UHNGCC decorated for the Christmas holidays: wreaths on doors, bows on sign, Christmas tree lights shine in the evening dark all through December.
For the first time since our July 4 community cookout, neighbors came together on Sunday afternoon, December 19 from 2 to 4 p.m. The weather cooperated, but both Jim Sane and Steve Jones brought their fire pits so that while caroling on the grass below the pavilion, all could stay warm.
We had a good share of holiday cookies and savory offerings. The lights sparkled on the ceiling of the pavilion.
People brought their own chairs and others provided more, so there was plenty of room to sit and stand, to socially distant from one another or to get close to the warmth of the fire.
New neighbors had a chance to meet old timers, and those who already knew each other had the opportunity to see one another again.
Steve Jones plays his guitar while the community participates in our annual singing of "The 12 Days of Christmas."
At the conclusion of our time together, we delivered the left over cookies and sandwiches to the fire department in Fairview, so that those on duty could enjoy what we had enjoyed. (Nobody answered the door at the Gerton Fire Department.)
We all look forward to the return of a more regular opportunity to gather in the new year.
President's Note
What are your New Year’s traditions? Making (and keeping)
resolutions? Eating traditional foods? In the South, we like to eat
black-eyed peas and collards (for wealth), ham (for prosperity), and
cornbread (for gold). Do you stay up until midnight for the New Year's
Eve countdown? Do you attend watch night services at church? Across
the world, New Year's celebrations denote both the passing of time with
some regret (perhaps) but hope (always) for what the new year will
bring.
As our country and world continue to struggle with
the Covid-19 pandemic, we must remain hopeful for the end of this
disease that has harmed and killed so many. We are indeed blessed to
live in a time where the advances of science and medicine will, if not
bring an end to Covid-19, make it – like the flu – a manageable
condition.
At our monthly meetings, the Board discusses
local disease and vaccination data and reviews CDC guidelines to
determine when it is safe to hold inside meetings. All of us – UHNGCC
and Board members – want to open the Center as soon as we can safely do
so.
Thanks to Chestnut Hills for allowing us to use the
Pavilion for our outside community Christmas party on December 19.
Forty-eight people attended. We enjoyed Christmas foods, caroling, fire
pits and cold weather. Most importantly, we welcomed friends we have
not seen in many months and friends new to Gerton. It was marvelous to
celebrate as a community for this very special season.
UHNGCC support for Hickory Nut Gorge Outreach continues to be
incredible. In 2021, we have donated over 3 tons of food and supplies
to the Outreach. The generosity of our small community has kept many
from hunger. May you receive as generously as you give.
The
newly renovated Community Room is available for small groups to use
free of charge. Thanks to Board members and Steve Jones for donating
time and all materials for the renovation. If you are interested in
reserving the Community Room, send your request to
groundedingerton@gmail.com. Similarly, any group may rent the Community
Center for a fee of $50 by sending your request to our email. Please
provide as much notice as possible so that your requested date and time
may be secured.
Lastly, our Board is here to serve YOU.
UHNGCC members are invited to send questions and comments to
groundedingerton@gmail.com.
Lastly, I would like to express my deepest appreciation to
Stan Mobley for his leadership over the past two years. Stan has worked
tirelessly - often behind the scenes - to help individuals in our
community, to correct Community Center building issues, to keep our
community safe during Covid, to support donations to Hickory Nut Gorge
Outreach, to keep our community clean and to celebrate our country by
installing flags along 74A for the summer season. I know our Board and
Community join me in saying “thank you, Stan!”
Wishing you and those you
love a very happy New Year………”May your troubles be less and your
blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door.”
Karen Owensby
UHNGCC President
groundedingerton@gmail.com
Coming Soon! A New Book Group in Gerton
Ellen Boyle (purplepearluma@gmail.com) has offered to host the planning meeting for a new BOOK CLUB in Gerton. The organizational meeting will be on Wednesday, FEBRUARY 2, at 1 p.m., in the new Community Room at the UHNGCC. At this meeting, these details for running a successful book club will be discussed:
- meeting days and time
- length of each meeting
- book selection
- discussion strategies
- refreshment responsibilities
Please let Ellen know by email if you plan to attend the meeting on Feb. 2 or if you can't make the meeting but would like to be notified of the first meeting.
Last Sweep of 2021
Small Crowd, Small Amount of Trash
From Left:
Peter Reese, Stan Mobley, Mike Hamlin, Jim Earnhardt. Not Pictured:
Charles and Karen Gamble and Karen Owensby. The last litter sweep of the year was held on Friday, November 6. A smaller crowd: 7 and trash: 9 bags. We will hold our first litter sweep of the new year in the spring. Many hands make light work and Gerton benefits!
WNCCommunities 72nd Honors Award Event
UHNGCC Scores Big in New Mountain Laurel Division
This year, as last year, the WNCCommunities held their annual event on zoom. There were 72 participants on the Tuesday evening, December 2, event that acknowledged and celebrated the 66 clubs who submitted an annual report. The evening began with break out groups: Margaret Whitt attended the one on "Preserving the Legacy of the Community." Chuck Mallory went to the break out group that discussed "Fundraising."
