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WEATHERSFIELD ANNUAL SPRING
FLING
Hold the date
Friday, April 30
5:00 p.m.
At the Grove
Details to be circulated via flyer
Rain date Monday, May 3
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FEARRINGTON HOMEOWNERS
NEWSLETTER
CONTENTS
(Click on a headline to go directly to the
article.)
FEARRINGTON VILLAGE COMMUNITY NEWS
FHA EASTER EGG HUNT
The annual FHA Easter Egg Hunt will be held on Sunday, April 11, at the
playground at 1:30 p.m. All children 8 years old or younger are invited to
bring their baskets and hunt for Easter eggs. All children and students over
the age of 8 are invited to come to the playground at 12:30 p.m. to assist
in hiding the Easter eggs. All parents and grandparents are welcome as well.
Refreshments will be served, and Mr. Easter Bunny will be on hand to greet
all the guests. In case of inclement weather, the hunt will be held at the
Barn. Questions? Call Cynthia Jones, 545-9660.
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FHA BOARD’S POSITION ON COMPACT COMMUNITIES ORDINANCE
As we are going to press, the Chatham County Board of Commissioners is
scheduled to hold a public hearing on March 23 to consider the proposed
Compact Communities Ordinance. This ordinance, which is about to be enacted
by the Commissioners, has been a matter of great public interest as it
evolved over the course of the last two years. Since it will set the
standards for the development of land immediately adjacent to Fearrington
Village, the Board of Directors of the FHA wrote the following letter to the
Commissioners stating its position on the proposed legislation. The letter,
together with oral comments, is to be presented as testimony at the hearing.
Dear Commissioners:
I am writing on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Fearrington
Homeowners Association to express our views concerning the March 1, 2004
draft of the Compact Communities Ordinance that you will consider at your
public hearing on March 23, 2004.
We want to commend you in particular for a number of features in this draft
ordinance and urge you to assure that they are all included in the final
version that you approve.
First, the separation of the compact community from neighboring properties -
particularly the separation of its commercial use from adjoining residential
properties by 200 feet, as provided for in Section 9.2 of the proposed
ordinance — is absolutely essential. While we recognize that the developer
and the occupants of commercial properties within the compact community will
want to maximize the return on their investment, you must also protect the
investment that the neighbors in residential areas have also made in their
properties. In fact, where the proposed ordinance provides that the County
may allow a reduction in the perimeter buffer width of up to fifty percent
if it determines the impact of the development is adequately mitigated by
community design or topography, we would urge you to add an additional
condition for a deviation. Any reduction in the buffer zone must, we
believe, also have the consent of at least seventy-five percent of the
adjoining property owners. In this way you will assure that you are not
forcing these property owners to suffer an unwilling loss by administrative
fiat.
We also want to applaud you for assuring that vegetative buffers are
permanently protected along streams as stated in Section 9.1. These
requirements should in no way be diminished. The water resources our
community needs are constantly threatened as we seek more space for homes
and places of business. If a mistake is made, if governing bodies allow land
to be developed in such a way as to endanger and contaminate water
resources, there is no way to turn back the process and undo the harm that
has been done.
You are also to be commended for the inclusion of the requirement, in
Section 11.1, that the developer will pay for a peer review of his impact
assessment by a consultant selected by the county. When the time comes for
the County to approve the development of a compact community, it faces a
substantial risk. Will this proposed development increase the taxes on the
rest of the citizens to pay for its infrastructure and public services? Will
it create transportation nightmares? Will it endanger sensitive
environments? If the answers to these questions turns out to be “yes,” the
quality of life in the county as a whole will be diminished. It is essential
that you assure the County selects its own independent authority to review
the answers to these questions. In that way you reduce the risk to the rest
of the citizens. Do not allow this provision to be watered down. If you do,
the citizens of Chatham County will be paying for the mistake for years to
come.
It is only reasonable and fair that when a concentrated community of homes
is built, the community should be built in such a way that it has as little
adverse effect as possible on its neighbors. Two of the ways you are
accomplishing this in the draft ordinance are by confining the wastewater
treatment facilities and infrastructure within the compact community
(Section 7.2) and by requiring that it shall not discharge the storm water
it receives during and after development at a rate or volume greater than
before (Section 8). We are pleased to see these provisions and urge that
they not be curtailed in any way.
If Chatham County is to grow as vibrant and harmonious whole in a way that
this ordinance envisions, it must have the foresight and will to assure that
its citizens have a sense of being part of a shared community. It must
strive to avoid the accusation that there are “two Chathams.” You have
demonstrated such foresight. Your requirement that these communities include
low and moderate-income households (Section 12.3) assures not only that the
housing needs of all Chatham citizens are being met, but also that none of
its citizens are denied the benefits of living in a compact community. If,
for example, you allowed a developer to place low and moderate income
housing outside the compact community, you would bar the residents of such
housing from the obtaining the advantages inherent in living in a compact
community. The ordinance must not contemplate such discrimination.
For all the above reasons the draft ordinance is a remarkable and
praiseworthy document. It should serve Chatham County well. But, as
mentioned above, there are two provisions that will render all of the
foregoing meaningless, unless you make changes to the draft before you adopt
it.
The first of these matters concerns the insertion of Section 15, “Waiver.”
