January - February 2020

Jean Bradley's flowering Cactus...and just in time for the holidays!

President's Note

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I wanted to take this opportunity to wish all of you a Happy and Prosperous New Year. A Big Thank You is in order to our past President Jack Bancer and Secretary Susie Bancer – they both served the Community Center and greater Gerton with enthusiasm, hard work, and dedication over the last two years and will continue to be a vital part of our community.

I wanted to also take this opportunity to make a quick introduction of myself to Community Members that may not know me yet or very well. I have been a part of the Gerton Community since 1990 when I first traveled to Gerton for a weekend visit. My In-laws Martin and Lois MacDonald first came to Gerton in 1963 and a year later built a cabin with their boys Howard and Dave on top of Little Bearwallow Mountain. Martin and Lois were very active in the Gerton Community Center, and I look forward to continuing their legacy and my involvement in a Leadership role. I am a recent retiree from AT&T after a 28-year career and look forward to using my experience in a variety of Neighborhood Organizations I supported in Atlanta prior to making the full-time move to Gerton six years ago.

The last several years have seen new neighbors move into our Community and join in on our Community Center activities. I am excited to continue to build our activities, continue our outreach programs, and offer a place where the entire Community is welcome. Our first community dinner will be held on Tuesday, January 21, 2020, at 6:30 p.m. – please plan to bring a covered dish and join us.

Thanks to all who helped collect and assemble the greenery for our Holiday decorations placed on our local street signs. A special Thanks goes out to Jim Sane for his work in placing the decorations once they were assembled.

Finally, I want to Thank everyone who has always donated to the Community Center during our Membership Drive. Our dues are $10 per person per year and since we are a 501(c) (3) any gift including your dues is  tax deductible. Please consider responding to the Membership letter that will be sent shortly or feel free to send any contribution directly to UHNGCC, PO Box 222, Gerton, NC 28735. Thanks for your support of our Community Center and generosity in any extra donation you may wish to add in addition to your Dues.

Happy New Year!

Stan Mobley

Calendar of Events

January 1, Wednesday - New Year's Day

January 21, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. Community Covered Dish. Program: Overview of 2020 plans 

January 25, Saturday - noon to 2 p.m. CHILI COOK-OFF

February 18, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. Community Covered Dish. Program: TBA

Gerton Chili Cook-Off -- Mark Your Calendar NOW!

The Gerton Chili Cook-Off will be Saturday, January 25 from noon until 2 p.m. at the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Community Center. Drinks, cornbread, and dessert will be provided. Grand Prize, first and second runner up winners will be awarded. Donations will be accepted for guests to enjoy each entry.

Contact Susie Bancer (239-823-8527) or Karen Owensby (828-674-0365) for information. 

WNCCommunities Annual Awards;

UHNGCC Earns Community of Promise and $1,000

The 70th annual WNCCommunities Honors event was held on Saturday, November 2, at the Doubletree Hilton. This year 65 clubs and about 240 people gathered for lunch and the recognition of local businesses and organizations who had contributed about $38.000 to be distributed among 13 western counties in our state. Thanks to Harrah's of Cherokee, Biltmore Farms, Duke Energy, First Citizens Bank, The McClure Fund, Farm Bureau, Farm Credit, Wells Fargo, and New Belgium Brewery who provided the money for the prizes. This year 23 clubs were awarded Participating Community and $250; 24 clubs were awarded Engaged Communities and $500; 15 clubs were awarded Community of Promise and $1,000; and finally, three clubs became Communities of Distinction with $2,000. 

UHNGCC was the only club in Henderson County to received the Community of Promise. The top awards went to Bethel, Pigeon, and Fines Creek. Pigeon was also the winner of the Calico Cat. While UHNGCC remains among the smallest (if not THE smallest of all the clubs), we also remain fiercely competitive. While we believed we might have had a chance at the Calico Cat Junior award (for our new flower boxes), we were beaten by larger clubs who overcame grease fires, backed up sewage, and other seriously damaging incidents and accidents that propelled them right past us! 

Representing our club this year were Sylvia Sane, Margaret Whitt, Jean Bradley, Jack Bancer (president), and Jim Earnhardt. Presenting the award sign and the check for $1,000 was Jason Walls of Duke Energy (on the left). Out of 70 years of this event, our own Jean Bradley has attended 61 times. (This has to be some kind of a record.)