Margaret's report: Trudy Crowe of the Big Y Community, one of the Cherokee tribal clubs of Jackson County, was prepared to walk us through the great number of activities that Big Y has been involved in to preserve their heritage. She taught us the Cherokee word: "sgadugi," which means community--people coming together as one. Among their many programs, the elders are teaching the young how to speak the language of the Cherokee so it will not be lost. They have been offering classes on making Bean Bread and hosting Ramp dinners, taking the young into the gardens and neighboring wooded sections and teaching them to identify certain plants, so they will not eat those that are poisonous. They have offered pottery classes and river cane matting classes, along with a moccasin class, where each participant left at the end of the day with a new pair of handmade puckertoe moccasins, a Cherokee favorite. Also, they have led classes in making stomp skirts and ribbon skirts. Their facility has a dedicated sewing room with eight sewing machines. Trudy had plenty of pictures to show, and the whole was impressive. Sgadugi is at work in Big Y!
The Big Y Community has about 100 households with 60 active volunteers. They also have an indigenous book club, a movie night for kids, offer free labor to help each other build raised garden beds, and offer, too, a community garden. Sgadugi!!
Several members of the Cedar Mountain Community Club worked together to publish a book about their area. The book was offered to local merchants who sold the book and kept the profits for their business. To date, Cedar Mountain has sold about 500 copies.
Chuck's report: Fundraising Ideas from the WNC Community Awards Virtual Event
Many
chapters have been idle during the Covid pandemic and did not have
fundraisers, dinners, or meetings. But of the few who did, ideas were
shared. Several organizations mentioned producing a cookbook to raise
funds, which provided some income in non-meeting times. Chili cook-offs
and bake-offs were also held.
One
community has a "dance night," with the regular attendees music
preference (usually country music). The center has a small stage and
they move all tables out of the way. A volunteer finds bands, but often a
local band or two plays regularly, so they don't have to search for
talent. The band is paid by "pass the hat" donations. Though this
does not bring in much donation money the night of the event, it keeps
members engaged and likely to participate in other events, and to feel
like their community center is providing a fun venue for them. And
sometimes they will find a band who will donate the performance, so all
donations that night go to the community center.
Much
of the session was spent on Bethel Rural Community Association's
extensive fundraising program. They have commissioned a local artist who
does local scenes, and then provides her art for poster sales on their
website. They have produced some DVDs of local scenes and driving tours
and sell those. Their "online store" also includes books about the local
area. Even some donations have come from their online "donate"
button--right on their website's front page. They run a traditional
website rather than use Facebook or social media. During non-pandemic
times they have educational meetings, a 5k/marathon, and they have
always (even during the pandemic) operated a food pantry out of their
community center one day a week. A big part of their success is having a
deep staff of volunteers. They have seven full committees plus numerous
volunteers pitching in on their programs.
One
community group focuses on their "Friday Meal & Music," an
astonishingly ambitious way to raise money. Using several dozen
volunteers, the community center has a meal every Friday night,
except on major holiday weeks. Volunteers cook all the food (varying the
menu from week to week), and another handful of volunteers secures the
musicians. The recommended donation for the dinner is $10 per person.
The "donation hat" is passed around during the performance, with that
money given to the band. The band is also paid a nominal fee by the
community center. While listeners in the session admired the group's
drive, some remarked it would be difficult to achieve such a daunting
task on a weekly basis. This weekly event comprises almost the entirety
of that community center's activities.
One
more idea that pertains to us: one group says that when they have an
upcoming event, they work with local campground managers to let all
their visitors know about the event. This group says they got many
donations, as campground travelers were happy to "do as the locals do."
An
inspiring part was when a session attended mentioned that their club
has applied for the same annual grant for 21 years. Finally, in 2021,
they received a grant.
* * *
A Youth Leadership Award was presented for the first time. The winner was Ryleigh Stevens from Caney Fork in Jackson County. North Carolina Outward Bound made the prize sweeter. Another new award was the Impact Award; for some unstated reason this award was not granted this year. It will begin in 2022.
There was one President's Award given this year. The winner was Leicester Community Club. The award recognizes those community clubs that have submitted an annual report for fifty years. UHNGCC has long been a recipient of the President's Award.
This year WNCCommunities was able to raise $44,800 to distribute to the 66 communities that entered the judging. The sponsors were Harrah's of Cherokee, Duke Energy, Biltmore Farms, Farm Credit, First Citizens, The McClure Foundation, New Belgium, and Wells Fargo. Each of the 66 communities would receive $550.
The 66 communities gave a total of 116,402 hours of service, which equals (in WNCCommunities' accounting) over $3 million. Total grants that came in from outside the communities totaled over $2 million, for a grand total of $5,847,077!
