The Gerton Post Office has a new post-office-blue door.
Calendar of Events
There will be NO community events through the end of the year.
November 3, Tuesday - 2020 Election Day. Last opportunity to cast your vote.
November 26, Thursday - THANKSGIVING
December 7, Monday - 10 a.m. Seasonal Greens Workshop
December 25, Friday - CHRISTMAS
December 31, Thursday - New Year's Eve
President's Note
As we enter into the last two months of 2020, I am reflecting on the
past ten months and how our Community, State, Nation and the World have
been impacted by the Covid-19 crisis. I am very appreciative to live in
Gerton and have this supportive and caring Community. While many of our seasonal neighbors did not make the trip to Gerton this year and we were
not able to have our regular activities at the Community Center, I still
feel a strong sense of Community. The Board of Directors is continuing
to meet regularly to make sure the needs of our organization and
building are met. We will not be having any Holiday activities
sponsored by the UHNGCC, but we look forward to meeting again in 2021
when guidelines allow.
The Hickory Nut Gorge Outreach continues
to need our help with food donations, gifts for the Holiday Season and
funds for assistance with utilities for our local families in need. We
are collecting donations at the Post Office and delivering supplies to
the Outreach on a regular basis – Thank You for your continued support!
If you have any questions on ways to support these efforts, please reach
out to us at groundedingerton@gmail.com.
I wish each of you a
safe and happy Holiday Season and look forward to meeting together again
as a community once we have this Pandemic under control.
Thanks,
Stan Mobley
UHNGCC President
groundedingerton@gmail.com
End-of-Summer Litter Sweep
In front: Sylvia Sane, Dawn Loftis, Karen Gamble. Behind sign: Stan Mobley, Karen Owensby, Mike Hamlin and Jim Earnhardt -- all in masks
On the September 11 morning at 10 a.m., we had seven people show up to clean up the highway between our two Welcome to Gerton signs. The crew collected six bags of recycled trash and six bags of trash for the Department of Transportation to pick up. One seemingly good umbrella and one really fine gardener's glove to be followed by its mate about 100 feet down the road were among the discarded items. The roadsides had not been mowed recently, but the hale and hearty sweepers climbed across ditches and into the thicket to get their bags full. Many thanks go to Sylvia Sane, Dawn Loftis, Karen Gamble, Stan Mobley, Karen Owensby, Mike Hamlin, and Jim Earnhardt.
The work can be done in less than an hour; consider joining neighbors for the next pick up!
Downed -- and Repaired Community Sign
Stan Mobley and Chuck Mallory try to imagine what must have happened to the sign.
In the early morning hours of Wednesday, September 16, the UHNGCC
information sign that has kept our Community informed about events,
dinners and local happenings was “almost” destroyed when a vehicle left
Highway 74-A and crashed. The identity of the vehicle or driver is not
known as they left the scene (hopefully unharmed) before the Gerton
Volunteer Fire Department responded to the call. The sign took a bad
hit and initially we were not sure it could be repaired but as the sign
says – We are “Gerton Strong” in more ways than one.
By taking a direct
hit, the sign most likely kept the vehicle from crashing into the west
end of our Community Center. Several Community members inspected the
damage and after filing a police report Stan Mobley and Mike Hamlin
removed the mangled mess for delivery to local Artist Blacksmith Dave
MacDonald for inspection.
After determining the sign could be
repaired - it was dismantled, cleaned and the necessary welding repairs
were completed making it stronger than before. On Saturday, October 3, with a new coat of paint and the purchase of some new letters the sign
is back in place and looking great. Hopefully it will continue to stand
strong and serve as a means of keeping our Community informed for many
years to come.
Mike Hamlin helps Stan Mobley get the damaged sign into the truck for delivery to our local artist blacksmith.
Dave MacDonald works his magic on the sign, and....
stands beside the like-new sign.
Many thanks to Mike, Stan, and Dave who repaired the sign, cleaned it, added new letters.
UHNGCC Support for Outreach
In the month of October, the Gerton community delivered a total of 535 pounds of food items for the Outreach's project of preparing 200 Thanksgiving meals for our neighbors. With a list provided by Outreach, we offered 366 pounds on October 12 and another 169 pounds on October 26. The Outreach has rented a new space just down from their facility to use for storing and preparation of their big projects. Almost all the food supplies on these shelves have come from the Gerton community. Their request for the meal include:
In the first October delivery someone provided some ice cream; another neighbor purchased ice cream cones and sprinkles. I know one family got an extra surprise!
Please remember not to drop off out-of-date food items; only food you would eat yourself is appropriate. Many thanks for your ongoing generosity. Together, we can make a difference for others.
