January - February 2023

Gifts of all kinds from the annual holiday party held on Tuesday, December 20. We had a small turnout of 14 neighbors, but we had good food, a gift for all, and we missed those of you not among us. Hope to see you at our January dinner. Stay warm!

Calendar of Events

January 1, 2023 - First Day of the New Year

January 17, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. - Community Covered Dish and Meeting

January 21, Saturday, noon - Chili Cook-off. Come and vote and stay for lunch.

February  21, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. - Community Covered Dish and Meeting

February 25, Saturday, 3 p.m. - Special Concert - Eva and Diego Infanzon 

(an EVENT NOT to miss)

In April, Eva and Diego will travel with their youth orchestra to perform in Carnegie Hall. They will also have the opportunity to see a Broadway play and take in other sights of New York City. Most of us know the talents of Eva and Diego from their performances at our summer community plays. You won't want to miss this 45-minute program on Saturday afternoon right here in Gerton. Think of it as their on-the-road tour and bring your family and friends. A donation jar will be available for your thoughtful gifts to help with their expenses. 

President’s Note

Because of the computer and the way it dates files, I see that the last time I wrote such a note was over a decade ago when we were welcoming in 2010! So I greet you now at the dawning of 2023, my last year ever to serve as UHNGCC president, a one-year term before someone on the board now will step up and into the position next year. Since last I was with you as president, the reins have passed on to Jim Sane, Mel Freeman, Jack Bancer, Stan Mobley, and Karen Owensby – five different people with different years of service, different ways of serving. Significant changes have been ushered in with their leadership: a brand new kitchen, added railings to the back patio, new painted trim on doors and around windows, new flower boxes out front, the first Little Library in the gorge, added benches in the azalea garden, signs made and painted for our building, our picnic shelter, our walking track, a refurbishing of our storage space and our serving area behind the kitchen, and of late, our new Community Room, that anyone may use free of charge. And Chuck Mallory has re-taped the old shuffleboard lines in the room behind the dining room. Soon new paint will be applied and we will purchase new equipment so that the old game can have new life in our building.

We were shut down for several years because of the pandemic, and we took this opportunity to make needed changes to our old building. We had to make sure in heavy rains we were not washed away. In freezing temperatures, we had to make sure our pipes did not burst. An old building requires a good deal of maintenance, which began in earnest in 2010, when we replaced all the windows, the insulation in floor and ceiling, and re-did the bathrooms, adding a handicapped accessible door and bars to one, and a ramp into the building as well. For many of us, perhaps you no longer recognize what we used to look like because we have become so used to looking at what we now look like! All of these changes were made possible by neighbors who volunteered their time—you among them—whether you did the physical labor or supported our fundraising efforts. It takes a village.

The Board of the UHNGCC considers itself a team. We work together as a unit, consider ourselves as co-equals in handling the business of our organization. We have new by-laws (available upon request), we have multiple ways of communicating with Gerton: first, the long-time ECHO, free at the Post Office and available online at www.gertonecho.blogspot.com, an email that goes out from groundedingerton for each activity that we sponsor, and our old trusted sign that still stands on the side of the road by our center. Also, we post notices on the inside door of the local Post Office, too. And we hope word-of-mouth is still out there sharing what is going on.

Should you have a concern about something relevant to all of us, please make your concern known to the board by sending an email to: groundedingerton@ gmail.com—someone on the board will respond to you.

I look forward to seeing you at our January and February gatherings—and most especially at our Chili Cook-off on January 21 and our special Musical Presentation by EVA and DIEGO on Saturday, February 25, 2023, 3 p.m. Bring yourself and a guest.

Be safe and warm in these days.

Margaret Whitt, President, UHNGCC

 

 

73rd Annual WNC Honors Awards

From the WNCCommunities

From left: Jim Earnhardt, Margaret Whitt, Sylvia Sane, and Ellen Boyle represented UHNGCC at the annual event.

After several years in pandemic shut down, the WNCCommunities held their annual awards luncheon in person this year with 64 communities entering in four categories: Trillium (25 clubs), Mountain Laurel (34 clubs), Redbud (4 clubs), White Oak (1 club). UHNGCC now competes in the Mountain Laurel designation. Each participating club was awarded $600 for their efforts this year, with extra cash awards to the best of each category. The event was held at the Double Tree Hilton in Asheville on Saturday, November 12. 

