Friday, February 25, 2022

March - April 2022

The Big SNOW of January 16. Here, cars are parked at the center for those who anticipate needing to get someplace on the next day! Gerton got about 5-6 inches of snow. 

Chestnut Hills Pond with a view of the Gene Earnhardt house, now used as one of the many Airbnbs that are growing around Gerton. 
Owensby Pond in the Chestnut Hills area 

President's Note

I am writing this on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. The low in Gerton last night was 4 degrees. We have had three weekends of snow. Winter is beautiful to many people, including me. I love throwing on another log and enjoying cold days and nights by the fire. But even to lovers of cold weather, the promise of spring with early blooming flowers -- such as the hellebore and crocus -- is a welcome sight. Are you planning your vegetable and flower beds? I am too!

Whether it is winter or summer, it remains our privilege to help those in need. Since Covid began in early 2020, the people of Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Community Club have been very generous supporters of Hickory Nut Gorge Outreach. In addition to providing food for Hickory Nut Gorge communities, the Outreach also provides these services to neighbors in need:

· Student backpacks

· Financial assistance

· Thanksgiving and Christmas meals

· Christmas gifts for children

The Boards of UHNGCC and Outreach remain thankful and humbled by your continued generosity. “Happiness is not made by what we own. It is what we share.” Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

Thanks to all who have paid their annual UHNGCC membership dues. If you have not yet done so, please consider giving the $10 per person annual fee. Donations above membership dues are very much appreciated. Please mail membership dues to UHNGCC, PO Box 222, Gerton, NC 28735. We are very appreciative.

At each monthly meeting, the Board reviews regional and local Covid data to determine when we can safely open. While both case and death rates are declining, Covid remains a very active disease in our area, so the decision has been made to remain closed.

In this edition of Echo of the Gorge, you will find the annual operating budget for 2022.

This year, Easter is April 17. The Board is planning a community-wide Easter celebration. Depending on the Covid situation, it will probably be an outside event. If you are interested in helping us plan, please send an email to groundedingerton@gmail.com.

“Spring passes and one remembers one’s innocence.

Summer passes and one remembers one’s exuberance.

Autumn passes and one remembers one’s reverence.

Winter passes and one remembers one’s perseverance.”

Yoko Ono

Karen Owensby

President

Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Community Club

 groundedingerton@gmail.com 


 Mission Statement of UHNGCC

"Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Community Center is a welcoming center to all who enter our community. We provide opportunities that enrich the lives of our diverse community and support people to connect, learn, and grow."

Values

1. Respect - We treat everyone with dignity and strive to make people feel valued and accepted. We acknowledge and celebrate people's differences and provide an environment that is non-judgmental, safe and welcoming.

2. Community - We are a community center for all - supporting, promoting and strengthening opportunities for people to be connected to their neighbors and community. We acknowledge and embrace the ideas, skills, talents and needs of individuals, the Gerton community and the wider community of Hickory Nut Gorge.

3. Environment - We comply with all environment regulations and look for ways to protect our natural resources.

4. Financial Sustainability - We strive to make thoughtful, strategic choices to ensure we have sufficient financial resources to assure viability for the future. 

And while all was snowy and quiet in Gerton, a solitary tiny human walks beside the big ocean on the other side of the state (Myrtle Beach)--no doubt contemplating life's big issues!

Rules for the College Scholarship from UHNGCC:

 1.  Any person living in the community, who is seeking a degree or certificate from a non-profit, accredited post-secondary institution may apply.

 2.  A person may apply and receive the scholarship a maximum of TWO TIMES. But they may not be in consecutive years.

 3.  Along with the scholarship application, the applicant must supply the name and address of the school. The winner's check for $500 will be made out to the school and mailed directly to that school with the check noted: to be applied to (the winning applicant's) tuition cost.

 4. Depending on the number of applicants in any year, no more than TWO awards to two people will be given. The maximum amount of money awarded in one year will be $1,000.

 5.  At the end of the academic year, the winner will report to the UHNGCC the progress towards their academic end goal.

College SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION: Due Date this year will be May 20, 2022

 

 (Return to PO BOX 222 or to one of the officers or board members of UHNGCC)

 

                                                        Today’s Date:_________  

                       Name, Address, Phone Number, e-mail:

 

                    High School (or last school attended):

 

                    Graduation Date:

 

                    Family members we might know:

 

(Using a separate sheet of paper, number your answers for the following  questions. Write in complete sentences, please.)

                  1--School, Church, community activities I have participated in

 

2--Jobs I have held (babysitting counts, as does yard work, helping parents in their work—home or other places.) 

 

3--How would any of the above employers describe your work habits?

 

4--What are your strengths as a student?   What are your weaknesses?

 

5--In three or four sentences tell us your educational goals, and why you are applying for this scholarship.

 

6--The reason I chose (name of educational institution) is that.....

 

Snow on the picnic tables give an idea of how much snow came down on that Sunday of January 16--when we also lost power for eight hours --from about 10 in the morning until after 6 in the evening. 

Save the Date: MARCH 4- 9:30 a.m. First Litter Sweep of 2022

           Meet at the Community Center


Outdoor Spring Gathering Will Be Held in April: Watch sign and your emails for date and details!


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, Jay Alley, Chuck Mallory, Karen Owensby, Karen Gaddy.