This section allows the requirements of any of the other sections of the
ordinance, including those which we discussed above, to be “adjusted,
modified, reduced or waived upon the absence of any reasonable relationship
or nexus between the impact of the compact community development and the
inclusionary or other requirements” contained in the ordinance. If there is
a problem with an ordinance, the proper and fitting way to correct the
situation is to amend the ordinance, following the appropriate procedures to
do so. Such procedures require an open and public discussion of what the
problem is and why and how it needs to be corrected. If any change is to be
made to the ordinance then a rationale that the Commissioners have for doing
so must be open to public scrutiny.
On the other hand, if this Section 15 is left in the ordinance when you
adopt it, the requirements of the ordinance may then be amended by some
unnamed official, albeit with the “approval of the Board of Commissioners,”
whenever he or she might decide that there is no reasonable relationship
between the impact of the development and a requirement of the ordinance. We
believe that allowing someone to make the decision of whether or not a
“reasonable relationship” exists between an “impact” and a “requirement,”
opens the door to subverting the intent of any of the provisions of the
ordinance. You must delete Section 15 when you adopt the Compact Communities
Ordinance.
The second matter we find of great concern is the compact community’s
maximum size of 2,500 dwelling units specified in Section 6.2. This is not a
number that is reasonable given the size of the county and the stated
purpose of this ordinance to protect the county’s rural nature. Placing a
community of that density and size - one that would end up with a larger
population than any existing county municipality - in a rural landscape is
so disproportionately out of scale that it defeats the intent of maintaining
a small town atmosphere in a country setting. We believe that there should
be a limit of 1,500 dwelling units in each compact community and the
communities should be widely spaced to protect the rural nature of the
county and to minimize the impact of traffic and congestion on country
roads.
We are for the most part pleased with the ordinance as it has been drafted
to date. We urge you to adopt it with the changes we have suggested. We
believe that it will ensure the growth of Chatham County in a manner that
will preserve and protect the way of life here that we all enjoy so much. It
should make us the envy of our neighbors in the surrounding counties.
Sincerely,
Jerry Gaudet, President, Fearrington Homeowners Association
cc: Mr. Charlie Horne, County Manager
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PREPARING FOR MAJOR EMERGENCIES - WHAT WE NEED TO DO
What if we suffered a major natural emergency such as an ice storm or
hurricane with a lot more damage than we had two years ago? What about an
anthrax or other terrorism attack? Calling 911 would probably not be a rapid
solution if the problem was countywide or if Chapel Hill received major
damage.
The combined Boards of Fearrington Homeowners Association (FHA) and
Fearrington Cares (FC) met on March 8 with Mr. Bill Lail of Chatham Medical
Reserve Corps and a Chatham County leader of the CERT (Community Emergency
Response Team) Program.
Both Fearrington Boards recognize the potential disaster problems and have
determined to help prepare our Fearrington residents. We will be among the
first in this area to actively prepare as a community "neighbor -- helping
-- neighbor" until professional help can arrive. CERT training was developed
for FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and is being funded by the
Department of Homeland Security. Training will be given on a schedule we
set, by local professional Emergency First Responders. Training is for lay
people, strength is not a requirement and the training is free.
The preparation is two phased:
1) Completing a household survey similar to the one prepared by the
Creekwood residents. It is very well done and will be expanded to the entire
community.
2) Training, particularly the 20 hour CERT program, for those who wish to
help themselves and their neighbors. The course will be given at a
convenient location and time. The CERT training, available for all
Fearrington residents, includes preparation of your self, your home, and
your neighborhood. Fire safety, including using a fire extinguisher,
emergency medical situations and first aid treatment, light search and
rescue are some of the subjects.
Please contact Tom Hauck, coordinator of this phase of our Fearrington
preparation, to sign up or ask questions. His Email is
thauck3775@aol.com,
phone is 542-5499 and address is 605 Stoneview. He will be out of town until
April 4 but you are welcome to leave a message. He will get back to you.
-Tom Hauck
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TRAFFIC ABATEMENT PROGRAM
The board has had many complaints about the continuing speeding problems
inside Fearrington.. We are doing a few things we hope may alert the
speeders to reconsider their patterns while inside Fearrington:
1. Carl Granath will prepare 2 graphic presentations about the speeding
problem in each issue. They will be placed at the top of 2 pages of the
Newsletter. Hopefully this will serve to educate the speeders.
2. We have contacted the Sheriffs' office and he will provide us the devices
used to show you the speed your vehicle is doing as you come to the device.
We will have the use of this for a few months, and will place it at
different places in the community.
3. The Sheriff will speak to us at our May Town meeting. He will focus on
the speeding issues, and will be open for questions at the end of his
address.
4. We will try to identify all the vendors in Fearrington, and request they
comply with the speed limits.
Should any of you have any ideas that we might use, please send them to us.
Jerry Gaudet, FHA President
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INTERIM REPORT ON THE LONG-RANGE PLANNING
The Long-Range Planning Committee is studying the pros and cons of
incorporation/annexation of Fearrington. We consulted David Lawrence,
William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor, School of Government, and a member of the
Institute of Government at UNC. Based on advice from him, we have been in
touch with officials of four communities in North Carolina, all incorporated
in the last five years. We traveled to one of these communities, Advance,
N.C., just west of Winston Salem, to see Bermuda Run, a village very similar
to ours, which was incorporated in 1999. We spent two hours with Beth Dirks,
the Town Manager of Bermuda Run, a savvy, knowledgeable woman, who shared
her extensive experience in municipal government in North Carolina and
provided considerable relevant information.