And the press release prepared by WNCCommunities:

ASHEVILLE, NC...   The WNC Honors Awards is built on a 70-year tradition of recognizing rural community development clubs for their innovative ideas and grassroots solutions. These centers and clubs are the backbone running through our beloved mountains. The culmination of this year’s program occurred at a luncheon held on Saturday, November 2 with 250 community leaders from 13 Western North Carolina Counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.


The 65 communities participating in this year’s program made a $6 million investment of time, talent, money and effort in our Western North Carolina Communities. Their fundraising efforts brought in $950,000 with more than 5,500 volunteers investing an impressive 195,500 hours of their time in outreach programs dedicated to conservation, education, beautification, health, wellness, and economic development.


Communities of Promise receive a cash award of $1,000 and are chosen because of the initiatives implemented by the community that show promise and can be replicated around the region. The Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Community Center received this recognition. Each year, for the last 21 years, Hickory Creek Players perform an original production at the Gerton Little Theater. This year’s play “Cupcakes and Crazies” was written by a resident who performed for the first time in last year’s play. This year volunteers made cupcakes to sell at intermission, to go along with the theme of the play. The $1930 that was raised was a new record for this event. Since 1958, their community has shared a meal and enjoyed an educational program on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Gerton continues to be the smallest community in the Hickory Nut Gorge. They have no schools, farms or local government, and yet they are the first in the gorge to have a LITTLE LIBRARY and to become FIREWISE certified. They continue to partner with other agencies to expand their reach for good. They have seen growth, like no other year, in their giving to Hickory Nut Gorge Outreach. Through better use of their technology and communications, they are bringing more canned goods and school supplies in to pass on. And, their medical supply closet continues to be well used.

Community Thanksgiving Dinner

Jim Earnhardt and Billy Gaines work together in the kitchen to carve the 22-pound turkey that we had no trouble making disappear! 

So much good food and good talk as 45 of us on a pleasant Tuesday, November 19, gathered to celebrate together--"we gather together to ask the Lord's blessings...." Each, in our own way, are always thankful that we live at the top of the gorge--in a place where neighbor watches out for neighbor. 

We are always pleased when the youngest of our community join us. Their youthful energy makes us remember that we have become a community where the young and the old live in peace and harmony.

Stan Mobley won the Thanksgiving 50/50 raffle--another record: $81. Jack made the presentation but Stan gave every bit of it back to the club, asking that we send it on to the Hickory Nut Gorge Outreach for use over the upcoming holidays. A generous gesture from our newly installed club president. And with thanks to Jack Bancer for doing a wonderful job at our helm for the past two years.

Russell Anders, once again, performed the installation of the new officers for 2020. From left, Jim Earnhardt, vice-president; Chuck Mallory, board member; Karen Owensby, secretary; Jean  Bradley, board member; Stan Mobley, president; Margaret Whitt, board member; Sylvia Sane, treasurer.

Holiday-Decorating and Greens-Making Morning

Looking very much like the Community of Caring that they are--from left: Sheila Padgett, Mike Hamlin, Joann D'Ambra, Jack Bancer, Jean Bradley, Sarah Gale, Susie Bancer, and Sylvia Sane. Jim Sane, Jim Earnhardt, and Margaret Whitt (not pictured) These 11 neighbors gathered on the morning of Monday, December 2 to prepare the greens with red bows that hang on each street sign going off of 74A through the whole of Gerton--about 41. We also take out the two Christmas trees--one small for when the club is occupied and one large, which we operate with a timer so that passersby might see the lights through our large window in the serving room. Thanks to those who brought the greens, especially Jim Earnhardt and Mike Hamlin. Thanks to Jim Sane, who braved the coldest day of the new season to hang each green and red enhancement. The annual work-time is always fun and many hands make light work--as is always the case!

Because it was so cold on December 2, Sheila Padgett waited til the weather cooperated a bit to put up our greenery around the outdoor rails. Jim Earnhardt made the fresh wreaths for the front doors.

And Jim Sane placed the greens on our club sign and at every street sign along 74A. Thanks to all who worked to make us look and feel in the spirit of the season!

December Community Christmas Party

On Tuesday, December 17, 30 neighbors gathered for finger foods and a gift exchange. First, we chatted, and then we lined up to eat!

