening.
Fire Department will (repeat WILL) replace batteries in home smoke detectors. Homeowner supplies the batteries, please. Most home detectors use 9 volt batteries.
Fire Department will (repeat WILL) replace batteries in home smoke detectors. Homeowner supplies the batteries, please. Most home detectors use 9 volt batteries.
Fire Department can also check your home fire extinguisher, but can’t refill them.
They can direct homeowner to best place for refilling. (KIDDY extinguishers are good only for five years. A good idea: check the date on yours now.)
Fire Department does have plan in place for rescuing anyone lost in the forests around Gerton. Best plan is to ALWAYS TAKE A CELL PHONE with you. Call friend who will know how you can be reached. (Do not throw cell phone at bear until AFTER you’ve called 911. Smile.) Call 911 to try to describe what you’re seeing. Or friend can call 9ll, but better you. (see related story below)
Henderson County Sheriff’s Department can assist fire department members from the community, supplying search dogs if need be. And a MOMA helicopter from Mission Hospital, if it’s not otherwise occupied, will be sent out to help search day or night. Aerial and topographical maps are used. (Some of you may remember that when Nita’s store was open, she recommended always letting someone there know you’d be hiking. That way, if a suspicious amount of time has gone by, someone would be alerted. When the store opens again, leave your cell phone number with someone before you leap into the woods.)
Another Gerton Fire Department Reminder : The KNOX Box, useful in case homeowner is absent, allows building key to unlock a door in case of suspicious activity—smoke, firelight. “It’s sometimes impossible to see a fire back in these woods off some of these roads,” a fire department spokesperson said. Good neighbors will report to help the department out. And the MAIN THING is to get out of the house if you’re in it. But if you’re not home, and a neighbor spots a problem with smoke or light, a Knox Box ($200) avoids having the firemen break into the house. The Fire Department will install the box for anyone who orders one.
A KNOX BOX will be installed at the Community Center. Come inspect it, if you’re not quite sure how this works to assist firemen in case of unoccupied house or building.
In recent months Bearwallow Baptist Church
A Community Clean-up will be held during the week of March 13-17 when the building’s back rooms are reconstructed for more efficiency and modernizing. This is the first part of Phase III in the UHNGCC renovation. Come help.
PIANO REBUILDING BUSINESS, Carolina Pianos, has located itself at the Lyda roadside store, the south end of the building. Michael Luchtan will be there Thursdays ll-3 p.m., in case you’d like to talk about reconditioning your old piano—or are looking for a good used one. He’ll be glad to assist in your hunting. “The pianos I have are pretty ‘rough,' but I’m saving them from being cast off into landfill,” he said by phone.
4413 Gerton Highway
4413 Gerton Highway
Jack Mumpower, we’re glad to say, has survived a quadruple by-pass procedure at Mission Hospital
Jan Beck will be recovering from a hip replacement the month of March. She’ll be home after two weeks of re-hab near her neighborhood.
Bettye Douglas of Palos Verdes, California, suffered a stroke over a year ago and came to her log house on Chestnut Hill for just a few days last summer, hopes to return again this summer. Bettye’s son Tim is her assisted-living help. He reports that he’s just begun to leave her for short periods of time, using his phone’s photo-communication when he calls to check up on her in his absence. Her little dog Agatha is an excellent companion. Gene and Barbara Earnhardt visited for an overnight with the family in early February.
Our sympathies to Lucas and Chelsea (Erskine) West in the passing of Lucas' mother, Paulett McMinn, 47, in
Chad and Serena Corley brought home their brand new baby girl to Chestnut Hills in late January. Lucia weighed 7 pounds and something! We’re all looking forward to her public Gerton debut!
When Fire Department Chief Jay Alley spoke at the January Community Club meeting, he assured us that a CPR class could be offered at the station if enough people said ‘aye’ they wanted a refresher course or renewal credit. If you’re interested, let someone know, please, and we’ll select a date for everyone! New things have been learned about CPR and its application—so feel updated, and participate if you’re interested.
Need a Notary Public? Contact Roberta Pope at 828-335-3336 or rpope52@bellsouth.net.
January-February Programs
Thanks to Jay Alley and Sandon Brackett for coming to our January meeting. Jay answered a number of our questions. Burn permits are necessary, should you choose to start a controlled fire, and may be requested online at http://www.gertonfire.org/. If the flag is out, then somebody is in the building. However, any call made to the fire station will be responded to within six minutes. Right now, twenty volunteers are on staff to handle emergencies. The cost for putting one firefighter in gear is about $5,000 and another $2,000 to train that person. Should anyone want to tour the station or take your grandchildren or summer company to the station, just give Jay a call. Sandon explained how the KNOX Box works and more details are provided above. For those of you who are part-time residents, you might want to consider the purchase of a KNOX Box.
Thanks to Pat Stone for coming to our February meeting. Pat has been editing "Green Prints" for 22 years. With about 10,000 subscribers, this "weeder's digest" won the 2011 award for Best Small Magazine in the Country on gardening. Pat's magazine's content is about how gardening saves/changes our lives. He told a number of stories about the differences gardening can make in people's lives. He also delivered a "thank you" to Gerton for welcoming him and his wife when they first moved here several decades ago. To order your own subscription, go to his website: http://www.greenprints.com/.
