January - February 2015

UHNGCC decorated for the season and awaiting those who will attend the annual Christmas party. 

The Echo is published bi-monthly throughout the year by the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Community Club. You can access the online blog at www.gertonecho.blogspot.com or pick up a paper copy at the Gerton Post Office. News is always welcome; pictures, too. Please submit to Editor Margaret Whitt at mwhitt@du.edu or 625-0264. Roving Reporter: Barbara Earnhardt. Photographers: Sylvia Sane, Jean Bradley, Jim Earnhardt.

Officers for 2015: Jim Sane, President; Lynn Morehead, Vice President; Sarah Gayle, winter secretary; Lana Roberts, summer secretary; Sylvia Sane, treasurer. Board members include Jim Earnhardt, Patty Tanner, Jean Bradley, and Claudia Freeman. Margaret Whitt, immediate past president. 

Calendar of Events

January 10, 1-2:30 p.m. Bullington Gardens' Grafting Workshop 

January 20, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. Community Covered Dish. Program:  UHNGCC Business matters.

January 27, 2-3 p.m. Bullington Gardens Terrarium Workshop

January 31, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Explore the Winter Landscape, Bullington Gardens

February 17, 2-3:30 p.m. Landscape Design: What every home gardener needs to know. Bullington Gardens

February 17, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. Community Covered Dish. Program: Gloria Black Anders, clinical herbalist, will present "A Holistic Approach to Coping with Colds and Flu."  Gloria works for the American Herbalist Guild and is trained in the science of herbalism.

February 24, Bullington Gardens, Practical Aspects of Landscape Maintenance           

(Bullington Gardens is located in Hendersonville, 95 Upper Red Oak Trail.

                Call 698-6104 for a reservation, small charges per workshop.) 

President’s Note

The following info will update everyone on projects' status at the community club.

Crawl space Moisture Issue:  We had a significant moisture problem in the crawl space under the community club.  This moisture problem was damaging the structure of the flooring timbers.  The problem was water entering the crawl space through the foundation.  The problem was evaluated.  A plan was decided upon and is in progress.  (1)  A drain pipe system was installed to evacuate the water from the front of the building.  (2)  A sump pump has been purchased and will be installed in the near future. 

New Kitchen Project:  We’re getting closer.  The Kitchen Committee (Jim Sane, Jim Earnhardt, Jean Bradley, Patty Tanner, and Lynn Morehead) went to Lowe's to select the cabinets,  countertop, and flooring on 17 December.  This has been accomplished.  We paid the fee for a detail measurement of the kitchen.  A Lowe's associate will be coming out to measure for the cabinets.  This step must be performed before ordering the cabinets.  Jim Earnhardt and I should be contacting available members in the very near future to coordinate dates to begin demo of the kitchen area.

Dinner Hosts/Committee Volunteers:  The community club needs you.  We need volunteers to host the monthly dinners.  Hopefully,  this will be accomplished at the January meeting.  We also need volunteers for our committees that help coordinate critical functions for the club.  Let's make this another successful year for the UHNGCC.  I will have the sign-up sheets at each monthly meeting. 

Jim Sane

Unexpected Moments of Joy

By Bonnie Moore

In this wondrous season of giving, I want to issue Gerton a challenge. The rules: First, money does not have to be involved. Second, you have to have no expectation that you yourself will benefit. Third, and finally, the joy you give out does not have to be for only one person, but may affect others unknown to you.

Here's an example: the little roadside library the community set up. Some passersby never see it, but others are surprised and delighted, often leaving notes.

Many of the members of Bearwallow Baptist Church give out wooden nickels that say in a very personal way that the person getting the nickel is loved. Some nickels have found their way into hands of people having a bad day and have made an immediate impact, turning their day around, thus giving an unexpected moment of joy.

Do you have a device that cleans out gutters? You might use that on someone's house other than your own. Geo Cacheing is big right now. Hide a trinket then go online and post the location. Make a "Welcome Home" sign and post at the entrance to your road. Tree crews are around, could you hand them a cup of hot cocoa? You can think up ideas way better than mine. What you want is something that will make someone smile. Send a picture of your project to Margaret Whitt (mwhitt@du.edu) and maybe you will see it in the next Echo.

Someone recently told me they had lived many places, but never had they felt more accepted and loved than right here at the top of Hickory Nut Gorge. They commented on how giving Gertonites are, but true giving has no expectation of return. So as a Gertonite, pay a smile forward and make yourself a Merry Christmas. 

Notes from the Little Library

The little library has been busy since the last report (two months ago), but we only have two notes to report:

• "I did not take a book because I didn't have one to give in return, but let me say that I appreciate this spot that offers such trust, respect, knowledge, and excitement within the human spirit. There are still good people out there and this signifies your acknowledgement of such a species!

          Thank you! Made my morning."  from Jeff, Atlanta, Georgia

• "Stopped to get some water here! Awesome spot in the world! Peaceful!"

          from Jason, 12/12/14......."Love is all that remains the same!"
  

We need to post a sign that says: You don't need to leave a book to take a book, or

If you want a book but don't have a book, that is OK, too. Help yourself! 

November Program

Several dozen gathered on November 18 to share in our traditional turkey Thanksgiving dinner. This year Ingles prepared the turkey, Jim Earnhardt carved the bird, and Helen Brown once again prepared the dressing--with oysters and without! Community folks brought all the sides and there was enough for folks to take home a dinner for someone who couldn't make it out to join us on this very cold night. Though the skies were clear, the temperature dipped below 20 degrees. Young Samuel Holt Hathaway worked on his attendance record for community meals--in his young life, he hasn't missed a single community gathering!

New officers for 2015 were installed by Virginia McGuffey: President - Jim Sane, Vice-President - Lynn Morehead, Winter Secretary - Sarah Gayle, Treasurer - Sylvia Sane, Board Members: Patty Tanner, Jean Bradley, Jim Earnhardt, and Claudia Freeman. Immediate Past President - Margaret Whitt.

Gerton Group Lends Hands to Operation Christmas Child

By Syble Freeman

Bearwallow Baptist fielded an eight-member team to work at the Operation Christmas Child (OCC)  warehouse in Charlotte on December 10.  Three additional members missed the trip because of illness and work obligations.

The Charlotte distribution center will handle 2.4 million boxes this year.  When we were there 1.4 million boxes had already been opened, inspected, supplemented, sealed, and packed for shipping!