Next, John Solomon and brother Sam went to the gift pile and handed out the presents.

After opening them, we took time to exchange what we had been handed for some other gift we could see. An interesting philosophical moment: is what we cannot see always more exciting than what we can see!

The club presented a lovely piece from our local potter Mike Hamlin to the Bancers for their service to the club over the last two years. Thanks, Jack -- for being our president and among many things, painting and building the flower boxes; thanks, Susie -- for being our secretary, taking our minutes and making sure the flowers in the new boxes got off to a good start! We look forward to hearing about your progress on lowering your residential carbon footprint!

The ECHO OF THE GORGE is published bi-monthly, a newsletter of the UHNGCC.

Copies are available in the Gerton Post Office or the issue may be found online: www.gertonecho.blogspot.com

News and pictures may be sent to Margaret Whitt at margaret.whitt@du.edu

Photographers for this issue: Margaret Whitt, Karen Owensby, Karl Bradley

Officers of the 2020 UHNGCC: President - Stan Mobley;

Vice-President - Jim Earnhardt; Secretary - Karen Owensby; Treasurer - Sylvia Sane;

Board - Jean Bradley, Margaret Whitt, Chuck Mallory

November - December 2019

Last days of summer--it was GertonFest XI but neighbors take time to cool off!

(The above picture was entered into the Fairview Town Crier end-of summer photo contest and was cited among the honorable mentions in the October 2019 Town Crier.)

President's Note

We asked? And you answered. Again!  Thanks to your overwhelming generosity we are able to provide Thanksgiving meals to 15 families who otherwise would not be able to enjoy a Holiday feast.  The Oktoberfast  pancake buffet generated $350.  That's 10 complete meals.  Additional cash donations from 3 of our Community Club Members totaled $175.  Another 5 meals.  Thank you to all who participated in this humanitarian endeavor.

But that's just the beginning.  The Outreach H.O.P.E. Project is filling grocery sacks with ingredients that make up a complete Thanksgiving meal.  The bag contains corn, peas, cranberries, stuffing mix, potatoes, cake mix, frosting and a turkey.  We asked? And you answered. Again!  We delivered 183 pounds of these items to the Hickory Nut Gorge Outreach Office last week  Another 10 families will enjoy a Thanksgiving meal.

Over the past two years as your Club President being  thankful seemed to resonate with greater frequency.  It's all because of you.  Your never ending generosity, compassion, and participation in our programs is a meaningful take-away for me.  Thank you all for your support during my term.  I'm certain you'll offer more of the same to our new Officers and Board of Directors in 2020.

Jack  

As October winds its way to an end, IT comes---FINALLY, FALL!

Calendar of Events

Tuesday, November 19, 6:30 p.m. - COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING DINNER. Club provides turkey and dressing. Please bring sides. 

Thursday, November 28 - THANKSGIVING

Monday, December 2, 10 a..m. - Holiday Workshop and Decoration of the Center for Christmas

Tuesday, December 17, 6:30 p.m. - Holiday Party and Gift Exchange. Finger Food Meal. 

Wednesday, December 25 - CHRISTMAS

Tuesday, December 31 - New Year's Eve

The ECHO OF THE GORGE is published bi-monthly, a newsletter of the UHNGCC.

Copies are available in the Gerton Post Office or the issue may be found online: www.gertonecho.blogspot.com

News and pictures may be sent to Margaret Whitt at margaret.whitt@du.edu

Photographers for this issue: Margaret Whitt, Gloria Anders, Mike Hamlin.

Officers of the 2019 UHNGCC: President - Jack Bancer;

Vice-President - Jim Earnhardt; Secretary - Susie Bancer; Treasurer - Sylvia Sane;

Board - Stan Mobley Jean Bradley, Margaret Whitt, Karen Owensby

GertonFestXI

On perfect weather morning of Saturday, August 31, neighbors gathered for our now-traditional breakfast buffet -- pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, fruit, coffee, and orange juice. All you can eat! Thanks to Gloria Anders and Russ Anders for setting up the room, and to Gloria, Mac McAdams, Steve Jones, and Don Ferrell for doing the cooking. Jack Bancer was there to take the donations, which came to a total of $500, our most ever for a breakfast tally.

Kids slipped away from breakfast to spend some quality time in the library. Good habits start early!

