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 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!
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
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