Three on our team (Jean Bradley, Pat Davis, and Carlene Burleson) worked in the "filler" unit.  They organized items to supplement boxes with open space.  Four of us (J. W. Davis, Marvin Lewis, Syble Freeman, and Kathryn Davis) served on the "line" where we inspected, filled empty spaces, and sealed boxes.  Our eighth member (Carrie Kuester) wanted a more active job.  She sorted boxes into shipping cartons organizing them by gender and age.  A shipping carton held fourteen to sixteen Operation Christmas Child boxes.  Separating the boxes into age and gender designations enabled the distribution teams to supply the correct number of appropriate boxes to pastors and other leaders at worldwide distribution points. Some of the OCC boxes we handled will be distributed in Columbia and other South American countries.

 Our 10 a. m. to 2 p. m. assignment flew by, and we all agreed we will do this again.  These reservations were made in September, so "save the date" and tell Syble if you are interested for next year.

Left to right: Marvin Lewis,Jean Bradley, Pat Davis, Syble Freeman, Carlene Burleson 

Left to right: Jean Bradley, Roy Graham (Franklin Graham's son) Pat and J.W. Davis

Christmas Party

UHNGCC, with its new gravel out front, stands ready for the Party. 

The annual Christmas party occurred on Tuesday, December 16. Over two dozen attendees brought finger foods and small gifts that were exchanged after we ate. Dillon Schimmel led us in the singing of several Christmas carols and neighbors enjoyed the fellowship with one another. Most unusual present appeared to be an inflatable moose head--you never know when you are going to have need for such a gift! Others were pleased with candy, flashlights, puzzles, frames, bookmarks, pill boxes, duct tape, etc. John Solomon Hathaway gave everyone a wrapped present and after all had opened them, folks walked around, as called, and took what they wanted more than what they had received. Most left satisfied!

One of two tables of neighbors enjoyed a snack dinner before the gift exchange.

Henderson County Community Organizations Honored in Regional Event

ASHEVILLE, NC                  WNC Communities celebrated 65 years of community achievement through the WNC Honors Awards Program. Saturday, November 22 over 250 community leaders from 15 counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee were recognized and rewarded for their exceptional community development programs at a luncheon at The Omni Grove Park Inn.  Five communities from Henderson County were honored this year. 

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 prestigious award.  UHNG was chosen as the “best of the best” because of their ability to work together in assessing, developing, and implementing strategies to address community issues. 

Community of Promise is the second highest honor with a cash award of $1,000.  Crab Creek was one of 20 rural community associations from western North Carolina to receive this honor.  They were chosen because of the initiatives implemented by the community that show promise and can be replicated around the region. 

Edneyville, Mills River and Upward were honored as Participating Communities and received cash awards of $300 each for their successful programs and projects over the past year.

In addition, Edneyville received the President’s Award for submitting an application to this annual awards program for 25 years.  

The Calico Cat Junior Award is a time-honored tradition that has been a part of the WNC Honors Awards for over 25 years.  Fired Up Pottery paints these elegant pieces of art each year to reward communities for their work in improving their existing community centers.   This year’s Calico Cat Junior was awarded to Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Community. 

Jim Earnhardt holds the new Cat, Jr. 

Check out our collection of Four Cats in the trophy case. 

  “Rural communities are the unsung heroes that work diligently to enhance the quality of life for residents in Henderson County, doing everything from food pantries, beautification programs, developing youth programs, health and wellness programs, as well as numerous events and educational opportunities to keep our great art, craft, and music traditions alive,” shares Linda Lamp, Executive Director of WNC Communities.

Generous sponsorships from Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Hotel, Duke Energy, Mission Health, Buncombe County Farm Bureau, Carolina Farm Credit, First Citizens Bank, Wells Fargo and HomeTrust Bank made it possible to award over $37,000 to 66 community centers and clubs throughout the mountains for 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, fund raising efforts, collaboration with local organizations or businesses, economic development and sustainability, as well as their community future and vision.

 

From left: Jean Bradley, Margaret Whitt, Lynn Morehead, Jim Earnhardt accept the award for Community of Distinction from Lumpy Lambert, GM of Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel.
      

Christmas Greenery Workday

                         Sarah Gayle and Gloria Anders work on the greens. Jean Bradley, Joan Erskine, Sylvia Sane, Jack Mumpower and Meg Mumpower do likewise!

On Tuesday, December 2, we gathered at the community center to prepare the greens with bright red bows for hanging on each street sign in Gerton that turns off our scenic by-way 74-A. The helpers were the following: Sylvia and Jim Sane, Jean Bradley, Sarah Gayle, Gloria Anders, Joan Erskine, Dillon Schimmel, Lynn Morehead, Mack and Mary Kay McAdams, Margaret Whitt, Meg and Jack Mumpower, Becca Hathaway with John Solomon and Samuel Holt, Jim Earnhardt made three fresh wreaths for the front doors. The group brought greens and put together 36 hanging greens. Dillon Schimmel and Jim Sane then took the completed hangers out to the road signs, the Welcome to Gerton signs, the community club sign, the Chestnut Hills sign,  and placed them for all to enjoy as they drive through our community.

We also decorated the Christmas tree, hung the big wreath in the window, and placed the garland on the front poles outside. Many hands make light work, and we were finished sooner that we had expected. It takes a village....

Becca Hathaway with John Solomon and Samuel Holt arrive to help Mary Kay McAdams with the garland outside the center.

Soup Day Comes to Gerton

Helen Brown had the idea, organized the ingredients needed, posted a request sheet, and showed up bright and early on Thursday, December 4, at 9 a.m., with grandson helper J.D. Nappi, to begin the preparation of a huge pot of vegetable beef soup. She added and tended and seasoned as needed until a little after 3 p.m. when the first customer came by. Folks were asked to bring a container, drop a donation in the bowl (not the bowl that contained the soup), and take home some hot soup for dinner. Helen prepared for about 50 servings--more or less. Three hours later when the last customer headed home, we poured four single servings into small containers and popped them into the freezer. Somebody will take then sooner or later! At the end of the day, we made $200, which has been placed in our savings account for use on the new kitchen. We may just have to have a return of SOUP DAY in Gerton! Thanks, Helen, for the idea and thanks to those who came by to get their supper.

UHNGCC Under-the-Building Water Repair

Just as we were about to begin the kitchen dismantling, Terminix advised that we have a great deal of water underneath our building. We also have rotting timbers holding up our flooring. Just like many places in America today, we have an infrastructure problem. Terminix offered us a bid to correct the situation for.....a bit over $19,000! We, responsibly, sought other avenues of correction and landed with Bobby Dees, who with help from Jack Pace and his son Joe Pace installed in the front of the building a new French drain with new piping that will take the water away from the building. New gutters were added in the front with new piping that will also redirect the water. Dirt from Chestnut Hills was brought over to shore up the low areas. On December 15, a load of gravel (cost: $500) was delivered and smoothed over the new dirt. A sump pump will be installed and connected. In the spring, we will re-visit the timber problem and replace support beams where needed. A job well done for $3,000.