Jean Bradley and Mary Kay McAdams sought homebaked goods for our bake sale--we had cakes, pies, breads, cookies, candy, and hot quiche thanks to the following: Jean Bradley, Mary Kay McAdams, Sylvia Sane, Lynn Morehead, Eva Infanzon, Toni Eastman, Susan Evans, Anne Bourne, Sarah Gayle, Mike Hamlin, Margaret Whitt, Joan Erskine, Annie McNair, Sheila Padgett, Margaret Colwell, Helen Brown, Roberta Pope, Lisa Grindle, Eileen Farrell, Jane Lawson, Dawn Loftus, Bonnie Moore, Becca Hathaway, Marlana Cooley, Joann D'Ambra, Syble Freeman, Frances Scoggins, and Maryanne Adoryan. Our total for the bake sale came to $449.

During afternoon games, we had our third corn hole tournament, our second Bocce tournament and Ethan and Noah were once again the champions. Inside--team trivia and later Bingo, while we waited for the BBQ dinner of pork and chicken.

McGuffey Ridge--Susan and David Evans and Don Adoryan--took honors for the third year. They are shown above in their sapphire blue GertonFest XI t-shirts, thanks to the work of Susan Evans. She ordered 36 and every one went out the door! (Also notice how the shirts match our tablecloths perfectly!) After Trivia, we played a half dozen games of Bingo -- just to keep our Bingo skills sharp!

The Silent Auction--always the biggest money maker of GertonFest--offered over 75 items, most of them gift cards from local merchants and restaurants in Fairview, Chimney Rock, Lake Lure, and Hendersonville. For a grand total of $1,195, we have the following places to thank:

Our thanks to Angelo's, Local Joint, Appalachian Tropicals, Food Lion, Nachos and Beer, Swannanoa Cleaners, Daymoon Coffeebar, Smokey and the Pig, Whistle Hop, Fairview Fresh Produce, Sonic, Hot Dog King, Garden Spot, Rise Above Bakery in Fairview.  AND

Ace Hardware and J&S Cafeteria in River Ridge. AND

Hot Dixie Dogs and Manual Woodworkers in Gerton. AND

Medina's Bistro, Village Scoop, River Watch, Nachito's, The Hickory Nut, Chimney Rock State Park, Chimney Rock Gemstone, Bubba O'Leary's, Esmeralda Inn in Chimney Rock. AND

 Lake Lure Inn and Spa, Lake Lure Golf, Lake Lure Boat Tour, Esmeralda Inn, Larkin's on the Lake, La Strada, El Lago in Lake Lure.

Mast General, Mountain Fresh Apples, Lyda Farms, A Day in the Country, Village Green Antiques, Fireside Restaurant, Fresh Market, Flatrock Playhouse in Hendersonville and Flat Rock.

Billy Gaines headed up kitchen duties for the pork and chicken BBQ. We made a total of $550.  Billy had help from Sylvia Sane, Stan Mobley, Jean Bradley, Linda Gaines. And once again, Jack Bancer was there to receive the donations for the dinner.

GERTONFEST XI this year made a total of $2,734, our largest grossing fundraiser ever! Thanks to those who supported this event in whatever way--by coming, by contributing, by spending time with neighbors and friends.

September Program

We had 37 neighbors gather for dinner and talk on the night of September 17. Here people go through the always-good food line and make their smart and healthy choices from the bounty of the table.

Jami Linn won the largest raffle ever--taking home $80. But she used some of her winnings to bid on our last available gift card from GertonFest XI, a $25 Sonic gift card, for which she paid full value. 

The Sanes, hosts for the evening, placed a basket of apples on each table. Folks were encouraged to take 4 or 5 apples home with them. Apples on the table every September has become one of our new traditions, thanks to Sylvia and Jim.

Our program speakers were Linda Ratschan and Hope Wittmer of Hickory Nut Gorge Outreach. They told a bit of the history of the Outreach, beginning back in 2007 when their space was called Shepherd's Care and they were housed in the rectory of Church of the Transfiguration in Bat Cave. That first Christmas they gave away 25 Christmas Angels and this past Christmas they gave away 224. 

