President's NoteMarch and April 2021
Spring is coming and hope is on the Horizon. As we enter into our second year of the Pandemic, it is hard for me to believe that this has lasted so long and had such a devastating effect on our Community, Country and the World. As I have said before, I am grateful to live in such a supportive and caring community during these times and look forward to a time when we can safely meet again as neighbors.
Thank you to all who have responded to our Membership dues letter with your yearly dues and extra contributions. Normally we would have our 50/50 raffle at our monthly dinners, proceeds from events and fundraisers to support our Community Center but in 2020 we had to rely upon your donations and funds from our partnership with the WNC Community Foundation. We look forward to starting dinners and community activities/fund raisers later in 2021; we will keep you posted. If you have not sent in your dues for 2021 and or would like to make a contribution to our Community Center you can send in your checks to UHNGCC PO Box 222 Gerton, NC 28735.
As we enter into Spring please remember to watch out for your Neighbors! We have had an uptick in thefts in Gerton over the past several months, and we need to be aware of activities in our area. Please follow the guidelines of “If you see something – say something” – support your neighbors and call 911 to report any suspicious vehicles or activities. Please remember that crime stats are tracked first by calls to 911; if we do not report issues then we can not expect for Law Enforcement to be aware of problems.
Please also remember as you are doing Spring Cleanup around your property that it is necessary to obtain a “free” burn permit for any burning on your property. You can obtain all the information at www.ncforestservice.gov and complete a quick online form to obtain your burn permit. We live in a small community and it is good to remember that members of our Fire Department are volunteers and are also our neighbors, so we need to make sure we are keeping them safe by following the rules!
All the Best!
Stan Mobley
UHNGCC Board President
Spring is Coming – Let’s Clean up our Community
Please join your friends and neighbors on Friday, March 19, for the first Highway Litter Sweep in 2021. We will meet just before 10 a.m. on Friday morning at the Community Center for a socially distanced outdoor event. Participants are encouraged to wear a mask while in proximity to others and to bring their own work gloves. Safety vests along with recycle and trash bags will be provided – normally the pickup lasts about 2 hours and is a good way to meet new neighbors and connect with friends!
Look forward to seeing you soon!
Mike Hamlin
Memorial Donations to UHNGCC in 2020
The longer we live, the more frequently our lives will be touched by those among us who have passed on. We keep these neighbors and friends in our memories and in our hearts, and some choose to make a gift to the UNHGCC in their name.
This year UHNGCC received gifts in memory of the following:
Jan Beck - from Ken and Wiebke Watkins; Bruce and Katie Hovermale; Jim Earnhardt; Dorothy Welling; Marie Giles; Maxine Dunn.
Gene Earnhardt - from Jean Bradley; Margaret Whitt; Jim and Sylvia Sane
David Cameron - from Jean Bradley
Keith Earnhardt -from Royce and Linda Porter; Jean Bradley; Bruce and Katie Hovermale; Marshall and Mary Griffith; Jim and Sylvia Sane; Verrick and Patricia French; J. Michael and Avon B Pryor; William and Elizabeth Sayers; Karen Owensby; Helen B Wright; Bob Stepp; J Michael and Joan M Rogers; Travis Waldron; Marilyn and Lamar Parker; Margaret Whitt; Jim Earnhardt; Sandra G Marsh
Billy Gaines - Margaret Whitt; Linda Lukow
When a memorial donation is made to UHNGCC, we keep those dollars in a separate account. When the money is spent, we will make sure to let all know in what ways and for what purposes the gift is being put to use. Thanks to all who choose to honor and remember a person from Gerton in this manner.
Food Supplies for Hickory Nut Outreach in Lake Lure
In January, the need from Outreach included Chunky Soups, Juice, Cereals, Snacks (cookies, crackers, nuts) Vegetable Oil (16 oz. bottles), Sugar. And once again, Gerton responded. We delivered 328 pounds on January 11 and 290 pounds on January 25--for a January total of 618 pounds.
In February, Outreach asked for Chef Boy-R-Dee foods for kids, jelly in plastic jars (if possible), cereal, canned beef stew, tuna, and fruit cups for kids. Recently, they have not been able to receive these items from Manna Food Bank, still the largest provider of their needed items. On February 8, we delivered 274 pounds of food supplies to the Outreach, and on February 22, another 169 pounds of food --making our total for the month: 443 pounds and our total for the year 2021: 1,061 pounds.
Further information about Hickory Nut Gorge Outreach can be obtained from their website: www.hickorynutgorgeoutreach.org. They are located at 2556 Memorial Highway in Lake Lure. The phone number is 625-4683.