We also met with our state representatives, Ellie Kinnard and Joe Hackney,
both of whom encouraged our pursuit of information regarding these issues
now. We continue to keep R.B. Fitch informed.
John Wait, a long-time resident of Fearrington, has agreed to chair a task
force to evaluate the information, recommend a course of action based on the
committee’s analysis of the data, and prepare a proposal for the community
to consider. We welcome him.
As of April 2004, we see four alternatives:
1. We can adopt an attitude of “watchful waiting” and be as aware as
possible of what is happening around us.
2. We can try to find a more favorable community if involuntary annexation
by another municipality appears likely.
3. We can try to get an exemption from annexation from the State
Legislature.
4. We can seek to incorporate Fearrington Village to enable us to have the
greatest possible control over our own destiny.
At the May 20 Town Hall meeting it is our intention to present all of our
findings. Evy Barrow , Long-Range Planning Committee
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TRIANGLE LAND CONSERVANCY
We live in an area blessed with wonderful land, water and natural beauty.
Unfortunately these resources are threatened with the likes of Briar Chapel
and other developments. To protect these resources takes a lot of Tender
Loving Care. Fortunately, the Triangle Land Conservancy (TLC), a 501(c)(3) 6
County Conservation Organization is dedicated to preserving and protecting
our natural resources, while also supporting appropriate development.
If you want to influence the future landscape of our area , TLC provides
opportunities for gifts and volunteer efforts as an antidote to the
inevitable development. In Chatham County alone, the TLC has preserved, in
perpetuity, the "White Pines", a pristine 250 acre ice age relic forest
south of Pittsboro, the Endor Furnace, a pre-Civil War Iron Furnace along
the Deep River, a canoe landing on the Deep, a connection between the Deep,
Rocky and Jordan Lake and the Haw below the 15-501 Bridge.
TLC is planning a major fund-raising campaign to balance development.
Obtaining funds and land gifts from State and local governments,
corporations, and private citizens, TLC acts to mobilize citizens to
conserve and protect farms, forests, waterways, endangered species and
historical sites before they disappear or become too expensive to acquire.
We will keep the Village informed of TLC's work and how you can help. For
more detail, consult TLC's Website (www.tlc-nc.org), call the TLC office in
Raleigh (833-3662) or visit the office at 1101 Haynes Street, suite 205,
Raleigh 27604. We welcome your participation. Lovick Miller 542-7386;
lovickmill@mindspring.com.
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WHAT’S GOING ON IN FEARRINGTON
MUSIC IN THE AIR
There is music in the air once more and it includes more than the songs
provided by our feathered friends. The open-air concert series will start at
the end of April. Note the following dates. Further information can be found
on the kiosk bulletin boards, our website, and local publications. For
details or suggestions, call Carolyn Gelderman 545-0742
Thursday, April 29, 4:30, NC School of the Arts
Thursday, May 13, 4:30, Jazz Group
Thursday, May 27, 7:00, Durham Savoyards ( Gilbert and Sullivan)
Thursday, June 10, 7:00, Brass on the Slide (trombone quintet)
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APRIL READINGS AT MCINTYRES
Pre-School Storytime at McIntyre's every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. For more
information, call Sarah at (919) 542-3030.
Thursday, April 1 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Open Mike Night at McIntyre's
Sunday, April 4 at 2:00 p.m. Author Lynn York will read from her first
novel, The Piano Teacher
Saturday, April 10 at 11:00 a.m. Author Caroline Kettlewell will talk about
her book Electric Dreams: How a Group of Forgotten High School Kids Built
the Car of the Future. Electric Dreams is a true story of how a group of
underprivileged kids, in NASCAR country North Carolina, won the first
contest ever to build an electric car.
Thursday, April 15 at 7:00 p.m. Author Kaye Gibbons will be reading from &
signing her new book Divining Women.
Saturday, April 24 at 11:00 a.m. Local author John Dalton will read from his
debut novel Heaven Lake.
Sunday, April 25 at 2:00 p.m. North Carolina author Penelope Niven will read
from her new book Swimming Lessons.
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5th ANNUAL ART IN THE GARDEN SHOW
Exterior artwork will be showcased throughout the Fearrington Gardens from
Saturday, April 3 through Sunday, April 25 . Some of the artists to be
included in the show include Gary Caldwell, Tamera Mulanix, Lyle Estill,
Lewis Torres, Zen Palkoski, Tuesday Fletcher, Michael Oakley, Kathy Hopwood,
Sarah Craige and Terry Tripp.
The works featured are free standing through the use of support rods and in
some cases can be placed on the ground or mounted on walls. Prices for these
pieces range from $50 to $12,000. This event is free and open to the public.
The Potting Shed is located in the Fearrington Village Center, just eight
miles south of Chapel Hill on U.S. 15-501. The Potting Shed is open Monday
through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For further
information, call 542-4000.