Today they have 50 volunteers, serving a greater number of clients in the area. Forty kids are enrolled in the back pack for kids week-end food program. They gave away 114 backpacks with school supplies this fall. One volunteer delivers 40 loaves of bread each week so that the kids can make their sandwiches for school. Because of the growth of the program, Outreach is now able to offer 5-7 days of food every month. November through April are the busiest months of the year, with tourism down and service jobs being reduced in hours. A new program: FINS (families in need of support) now serves those who are challenged by food insecurities. 

Linda and Hope stressed the generosity of the people who volunteer and how it is always possible to call on someone who will step up at the last minute.

UHNGCC has stepped up its giving to the food bank, committing 500 pounds this year, but managing to break that goal. We are now about to double our goal!

Final Litter Sweep of 2019

From left: Michael Hamlin, Margaret Whitt, Jack Bancer, Sylvia Sane, Karen Gamble, Charles Gamble, Jean Bradley, and Jim Earnhardt. Gloria Anders, taking picture. (We also found yet another event in which to wear our GertonFest XI t-shirts!)

On Saturday, September 28, nine neighbors showed up to pick up trash between the two Gerton signs. In our last collection for 2019, we scored six bags of trash and six bags of recycled waste. We always take the recycled blue bags home to throw out with our own trash, while the state picks up the orange trash. The whole endeavor takes between an hour and an hour and a half. 

After five years of coordinating our litter sweeps, Gloria Anders will step aside and Michael Hamlin will coordinate for the new year ahead. Many thanks to Gloria for organizing us and making the necessary calls. And thanks to Michael for saying YES when called upon! 

Town Hall on Climate Change

 About 23 residents of Henderson County gathered at the UHNGCC at 6 p.m. Sunday, October 13, to watch the film "Paris to Pittsburgh." The 75-minute video on our oversized television screen (the first time we have watched a movie on the SMART TV) explored what cities are doing to comply with the aims and goals of the Paris accord. The film made plain that educating our families and neighbors to the dangers of climate change and initiating the first steps to combat it fall to us: the citizens of small towns and cities all across the globe.  But climate change presents us with opportunities as well as risks, and working together allows us to leverage a wealth of experience, energy, and creativity.

Stephanie Rausch of Citizens' Climate Lobby was present to lead a discussion after the movie. If you are interested in further talk of sustainable energy options for those of us who live in Henderson County, a non-partisan public forum took place on October 27, from 2-4 p.m. at Stull Hall of Grace Lutheran in Hendersonville. Forums that present an arena for climate talk that will lead to citizen action will be ongoing. You can learn more at facebook.com/ClimateCrisisActionHendersonCoNC

October Program

We had 46 neighbors gather for dinner and good talk on October 15. Thanks to Jean Bradley, Mac and Mary Kay McAdams for hosting. Food was bountiful and, as always, delicious. Stan Mobley won the 50/50 raffle and took home $61. The slate of officers and board members was presented from the nominating committee, which consisted of Stan Mobley, Karen Owensby, Helen Brown, and Mac McAdams. There being no further nominations from the floor, the slate was accepted and approved by acclamation. Those who will be installed at our November meeting include: Stan Mobley, Jim Earnhardt, Karen Owensby, Sylvia Sane, Jean Bradley, Margaret Whitt, and Chuck Mallory.

Our Florida dwellers, who all planned to leave the day after our meal together include: Becky Shutrump, Ted and Lana Roberts, Toni and Marc Eastman. We will miss them and see them again come spring time.

Karen Owensby gave a too-brief slide show of her recent trip to Prague in the Czech Republic. She had traveled there in July with millions of other tourists and stayed in Old Town. Highlights from her overview included: Jewish cemeteries that were 12 layers deep, an old church made of 70,000 human skeletal bones, many beautiful churches that today are used mostly for visiting tourists and music programs, and the oldest still-working clock in the world. Prague was spared for the most part during WWII bombing. Thanks to Karen for bringing sights from her trip home to us.

OctoberFast

 For the first time, we had a community OctoberFast on Saturday, October 19, from 8-10 a.m. We decided that all the money would go to Hickory Nut Outreach for their Thanksgiving meals for those in need. Russell Anders, Gloria Anders, Mac McAdams, Steve Jones, and Karen Owensby volunteered for cooking crew and once again the team laid out the pancake buffet, which included pancakes, fruit, eggs, biscuits and gravy, coffee, and orange juice--all you can eat! About 35 neighbors and passersby stopped to start the day with each other. We made $350 for the Outreach and another neighbor left a check for $100. So, our efforts together will total $450--a reminder that all of us want to eat well on the holidays!