A part of the work that has been recently done to preserve the UHNGCC. Bobby Dees installing the pipes to take the water away from underneath the building. 

A load of new gravel has been dumped and spread over the new French drain and the front of the UHNGCC. Thanks to Bobby Dees!

Childhood Homes

(Ed. Note: A new Echo feature will present childhood homes of those who now call Gerton home.)

Guess who called the Umatilla Hotel (Florida) home?

When Helen Brown and Ruth Hudson were in elementary school, their parents, Henry and Dixie Hudson, bought the Umatilla Hotel, shown above. Rooms were upstairs--the second two windows on the second floor (from the left, on the side street) was the childhood room of Helen and Ruth. Downstairs was an A&P Grocery Store and the door facing the side street was the way into a beauty parlor (as hair salons were called in earlier times). Gathering place for the family was the large table in the downstairs dining room. Helen and Ruth had assigned household duties throughout the hotel, which no doubt contributed to their many talents that manifest themselves today.

The Hudsons sold their hotel when Helen was a senior in high school. The hotel remained in business for many years, but about a decade ago, the property was razed.

Neighborhood News

Ryan and Jane Vogelman Lubbers joyously announce the birth of their baby daughter, Kai Cedar to their family.  Kai weighed in at 8 pounds, 3 ounces on November ll. She is newest resident of Hickory Nut Forest.

REMEMBER! l8-wheelers are prohibited on our Highway 74-A.  Call 911 if you see one, ask for Highway Patrol, and describe the truck to the person answering.  Late in December just at dark, as I rounded a curve toward Gerton, an ocean-liner of an ENORMOUS white l8-wheeler loomed driving toward Fairview--and I was driven off the road.  I'm still mad.  My lucky cell phone was at the ready--and I made the call, and felt a little better.  Another six inches, though, and my car and I might tell another story.  PHONE THE HIGHWAY PATROL to save us all from more such accidents.  Our curves are charming, and deadly. --Barbara Earnhardt

November - December 2014

Neighbors gather for conversation over tea at the Teacup High Tea held on September 18. Seated from left and continuing clockwise: Keith Earnhardt, Jean Bradley, Ruth Hudson, Virginia McGuffey, Faith Perry, Ruth Ann Nappi, Helen Brown, and Julie Delich.

The Echo is published bi-monthly throughout the year by the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Community Club. You can access the online blog at www.gertonecho.blogspot.com or pick up a paper copy at the Gerton Post Office. News is always welcome; pictures, too. Please submit to Editor Margaret Whitt at mwhitt@du.edu or 625-0264. Photographers: Sylvia Sane, Lana Roberts, Jean Bradley, Dave MacDonald.

Officers for 2014: Margaret Whitt, President; Lynn Morehead, Vice President; Becca Hathaway, winter secretary; Lana Roberts, summer secretary; Sylvia Sane, treasurer. Board members include Jim Earnhardt, Claudia Freeman, Jean Bradley, and Jim Sane.

Calendar of Events

November 4, 4:30-5:30 p.m. OPEN HOUSE at Mahec Family Health Center, 146 Nesbitt Ridge, Lake Lure

November 7, l:00 – 2:30 p.m. at Bullington Center: Pruning ornamental trees and shrubs.  $12

November 8, 8:30- 10:30 a.m. Bird walk led by Simon Thompson, Chimney Rock State Park. Call    800-277-9611 to register. $22 adult; $10 season passholder. Find out which birds stay for winter.

November 18, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. Community Thanksgiving Dinner. Turkey provided. Bring sides.

December 1, Monday, 10 a.m. - Meet at the center to prepare the greenery to hang on the street signs

December 2, 3-4:30 p.m. Wreathe-Making Workshop:
              Make your own all natural wreathe with the wide
              variety of greenery clipped at Bullington Gardens. $40

December 4 - 3-5 p.m. SOUP DAY IN THE GORGE. Come to the UHNGCC with a container and take home some soup for a donation. 

December 5 & 6,  l0 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Holiday Plant Sale.  Amaryllis, poinsettias, wreathes, pre-ordered Christmas trees and more.
        (Call 698-6104 to register or learn more.)

December 6 and 13, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Santa appears ON Chimney Rock, at the State Park. Event included with admission.

December 16, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. CHRISTMAS PARTY

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

President's Note

New Kitchen!!!!!

Finally, the long-promised, eagerly awaited kitchen will soon be a reality. At our community meeting on October 21, a motion was made, seconded, and passed unanimously to move ahead with the kitchen. Here is the plan:  1) remove every possible thing in the kitchen and serving room to the new storage area; 2) take down the built-in cabinets that are almost 100 years old--give or take a few years; 3) rebuild the walls with new studs and sheet rock; 4) paint and adjust/add/replace lighting, as needed. Next, replace the unlevel flooring in the kitchen and serving area with high quality linoleum--all matching, all level, all new. Then, install brand new high quality cabinets. And finally, replace kitchen supplies--and celebrate!

Though we will start soon on the first three activities, we should have all in place by late winter or early spring. You will see pictures of our progress in the next ECHO! The refurbished kitchen will complete our renovation of the entire community center, and we will move forward knowing that those who come after us will have a building in good shape to use for the next generation. 

I always like to give a quick update on our little library. Since last report, we have had a good bit of book swapping, but only three short notes:

• Love this!!
• Great idea!
• What a wonderful idea!! Visiting from Columbia, SC, to attend a wedding at Laughing Waters!

Thanks again for supporting our fundraisers through the last three years and making our new kitchen a possibility. What a great place to live and what great neighbors, who are always willing to say YES.

Margaret Whitt

GertonFest VI

For the sixth year, we held our annual GertonFest event on the Saturday of Labor Day; this year, August 30. We had four events that brought in money and four events that were just for fun.
In the first category: our pancake breakfast made $185. Many thanks to Syble and Don Freeman, Joan Erskine, Ted Roberts, Jim Sane, Lynn Morehead. Next our homemade baked goods sale brought in $300.50. Thanks to Lana Roberts for heading this up, and Patty Tanner for staffing the table, and the following 23 people for contributing goods: Margaret Colwell, Jean Bradley, Helen Brown, Ruth Hudson, Mary Kay MacAdams, Margaret Whitt, Virginia McGuffey, Lynn Morehead, Syble Freeman, Becca Hathaway, Barbara Earnhardt, Pat Davis, Keith Earnhardt, Betty Cameron, Jean Carson, Patty Tanner, Lana Roberts, Roberta Pope, Sarah Gayle, Toni Eastman, Lois Simpson, Joan Erskine, and Melissa Grindle. Thanks to Jean Bradley for staying on top of our cookbook sales. We sold five on GertonFest day, but also another 21 to A Day in the Country. That brought our cookbook sales to $260.