AMERICAN PICKERS to Film in North Carolina
Mike Wolfe, Frank Fritz, and their team are excited to return to North Carolina! They plan to film episodes of the hit series American Pickers throughout our area in March 2021.
We understand that with the proliferation of COVID-19, we are all facing very uncertain times. We at American Pickers are taking the pandemic very seriously and will be following all guidelines and protocols for safe filming as outlined by the state and CDC. While we plan to be in North Carolina this March, we will continue to re-schedule if conditions change for the worse.
Regardless, we are excited to continue to reach the many collectors in the area to discuss their years of picking! AMERICAN PICKERS is a documentary series that explores the fascinating world of antique “picking” on History. The hit show follows Mike and Frank, two of the most skilled pickers in the business, as they hunt for America’s most valuable antiques. They are always excited to find sizeable, unique collections and learn the interesting stories behind them. As they hit the back roads from coast to coast, Mike and Frank are on a mission to recycle and rescue forgotten relics. Along the way, the Pickers want to meet characters with remarkable and exceptional items. The pair hopes to give historically significant objects a new lease on life, while learning a thing or two about America’s past along the way.
Mike and Frank have seen a lot of rusty gold over the years and are always looking to discover something they’ve never seen before. They are ready to find extraordinary items and hear fascinating tales about them. AMERICAN PICKERS is looking for leads and would love to explore your hidden treasure.
If you or someone you know has a large, private collection or accumulation of antiques that the Pickers can spend the better part of the day looking through, send us your name, phone number, location and description of the collection with photos to: americanpickers@cineflix.com or call 855-OLD-RUST.facebook: @GotAPic
UHNGCC Annual Budget - 2021
On the worksheet below, you can see what UHNGCC actually spent in 2020, a year when the activity of our community was, for the most part, shut down. We still have expenses associated with lawn care, pest control, utilities, and insurance--these were the big items.
It is our hope that this year we can gather together for our community Cook-Out, Bingo, and Fireworks on July 4, that we might hold our GertonFest XII over Labor Day weekend, our October Breakfast in early October, our Chili-Cook-Off in early December, and that we might eat Thanksgiving dinner together as a community in November. We have been too long apart.
Also, you will notice that our income and expenses do NOT balance. We don't start each year with a clean slate, but we have money that carries over from year to year. And we depend on money from awards we win annually.
You will notice that we made $1590 in 2020 from awards and work on the census. We never know how much our awards dollars will be until we see them! So we offer here, in short, what we actually received and spent and what we think we can make and will need to spend in this new year. Please direct any questions you may have about our spending to a member of the board or send an email to a groundedingerton@gmail.com
| EXPENSES | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Category | 2020 Actual | 2021 Budget | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Property Maintenance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawn Care | $2,400.00 | $2,400.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pest Control | $699.60 | $700.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Heating Oil | $0.00 | $0.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Utilities | $702.18 | $800.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Propane Tank Rent/Fill | $149.00 | $150.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Heating Inspection | $224.18 | $250.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Heating Repairs | $0.00 | $0.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cleaning Interior | $600.00 | $300.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fire Extinguisher Maintenance | $0.00 | $45.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Water Testing & Filters | $0.00 | $0.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Insurance | $2,604.00 | $2,600.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taxes | $87.82 | $100.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Supplies | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Plates, Utensils, Drinks | $0.00 | $100.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ECHO Expenses | $269.72 | $500.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Business Supplies | $130.35 | $100.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Building Projects | $449.07 | $1,000.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Programs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chili Cook-Off | $68.28 | $50.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GertonFest | $0.00 | $450.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Easter Egg Hunt | $0.00 | $0.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| July 4th Cookout | $0.00 | $200.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sale on Trail Food | $0.00 | $0.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Summer Play | $0.00 | $0.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thanksgiving Turkey | $0.00 | $50.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Afternoon Tea | $0.00 | $0.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October Breakfast | $0.00 | $100.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Miscellaneous Expenses | $0.00 | $0.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scholarships | $0.00 | $500.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outreach | $200.00 | $200.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rental Space Repairs | $100.00 | $200.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Building Repairs | $0.00 | $500.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Totals | $8,684.20 | $11,295.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Rental Cottages in the Gerton Area and Area Shops
The following cabins are available in the Gerton area. We list them here by website and for suggesting to your friends who come visit but might want to stay nearby instead of in your home.
Greater Gerton
Chestnut Hills Vacation Rentals
1. Mountain Manor
471 Chestnut Hills Loop Rd.
VRBO:
https://www.vrbo.com/en-ca/cottage-rental/p9415877?