In Trillium, Cherokee County, Edneyville, Nantahala, Ox Creek, Snowbird, and Walnut Creek each received an additional $250.

In Mountain Laurel, Balsam Grove, Bellview, Big Y, Glenville, Holly Springs, Laurel, Leicester, Peak Creek, Sandy Mush, Spring Creek, Upper Laurel, and Yellowhill each received an additional $600.

In Redbud, Big Ivy and Shiloh each received an additional $1,000.

In White Oak, Bethel, the only club in this category, received an additional $2,000.

Glenville received the Calico Cat Junior, while Laurel received the Calico Cat. 

The 64 communities represented 166,000 households, with 7,144 volunteers contributing 96,158 hours of service. When this is converted to money, the total amount comes to $1.8 million that was invested in our communities. This is the first year in over a decade that UHNGCC was not cited for special awards, but we look forward to once again returning to best-of-class in the coming year! 

November Dinner and Program

This year, the community Thanksgiving meal was held on Tuesday, November 16. We had 21 neighbors who shared in the evening's meal. Jim Earnhardt provided the turkey and Ellen Boyle cooked the turkey and turned it back over to Jim to carve the meat. We had plenty for everyone and anyone who wanted to take some turkey home was obliged! 

Ellen cooked the turkey in the UHNGCC kitchen, and Jim did the carving duties. Plenty for everyone!

Neighbors chat easily at the table at Thanksgiving time!

Winner of the 50/50 Raffle was Linda Reandeau, who took home $35, leaving $35 for the club. 

New officers for 2023 were installed by outgoing board member, Jim Earnhardt. Those who will serve in leadership capacity in the new year will be the following: Margaret Whitt, President; Ellen Boyle, Vice President; Karen Owensby, Secretary; Sylvia Sane, Treasurer; Board Members: Chuck Mallory, Lee Strickland, Teresa Garrick, Sarah Gayle, Stan Mobley. The board presented Karen Owensby with a piece of pottery by Mike Hamlin for her year of service as our President. 

Karen Owensby gave a brief overview of her 19-day trip sponsored by NC Baptist on Mission trip to Ukraine. Her group stayed in the southeastern region of Ukraine, not far from the Hungary border. Each day they visited nearby small towns to handle medical concerns. Karen's talk mostly centered on the concern for the children with their sad hollow eyes. Their mothers were present as well in various small shelters; many of them did not know the whereabouts of their husbands--nor if they were somewhere dead or alive. Karen summed up her trip by saying that if one person came to realize that someone from the United States cared about him or her, then that alone would be worth her time and energy to have committed to the trip. She would go again--in a heartbeat. 

Last Litter Sweep of the Year

Neighbors gathered on a chilly December 2, Friday morning at 9:30, to pick up roadside trash that had been placed (or flung!) by passersby. From left: Mike Hamlin, Teresa Garrick, Graham Sturgis, Sarah Gayle, Tommy Garrick, Chuck Mallory, Steve Ringenberg, Mike Reandeau, Stan Mobley, Jim Earnhardt, and (kneeling) Jami Linn.  This was the biggest turnout all year! By 11 a.m. all were safely back in the warmth of their homes. The group gathered 14 full bags of trash and one bag of recyclables. We will once again gather in the spring to perform this necessary service to keep the roadway through Gerton looking clean. Thanks to all who helped. 

Greenery Work Day 

We gathered on our traditional day--the first Monday of December, which on this year was the 5th, at 10 a.m. We had plenty of fresh greens and plenty of new red bows. We assembled the soon-to-be hangings; we pulled out the big Christmas tree, plugged in the timer, so that it might light the way for all those passing by. Jim Earnhardt made and hung wreaths on the front doors. And the following set to work putting the hangings together: Graham Sturgis, Jim Earnhardt, Margaret Whitt, Sylvia Sane, Ellen Boyle, Sarah Gayle. Teresa Garrick made a dozen new red-ribboned bows and delivered them ahead of time. Stan Mobley and Mike Hamlin did the complicated work of hanging all the greenery--this year, almost 50! The rain interfered, but the job was efficiently done. Some of the ribbons slipped, some were blown apart by windy rains we had in the early days of December, but it was always a pleasure to come home again to the welcoming Gerton greenery.

Sarah Gayle, Jim Earnhardt, Ellen Boyle, Graham Sturgis, and Sylvia Sane look over the huge pile of cut greens from which to cut and assemble the "green" part of the hanging. We were finished by noon, but it took longer, of course, for Mike and Stan to hang up the work. Thanks to all who were able to participate--a gift to all of us who live here and a gift to all those passing by on our scenic by-way. 