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ANTIQUES SHOP
Whitehall at the Villa opens a shop in Fearrington on April 9. Natalie Gould
THESPIANS
The premiere of Carl Granath's new play "Make mine a Guiness" will be on
Sunday, April 4 at 7:30. Rita Spina is the producer and is starring Loretta
Gilson, Lenni Newman, Calista Moon, Joan Richardson, Chuck Giardino, Lovick
Miller and Dale Smith. All Fearringtonians welcome. Questions? Call Carol
Girton 542-0992
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ARTS & CRAFTS, ETC
The April meeting of Arts & Crafts, Etc, will be on Monday, April 5 at 1:30
p.m. Our guest speaker will be Fearrington resident, Pat Jackson. Her
subject will be "The Art of Rug Hooking". When Pat and her husband, Norman,
moved to the village 12 years ago, she renewed her high school interest in
rug hooking. Fellow resident Edith Gerver, a hooking teacher, was on hand to
help her out. Today, Pat is a certified McGown rug hooking teacher and
conducts hooking lessons in her home. In addition to discussing rug hooking,
Pat will have samples of work she has done and pieces created by her
students.
The luncheon to celebrate Spring will be on Wednesday, May 12 at 11:30 a.m.
The location will be Squid's Restaurant on 15-501 in Chapel Hill where there
is ample parking. A three-course luncheon, with choice of salmon or chicken,
and cash bar is planned. The entertainment for the occasion will by provided
by The Faulkner School of Dance. Cost is $19. Please make checks payable to
Arts & Crafts, Etc. and place in the Arts & Crafts, Etc. box at the
Gathering Place kiosk. We have a deadline for reservations of April 28. We
hope to see you there.
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TIPTOEING ACROSS THE ATLANTIC
On Wednesday April 7 at 7:30 p.m., in the Gathering Place, the Travel Club
presents "Tiptoeing Across the Atlantic", a slide presentation and
discussion by Henry Castner. A four thousand miles ocean voyage to six
legendary islands between Sevilla, Spain and Salvador, Brazil following the
ways of Columbus, Amerigo Vespucci, James Cook, Charles Darwin and others.
Visit Madeira, the Canaries, and Cape Verdes Islands. A special stop was
made at the Peter and Paul Rocks in deference to King Neptune.
All Fearringtonians interested in travel and/or photography are invited to
attend. Any questions, call Sue or Don Zehl at 542-4076.
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WALK FEARRINGTON MEETING
All those interested in improving the walking conditions in Fearrington are
invited to an informal meeting on Thursday evening, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. in
the large room at the Gathering Place. An informal agenda will include a
report on activities during the past months, resident feedback, and a
discussion of goals for Walk Fearrington in terms of activities,
information, and organization. For further information, contact the
organizers Henry Castner or Lovick Miller.
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HAVURAH MEETING
Dr. Esther Cohen, Professor of Medieval History at Hebrew University in
Jerusalem, will be the featured speaker at the Fearrington Havurah meeting
on Tuesday, April 13, at 7:30 p.m. in the Gathering Place. She will speak on
"Medieval Jewish Women and Intercommunal Contacts," addressing the role of
Jewish urban women during medieval times in forming contacts with the
surrounding Christian society, i.e. social, religious and economic
interactions. Professor Cohen obtained her undergraduate degree at Hebrew
University and did her graduate studies at Brown University. She has written
extensively on the history of medieval crime, popular culture and the
history of law. Refreshments are available at 7:30 and the program begins at
8:00 p.m. Guests are welcome.
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VEGETARIANS DISCUSS HOMEOPATHY
Valerie Nix, N.D. will present a program on homeopathy, a centuries-old
system of medicine based on the principle of “like cures like” to the
Fearrington Vegetarian Club on Wednesday, April 14 at 6:30 at the Gathering
Place. All are welcome. If you would like to attend, please call Margaret
George 542-4609 or Maggie Gaudet 545-0494.
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FEARRINGTON WOMEN’S CLUB SPONSORS ‘GETTING SENTIMENTAL’
Before RAP there was ROCK ‘N’ ROLL . . . and before ROCK ‘N’ ROLL there was
SWING . . . and SWING meant BIG BANDS, amazing songwriters, great songs, and
marvelous musicians and vocalists. The late 30’s and most of the 40’s were
truly the Golden Age of pop music. The Fearrington Women’s Club is delighted
to present a cabaret program devoted to the memorable songs of that era.
If you like songs like “These Foolish Things” and “Time After Time,” you’ll
love hearing them, and others, sung by FWC’s own Sherry Harris, sounding
just as she did when singing with the big band of the great Tommy Dorsey,
the legendary “Sentimental Gentleman of Swing.” Sherry will be accompanied
by Yuri Broze. Yuri, a UNC student majoring in Biochemistry and Music, is a
remarkable young musician who has played with the St. Louis Original Knights
of Swing. He is the music director for the UNC Achordants, an all-male a
cappella group, and plays piano in the Jazz Lab Band and in various combos.
An evening of Getting Sentimental will be held at the Gathering Place,
Friday, April 16, at 6:00 p.m. This is FWC’s last fund raising event of the
year. All proceeds will benefit Chatham County charities. The cost of $25
per person covers dinner (including wine) and entertainment - a bargain for
a worthy cause and for a memorable evening.
All Fearringtonians and their guests are welcome, so make plans to attend
now, as seating is limited to the first 100 reservations. There will be
assigned seating, so if you want to sit with special friends and neighbors,
please register together and provide the names of those in your group.
Please make your check payable to FWC and drop it in the Women’s Club box at
the Gathering Place mail kiosk. Questions? Call Kaye Zinsmeyer (542-7042).
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FEARRINGTON WRITERS MEET IN APRIL
The Fearrington Writers Group will hold its next meeting on Monday, April 19
from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in the Gathering Place. Meetings are open to any
Fearrington resident who is currently writing or just thinking about
writing. If you would like to read a short story, poem, or something else at
the April meeting, contact Barry Reece at
breece@mindspring.com or Forrest
Greenslade at fgreenslade@nc.rr.com. To learn more about the Writers Group,
visit the FHA Website and click on "organizations."