The kitchen crew stops for only a brief minute--from left: Karen Owensby, Gloria Anders, Mac McAdams, and Steve Jones. Russ Anders (not pictured).

Neighborhood News

Mike Hamlin recently offered his beautiful pottery at the Southern Highlands Craft Show at the civic center in downtown Asheville on the weekend of October 17-20. Mike always makes Gerton look good!

September - October 2019

GertonFest XI: Saturday, August 31

8 a.m. Breakfast Buffet - All you can eat

Bidding on Silent Auction Opens

Home-baked Cakes, Pies, Candy, Cookies, Breads. Take home several and give to a friend or family member. Excellent gifts for others!

3 p.m. Games Begin

Bocce Tournament *****Corn Hole Tournament

Team Trivia

4 p.m.

BINGO

5 p.m.

BBQ Chicken and Pork - Eat in or Take out

Silent Auction winners announced

President's Note

     With two-thirds of the calendar year behind us, I felt it prudent to update you on our fiscal status.  Thus far it has been a record-setting year. Revenue is up. Expenses on budget. Member Participation at an all-time high.  Philanthropy passes goal. Thank you to all for making this happen.

     We continue to set new records for fundraising.  Dues and donations, the Sale on the Trail, and our annual Play combined generated a 15 percent increase in revenue over projected budget.  Budgeted expenses to date are $5900. Actual expenses to date are $5880. The only major expense remaining this year is our annual Insurance Premium - $2400.  Projected revenue from GertonFest XI should cover this expense.

     Participation at our monthly Covered Dish meetings is up slightly verses year-to-date 2018.  The July 4th Cookout set a new attendance record; 120 neighbors and friends joined us for the festivities.  Great food and fabulous fireworks; can hardly wait for next year.

     Your contributions to the Hickory Nut Gorge Outreach Program have surpassed our annual goal.  To date you have donated over 600 pounds of food and supplies. Our goal was 500 pounds. Fantastic!  Plans are underway for the Outreach Thanksgiving and Christmas Toy drive. We'll delve into those programs at our next meeting.  Don't know if this is a record-- you donated 324 reams of paper, packs of pencils, pens, markers, glue sticks and note pads to the Outreach School Supplies Program.  I do know these items were distributed to 108 children. Again, thank you.

     Hard to believe Fall is just around the corner, and with it comes our annual nominations/election of Officers and Board Members.  If you can give us about two hours a month to help generate new ideas to make Gerton a better Community to work and live, we'd love to hear from you.  Contact any Board Member and we will pass your name on to the nominating committee. At the risk of being totally redundant, again, thank you.

                   Jack Bancer

Calendar of Events

September 2, Monday - LABOR DAY

September 17, Tuesday - 6:30 p.m. - Community Covered Dish. Program: Linda Ratschan, board member, Hickory Nut Outreach

September 28, Saturday, 10 a.n. - Last Litter Sweep of the Year

October 15, Tuesday - 6:30 p.m. - Community Covered Dish. Program: Karen Owensby, scenic trip to Prague

The ECHO OF THE GORGE is published bi-monthly, a newsletter of the UHNGCC.

Copies are available in the Gerton Post Office or the issue may be found online: www.gertonecho.blogspot.com

News and pictures may be sent to Margaret Whitt at margaret.whitt@du.edu

Photographers for this issue: Margaret Whitt, Gloria Anders, Karl Bradley, Jami Linn, Dave MacDonald, Lana Roberts, and Sylvia Sane.

Officers of the 2019 UHNGCC: President - Jack Bancer;

Vice-President - Jim Earnhardt; Secretary - Susie Bancer; Treasurer - Sylvia Sane;

Board - Stan Mobley, Syble Freeman, Jean Bradley, Margaret Whitt, Karen Owensby

Fourth of July in Smalltown America: Nothing Like It!

Diego wins burlap sack race. Here he demonstrates his skill against Eva and Sam. About 14 people of all ages participated in our morning games organized by Susie Bancer, with help from Jami Linn.

Several teams vie for the wheelbarrow race.

Kids and adults pair up for the always-tricky three-legged race. This year, Susie Bancer found a great spot in the shade to run the games.