October Board Meeting and WNCCommunities Award
At the Tuesday morning, October 20 board meeting, Sylvia Sane presented our awards check to the rest of the board--from left: Jean Bradley, Jim Earnhardt, Stan Mobley, Chuck Mallory, Sylvia Sane. This year the historical awards of Participating Community ($300), Engaged Community ($500), Community of Promise ($1,000) and Community of Distinction ($2,000) were not presented. Each community club who filled out the application was given an equal share of the total monies collected. We got out check for $410. Our money was put directly into our savings account. We are the process of getting bids for a new roof and taking care of delayed maintenance problems in our building, which is now over 100-years-old. We have the time now to be good stewards of a building that serves us all. More details about business the club has been taking care of will be sent in our annual dues letter.
A mid-October moment at Lake Lure suggests that it could as easily be late spring or early summer,
but a picture of golden leaves at Gerton on the same day suggests our color is more vibrant, but as Robert Frost reminds us, "Nothing gold can stay."
Journaling in the Time of a Pandemic
By Barbara Earnhardt
I
want to underscore the benefits that can come for writing journal
entries that nobody else will grade or read! Thoughts a writer
scribbles down can change that person's mind. (A freshman writer I once
had in class described how he planned to beat up his roommate. But
then, after reading what he had written, the feeling of anger
lightened. Studies show that college journal keepers have low rates of
quitting.)
Writing
personal journals--not really a diary--but of reflections on a problem
or something that troubles the writer can 'clear the skies' in healing
ways. Providing writing material for people without them can be a true
problem-solver for the suffering--as we do when we buy composition
notebooks for the inmates at Swannanoa Correctional Center for Women.
The writer is talking to herself--and often realizes new ways of
thinking about things. And re-reading personal writing can be a great
teacher--to help the writer realize she doesn't believe what she wrote
anymore. Or to see that old old ways of thinking--are just that. (And
if any of the ECHO readers would like some guidance in starting their
own journal, I'd be happy to counsel by phone. --Barbara
Earnhardt 357-5129)
Flowers in early fall: Goldenrod
the Cardinal Flower
and the Phlox
On Taking a Covid-19 Test
by Bonnie Moore
Hi sweet friends! I learned recently being sick isn’t the only reason
you can be required to take a COVID -19 test. This was a surprise to me
because I honestly know no one personally who has been sick, thankfully,
but because my doctor wanted to do an Endoscopic procedure (looking
down my throat) and for their safety and protection they wanted to make
sure I was COVID free. My procedure was to be on a Friday and their
office said show up Tuesday at this time and place for my COVID test.
(They also said all medication or supplements I might be taking must be
stopped from Tuesday until the day of the procedure. )
Tuesday was a beautiful, blue sky kind of day--how bad could this be? I
might have been concerned since the doctor’s office had been adamant I
had to have the covid-19 test before they would do the procedure. I went
to the drive-thru at the appointed time and place and was greeted by a
nurse in full battle gear. She checked my name off a list and she too
was adamant: no test -no procedure. I was feeling good, but beginning to
be suspicious. I was there, wasn’t I, what was the big deal? Well, I
soon learned; what Darth Vader had in mind with her 8 inch long flexible
stick, was nothing like the gentle swabbing of the inside of the
nostril shown on the nightly news. Between my gag reflex and a highly
tuned sense of self preservation, my head jerked back, and I ended up
laying across the passenger seat. 4 failed attempts!! Two in one nostril
then she tried the other...same result.
The nurse once again insisted no acceptable test, no procedure. I did not
know my nose was more than three inches deep but she assured me, all 8
inches of that swab would be used. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? 8 inches would
go out the back of my skull wouldn’t it? I looked at her like she had
three heads! In her defense, she was looking at me the same way. In a
few moments after some serious reflection, I nodded my head. And I
grabbed hold of the steering wheel and felt that sucker go in my nose,
take a sharp downward turn at the back of my throat and rub the dust off
the top of my lung. I nearly wrenched the steering wheel right off my
car! By some miraculous engineering on God’s part, swab and body
parted company soon enough and no blood or lasting damage was involved.
Public service announcement: do not volunteer to take that test......not
that I did. For me the decision was made then and there to stay
quarantined at home till hell froze over or until a new method of
testing for this virus was developed. My brother-in-law, hearing I had
lived through it, but just barely, sent me a text saying he had heard
they had indeed come up with an improved testing method. It involved a
rectal swab, but it slowed down the drive-in testing line
considerably!! NOT! He was lying of course, see what I have to work
with?! My adult son was off on Friday, and he was going to be my driver
for the procedure, go figure, him driving and they stop hypertension
medication for the test.