Trillium (the old participating group) included 33 communities. Ten were selected as the BEST: Big Cove, Big Y, Birdtown, Cherokee Community, Clarks Chapel, Ellenboro, Ox Creek, Towstring, Wolftown, and Yellowhill. Each of these ten communities will receive an additional $250.
Mountain Laurel (the old engaged group) included 32 communities. The top TEN included:
Bethel Rural, Big Ivy, Caney Fork, Cedar Mountain, Fines Creek, Laurel, Leicester, Pigeon, Sandy Marsh, and (drum roll) UHNGCC. Each of these communities will receive an additional $500.
(UHNGCC will receive a total of $1,050 for our work in 2021.)
Redbud (the old promising group) had only one community: Shiloh. They were awarded an additional $1,000.
White Oak (the old distinguished group) had no communities represented.
The new "tree" designations each have different criteria, which are assigned by WNCCommunities. Once all the clubs are fully open, the criteria and the competition will return to a more transparent judging. Each community will also be sent a copy of a new book: In Pursuit of a Greater Good--about rural community development.
The Calico Cat Jr. Award went to Caney Fork, for a new ceiling, new wiring, new fans, and outside flood lights plus new appliances in their kitchen. They received grants of $22,000 for the improvements.
The Calico Cat Award went to Carson, for removing an old stage, turning a work room into a new office. The whole was painted and murals were painted on the walls. Plus a new system also provided for new bathroom facility.
The Calico Cat Awards are received for refurbishing the building where the community meets. Over the years, UHNGCC has received either the small or large cat FIVE times. The cats are on display in our newly renovated Community Room.
Those facilitating our ZOOM event were Terri Wells, Susan Garrett, and Jennifer Ferre, Executive Director of UNCCommunities. Next year, all hope we might meet again in person.
Results of the Greenery Workshop
Sarah Gayle, Jim Earnhardt, Ellen Boyle, Margaret Whitt, Stan Mobley, Mike Hamlin, Chuck Mallory, and Teresa Garrick gathered on Monday, December 6 to bring holiday cheer to the Gerton thoroughfare. Thanks to greens from Sarah Gayle, Lori Erskine, and Jim Earnhardt, we had plenty of raw material to begin fashioning them into attractive arrangements with a red bow in the front. Mike and Stan began hanging them as soon as we made the first ten. It is always amazing how the pile on the floor area is always just enough to make the 40+ hangings we need!
The lights on the Christmas tree inside the clubhouse cast a glow each evening in December from 5:30 until 10 p.m.
Neighborhood News
Eileen Ferrell Celebrates Retirement
Eileen Ferrell celebrated her retirement on Nov. 20 at Riverside Event Center in Lake Lure.
Eileen
graduated from nursing school in Feb. 1976 from St. Joseph’s Hospital
School of Nursing in Candler. She got a BS in Nursing in 1996 from the
Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, and a Master’s in Nursing
Education from Western Carolina University in 2013.
Eileen
started her career in the ICU and worked for several different hospitals
throughout the East Coast and Midwest. After 12 years as a critical
care nurse, she changed specialties and worked in the post-anesthesia
care unit. Looking for more experience, she was trained as a
perioperative nurse with cardio and neurosurgery specialties.
She
moved to Asheville in 2002 and worked at Mission Hospital, then at the
Asheville VA Medical Center, where she was until her retirement. There,
she found a passion for teaching and mentoring young nurses. Since 2009
she was Director of the VA’s Transition to Practice program, a residency
program that takes new RN graduates and molds them into
high-functioning, competent nurses.
“Nursing is a wonderful
profession with many different specialties,” says Eileen. “I have been
blessed to be able to pass on my passion for nursing and caring for our
nation’s heroes.”
In her career, Eileen taught, coached and
mentored more than 248 nurses, and her work was a key component in
Asheville’s VA Medical Center becoming #1 in the nation for patient and
nursing satisfaction.
“I have been a nurse for 45 years and look
forward to the next chapter of my life with my husband Donald. I am so
excited about getting our Chestnut Hills community garden started next
spring! Hope to see neighbors out and about in our wonderful community.”
Congratulations, Eileen! And thank you for your work in a giving-oriented career, helping humanity and veterans. --from Chuck Mallory
Chestnut Hills neighbors share in Eileen's evening: From bottom left: Jim Peine, Linda Reandeau, Mike Reandeau, Chuck Mallory, Eileen Farrell, Lezle Stein, and Dan Clancy
Eileen and Don dancing at her party.
ECHO of the Gorge is published bi-monthly by the UHNGCC. News and photos may be sent to Margaret Whitt at margaret.whitt@du.edu. Photos for this issue provided by Margaret Whitt, Sylvia Sane, Chuck Mallory, Karen Owensby.
Officers of UHNGCC for 2021: President - Karen Owensby; Vice-President - Jim Earnhardt; Secretary - Ellen Boyle; Treasurer - Sylvia Sane; Board Members - Jean Bradley, Chuck Mallory, Margaret Whitt, Sarah Gayle; Immediate Past President - Stan Mobley