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FEARRINGTON GARDEN CLUB
The Fearrington Garden Club is pleased to have Karen Suberman from Barefoot
Paths Nursery lecture on Four Seasons in the Southern Garden for our April
20 meeting. Karen was scheduled to speak last fall when she broke both her
wrists in an accident. We hope you will join us for her much awaited
presentation on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Gathering Place. Barefoot Paths
Nursery is located on Henley Road just off Jack Bennett Road.
The May 18 meeting will be the Garden Club's year-end banquet. Reservations
will be required for the dinner; current members will dine free of charge
and non-member guests can join them for an additional fee. Response forms
will be available at this month's meeting.
Reminder to all village residents in honor of the 6th Fearrington House Tour
there will be a 10% discount at the Potting Shed during the week of April 24
thru the 30th. Current Garden Club members will receive an additional 5% off
to decorate your May baskets for the event.
If you are interested in a safe and effective systemic treatment to keep
your plants from feeding the deer, rabbits, voles, and gophers log onto the
FHA website and check out the Garden Club link for more information.
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FEARRINGTON WOMEN’S CLUB
The Fearrington Women’s Club plans a program by Barbara Harris and a trip to
the Pinehurst Home and Garden Tour, and celebrates a successful fund raising
event.
April Program. The much anticipated program, “Their Brilliant Careers:
English Aristocratic Women” by Barbara Harris, Professor of History and
Director of Women’s Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill, has been rescheduled to Wednesday, April 21. The meeting will begin at
3:00 p.m. at the Gathering Place, and all Fearrington women are invited to
take advantage of this exciting opportunity to learn more about the role of
women in English society. This will be the final lecture in the series
arranged by Beverly Long, The Year of the UNC Woman at Work.
Pinehurst Trip. April 14 is the day of the FWC trip to Pinehurst for the
Home and Garden Show. Under the able leadership of Nancy Foster, plans have
been made for a bus trip departing the Gathering Place at 9:00 a.m. and
returning at approximately 4:30 p.m.. The cost of the trip after March 29 is
$50 and at that time reservations are open to non-members of the FWC. The
price of the trip includes bus transportation, tickets for the Home and
Garden Tour and lunch at Squire’s Pub. Reservations close on April 9. To
check on the availability of reservations, please call Nancy at 542-0407 or
Barbra Carson at 542-0782.
Kudos to Kaye Zinsmeyer, Madge Hoyt, Carol Vatter, Debbie DiSabatino, and
the countless others who worked so hard to make the 2004 FWC Book, Bake and
Boutique Sale the most successful ever. Treasurer Barbra Carson reports that
$5000 was raised to support various Chatham County charities.
Looking Ahead Wednesday, May 19, Tea Cup Catered Luncheon Event, 12:00 Noon
at the Gathering Place.
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FEARRINGTON DEMOCRATIC CLUB
The Fearrington Democratic Club will hold its next meeting on Tuesday,
April 27 at 7:15 p.m. in The Gathering Place. We will begin our “election year
coverage” with a visit from Erskine Bowles, Democratic candidate for North
Carolina’s United States Senate seat currently held by Sen. Edwards. We are
excited about our election prospects for 2004 and we look forward to hearing
from
Erskine about his views and positions on the issues. All Fearrington
residents are welcome.
Looking ahead, on Tuesday, May 25 at 7:15 p.m., we are planning a candidate
forum for Democratic candidates running for County and other offices in the
July primary. You won’t want to miss hearing from these candidates.
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FEARRINGTON REPUBLICAN CLUB
The Fearrington Republican Club is pleased to host Todd Batchelor, Howard
Mason, and Robert "Whit" Whitfield on Wednesday, April 28, at 7:30
at the
Gathering Place. All are candidates in the Republican primary for the North
Carolina Fourth District Congressional seat held by Representative David
Price.
The three candidates were scheduled to appear in January but were cancelled
because of the ice and snow. They invite you to visit their websites.
Todd Batchelor, a Navy veteran, is a bid administrator with Bob Barker
Company. He will vote for making President Bush's tax cuts permanent and is
against wasteful spending, including the Light Rail system that Rep. Price
favors. (www.batchelorforcongress.com).
Howard Mason is on the board of Citizens for an Alternative Tax System, an
organization that wants to eliminate the Internal Revenue Service and
replace it with a national sales tax. He ran for Congress in 1994 in Ohio
and moved here in 1997. (www.masonforcongress.com).
" Whit" Whitfield, a Navy veteran and Hillsborough lawyer, ran for District
Court judge in the late 1980s. “Whit” is dedicated to the field of education
and favors allowing a person to privately invest a portion of their Social
Security deduction. (www.whitforcongress.com).
Each candidate will speak, followed by a question and answer period and
refreshments. Listening and asking questions will help you choose your
favorite. All Fearrington residents are invited. For more information or a
ride to the meeting, please call Tom Hauck (542-5499) or John Milliken
(545-0133).
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SWIM CLUB OPEN HOUSE
May 1 is open house at the Fearrington Swim and Croquet club and all
residents are invited to come and learn about membership benefits. Hours are
from 1 to 3 p.m. and any resident interested in membership is invited to
stop by. Benefits include many social events, lap swimming, water aerobics
classes, croquet play and lessons, a hot tub, and a wonderful baby pool for
visiting Grand kids. Call Margaret Geoghegan at 542-7134 for further
information.
