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!!)