For the silent auction, we have the community to thank but most especially Lynn Morehead (Chimney Rock), Jim Earnhardt (Lake Lure), Lana Roberts (Hendersonville), Sylvia Sane and Margaret Whitt (Fairview and a touch of Asheville). We had over 50 items on the auction block and made a total of $735.50. These are the merchants and restaurants that gave gift cards to our auction. When you shop or eat there, you are helping us to have help from them another year! Thanks to Angelo's, Food Lion, Hot Dog King, Creative Touch, Smokey and the Pig BBQ, Local Joint, Mr. K's Bookstore, J&S Cafeteria, Nachos and Beer, and Sonic (Fairview and Asheville). Thanks to Bubba's, Esmeralda, the Gem Store, Medina's Bistro, River Watch Grill, State Park, The Hickory Nut (Chimney Rock). Thanks to La Strada, Larkins on the Lake, Lake Lure Inn and Spa, Lake Lure Golf Club (Lake Lure). Thanks to A Day in the Country, Flat Rock Playhouse, Fresh Market, Lyda Farms, Mast General Store, Fireside Cafe, Moose Cafe, and Mountain Fresh Orchards (Hendersonville).

Thanks to Billy Gaines and his crew of Ted Roberts, Jim and Sylvia Sane, Jean Bradley, Syble and Don Freeman, and Claudia Freeman for preparing the delicious Bar-B-Cue, topped off once again with Billy's famous banana pudding. One of our guests from the camp ground in Bat Cave was heard to say that the pudding was so good it make him want to eat his lips! We made $537 on dinner. The total comes to $2018.

The free events included a carousel inflatable for kids. Thanks to Claudia Freeman for arranging this endeavor and to Bearwallow Baptist for providing the popsicles. Once again team spelling bee saw three teams spelldown to the finish. The winning team was comprised of Jim Sane, Barbara and Gene Earnhardt. Our first trivia bowl saw Ted Roberts' team with a score of 39 squeak by six other teams, winning ice cream coupons. And finally, thanks to Dr. Bob Stepp and friends, who played music and sang while we enjoyed the BBQ dinner.

Thanks to Jim Sane, Don and Maryann Adoryan, and Jim Earnhardt for putting up the signs and to Jim Sane for delivering flyers to the campgrounds inviting people to join us for breakfast and dinner.

GertonFest VI is a wonderful community event, a time to officially close out the summer and be with neighbors as we welcome apple season and the start of fall.

September Program

Karen Hudson-Brown's clavichord concert at our September 16 community dinner was a real highlight of our time together. Karen, who divides her time between Gerton and Charlotte, has been on the music faculty of Pfeiffer University, a piano tuner for over 25 years, and a performer for almost all the days of her life, performing for the lead piano instructor at Julliard when she was but 10! Karen has also performed at the Smithsonian in Washington, but the next time she goes there, she will say she is fresh off the Gerton circuit. Her program of Clavichord Classics included J.S. Bach's Minuet in G Major, Prelude in C Major and Prelude in B-Flat Major, Georg Philipp Telemann's Aria in G Major, Jules Massenet's Crepuscule, and Mary Lou Paschal's Suite on the Augmented Fourth for Clavichord. For everyone in attendance, the event was the FIRST clavichord concert of our lives!

Karen Hudson-Brown answers questions from the audience at her recent Clavichord Concert performed at the UHNGCC.

October Program

Mickey Beland, retired U.S. forest ranger, who now heads a forestry class for Job Corps, was our speaker on October 21 when 26 neighbors gathered for our monthly meal. The highlight of Mickey's talk was twofold: he did a number of animal calls--different owls, wild turkeys, a red-tailed hawk, other birds. For this, he clearly has a gift. The other excellent moment was an explanation of who comprises the job corps pool in today's environment--how many of them lack life skills, a high school education, and, apparently, a clear direction in life. It is clear that Mickey Beland has much to say on many topics and perhaps a return visit might be a possibility! Thanks to Jean Carson for suggesting we invite him to come. 

Mickey Beland (right) gives his talk with one-month-old Samuel Holt (far left) listening attentively, especially to the animal calls! 

Thursday Game Days Are Back

Join us on Thursdays at 1 p.m. in the community center for a game of Chicken Foot (a spin on dominoes). Weekly winner takes home a trophy for the week--what else? a meticulously sculptured chicken foot, designed and handcrafted by the talented Bonnie Moore. Recent winners include Patty Tanner, Jean Bradley, Billy Gaines, and Lynn Morehead. Bring a treat to share--or just come. You will know we are there by the cars parked out front on any given Thursday. We usually finish around 3:30 p.m.

Teacup High Tea

Just as Duke Energy's letter warned, we "might" experience power outages on the morning of Thursday, September 18. Even though a call clarified that "if" it happened at all, it would be maybe for two or three minutes. BUT, the power outage did happen--for about four hours. By 12:30 p.m., all was well and our first-in-a-long-time tea happened without a hitch.

When guests entered the transformed UHNGCC, they paused to pick out a tea cup, which they were invited to take home.

The first guests began arriving at about 2;20 p.m. The tables were prepared and the guests filtered in, found a seat, talked with one another. Brad Earnhardt arrived to play classical guitar throughout. After an official welcoming at 3 p.m., Joan Erskine, Lana Roberts, Sylvia Sane, Patty Tanner, Virginia McGuffey, and Margaret Colwell all dressed in identical teacup tea aprons made by Roberta Pope began to pour tea as they moved from table to table. And pour tea they did until every last drop had been consumed.

We borrowed the tables and chairs from the Lake Lure Inn. Thanks to Don Freeman, Doug Colwell, David Scoggins, Jim Earnhardt, Jim Sane, Marc Eastman, and Ted Roberts for picking up the tables and chairs on Wednesday morning and returning them on Thursday afternoon. Later in the day on Wednesday, Jackie Palmer arrived from Lancaster, South Carolina, to place the white linens on white linens, to set out the napkins, silver spoons, serving dishes and platters.

Jackie Palmer (sister of Margaret Whitt) was a great help by providing the linens and serving pieces for the tea. Here she brings the tasty treats to one of the tables.

Early on Thursday morning, just after the power went out, Helen Brown arrived, having had help from Ruth Hudson and Ruth Ann Nappi, to freshen the flowers, set them on the tables. Each flower arrangement was in a teapot and lit with a special light and then placed atop a glass cake pedestal.

The menu included cucumber sandwiches from Patty Tanner,  while Virginia McGuffey prepared chicken salad sandwiches in filo cups and mint miniature brownies. Lana Roberts and Toni Eastman made pecan tassies. Finally, Margaret Colwell prepared grated vegetable sandwiches and pecan cheese savories. Sugar cubes, cut lemon with cloves, and milk was placed on each table.