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TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME
Fearrington Catholics are again sponsoring a visit to see the Durham Bulls
face the Pawtucket Red Sox on Wednesday, May 19 at 1 p.m. All are welcome.
Please drop off a check in the amount of $6.00 per person to Jack Browne at
431 Wintercrest East before April 20. Hope to see you there! For questions,
call Jack at 542-3780.
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TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR 6TH FEARRINGTON TOUR OF HOMES
The 6th Fearrington tour of Homes, a benefit for the Chatham Social Health
Council will be held Saturday, May 1, 12 to 5 p.m. Visit 8 Fearrington homes
that showcase unusual architectural techniques, superb custom finishing
materials, outstanding faux finishes wonderful art, sublime furniture and
decorating; and innovative landscaping and gardening.
Vietri ceramics has donated a door prize and registration will be at one of
the tour homes, each ticket holder is entitled to an entry. It is very
meaningful that the Fearrington community continues its support of the
Chatham Social Health Council through this Tour of Homes, where people open
their doors to give their neighbors and friends a glimpse into their homes
and hearts, all for a wonderful cause that has a deep connection to and
history with Fearrington Village.
For tickets call: Dorothy Alexander 542-0217, Barbara Alotis 542-5837, Pat
Goetz 542-6248, Alice Maurer 542-0318, Carol Owen 542-0616 or Florence
Shapiro 542-4034.
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A GALA EVENT FOR THE COOKBOOK!
May is Cookbook month. The Fearrington Cooks for Fearrington Cares Cookbook
Project invites you to participate in a gala event on May 12 at 5:00 p.m. in
the Fearrington Barn. An Affair to Remember will feature an opening hour of
waiter passed free champagne and hors d’oeuvres with live harp music
followed by an elegant Dinner Buffet, catered by the Fearrington House
Restaurant and a lively Auction. A cash bar will be available. Proceeds will
be used to print and bind the cookbook making it possible to give all money
from cookbook sales directly to Fearrington Cares.
A sampling of auction items: A Vacation week at a delightful country home in
the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Dinner for 8 by Fearrington resident
chef, John Webster, A Scrumptious Dessert Each Month for a year, and An
Elegant, Professionally Catered Cocktail Party for 20 served on a beautiful
deck with a dramatic view of Bush Creek; includes live piano music.
May will also be the time when you can subscribe for your own copies of the
cookbook, slated for distribution in early November 2004. Reserve your
copies now for holiday giving. Come to the Village Center and participate in
pre-publication sales on Saturday, May 15 and May 22, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Remember that this book is filled with information about Fearrington past
and present, the history of the Fearrington family land and farm, color
pictures of the village, the cows and goats, the park and woodlands and a
wonderful section on Culinary and Landscape Herbs and Edible Flowers. You
will be able to say to your friends and family, “Here is a book that shows
you where I live” as well as having a book filled with delicious recipes to
tempt the most avid cook.
We need you to reserve your tickets for the May 12 event. We have dining
tables of 10 available so get your friends together for an evening of fun.
Reservations are $35 per person.
We need you to help us with the Auction by donating an auction item or
asking someone else to do so. Goods and services are all welcome. Donations
are tax deductible.
To reserve your place at an Affair to Remember Ginny Mellencamp 545-0967 ,
ginnymell@mailstation.com
To donate auction items Vera Graye, 542-9888 or e-mail
alexandvera@hotmail.com
Julie Snyder, 545-0194 or e-mail snyderjl@earthlink.net
Remember - Fearrington Cares Benefits You!
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AHOY, FEARRINGTON SAILORS!
Save May 14 for the Annual Spring Fling to be held at the Swim & Croquet
Club beginning at 5 p.m. Mary Clare Edwards will be our hostess and will be
asking members to bring a hors d’oeuvre to pass. The Yacht Club will provide
wine, beer, mixers and soda. This is always a fun event not to be missed.
Fearrington residents who are not members may join by simply placing a check
payable to FYC of $10 per person in the Club box at the GP kiosk.
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EVENTS OUTSIDE OF FEARRINGTON
FRIENDS OF THE PITTSBORO MEMORIAL LIBRARY
April is filled with events sponsored by the Friends of the Pittsboro
Memorial Library. All programs will be held at the library.
The public is invited to a reception honoring the artist Talmadge Moose on
Sunday, April 4, at 1:00 p.m. at the Pittsboro Memorial Library. A small
retrospective selection of his artwork can be seen in the Reeves Auditorium
of the library through April. Talmadge Moose was a renowned illustrator and
a Fearrington resident until his death in August 2003. He had the first
one-man show in the Russell Rotunda in the US Senate. His work was included
in shows in the High Museum in Atlanta, SECCA and other places.
Also on Sunday, April 4 -- Ella Joyce Stewart will speak at 2:30 p.m. on
"Forgotten Rural Black Women: What Happens When the Farms and Men are Gone?"
Monday, April 5 -- The Book Discussion Club will meet at 7:00 p.m. to talk
about Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling by Ross King.
Tuesday, April 6 -- Dr. William Ferris' presentation on "Memory and Sense of
Place in the American South" will be held at 7:30 p.m. The election of
Friends officers will also take place at this meeting.
