September - October 2023

Calendar of Events

September 2, Saturday - GertonFest XII. Doors open 5 p.m.; Dinner served at 6:30 p.m.

September 4, Monday - LABOR DAY

September 19, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. - Community Dinner + Program

October 17, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. - Community Dinner--Italian night + Program

October 31, Tuesday --Halloween

President's Note

And summer's days had all too short a lease! I can't think of a place I would rather have been this season than right here in Gerton! We had cool days, pleasant days, summertime easy rains--and we watched our families and friends across the world withstand fires, 100 degree + days. I hope that each of you enjoyed your travels, visiting friends and family, and now look forward to the coming of our next season when the winds blow differently and color comes, leaves fall. Ah, to be in Gerton ---in any season!

We had over 80 people at our July 4 cook-out and bingo night. We had our first ever Taco Tuesday night and a French-themed evening with wonderful crepes for dessert thanks to Maria and Lee. We are looking forward to an Italian night in October. Thanks to Ellen Boyle for coming up with the excellent idea of switching up our traditional covered dish dinners. When we want to emphasize a theme, we will make sure to let everyone know. We also held another cook-out with burgers and dogs at our August dinner. 

And thanks to all for your support of our school supplies for Outreach. We will continue to support the Food Bank in Lake Lure--the need remains great.

Finally, I want to acknowledge here the passing of Jean Bradley (see below). For years, Jean was a tireless worker for the UHNGCC. She reminded us of standards that we need to uphold, small details that make a difference in the whole of an evening. We were all company and Jean wanted us treated that way--take care when you set the table, pay attention to how things look, and when you can help somebody out, then do so. I, personally, learned a great deal from Jean through the years we worked together for the UHNGCC. I am the better person for having known her. 

It feels good to be a community coming together again after too long in our covid days. Please join us for GertonFest XII and all our community gatherings. We are better together!

Margaret Whitt, President, UHNGCC

Celebration of July 4

About 80 neighbors gathered with friends and family for burgers, veggie burgers, and hot dogs with all the trimmings. Sides were offered, especially desserts! Everybody could have as much as they wanted because Dan Clancy, Jim Earnhardt, and Runner Chuck Mallory kept them coming! Susan and Dave Evans brought a box of peaches from South Carolina to share with anyone who wanted to take a few home. The dining hall was all decorated with red, white, and blue to honor our country's birthday--thanks to Lee Strickland and Dan Clancy. Maryann Adoryan brought some flag pennants to decorate the outside of the building. And even guests staying at local airbnbs saw our sign and joined us. Soon we were out of seats, but Ellen Boyle, Teresa Garrick, and Lee Strickland brought more tables and set them up in our  overflow room.  

Plenty of sides graced the tables in the back.

Three generations of the Freeman Family were back to demonstrate their BINGO dominance once again. Claudia Freeman (standing, center) was happy to spend the holiday with her three sons and three daughters-in law and a few grandkids, too. 

Winners of the BINGO games gathered for this group picture, showing off their candy choices. This year top prize was $20 and then went to $10, $5, $2 bills, and amounts in between. We played an assortment of BINGO variations---and included the "normal" kind of Bingo, too. We included here the winner of the 50/50 raffle, a pot that was $69. By the end of the evening, the club received $421. Thanks to all who came, all who worked, and all who enjoyed Gerton's hospitality. 

The best way to look at a rattler--in a picture. Snakes are out and about with the bears this summer!

“Renewable Energy 101”:  Speaker Series at Laughing Waters Retreat

Steve O'Neal

Join Conserving Carolina and Laughing Waters Retreat Center for a free lecture entitled, "Renewable Energy 101," presented by Steve O’Neil, executive director of Earthshine Nature Programs, on Saturday, September 23, at 10:30 a.m. The event will take place in an outdoor pavilion located in the orchard at Laughing Waters Retreat Center, 3259 Gerton Highway, Gerton, NC.

In this program, Steve will be bringing several working examples of his favorite form of renewable energy – solar power. He will explain how they work and even let you explore them in a hands-on show and tell. Steve will also bring the SS NaSA PoD (short for “Science Steve's Nature and Science Adventure Pod of Discovery”), with its 1780-watt rooftop solar array, as the centerpiece.

Steve is from Hendersonville, North Carolina and has worked as an interpretive naturalist for many years and with many organizations. Currently, he is a naturalist and environmental science educator with Trails Carolina, and he is the Executive Director of Earthshine Nature Programs. He loves to share his passion for forests, mountains, caves, swamps, and dunes – in search of all things and all places wild and wonderful – with youngsters and adults.

Guests are asked to park in the orchard, accessed from the address above, and can expect a short walk up a little hill and gravel driveway to the pavilion. If mobility is a challenge, there is the opportunity to be dropped off closer to the pavilion.

For more information, visit Conserving Carolina’s website calendar event at conservingcarolina.org/calendar. Space is limited and pre-registration is required.

For more information about Laughing Waters Retreat Center, visit laughingwatersnc.com. Laughing Waters is the community center for Hickory Nut Forest Eco Community in Gerton, NC. With 20 homesites in the midst of forever-protected forest, its focus is on land stewardship, green homes, renewable energy, healthy food, and education.

Conserving Carolina, your local land trust, is dedicated to protecting and stewarding land and water resources vital to our natural heritage and quality of life and to fostering appreciation and understanding of the natural world. For more info visit, www.conservingcarolina.org. 

July Litter Sweep

Litter Sweep took place on Friday, July 7. From left, Mike Hamlin, Charles Gamble, Stan Mobley, Karen Gamble, Sarah Fletcher, Pete Reese, and in front, Patrick and Mac Lynch. The group picked up 13 bags of trash. Our next litter sweep will be Friday, October 20 at 9:30. Meet at the UHNGCC for orange vests and orange bags. A fun event and also Gerton gets to look good through your efforts!