AirBnB:
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/42717092?
($286/night)
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2. Tiny House Rustic Hillside Hideaway
133 Chestnut Hill Rd.
AirBnB:
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/44698630?
$105/night
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3. Historic Home
206 Chestnut Hill Rd.
VRBO:
https://www.vrbo.com/1420487?
$213/night
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4. Blue Ridge Mountain Escape
4 Windfall Circle
VRBO:
https://www.vrbo.com/9421097ha?
$177/night
AirBnb:
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/42894058?
$171/night
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5. Two Cabins in One
72 Chestnut Hill Rd.
VRBO:
https://www.vrbo.com/1214166?
($325/night)
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6. Romantic Hickory Nut Lodge
33 Thomasville Lane
VRBO:
https://www.vrbo.com/655976?
$187/night
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7. Cottage on Kelly Hill
Kelly Hill Rd.
VRBO: https://www.vrbo.com/1787038?
$224/night
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Bearwallow Provision Co. are wrapping up their remodel within a few weeks. Selection of products in the store have almost doubled, while a new shipment of apparel will be arriving soon.
We are currently closed on Mondays but open 10 to 6 every other day of the week. We are hoping to hire staff to cover Mondays moving toward summer. No sandwich station in the works yet, but with community support we will be able to get there possibly by summer.
Erik Julian, Owner
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Neighborhood News
Sam "Sonny" Freeman died in the afternoon of Sunday, January 24, of congestive heart failure. His graveside service was held on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. on February 6, with three pastors officiating: Rev. Don Freeman, Rev. Tom Sherwood, and Rev. Bobby Dees, who have all served or presently serve Bearwallow Baptist Church.
Long-time neighbor Barbara Earnhardt offered these words about Sonny:
The well known poem beginning "O let me live by the side of the road/And be a friend to man" fit our long-time Gerton neighbor. No strangers ever existed for Sonny, and travelers and neighbors alike driving past his house, inherited from his grandfather, were treated to a wave of greeting as they passed him sitting in his porch lounge chair.
Sonny had a raft of friends who visited and often stayed the night or month in a tent outdoors, maybe in a trailer sitting a little way up the Sam Freeman Road running up the mountain from his mountain of collected treasures.
A neighbor once offered to help clear off his sinking wood porch, but there wasn't a single thing Sam could see needed removal. The Confederate flag was replaced a couple of times over the years, and a weathered gray toy cat to a pillar, come rain or shine.
Social workers looked after Sonny, and neighbors would drive him to the doctor. Jeff Sinclair, a special close friend, kept watch.
He married Ellen on August 8, 2009. Their front porch Saturday afternoon wedding served as the setting for their exchange of vows, with Rev. Don Freeman officiating. Ellen pre-deceased Sonny by a few years. He will be missed.
Save Our Big Friends (the elephants)
Eva Infanzon and about 5 or 6 of her friends meet every other Friday to talk about the elephants. Here is an essay written by Eva to explain their interest in and concern for the elephants:
My Great Idea: Save the Elephants!
by Eva Infanzon
Imagine a world where elephants don’t roam freely in areas of Africa, India, and Southeast Asia, where baby elephants don’t play in the mud, and where children don’t even know what an elephant looks like because they are extinct. Elephants play a critical role in their ecosystems, and are among the smartest and most caring animals on earth. At current rates of habitat loss and poaching, elephants could disappear from the wild within 20 years, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature.
Elephants help one another, grieve their dead, and do as much as they can to protect each other. They never leave a member of their herd behind. Elephants are the landscape engineers and gardeners where they live. In the dry season, elephants use their tusks to dig for water, which also helps other animals. Elephants plant many seeds with their dung and provide food for beetles, field mice, honey badgers, and more. It is very important to protect elephants to save ecosystems.
A century ago, 10 million elephants lived in Africa, and 100,000 elephants roamed in Asia. But in the past hundred years their numbers have declined drastically. African elephants are dying out mostly due to the illegal ivory trade and poaching. Both Asian and African elephants are being crowded out of their habitat by humans. Asian elephants have lost 80% of their natural habitats as human development increases. There are fewer than 400,000 wild African elephants and 30,000 Asian elephants alive today. They can’t win this fight on their own.
Ways to help save wild elephants include refusing to buy ivory and supporting a permanent ivory ban. Only buy certified fair trade coffee and Forest Stewardship Council certified wood. You can also boycott the circus, and adopt an elephant or donate to a conservation organization like The Elephant Crisis Fund and Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