The new incarnation of our high tea offered each guest the opportunity to take home their selected cup--cups that had been collected over the last several years by Patty Tanner, Claudia Freeman,  Sylvia Sane and others. The event was a huge success thanks to all the people who helped make it so and all the people who participated. The tea became a time for generations to talk with one another, to dress tea-appropriately and to engage in taking photos. Because every aspect of the tea was donated, UHNGCC made $1040, all of which has gone into our savings account toward the very-soon-now complete renovation of the kitchen.

North Carolina Scenic Byways...

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDoT) has designated 44 Scenic Byways in the state. The ten-mile stretch between Fairview and Bat Cave, encompassing Gerton is officially named "Drovers Road." From the NCDoT book on all of the scenic byways, here is an excerpt about our own:

"This route passes through Hickory Nut Gap, one of only two gaps in the Blue Ridge Mountains which early eastern settlers took to reach the beautiful Asheville plateaus. Many farmer drove flocks of their market-bound livestock through this gap, hence the byway's name.

"Imagine back 100 years ago, to see the undaunted beauty of this area. The route is now quite different. Its beauty still abounds and the paths blazed a century ago are also the avenues of choice today. The route U.S. 74A works its way down from Asheville and the Blue Ridge Parkway. The byway begins just south of the community of Fairview. As you travel south/southeast, notice the tall peak to your left--the Little Pisgah Mountain (elev. 4,412') once known to the Cherokee Indians as Konnatoga.

"This forewarns the climb up and through Hickory Nut Gap. Long ago this gap was known as Sherrill's Gap--named after an historic inn and tavern owned by Bedford Sherrill. This inn, open between 1834 and 1909, was a well-known comfort stop for weary travelers, settlers, drovers and Civil War soldiers. This National Register Historic Site still stands but is now maintained as a private residence....As you drive the wide curves between Ferguson Mountain and Tater Knob,...you are treated to the symphony of flowering trillium and mountain laurel.

"Descending from the gap you drive into Hickory Nut Gorge. Bearwallow Mountain is to your right. Hickory Nut Creek (also known as the Rocky Broad) parallels your drive and a chain of blue ridges. At five miles from the beginning of the byway, you find the quaint village of Gerton. This community was first known as Pump. As the story goes, the town's original name came from the frequent practice of thirsty patrons leaving money by a local water pump and upon their return they would find a jar of clear potent liquid--unique to these hills. The drive through here offers several craft shops, stores, campground and some roadside stands. Sorry, the infamous pump is gone." (Ed. note: Note as well, that the craft shops, stores, campgrounds, and roadside stands are now also gone!)

"The high steep sides of the gorge are covered in a cascade of rocks, trees and rhododendron. In spring, you may see a tree with deep lavender blooms scattered along this drive. The Paulownia Tree, also known as the Empress Tree was originally brought here by George Vanderbilt. Since first introduced, the seeds of this tree have been spread throughout this area by birds. The byway ends at Bat Cave where it intersects with NC 9 and the Black Mountain Rag scenic byway."

Henderson County Council Annual Awards Honors 

Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Community Club

The annual awards dinner was held at the Henderson County Extension Center in Hendersonville on Saturday, October 18. Four community clubs in the county are still active and participate in competitions and in communal activities: Crab Creek, Upward, Edneyville, and Upper Hickory Nut Gorge. Once again, we won the most prizes: Beautification ($125), Community Club of the Year, Division B ($125), Club Improvement Award, and Outstanding Programs Award. Margaret Whitt and Lynn Morehead were there to pick up the prizes. Some of the categories in which county awards are given are not applicable to our club, such as, Youth Programs; this year, these awards went to Edneyville Junior Grange and Crab Creek Baptist. Upward received the Fund Raising Award for contributing $7,200 to the medical costs of one of their neighbors.

The western regional WNCCommunities annual awards will take place at the Grove Park Inn on Saturday, November 22. For the last three years, we have taken the top prize twice and the second prize once, for a total of $5,000--all of which has gone into our savings account for the new kitchen. 

College Class Field Trip to Gerton...

For the second year, the History and Heritage of Henderson County, a class at Blue Ridge Community College taught by Jennie Jones Giles, returned to UHNGCC to eat their lunches and learn a bit about Gerton. About 20 to 30 listened to Jim Sane tell how Gerton got its name, Jim Earnhardt speak about the early days of the subdivision of Chestnut Hills and the one-time swimming pool. Sylvia Sane served coffee, while Margaret Whitt spoke briefly about the history of our building. 

Before heading down the road to tour Sherrill's Inn, the group listened to their teacher talk about the scenic byway in front of our center. Before leaving, our visitors lingered to purchase some Gerton cookbooks! (We only have 50 left!--Get yours soon!) And visit our little library.

Neighborhood News

Samuel Holt Hathaway came into the world on September 23, weighing exactly 8 pounds, and just over 21 inches long. Mom Becca reports that John Solomon is the perfect big brother and wakes every morning to see his new little brother. All Hathaways are hunkering down and settling in for the cool days ahead. 

Welcome to the world, Samuel Holt

Jim and Sylvia Sane celebrated their birthdays this year by traveling to the wild west, visiting friends and the Grand Canyon, and taking in an Eagles Concert. Appropriately, Jim just felt a need to be "standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona," no doubt singing the lyrics from "Take It Easy," written by Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey and made famous by the Eagles.  Nothing like being on site of the inspiration for one of the most popular songs of the last several decades.

Special thanks go to Jeanne O'Connor for doing the baskets on the bridge beside Bearwallow Baptist for 12 years! She keeps something blooming all season plus sees that the flowers are watered when need be. 

Chelsea and Lucas West welcomed Ezra Harlow into the family on October 19. Chelsea delivered Erza by natural childbirth. He weighed 8 lbs, 14 oz., and was 21.5 inches long. Big sister AnnaSophia, almost 2, and grandmom Lorri Erskine, Aunt Cassidy, and great grandparents Joan and David Erskine are all excited to have Ezra join the family.

Seniors Helping Seniors......Ph  236-0662 ...may be the place to call if you need help caring for a senior when you are out of town. They are located in Fairview. The Sanes just used the service when they traveled west, and they reported being pleased with the help they were assigned. 

TIME TO FILL A H.O.P.E (Help Other People Eat) BAG for the Hickory Nut Gorge Outreach. 200 Families have signed up for a Thanksgiving meal. Each meal costs $35. If you would like to bring the following to the community center before November 7, we will deliver for you. Come between 9-10 a.m. (when exercise is in session). Here are the needs: canned green beans, corn, sweet peas, cranberry sauce, cake mix and icing. You may send a check to PO Box 634, Lake Lure, NC 28746.