Henderson County Tax Re-Appraisal Meeting

Every eight years, re-appraisal of real property is required by state law, but Henderson County goes through this re-appraisal every FOUR years. On Thursday, December 8, a team from the Henderson County Assessor's Office came to explain the process. Seven neighbors gathered to hear about the process. Those presenting included the following: Darlene Burgess, Tax Administrator; Kevin Hensley, Assistant Assessor; Thomas Cannon, Real Property Administrator; Luke Small, Deputy Tax Collector; and Joe Sherman, Chair, Board of Taxation. The last time they were here was in 2018 to present the situation as it existed at that time.

Doug Colwell listens to the team from the Henderson County Assessor's Office.

Since 1995, Henderson County has re-appraised every four years. This timing helps avoid any drastic change and comes closer to establishing for each parcel a fair market value. Different parts of the county grow at different speeds--the city of Hendersonville and close to it has the greatest percentage of growth. The county has a total of close to 70,000 parcels, of which about 68 percent are "improved," which means the land has a structure of some kind on it. About 2,200 parcels are exempt from paying taxes. 

Henderson County uses a system called "Mass Appraisal," which is designed to appraise a lot of parcels grouped in market areas--there are 1,162 groupings in the county. Some representative from the county comes to every yard, but they do not enter the house. It is the owner's responsibility to report in January any improvements that have been made to the house. 

For comparison purposes, in 2019, the median house price in the county was $271,000. A house stayed on the market about 56 days. Today, the median house price is $415,000 and stays on the market only 24 days. Counties bordering Henderson show these median house prices: Buncombe - $455,000; Rutherford - $255,000.

Notices will be sent to our homes in mid-February. A new assessment for your home will be clearly stated. You will then have the opportunity to appeal with the tax assessor's office, up to mid-April. Then you may appeal to the Board of Taxation up to May 15. This will be clearly explained in the notice that you will get. The assessment of your home will then be turned over to the county commissioners who decide the tax rate you will pay. For comparison purposes, about 66,000 notices were sent out in 2019, and only 2,923 chose to appeal, and about 340 went to the Board for resolution. If you are satisfied with your assessment -- a fair market value -- then you take no action. Your tax bill will be sent in August. 

We have copies of the Henderson County 2023 Reappraisal Guide at the center. You can pick one up next time you are in the building. And if you would like to read more about the process, check out their helpful web site: www.hendersoncountync.gov/tax/page/2023-reappraisal.

December Holiday Party 

It was a cold night on Tuesday, December 20, but we had 14 neighbors who came out to celebrate together. We ate finger foods. From Christmases past, we told stories to one another about our favorite gift-- special dolls, bicycles, a ventriloquist dummy, a globe, a Boy Scout knife, an E-Z Bake Oven. From the responses of others, you could sort of tell the age of others by the sound of remembering a particular item. Then we exchanged the gifts with a new twist. Ellen Boyle led us through this---we had favorites--lots of Food or Drink items, and before we all went happily home, we joined together to sing and act out "The 12 Days of Christmas." 

We selected and loaded out plates....

around our new set-up at the back of the room. Round and round we went.

We ate and visited.

Jim opens his new socks, but it was Margaret who went home with them--and wore them on Christmas day! (She knows a good thing when she sees it!)

Great Gerton 2nd Annual Chili Cook-Off

It's back!  The Great Gerton Chili Cook-Off will be Saturday, January 21, 2023 from noon-2 pm at the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Community Club.

Guests are invited to enjoy a bowl (or two) of chili for lunch. Chips, drinks and desserts will be provided by the Community Club. 

Donations will be accepted.

Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place winners.  

Participants are asked to:

• Submit your name and chili description - type of meat/vegetarian and heat level (high, medium, low) - to groundedingerton@gmail.com by Wednesday, January 18.  (The cook's name will not be disclosed for voting.)
• Serve chili in a crock pot to keep it warm.  (Let us know if you don't have a crock pot.)
• Provide condiments, if desired
• Be set up by noon on the 21st

Part of the set-up from our inaugural chili set up!

Gerton Fire and Rescue Report

from Jay Alley, Department Chief

January 1, 2023

We want to thank everyone who participated and donated to the fundraiser this last year. We were able to purchase two of the Bullard TXS thermal imaging cameras. Your support means more than we could ever express to you. With this addition to our arsenal of tools, we will be better prepared to conduct searches within smoke-filled structures and other areas where our visibility could be obscured.