 Our July 4 cookout -- burgers, veggie burgers, and hot dogs with folks' bringing sides--began at 6:30. The grill men, Jack Bancer and Jim Earnhardt, began preparation and grilling earlier, so that all could begin eating right on time! For the third year in a row, we had over 100 people from near and far. We used all our tables, the picnic tables outside, and the Sanes went home to bring down yet more tables. We began Bingo around 7:30 and played various incarnations of the game until dark! Only one prize wasn't claimed, but we had a first-time attender, Buddy from Fairview, take three games; and the $10 top prize was claimed. We managed to consume lots of hot dogs, burgers, and veggie burgers; and we had a whole table of watermelon! Sides were plentiful and varied. No one went away hungry.

UHNGCC 2019 Scholarship Winner

Myles Cooley, who will attend Liberty University in the fall with plans to major in Worship Studies with a focus in Worship Technology (recording studio work, live sound, sound engineering), is the recipient of our $500 scholarship award. The check has been sent to Liberty University for a credit on Myles's tuition.

Myles graduated from Hearthstone Christian Academy (homeschool) in 2016. He has held jobs at Chick-Fil-A, Akiva Critical, Eaton Corporation, and the Guitar Center of Asheville. He has also been a resident intern at Biltmore Church. 

Our congratulations to Myles. We wish him the best as he enters a new world of study.

Fresh flowers and mowed area around the Welcome signs--thanks to Nita Owenby for the mowing and Shannon Frye for the seasonal flowering plants.

Morning has broken -- July 16, but every Gerton morning, we have a wonderful sunrise!

July Program

Lana Roberts, host for the evening with husband Ted, and Jim and Kyanne Miller, was the winner of the raffle and its largest pot to date: $70.

Jason Hernandez, playwright of "Cupcakes and Crazies" spoke briefly about his play that would happen in another ten days!  Below, about 51 neighbors came to enjoy good food and talk with one another.

"Cupcakes and Crazies"

The 21st annual summer play took place July 26 and 27 in the UNHGCC. We had full houses both nights, and Jason Hernandez's inaugural world premier of "Cupcakes and Crazies" had us all laughing at the antics of multiple-personality Johnny Blank, who wanted nothing more than to launch his own cupcake dynasty. J.D. Nappi, playing four different personalities, never missed a line in what has to be his most demanding role for the Hickory Creek Players. Jason Hernandez was the corrupt therapist, who overcharged his rich clients and was later arrested by police officer, played by Jim Sane, for Dr. B.S. Shiester had escaped from a mental institution. Sadie Moore, as Sadie Monroe, played the office secretary--the only sane one in the office, while Gloria Anders, as Goode Listener appeared to be a well-heeled woman who ended up paying the therapist to have him tell her his problems. Helen Brown, as John's mother, made a special appearance to let Johnny know that of course he was welcome to launch his cupcake dream and his parents would support him fully! All ended well--and a budding romance seemed on the near horizon for Johnny and Sadie.

At intermission we sold delicious cupcakes (of course) made by Karen Owensby and Susie Bancer. Sylvia Sane ran the dessert table with help from Gayle Morris and Lisa Grindle. Jack Bancer and Lana Roberts took money at the door. Our record-breaking total was $1930 for both nights. Thanks to all who worked and all who came...and especially our wonderful and talented cast.

At the second intermission, needed for costume change time, Eva and Diego Infanzon offered us a wonderful rendition of the Beatles' "Hey Jude" on their violins, while Diego played a solo of Mark O'Connor's "Appalachia Waltz." 

Thanks, too, to Zane Moore, prop manager, and Bonnie Moore, who prepared the programs. And thanks to a very talented cast.

The cast (left to rights) J.D. Nappi (John Blank with three different personalities inside him), Jason Hernandez (Dr. B.S. Shiester), Sadie Moore (Sadie Monroe), Gloria Anders (Goode Listener), Eva Infanzon, RuthAnn Nappi (woman with clipboard), Jim Sane (arresting officer), Diego Infanzon, and Helen Brown ( Philanda Blank).

Diego and Eva play "Hey Jude" (you could hear attempts at a sing-a-long in the background!)

Johnny Blank and Dr. Shiester dress as women to attend the Biltmore Ladies' Club in Dr. Shiester's efforts to help Johnny break the rules--dress as he should not and go where he should not.

Philanda Blank assures her son John that he may realize his cupcake dream as Sadie stands by to see how she might fit into the future picture.