July Dinner and Program

About 30 gathered at the community center on Tuesday, July 18, to eat at our French-themed food night. 

Jose Infanzon won the 50/50 raffle and returned his share (once again) to the club. Though each winner is invited to take half the money home, most are being ever so generous with their winnings. Thanks to Jose for his magnanimity!

Lee Strickland showed us slides of her recent trip to Brittany in France. And as a special treat, she and Maria Belluccio then offered hot crepes for dessert. 

August Dinner and Program

We had about 30 neighbors gather at our August 15 meeting, which was another cook-out. Dan Clancy grilled the burgers and dogs. Below Jack and Susie, Ellen, and Eva go through the line of sides.

Brenda and David host the evening, and go through the food line with Chuck, Jose, and Sarah.

Hot dogs and burgers were a good draw for the younger members of our community. Here Lucy and Kelly share a table with their son Clayton and John Solomon and Sam Hathaway. The tables were decorated with fire hats because Chief Jay Alley was our speaker.

For the second month in a row, Jose Infanzon won the 50'50 raffle. This time we convinced him to take home his share of $45. The club got its $45. Jose is the first raffle winner to take the prize twice in a row. 

Our speaker for the evening was fire Chief Jay Alley, who has been with the Gerton Fire Department since the 1990s. He and his firefighters have taken the department from a #9 to a #4, which helps all of us with lower rates for our house insurance. Jay gave an overview of the history of the Gerton Fire Department and included the growing costs of their uniforms, equipment, vehicles. Whatever number we guessed was off by so much as to almost find the real cost unbelievable! 

Several important reminders: if you need to call 911 and you do so on your cell phone, start off by saying that you are calling from Gerton. 

Knox boxes are still available. This is a black box that is mounted on your home with a key inside. Only the fire department has a key to the box. If you have an emergency in your home and you either are not home or cannot get to the door, the fire department will use their key to access your key in the box--without having to tear down your front door.

Also it is important to have your home address in numbers that can be illuminated so that emergency vehicles can find your home.

Gerton and Bat Cave now have an agreement to assist each other in answering calls. Because of activity on the many trails in Gerton, calls to the fire department for rescue or help on those trails has increased.

Finally, if your batteries begin to beep in your home fire alarms, you can call the Fire Department for assistance in replacing the batteries. For NON-EMERGENCY calls, use this number: 828-243-0411.

Neighborhood News

Emma Jean Bradley

September 19,1934-July 16. 2023

Gerton – Emma Jean Shields Bradley, 88, went home to be with the Lord Sunday, July 16, 2023. She was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Grayson Merrell Bradley; her father, Jesse Burton Shields; her mother, Emma Hall Shields; her stepmother, Willie Lou Wells Shields; and her sisters, Jerry Franklin and Dorothy Griffin. She is survived by her son Karl Bradley and his wife Karen, her brother, Howard Shields and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Jean was born on September 19, 1934. She grew up in Murphy, NC. Jean attended Appalachian State University and majored in Elementary Education. While in college, she met her husband Grayson. Jean taught first grade for her entire career in education, teaching in Lenoir, NC; Asheville, NC; and LaGrange, GA before moving to Gerton. The majority of her career was spent at Edneyville Elementary where she taught from 1975 until her retirement in 1994.

Jean served her community for many years, taking an active role in numerous functions during her retirement. She was a member of Bearwallow Baptist Church where she served in various capacities including Sunday School Teacher and Secretary. Jean was a member of the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Community Club where she participated in many activities, served as Secretary and was on the Board of Directors. She and her husband Grayson were active for many years in the Henderson County Council for Community Development. Jean also volunteered at Hickory Nut Gorge Outreach helping with food and clothing drives as well as other service applications. Jean enjoyed traveling in her retirement with family and friends. Her warm smile and her desire to help others will be remembered fondly for years.

The graveside service was held at Bearwallow Cemetery (Bearwallow Cemetery Road, Gerton) on Saturday, July 22 at 11am. The Reverends Donnie Freeman, pastor of Bearwallow Baptist Church, and Bobby Dees conducted the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in Jean’s memory to Bearwallow Baptist Church, PO Box 187, Gerton, NC 28735.

from a son to his father

My father is Hulon Ted Roberts. My mother, Lana Raye Roberts is a warrior for having a family of three men. I'm their youngest son Kip A. Roberts. Their grandkids Faith Raye and Mike Paul Roberts.

My Dad passed away on the 13th day of April 2023. My older brother, Ted Lincoln Roberts passed away on the 26th day of April 2023. My Dad lived the best life. He was so in love with mom. Dad flirted with mom his whole life, they were eighty years old. He was so very proud to have my mom as his wife. They had a bond that is beyond my comprehension. Besides Lana, dads next love was my daughter Faith Raye. He was the best Opa. I am so happy that my parents have helped so much in shaping Faith's life. Faith had my father securely wrapped around her finger. Dad taught her many lessons. Dad is a retired Lt. Colonel USAF. Dads wa s also an extremely successful "Carny". After retirement, Dad sold funnel cakes, curly fries, and corn dogs. For a man that has a B.A. degree in Geology (Rocks), he did pretty well.

I remember Dad as a father with a quick, swift kick to my rear-end, but also a gentle heart. There is nothing he wouldn't do for his family, especially, mom. Hulon Ted Roberts was a fair, honest, and trustworthy man. He was my best friend. You lived a great life, Dad. I still miss you and will take care of Mom and Faith.

I love you, Dad, Kip.

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, Sylvia Sane, Linda Reandeau, Dave MacDonald, Mike Hamlin.

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.