September - October 2014

One of many of the beautiful explosions as we launched the fireworks into the night July evening to celebrate our country's birthday.

July 4th Event

The country's birthday provided us with a cool evening and clear skies. About 40 or more of us gathered at the community center for hot dogs and hamburgers prepared on the grill by Jim Earnhardt. After dinner, we played BINGO, offering candy bar prizes, several with a $10 notation on the back, which meant money in the pocket--both of the big winners were among the younger of those present. Just before 9 p.m., we moved outside for our fireworks extravaganza, with Jason Freeman as our lead coordinator and fireworks lighter. It is hard to believe that Gerton did not make this year's USA TODAY's list of top ten places to go for fireworks!. After the grand finale, parked cars along the way were seen pulling away into the night.

Jason, Mary, and Eric Freeman were all winners at the Bingo portion of our community July 4 celebration.

The Echo is published bi-monthly throughout the year by the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Community Club. You can access the online blog at www.gertonecho.blogspot.com or pick up a paper copy at the Gerton Post Office. News is always welcome; pictures, too. Please submit to Editor Margaret Whitt at mwhitt@du.edu or 625-0264. Photographers: Sylvia Sane, Shirley Boone, Frankie Tipton, Jean Bradley.

Officers for 2014: Margaret Whitt, President; Lynn Morehead, Vice President; Becca Hathaway, winter secretary; Lana Roberts, summer secretary; Sylvia Sane, treasurer. Board members include Jim Earnhardt, Claudia Freeman, Jean Bradley, and Jim Sane.

Calendar of Events

August 30, Saturday - GERTONFEST VI
 Pancake Breakfast -  8 - 10:30 a.m. $4
Silent Auction - 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Cake, Pie, Cookie, Brownie Sale - 8 a.m. until gone
Inflatables for kids - 1 - 5:30 p.m.
Team Spelling Bee - 3 p.m.

Music - Bob Stepp and Friends
Bar-B-Cue - 5 - 7 p.m. $8
TRIVIA BOWL - 7 p.m. - First Ever. Prizes

September 10, noon, Wednesday - Ministry of Hope's 15th annual Fall Luncheon, noon. Silent auction begins at 11 a.m.
Montreat Assembly Hall. Margaret Whitt - 625-0264 for tickets

September 16, Tuesday -  6:30 p.m. Community Covered Dish.
 Program: Karen Hudson-Brown on the Clavichord

September 18, Thursday - 3 p.m. Tea Cup High Tea - Get your tickets NOW. $15.
Call Patty Tanner at 625-4189

October 21, Tuesday - 6:30 p.m. Community Covered Dish.

President's Note

As fall settles into the gorge, we have much to be thankful for--many days of good weather, gardens, flowers, and the natural beauty of the gorge all around us. And, most of all, the ongoing good will of neighbors and friends, who continue to reach out to one another in the good and sad times.

Birdie's Cafe was another amazingly successful weekend; we raised about $1,700, the most ever! Our thanks go out to Helen Brown and the whole cast, who came from near and far, to share their talents with us. Thanks, too, for those who came forward to set up and take down the staging: Jack Mumpower, Jim Earnhardt, Dave MacDonald, Stan Mobley, Billy Gaines, Gene Earnhardt, Sylvia and Jim Sane, Meg Mumpower, Barbara Earnhardt, Gene Earnhardt. To Dave Scoggins, who painted the doorway when Helen requested. To Lynn Morehead, who organized the props, and controlled the lighting. To Patty Tanner and Virginia McGuffey, who sold tickets. To Ruth Hudson, who provided the artwork for the programs. To Lana Roberts and Sylvia and Jim Sane, who sold refreshments and hired the Birdie's Cafe backdoor workers to make those chocolate cakes. To those who made the cakes and did all the other things when asked to help out.

We organized our first, in a long time, high tea--thanks to Patty Tanner, Virginia McGuffey, and Margaret Colwell, who spearheaded the event. Thanks to Bonnie Moore for making the tickets. Thanks to Sylvia Sane, who never stopped shopping for the cups and saucers.

Thanks to all those who have committed their time to the GertonFest as volunteers. Thanks to Roberta Pope for making us new curtains for the library inside the center.

Life goes on here in the gorge, and the best thing about the last half century here is that the spirit of community good will remains high. We are happy to live here and happy to know and work with one another. It is, after all, the best way to continue on...and on.

I look forward to reporting next time on how well our community does in the western regional competition with other clubs. But we are, as we know, already a winner.
Margaret Whitt

The new Welcome Benches (including Mel's Bench) have been installed at our Azalea Gardens by the Little Library. On the first day of their new installation, someone stopped by and left two big bags of books. Thanks to this mystery donor. From those bags, we have placed ten new children's books into the library. Recent activity included Eric from Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Gwen from Lakewood, Colorado. (courtesy: S. Boone)

End of Day Perspectives

by Bonnie Moore

I sit here  in a semi-dark hospital room and look out into a lighted hallway as the world goes by. This is the surgical floor of a metropolitan hospital. Evening has come, and the sights and sounds are slowing down.  From this perspective, I can see clearly. The world is rarely what you think you see.

First ones, crossing the doorway: A large powerfully built man, I'd guess to be in his late thirties, slightly stooped, walks alongside a small woman, in hospital gown, and sock feet. This  man works for a living; not behind a desk, but by this back. Maybe he wrangles car tires, or is in construction, or on a road crew. He is not handsome. His countenance is quite formidable and unapproachable. The woman is plain, not remarkable on the outside. This man has his hand at the small of her back, barely touching her, but gently, there to catch her if she stumbles.  Something about this harsh man, and this unassuming woman spoke to each other on a "heart" level. Each seeing something in the other no one else did. When he looks at her, his face softens and she smiles.

 Soon, a silver haired man, gown and sock feet, passes by. He looks uncomfortable pushing a walker, but on either side, two strapping men, walking slightly behind. They quietly walk with him as he labors to do what he
has been told to do to recover. The younger men, in jeans, and boots, look like they came as soon as the hay was put up, the cows milked, and chores done for the day. There is no question, the silver-haired family patriarch was, is and always will be the head of the family. The men are not talking, but their presence is strong and respectful. Their father would be there for any one of his family, and they are there for him.

 Next across the viewfinder, a couple, mid-twenties, passes by. They go the opposite way from the others. These two are both in running shoes, shorts and loose tee shirts. You might think they are visitors except they have passed no less than ten times so far.  They hold hands as they speed by. They are too anxious to leave but too wired to sit still and wait. Someone they love is here, maybe in surgery, but coming soon.