Lost in Gerton
January-February Programs
Thanks to Jay Alley and Sandon Brackett for coming to our January meeting. Jay answered a number of our questions. Burn permits are necessary, should you choose to start a controlled fire, and may be requested online at http://www.gertonfire.org/. If the flag is out, then somebody is in the building. However, any call made to the fire station will be responded to within six minutes. Right now, twenty volunteers are on staff to handle emergencies. The cost for putting one firefighter in gear is about $5,000 and another $2,000 to train that person. Should anyone want to tour the station or take your grandchildren or summer company to the station, just give Jay a call. Sandon explained how the KNOX Box works and more details are provided above. For those of you who are part-time residents, you might want to consider the purchase of a KNOX Box.
Thanks to Pat Stone for coming to our February meeting. Pat has been editing "Green Prints" for 22 years. With about 10,000 subscribers, this "weeder's digest" won the 2011 award for Best Small Magazine in the Country on gardening. Pat's magazine's content is about how gardening saves/changes our lives. He told a number of stories about the differences gardening can make in people's lives. He also delivered a "thank you" to Gerton for welcoming him and his wife when they first moved here several decades ago. To order your own subscription, go to his website: http://www.greenprints.com/.
Lost in Gerton
Thanks to Chief Jay Alley and the Gerton Fire Department
Two weeks ago, on February 9, I had gone out for a hike up in Florence Trail Preserve. It was a beautiful spring-like day, and I had taken my dog along with me for a hike up the blue trail to the end. At the end is a beautiful rock cropping with great views, so I decided to sit there and take in the great energy of the mountains. All of a sudden, in the distance, I heard what sounded like a "roar." Was it a bear? A few minutes later, I heard it again, louder and closer. I figured those bears were pretty hungry about now, so I wasted no time as we high-tailed it out of there.
We followed the blue markings out but for some reason the path looked different. I was sure it would all lead back to where I came in. Instead, we came out on a desolate gravel road with no houses. Something looked and felt wrong. As it was already about 4:45, and I was not happy about going back into the wooded preserve, I called my neighbor, Wil. He said he was out of town, but he would make some calls to see if someone could help me. Much to my surprise, the next phone call was from Chief Jay Alley. He told me to stay put and that they would come find me. How nice and reassuring he was. I was getting a little worried as it was starting to cool down and the sun was soon setting. The Chief asked me some questions about what I could see (cell towers) and where the sun was in order to figure out where I could be. He told me a helicopter would be flying over and to wave if I saw it.
Sure enough, after a while, a helicopter flew overhead and spotted me. Within a few minutes, the Chief called to say that they knew where I was and were sending a truck up to get me. I was thankful to see the firemen as they drove up. They took me to the Fire Station to meet the Chief and fill out some paperwork. The firemen were all in the parking lot with their search teams and everyone there was so nice. They even gave me a ride back home.
I am happy to know that the Fire Department has a plan in action to rescue someone in need. Thank you guys very much! I just love Gerton!
Blessings to all, Odilia Forlenza
Those Who Walked in 2011
2011 was a good year for the exercise group with 16 individuals participating up to five times a week. Each weekday morning from 9-10, the group meets to “walk” with Leslie Sansonne, who appears regularly on a DVD! We may have only one or two walkers, but the group has grown to 13 when our summer residents return. Here are the totals for those participants (in alphabetical order):
· Jean Bradley – 360 miles
· Jean Carson - 78 miles
· Barbara Earnhardt – 302 miles
· Toni Eastman- 76 miles
· Joan Erskine – 327 miles
· Claudia Freeman - 94 miles
· Syble Freeman - 96 miles
· Karen Hudson-Brown- 265 miles
· Meg Mumpower - 218 miles
· Gail Ozmina - 227 miles
· Joan Pool - 38 miles
· Roberta Pope - 167 miles
· Lana Roberts - 176 miles
· Sylvia Sane - 358 miles
· Lois Simpson - 118 miles
· Margaret Whitt - 373 miles
Hello Yellow ... Flo Mayberry
bright and yellow as they grew
struggling against the blustery winds
as if they never knew
it was the dead of winter
nowhere near the edge of spring
was it global warming that caused
their internal bell to ring?
struggling against the blustery winds
as if they never knew
it was the dead of winter
nowhere near the edge of spring
was it global warming that caused
their internal bell to ring?
In an effort to understand more about where we live...
A STILL UNSOLVED MYSTERY: The meaning of “Konatoga,” the unusual name of the road adjacent to the church property and inclining up to Mary Mac Hollow Road, can nowhere be found in several dictionaries, nor even in Google! The word’s spelling is closest to “Conastoga,” the name of the transport wagons used in our country’s earliest days, originating in a region in Pennsylvania. The historian consulted declared there was no way in the early l800’s that a Conastoga wagon would have attempted the dirt road up—or down—our Gorge. Syble Freeman rememhers speaking with Louise Carrier who had submitted the name to the highway people, the name based on a carving she had found in a bench on the porch of the Carrier Place. The highway sign department substituted the “K” for ”C.” So—the mystery isn’t solved yet. Any reader knowing more, please advise!
"The Perfect Place" Under Re-Construction!
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