Sunday, April 18 -- At 2:30 p.m. James Leloudis will talk about "Honest,
Hard Working People: An Oral History of Family, Work and Community in
Piedmont Cotton Mill Villages, 1880-1940."
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CHAPEL HILL NEWCOMERS MEN’S LUNCH
Our speaker for April will be Dr. Peter Beckman, a member of Newcomers.
Peter taught political science for 30 years at Hobart and William Smith
Colleges, Geneva, NY, specializing in international relations and American
foreign policy.
Peter developed an undergraduate course on the impact of individuals on
their society. He incorrectly assumed that in selecting Jesus, he and his
students could easily trace that impact. He will discuss the problems in
assessing Jesus as a historical figure.
The Newcomers Men’s Luncheon group meets on Friday, April 16, 11:30 a.m. to
1:30 p.m. in the lower meeting room of the Chapel Hill Country Club on
Lancaster Road in the Oaks. All newcomers and alumni are welcome. Advance
cost for buffet and an interesting speaker is only $11.00. Please RSVP to
Warren Wagner (542-6043) by April 10. Check payable to Warren should be
mailed to him at, 141 Fearrington Post, Pittsboro, NC, 27312 If you pay at
the door, bring $12!!!
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THE GARDENS OF FRANKLIN STREET HISTORY IN BLOOM
The Chapel Hill Spring Garden Tour features eight distinctive gardens along
historic Franklin Street adjacent to the University of North Carolina.
Guests will be enchanted by the blending of the history of these gracious
homes with their charming landscape designs. Southern favorites such as
perennials, roses, camellias, azaleas, dogwoods as well as unique birdhouses
and statuary await discovery in each beautiful garden.
“The Gardens of Franklin Street”: Saturday, April 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
rain or shine.
Tickets: $15 in advance and $20 on the Tour day
Ticket and General information: Call the North Carolina Botanical Garden at
919-962-0522 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays or visit the Tour
website at: chapelhillgardentour.org
The biennial Tour is presented by the Chapel Hill Garden Club and benefits
the North Carolina Botanical Garden and educational and community projects
of the Chapel Hill Garden Club.
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JOIN THE COA TRAVELERS IN BERMUDA!
Join the Council on Aging’s travelers club on a 7-day, 6-night excursion to
Bermuda. The trip is scheduled for October 17 through October 23. Sail on
Celebrity Cruise Lines, “Horizon” to Hamilton and St. George. Inside cabins
start at $899 per person including motor-coach transportation to and from
Norfolk, cabin, shipboard meals, shipboard amenities, port charges and
taxes. A $200 deposit is due by Monday, May 17. For more information, please
contact Pam King at 742-3975.
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THE SUNSHINE BOYS
Bob Barr will appear as Al Lewis in the Temple Theater production of Neil
Simon's The Sunshine Boys, which opens on April 22 and runs through May 9.
Friday and Saturday performances are at 8 p.m., Thursday matinee at 1:30 and
Thursday evening at 7, Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.
The Sunshine Boys is arguably Simon's funniest play-the story of a famous
two-man vaudeville team (Lewis and Clark) who parted bitterly years before
and are now being asked to do their old act for a coast-to-coast live TV
show. Their feud leads to some of the most hysterical moments in the modern
American theater. Temple's production will also star John Murphy and be
directed by Martin Thompson. For tickets and reservations, call 774-4155.
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UN ASSOCIATION TO DISCUSS GLOBAL IMPACT OF U.S.ECONOMY
A recent New York Times article reported on the IMF's concern that the U.S.
budget deficit and the ballooning trade imbalance constitute a threat to the
world economy. With an American economy of some $10 trillion out of a global
total of some $30 trillion, it is easy to understand the world monetary
agency’s anxiety. For with one-third of the world’s economic output, the
health of the U.S. economy, the world’s largest is critical to global
stability which in turn is essential to American prosperity.
Professor Reid Click, Associate Professor of International Business and
International Affairs at George Washington University in Washington, DC.
will discuss the implications of all this in his talk on The U.S. Impact on
the World Economy and Implications for Individual Americans. An expert on
international financial risk and risk management, Professor Click has been a
consultant for several international organizations, including the United
Nations Development Programme , and the U.S. Agency for International
Development , and for research and educational institutions in Japan, Poland
and Italy.
The meeting will take place at noon on Wednesday, April 28 at the Holiday
Inn on 15-501 Bypass in Chapel Hill . Reservations may be made by sending a
check in the amount of $15 payable to "UNA-West Triangle Chapter" to Barbara
Walburn, 247 Carolina Meadows Villa, Chapel Hill, NC 27517. The deadline for
reservations is April 23. Questions to Barbara at 967-6853.
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SECOND BLOOM NEEDS VOLUNTEERS
The “Second Bloom" an upscale thrift shop operated by The Family Violence
and Rape Crisis Center of Chatham County is grateful for your response to
our appeal for clothing donations.
Our volunteer base needs more willing workers. The shop is located in
downtown Pittsboro at 68 Hillsborough Street and the hours are Tuesday
-Saturday for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information please call "Second
Bloom" at 545-5565 or call Anita Martin at 545-0095.
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AARP CELL PHONE DRIVE
The Chatham County AARP Chapter is collecting used cell phones to distribute
to those in need across the county. Cell phones, even without a service
provider, can be used to call 911. To help provide a safety measure to
isolated persons of all ages around the county, bring a phone and charger to
the Council on Aging Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.. Cell
phones must have a charger.