Litter Sweep - Summer 2019

 

From left: Pete Reese, Jean Bradley Mike Hamlin, Jim Sane, Jack Bancer, Susie Bancer, Karen Owensby, Jim Earnhardt.

On the morning of Saturday, August 3, we completed the third of four litter sweeps. It took a total of 1 and a half hours. Among the special finds this time was a dead Diamondback Rattler at the top of the mountain by the Continental Divide.  The most interesting find, however, was a neighbor's driver's license and credit cards. Russ Anders will return to the rightful owner, who will, do doubt, be very surprised!

The final litter sweep of 2019 will be Saturday, September 28 at 10 a.m.

John Ager Town Hall

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(Ed. note: to hear/see the media coverage of our August 4 Town Hall with neighbor and state representative John Ager go to: https://wlos.com/news/local/buncombes-rep-ager-holds-town-meeting-addresses-coal-ash-nc-budget-assault-weapons)

by Kimberly King of WLOS

GERTON, N.C. (WLOS) — Buncombe County's Rep. John Ager held a town meeting Sunday, (August 4) in which he addressed issues including the Duke coal ash cleanup, the state budget, and his position on a ban on so-called assault weapons.

The fight over coal ash cleanup drags on in North Carolina. On Friday,  (August 3) a judge upheld the state's to order Duke Energy to excavate its remaining nine ash-basins statewide.That includes the one at the Cliffside Power Plant in Rutherford County. It was just one of the issues John Ager addressed Sunday. Ager just learned of the ruling, and says he considers it a victory for mountain residents to have ongoing oversight as politicians continue to press, on both sides, about whether Duke should be able to pass on cleanup costs to customers via a rate hike. He said he supports the judge’s ruling supporting the NC Dept of Environmental Quality's (DEQ) demand that Duke remove the ash from its six leaking lagoons. "I agree we need to clean up coal ash, and I appreciate DEQ putting a fire under Duke Energy," Ager said. "But things are never as easy as you would like. Moving the coal ash is going to create lots of environmental problems."

Ager also addressed what he calls another big issue: the standoff over the state budget. He and fellow Democrats aren't compromising, saying they won't vote for the budget until Republicans bend to expand Medicaid, which Ager says would expand insurance coverage to half a million additional NC residents. 
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Representative of State House District 115 John Ager accepted an invitation to appear at a Town Hall meeting in Gerton on Sunday, August 4, at 6 p.m. John began by saying that the #1 priority of the government is SAFETY (This was the weekend of mass killings in Dayton, Ohio, and El Paso, Texas), which involves banning assault guns and calling for universal background checks. He also said, when questions were called for, that in Raleigh because of House leadership nothing would happen at this time. Right now, the biggest issues in Raleigh are the following:

• issues about the budget,
• medicaid expansion, which would provide 40,000 new jobs and insure another half million people. 
•  the most gerrymandered state in the country, and districting needs to be decided by neutral parties removed from partisan interests. 
• need to bring vitality back to the rural areas of North Carolina. 
• offshore Eastern coast has the the greatest possibility for wind power -- Ager believes we could power the state with wind energy
• smokeable hemp and legalizing marijuana
• water, air, and land have only the government to protect them
• climate change - suggestion from the floor that maybe children might be able to come up with ideas --as government officials do listen to their grandchildren!
• growing income inequality.

August Program 

Ali Stone, program manager of Root Cause (formerly Lord's Acre), talked to 42 neighbors gathered for good food on August 20 at our community meal. This garden project began 11 years ago, an initiative led by Pat Stone. About one acre is in production during the growing season from April to October. They distribute the produce to five partners, which includes Food for Fairview, Welcome Table, a pop up market, and Green Opportunities in Asheville. All is given away--about 8-12 tons in a growing season, which provides over 330,000 meals.Wednesday nights are for volunteers. If you have interest in Root Cause, go to their website: www.rootcausefarm.org

Jack Bancer presents Claudia Freeman with the raffle pot of $55. Says Claudia; "I've never won anything before!" Always a first time. Our 50/50 raffle takes place at each monthly dinner. 

Neighborhood News

Lana and Ted Roberts' granddaughter and her friend took their golf cart for a ride. Along the way, a tree branch removed the top. Now Ted and Lana drive a snazzy convertible!