A white-haired lady slowly crosses in front of the door frame. A nursing assistant walks with her. This nurse is a younger man, but he knows patient care. I know his name, and I am proud that I do. I reflect back on a long day for they work twelve-hour shifts here, but he is not impatient, nor anything but kind. All of the nurses  here know patient care. They know each patient they work with deals with pain in different ways: some snappish and demanding, others quiet and meek. Never do they make a patient feel less than the most important one they care for.

Like looking at a light catcher, that twists just slightly, and a new perspective is seen. Lying in a bed in the dark,  having others handling your basic needs, your world shrinks, and it would  be easy to feel sorry for yourself. The view shifts, and  the light exposes a whole new world. Many lives are just like yours, only different, and you begin to count your blessings.... Love, caring, kindness, family, friends, home, neighbors, community.


(Ed. Note: The community welcomes Matt Parmer to the Gerton Post Office. In his own words below, Matt tells us a bit about himself. If you haven't already met Matt, step in and introduce yourself)

Introducing Matt Parmer, Our New Man in the Gerton P.O.

I moved to Gerton in November 2013, so I am a new resident. I moved in with my fiancee, Millie Mestril, who, along with her longtime best friend Bobbie, run Peaceful Quest Retreats. I moved to North Carolina from Florida in 1998 and earned my BA in History from UNC-Charlotte. I taught high school Latin for a year in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District. In 2005, I began teaching the sport of fencing. I am a Navy veteran and served as a hospital corpsman with the 3rd Marine Air Wing. I paid and worked my way through college with the GI bill and working in retail and as a Corrections Officer for the NC Department of Corrections. I started with the Postal Service at the end of July, and I like it so far.

I have National Gold and Bronze medals in Saber (one of the Fencing weapons). I have been to Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Western Australia, Greece, Amsterdam and the People's Republic of California. I have driven across the country from coast to coast three times and up and everywhere in between. I used to rock climb when I was younger. I have a Great Dane named Titan and two cats named Tex and Milk-face. I build and paint models and enjoy table top war games and online video games. I have over 3,000 books and recently taught myself algebra, next is geometry and trigonometry, then calculus. Why? Because I am terrible at math and have always avoided it. However, I like physics and astronomy and want to be able to understand the math behind astrophysics. Plus, I like a challenge.

I will be adopting a now 7-month-old little girl named Cali Rose within the next year, and she has become the light of my life. I do not have kids of my own, but I have always wanted them. Now the universe has contrived to bring one into my life, and I intend to make the most of it.

Good Bye From the Jenkins Family:

Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Community Club & Gerton residents:

            Meris and I both wanted to take a moment and say thank you for the last five years we have been able to spend in the community while serving the faith family at Bearwallow.  By now most of you have probably heard that Meris and I have moved.  Our last Sunday at Bearwallow was July 27.  

            At the beginning of August we moved to Mebane, N.C., where I have accepted the call to be the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church Haw River.  Even though we have been called away, Gerton will always hold a special place in our hearts as we have many delightful memories of the church and the community.  Of the ten years we have been in ministry, five of them have been at Bearwallow.  Both of our children were born while we were ministering at the church, and we will always have many friends and extended family in the church and community. 

            As God has sent us to Haw River, we know that God is sending someone special to Bearwallow and the community of Gerton.  We know and pray that we will be hearing many wonderful things from Bearwallow and the Gerton community in the near future.  From the bottom of our hearts, thank you again for all that you have done and are doing.  We look forward to coming back for a visit soon.

            Sincerely,

            Jonathan, Meris, Mackensie & Kaleb Jenkins

A Review and Moments from "Birdie's Cafe"

“BIRDIE’S CAFÉ” Serves Up Four Star Comedy Fare

 “Pure fun!” one playgoer said as she left the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Community center after seeing Gerton’s playwright Helen Brown’s fifth comedy, “Birdie’s Café.”  The comedy definitely was “pure fun”—dress rehearsal and the performance nights, July 24-26. Still-chuckling attenders left with smiles on their faces, actors beaming at compliments their audience members paid as everybody shook hands before filing out into the night.

The fifteenth summer play was a Community Center fundraiser. Many of the actors have played roles in all of them. Set in a small Florida town bus station near the Georgia state line, Southern dialects and food served as authentic background details—which included a three-layer chocolate cake badly mangled by a dingbat waitress (Pam Lewis).

Debbie Hill played Birdie, good-hearted terrific cook and café owner, who took in the lost and woebegone, including a British scholar (J.D.Nappi), whose English ways and manners clashed with Southern ones, at least for a while; a way-overdue pregnant woman (Sara Moore) longing for her husband overseas; and Psalm CIV (Michael Hurst), a dyslexic bright young man Birdie had welcomed into her home. Viola Leach (Ruth Hudson), dressed in a long patched dress, could hire out as a one-woman band for local events: her washboard, spoon and bells served as musical background for ‘singing for her supper,’ as well as leading the entire audience in a rousing version of  “Good Old Mountain Dew.” Sadie and Zane Moore played bratty bus-fatigued little sister-brother; Jacob Lyda played a deadpan bus driver used to all kinds of on-and-off bus snafus.

Rounding out the cast were Letha Mae Patterson (Ruth Ann Nappi), Birdie’s daughter and waitress being courted by Gilbert Sullivan (Brian Bloxsom), a truck driver fervently hoping to open his own barbeque restaurant; and Grover Atkinson (Don Lewis), a district licensing inspector, willing to overlook a few guidelines for a good bowl of Birdie’s stew and a slab of lemon pie.       

Lynn Morehead patiently, patiently served as sound, stage, and prop master. Jack Mumpower, Jim Earnhardt, Billy Gaines, Stan Mobley, Dave MacDonald, Gene Earnhardt, and Paul Smith helped to both set up and break down the set and movable stage.

Oscars and Emmys probably don’t exist for homegrown plays and local actors, but

Will Shakespeare would have been pleased and tickled with this production, audience participation often a part of his comedies.  “Pure fun” was what he—and Gerton’s Helen Brown—were both after.  And ‘pure fun’ surely happened with “Birdie’s Café” in Gerton.

                                                                              --Barbara Earnhardt, reviewer

Helen Brown welcomes the audience and calls actors to place.              Letha Mae has empathy for Betty Ann.

Grover calls attention to Birdie's unusual hairnet!

Birdie lets the kids know they better just behave.

Viola comes ready to sing for her supper.                  Letha Mae offers hungry Lurleen some food.

Letha Mae helps CIV pack his deliveries while Mr. Wellington waits for tea. (all play pictures courtesy: Frankie Tipton)

Tea Cup High Tea

High Tea is returning to the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Community Center on Thursday, September 18, at

3 p.m. Patty Tanner is heading up the event, with help from Virginia McGuffey and Margaret Colwell, Roberta Pope, Lana Roberts, Toni Eastman, among others. Jackie Palmer, Margaret Whitt's sister from Lancaster, South Carolina, retired caterer, is also arriving to be helpful.