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



Gerton Fire and Rescue   828-243-0411

4975 Gerton Highway, Gerton, NC 28735

From Left: Jason Banks, Jim Sane, Erik Julian, Norris Lyda, Dallas Ray, Garrett Harris, Patrick O'Kelley, Billy Mitchell, Aaron Eckhardt.

March 2022 Update

On August 28, 2021, we held a fundraiser at Gerton fire station. The reason for the fund raiser was to help with the purchase of a Lucas Compression Device. The Lucas Compression Device (shown above) is an automated compression device to be used on a patient who is suffering from cardiac arrest. Once applied to a patient it maintains continuous compressions on a patient. As you all know that compressions can be very demanding and tiring for any first responder. By using this machine, we will be able to provide continuous and consistent compressions. Evidence has shown that the survival rate when using this device goes up tremendously and there have been many more “saves” using it. By our purchasing this life saving piece of equipment, we will be able to free up as many as four workers to do other things needed in a cardiac arrest. We are excited to say that we have received the Lucas device, and it has been placed in service. All of our firefighters have been serviced on using it. While we hope we never use it, we are excited to have it in our equipment list.

In 2021 we responded to 107 calls. We responded to 6 fire calls, 36 medical calls, 11 motor vehicle crashes, 6 search and rescue, 29 service calls, 11 mutual aid calls, and 8 false alarm calls. It was one of our busiest years. As the trails continue to grow and people find Gerton, we will see an increase in our call volume, along with the growth we are seeing in our fire district.

We are currently holding firefighter classes to get more of our members state qualified. We became a training center last year for the Office State of Fire Marshal. This allows us to do our training for our people and making sure we keep up to the current standard for firefighters.

Thank you all for the support you have given Gerton Fire and Rescue over the years, and I look forward to serving you in the future. By the way, make sure you make note of the phone number. We had to change our number to 828-243-0411 due to an issue with Verizon, and we lost our old station number. I hope to give a report more often here, but ask you to follow us on Facebook and our website, www.gertonfire.org. Thanks and be safe.

Robert “Jay” Alley


Approved UHNGCC Budget for 2022 

The Budget was developed with an assumption that we will resume all community club activities in July. Depending on Covid, we may open sooner or later. The budget had unanimous approval from those who voted. 

Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Community Club Operating Budget Worksheet
REVENUE
Category2019 Actual2020 Budget2020 Actual2021 Budget2021 Actual2022 Budget2022 Actual
Donations
Yearly Dues$240.00$1,000.00$690.00$750.00$1,500.00$750.00
Memorial Donations$0.00$0.00$5,215.00$0.00$500.00$0.00
Contributions$300.00$1,000.00$1,440.00$1,200.00$3,760.00$2,500.00
Exercise Class$120.00$250.00$0.00$100.00$0.00$60.00
Miscellaneous$0.00$0.00$1,590.00$0.00$1,700.50$1,500.00
Fundraisers
Chili Cook-Off$0.00$0.00$233.00$250.00$0.00$0.00
Gerton Fest$2,694.00$2,500.00$0.00$2,000.00$0.00$0.00
Summer Play$1,936.00$2,000.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$2,000.00
Sale on Trail$1,630.26$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$1,500.00
July 4th$475.50$400.00$0.00$400.00$401.00$400.00
50/50 Monthly Raffle$628.00$700.00$38.00$200.00$0.00$500.00
Octoberfast Breakfast$410.00$200.00$0.00$100.00$0.00$200.00
Rent 
Building$395.00$400.00$75.00$150.00$100.00$250.00
Store$3,000.00$3,000.00$2,510.00$3,240.00$3,240.00$3,340.00
Totals$11,828.76$11,450.00$11,791.00$8,390.00$11,201.50$13,000.00

Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Community Club Operating Budget Worksheet
EXPENSES
Category2021 Budget2021 Actual2022 Budget2022 Actual
Property Maintenance
Lawn Care$2,400.00$2,100.00$2,500.00
Pest Control$700.00$641.60$700.00
Heating Oil$0.00$0.00$200.00
Utilities$800.00$768.30$800.00
Propane Tank Rent/Fill$150.00$105.68$150.00
Heating Inspection$250.00$224.18$250.00
Heating Repairs$0.00$0.00$350.00
Cleaning Interior$300.00$0.00$300.00
Fire Extinguisher Maintenance$45.00$41.50$45.00
Water Testing & Filters$0.00$0.00$75.00
Insurance$2,600.00$2,895.00$3,000.00
Taxes$100.00$87.82$200.00
Supplies
 Plates, Utensils, Drinks$100.00$28.99$300.00
ECHO Expenses$500.00$104.01$200.00
Business Supplies$100.00$210.73$200.00
Building Projects$1,000.00$490.86$800.00
Programs
Chilli Cook-Off$50.00$0.00$0.00
GertonFest$450.00$0.00$0.00
Easter Egg Hunt$0.00$0.00$80.00
July 4th Cookout$200.00$252.72$250.00
Sale on Trail Food$0.00$0.00$100.00
Summer Play$0.00$0.00$200.00
Thanksgiving Turkey$50.00$0.00$100.00
October Breakfast$100.00$0.00$100.00
Local Non Profit Donations$0.00$400.00$400.00
Miscellaneous Expenses$0.00$0.00$200.00
Scholarships$500.00$0.00$500.00
Outreach$200.00$300.00$300.00
Rental Space Repairs$200.00$0.00$300.00
Building Repairs$500.00$0.00$400.00
Totals$11,295.00$8,651.39$13,000.00