In the last update, I introduced the three newest members to our department. I would like to say that TR Maloney and Erik Julian have been diligently working on obtaining their technical rescue certification. As of today they have completed all of the technical rescue classes and should receive their certification within the next couple of months. We are very proud of them. TR is currently enrolled to take his Emergency Medical Technician. These two young men are shining examples of what our membership represent.

So far this year, we have responded to over 90 calls for service. The department is maintaining the volunteers and occasionally have new ones join. They train every week and respond to calls. We are also offering the firefighter 1 & 2 classes at our station. Their dedication to training helps to prepare them for whatever situation we may encounter.

We would also like to clarify something about medical calls. Anytime you have a medical call at your residence, we will respond if we are dispatched. There have been times when we were not dispatched because the county dispatch uses an EMD dispatch model. When you call 911, they will ask a series of questions to determine the severity of the call. If the EMD shows the call serious enough, they will dispatch the fire department. If it doesn’t, they do not, and the EMS unit will respond from wherever they are located to you in non-emergency mode. I have asked several times to be dispatched on all medical calls no matter the severity. Thus far, I have had no success getting this accomplished. My recommendation is anytime you call 911, always tell them you are in Gerton and tell them it is an emergency. I have tried and will continue to try to get that changed. Speaking of medical calls, I wanted to let everyone know that we do not charge for our services. If an EMS unit comes and evaluates you or transports you, they may charge a fee. We do not receive any funding from that. Those bills are from the EMS service, whether it be Henderson County or Fairview. It has happened a few times where they responded and evaluated the patient and EMS billed the patient. I just wanted to clear that up in case you ever received a bill for a medical emergency. It is not from Gerton Fire and Rescue.

We also want to remind you that as when we changed the time in November, you should change out your smoke detector batteries. If your smoke detectors are older than 10 years old, you should think about replacing them. We do have a limited number of smoke detectors and batteries at the station and can assist you installing them if needed. We also would like to pre-plan your home if you would be willing to allow us. Remember smoke detectors save lives!

We want to thank everyone for your support and remind you to call 911 anytime you have an emergency. Please do not call the station since it could potentially slow response if no one is there. Also, anytime you call on a cell phone, make sure you let them know you are in Gerton in Henderson County. The cell towers are in Buncombe County and all cell 911 calls go to Buncombe County 911 center. As a reminder, the station number is (828) 290-6194.

As always, please stay safe and call us when you have an emergency. We are ready and willing to respond to help. Thank you for all of your support!  

Neighborhood News

Passing of Long-time Gerton Neighbor

David Edward Erskine, Sr., 82, of Gerton, NC, was peacefully released into the arms of Jesus while surrounded by loved ones at home on Friday, November 25, 2022.

David was born in Tampa, FL on Friday, October 4, 1940, to the late James Edison Erskine, Sr, and Mable Gwendolyn Scarborough Erskine. He is also preceded in death by his brother, James Edison Erskine, Jr.

David was a man of relentless love and a pillar of strength for his family. He was a friend to many, an avid birdwatcher, fisherman, and fisher of men. David was a man of wisdom and anecdotal tales who always knew how to charm a room. He was loved and cherished by all who knew him.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Billie Joan Erskine; daughter, Lorri Erskine and son, David “Dee” Erskine Jr. (Jennifer); grandchildren, Chelsea Joan West (Lucas), Cassidy Erskine, and Cydney Huntley; great-grandchildren, Annasophia West, Ezra West, and Deacon West; and sisters, Nancy Erskine Caffee, Marion Erskine Netherly, and Julie Dell Chambers.

A Memorial Service was held in honor of David on Saturday December 3, 2022, at 1 p.m. at Bearwallow Baptist Church in Gerton, NC. A Gravesite burial took place following the service at Bearwallow Cemetery, which was followed by a meal served at the UHNGCC for friends and family.

 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, Chuck Mallory, Karen Owensby, Sylvia Sane, Anastasia Walsh.

Officers of UHNGCC for 2023: President - Margaret Whitt; Vice-President - Ellen Boyle; Secretary - Karen Owensby; Treasurer - Sylvia Sane; Board Members - Chuck Mallory, Sarah Gayle; Stan Mobley, Lee Strickland, and Teresa Garrick.