Elegant music will be heard from our guest artist, still under negotiation. Lake Lure has graciously offered to provide tables and white folding chairs to add elegance to our tea room. 

For the last several years, community members, led by Sylvia Sane, have been collecting tea cups and saucers. For $15, the bargain price of the tea, which will include tea, sandwiches, savories, and sweets, also includes the tea cup. Participants may sit where they choose and take home the tea cup. Many of the china cups are collectible items. We have room for 68 people. Please call Patty Tanner at 625-4189. Tickets will be sold until we have a full house or the Saturday before the tea, September 13. 

We look forward to seeing you and a guest at the high tea cup tea when exquisite high living returns to Gerton proper. 

Down the Road toward Bat Cave you will see several signs that indicate that goats are at work. If you pass by at the right time of day, you can see two or three goats somewhere along the edge of the dead kudzu line. They are busy making sure that the kudzu stays dead. The invasive plant is often thought to be out of control. It may take a while, but the goats' work appears to be making a difference!

Neighborhood News

Thanks for Scholarship:

Dear Gerton Community Center,
Thank you so much for giving me the honor of receiving the scholarship this year. Your support and generosity have been such a blessing to me and my family. I have enjoyed being a part of the Gerton community since I was a little girl, and I look forward to many more opportunities to be in the future.

Thank you so much and God bless you!
Love, Gracelyn Perry

Karl Bradley, at over 6' tall, holds onto the tallest sunflower, close to 10' tall, in the Bradley patch.

Becca Hathaway was the honored guest at a baby shower held on Sunday, August 24, at the center to pre-welcome Samuel Holt Hathaway into the world at the end of September. Becca's mom and sister came up from South Carolina to join 20 local guests from the community who delighted in good food and oohed and aahed at the cuteness of new baby things! Later John and John Solomon came to help carry home the goods in the Hathaways' new truck!

Thanks from the Mel Freeman Family:

We wish to thank you for the wonderful bench that the center has given in memory of Mel. He would have approved of it and would have been proud that you placed it in memory of him.
Mel loved Gerton and the community center and so do we. --Claudia and Family

(ed. note: the UHNGCC gave a gift to the renovation project of Citadel Square Baptist Church in Charleston, S.C., in Mel's memory)
We wish to thank you for the memorial gift that was given to our church in memory of Mel. Hopefully this will help hasten the renovation of our sanctuary. This was Mel's project as he was in charge of it.
He considered it a privilege to serve Gerton through the community center. As you all know, he loved the mountains. We consider it an honor the way we have always felt loved and accepted in Gerton.
---Love, Claudia and family

The Hickory Nut Gorge Outreach Food Pantry Statistics for April-June, 2014 reads this way: 

96% White/Causasian; 4% African American.  51% Male, 49% Female.

34% 0-l7 years old; 58% 18-64; 8% 65+.  The average number of individuals served per month is l34; the average number of households served is 41.

GED Classes
If you know someone who would like to consider earning the GED (high school equivalency exam), classes are being offered through Isothermal Community College and held at Hickory Nut Gorge Outreach (2594 Memorial Highway) in Lake Lure. All classes are FREE. They will be held on Monday nights, from
5:30-8 p.m. Please call Mary Stroman (at Outreach) at 828-625-4683 or Ruth Hills (at Isothermal) at 828-395-1489 with questions.

Food for Kids
Week-end food boxes provide breakfast, lunch, and 2 snacks for Saturday and Sunday. Hickory Nut Gorge Outreach has a 3 week menu, with foods listed below, and boxes are ready for pick-up on Thursday afternoon and Friday.
Week-end food includes:
Large boxes of cereal; single serve oatmeal packets; small packs of raisins
chunky soup; saltine crackers; mac and cheese boxes; tuna; chef Boyardee; string cheese; fresh fruit; granola bars; pudding; small packages of cookies; peanut butter; jelly; bread; large bottles of water.
Week day lunch supplies include:
Cold cuts; cheese; bread; chips; fresh fruit, or small easy-open canned fruit; juice boxes; small packages of cookies

If you bring something from this list to our monthly dinners, we will make sure the donations are delivered to the Hickory Nut Gorge Outreach site in Lake Lure. Food insecurity is a real problem in our community, and the effect on children can lead to other more serious social and behavioral problems. 

The Butterfly Garden beside the pavilion in Chestnut Hills is best seen from the pavilion itself, where all kinds of butterflies can be seen going about their daily pollinating business.  (courtesy: S. Boone)

Mary Chambless Zeigler, 88, of Orangeburg, passed away on Monday, July 7, 2014, following a brief illness. A private family graveside service was held Thursday, July 10, in Four Holes Baptist Church cemetery, with the Rev. Tom McElhaney officiating, directed by Thompson Funeral Home Inc. in Orangeburg.

Mrs. Zeigler was born June 30, 1926, in Florence, a daughter of the late Minnie Till Chambless and the late George W. Chambless. She was a member of Four Holes Baptist Church, where she was an active member of the WMU, Sunday school and the JOY Group. Mr. and Mrs. Zeigler were married on July 4, 1945, and enjoyed 69 years together.

Mary and Buster so enjoyed Chestnut Hills and Gerton. Mary often said living here was the best investment they'd ever made.  She loved visiting with Margie down at the store, and hugely enjoyed dining out with friends here.  Anyone who was lucky enough to taste her homebaked cakes or cookies counted themselves lucky--she was a splendid baker and cook.  She and Buster used to oversee the preparation of enormous beef roasts--they'd deliver them and meat thermometers to Gerton friends' homes to be roasted in home ovens, and then Mary and Buster would pick up the cooked meat to carve for Community Club fundraiser suppers.  Both Zeiglers contributed in many ways to the quality of life here in Gerton.  

Survivors include her husband, Roland Lee “Buster” Zeigler Jr. of Orangeburg; two sons, Roland Lee (Bonnie) Zeigler III and Roy C. (Susan) Zeigler, both of Orangeburg; six grandchildren, Lee (Kim) Zeigler of Concord, North Carolina, Gabe Zeigler of Columbia, Karla (Caleb) Steedley of China Grove, North Carolina, Lauren (Dain) Schurlknight of Cordova, Kim (Vernon) Murphy of Orangeburg and Lee (Cori) Williams of Atlanta; nine great-grandchildren, McKayla and Jillian Zeigler of St. Matthews, Noah, Grayson and Sophie Steedley of China Grove, Payton and Prestan Schurlknight of Cordova, Kaylee Murphy of Orangeburg and Tison Williams of Atlanta; a sister, Opal C. O’Cain of Orangeburg; and a number of nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Four Holes Baptist Church, 1622 Four Holes Road, Orangeburg, SC 29115.