Note: this was only my experience, and if
you have had to take this test, you have my deepest sympathy and honest
admiration. Also note: if you have family or friends that have been
affected by this illness, I am sincerely sorry that they have been
affected. My description, while true, is lighthearted, to make you
smile, not to minimize the pandemic all around us.
After Zeta, Areas of Gerton Lose a Day of Power
The winds on the night of October 28 blew a large tree across Pond Lane, obstructing traffic, and causing the tree to land on the power lines, bringing it perilously close to the pond water. Lines across the pond were also broken and hanging from tree branches. Men from Duke Energy borrow local boats and repair the problem. Soon, the power was working again. Funny how we take for granted that when we flip a switch, a light comes on....and do we ever notice when that does NOT happen. Thanks to those who work hard to keep our lights on and our computers connected.
At press time, some people within our area are still without power. May this soon be remedied.
Some Moments in Nature
In Jjm Earnhardt's yard, a bear enjoys some bird feeder offerings,
while a deer watches...
and a turtle, too!
And at the Coast...
The Walsh-Infanzon family went to the beach in September:
Photos
of what we think was a black tip shark caught by a 14-year-old boy at
Carolina Beach on the first day of our September beach vacation. Diego
helped release the shark back into the ocean, and we all swam much
closer to shore afterwards!
Thanks in part to Diego, the shark was re-located to the ocean.
A Trip to Turkey
by Karen Owensby
A recent trip to Turkey reminds me again that Istanbul is my favorite
city in the world. Friends told me I was crazy for planning an
international trip during COVID. Not true! Turkey has implemented more
precautions than the US. Face coverings are mandated; temperatures are
checked before entering all restaurants and stores; hand washing
products are everywhere. I encourage everyone to consider a trip to
Istanbul where you will enjoy food (Turkish delight, mezze, fish,
amazing fruits and vegetables), history (Ephesus, eight ancient
civilizations), shopping (carpets, ceramics and many bazaars),
architecture and the most amazing people you will ever meet. I can’t
wait to return!
Places to See:
Hagia Sophia
Basilica Cistern
Library at Ephesus
Food to Eat:
Bream from Sea of Marmara
Neighborhood News
Scrap Metal and Aluminum Cans
Norris Lyda and his boys are continuing to pick up scrap metal, and they would like to add aluminum cans to their rounds. If you want to recycle your cans through Norris, just give him a call at 828-447-0804 or nlyda71@gmail.com
Resident Passes Away in Gerton
William Blanchard Gaines,
74, of Charleston, SC, husband of Linda Marie Lukow, entered into
eternal rest on Monday, October 26, 2020. The family will receive
friends from 5PM - 7PM on Friday, November 6, 2020 at the J. Henry
Stuhr, Inc., West Ashley Chapel. Due to Covid-19 Protocol, the number of
attendees is limited to 30 at a time and all guests are required to
wear a mask and practice social distancing. A graveside service will be
held at Old St. Andrew Parish Churchyard.
Billy was born June 9, 1946 in Charleston, SC, son of the late Leonard C. Gaines and Catherine Elenore Blanchard Gaines.
He was a graduate of St. Andrews High School and Trident Technical
College, his career was established in the Heating & Air
-Conditioning Service. He was active with John Wesley United Methodist
Church, Bear Wallow Mountain Baptist Church, and Kairos Prison Ministry.
He is survived by his first wife, Linda Suzette Gaines and their children, Adina G. Garner (Greg) of Johns Island, SC and Tron C. Gaines
(Becky) of Charleston, SC; his four grandchildren, Hunter and Ellie
Garner, North and Saylor Gaines; his two cousins, Trudy Nash, and Scott
Askew both of Roswell, GA. He was predeceased by two brothers, Leonard
C. Gaines, Jr., and Fred B. Gaines.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Kairos Prison Ministry or John Wesley United Methodist Church.
Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., West Ashley Chapel, 3360 Glenn McConnell Parkway, Charleston, SC 29414.
Editor's Note: Billy Gaines was the best kind of neighbor--he was always there to cook our BBQ at GertonFest, help in the kitchen for our fundraisers, bring generous food items to support our gifts to the Outreach. If you needed help, Billy would offer. He represented the best of Gerton. We will miss him. Our condolences to Linda and his family.
_________________________________________________________
THE ECHO OF THE GORGE is published bi-monthly by the UHNGCC. Officers for 2020: Stan Mobley, President; Jim Earnhardt, Vice President; Secretary, Karen Owensby; Treasurer, Sylvia Sane. Board members: Jean Bradley, Chuck Mallory, Margaret Whitt.
News for the ECHO may be sent to Margaret Whitt at margaret.whitt@du.edu. Photos and news always welcome. Photographers for this issue: Margaret Whitt, Stan Mobley, Karen Owensby, Jose Infanzon, Jim Earnhardt,
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