Another project is the “The Best of Chatham County Cooks; Retired and Still
Hot in the Kitchen,” now on sale for $8.00. Proceeds will be used to
purchase a heart defibrillator for the senior centers in Pittsboro and Siler
City.
The Chatham County AARP meets the third Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. at the Council
on Aging senior center located on 365 Highway 87 North in Pittsboro.
Visitors and potential members are welcome at all meetings. For more
information , call Phyllis Reid at 542-4512.
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SENIOR CENTER HOSTS FESTIVAL
The Chatham County Council on Aging will hold “Chatham Mile,” on Saturday,
May 8, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. along the one-mile “THANKS” walking trail on
the campus of Central Carolina Community College in Pittsboro.
This year’s event will also include a 75-mile motorcycle “Poker Run” through
Chatham County. For those not riding motorcycles, there will be a three-mile
walking “Poker Run.” Participants will go to pre-selected businesses to pick
up a playing card. After collecting five cards, the participants will return
to the festival. The best hand for each event wins $200.
The festival will feature food, crafts, music and activities for children.
Rent a vendor space for $35. Professional vendors, church groups, civic
groups, neighborhoods, non-profits and individuals are welcome. All proceeds
benefit the Council on Aging and the older adults of Chatham County. For
more information, call the Council on Aging 542-4512.
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PARTICIPATE IN SENIOR GAMES
The Council on Aging is hosting the tenth annual Chatham County Senior Games
from Friday, April 23 through Saturday, May 1. Anyone over the age of 55 may
participate. The events offered are golf, bocce, cycling, bowling,
horseshoes, table tennis, track and field, badminton, swimming, tennis,
shuffleboard, archery, basketball and the fun walk.
In the Silver Arts Division, participants may choose from visual art,
heritage art, performing art, literary art and contemporary art. Entries are
displayed in the Council’s new Art Gallery.
Applications are now available at the Council on Aging in Pittsboro. To have
one mailed to you, call Kelly Gordon at the Council at 542-4512.
Registration forms and a $10 entrance fee are due by Monday, April 12. All
entrants will receive an official Chatham County Senior Games tee-shirt and
a participant gift filled with items from area businesses.
Winning competitors will go on to compete at the state finals, which will be
held in Raleigh in October. Last year, 70% of Chatham’s participants in the
state finals won a medal.
Please join participants and supporters at the Opening Ceremonies at the
Council on Aging on Friday, April 23 at 4:00. The event will feature the Fun
Walk, the Silver Arts display, performing arts, entertainment, special guest
speakers and refreshments. Opening Ceremonies are open to the public and is
free of charge.
Senior Games provides an opportunity for friendly competition, socialization
and personal achievement. Join the Council on Aging in celebrating the
spirit and energy of older adult athletes and artists. Contact Dina
Reynolds, 542-4512
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ALS ASSOCIATION BENEFIT
You are cordially invited to attend a Benefit Cocktail party on Thursday,
May 20 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Carolina Club for the “Catfish” Hunter
Chapter, ALS Association. The party will be hosted by the friends of Judy &
Paul Ising.
There will be a cash bar with proceeds going to ALSA. Hor’s D’oeuvres will
be served. There will be a short presentation by the “Catfish” Hunter
Chapter of ALSA. Materials on the “Walk to D’Feet ALS” in September will be
available. Walkers and sponsors are needed..
Please mark your calendar. Email your R.S.V.P to Judy Ising at judyising@nc.rr.com
or call Sandy Holton at 545-0810.
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HEALTH AND FITNESS
FEARRINGTON CARES BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2004
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NURSES NOTES FROM JOYCE BAIRD
Winter is about gone and the green is beginning to peek out and around in
The Village. I don’t know about you, but I’m darn glad to see it! Our
morning walks are pure pleasure, but we don’t get as much exercise since we
frequently stop to admire the beauty exploding around us. The birds have
returned in record numbers (including the crows) and I’m getting ready to
mix up the hummingbird food.
If you look at our calendar for April, you will see how the programs at
Fearrington Cares have also “exploded”. There is something for everyone and
I hope you will take the advantage of the opportunities to maintain the
healthy lifestyle so unique to Fearrington residents. The Strength and
Balance classes seem to be a big hit and we still have some foot care
appointments available in April. So, shake off the snow, put on your
“tennie-pumps” and get going!
STRENGTH AND BALANCE CLASSES SCHEDULED
Beginning Wednesday March 24 and continuing for six-weeks, Fearrington Cares
will offer ElderFit Strong and Steady strength and balance classes. If
course attendance is adequate, we will extend the classes indefinitely.
Classes will be held twice weekly on Monday and Wednesday in the Gathering
Place from 11 a.m.-12 Noon. Class instructors are experienced physical
therapists who specialize in treatments for senior adults. As well as
offering the instructional advantage of group sessions, instruction will
also be tailored to your individual physical ability. Classes will cost $6
per session that will cover purchase of equipment, room rental and
instructors’ travel costs. Classes are open to all Fearrington residents.
Registration is not required; simply show up ready to go! See you there.
FOOT CARE CLINIC A HUGE SUCCESS!
Foot problems seem to be a big problem in the Village as confirmed by our
first monthly foot care clinic. We scheduled foot care appointments for 10
Fearrington residents – two more than we had room and nurses for. In
addition, we had to turn three folks away from the March clinic and schedule
them for April 5. Additional clinics will be held May 3, June 7 and July 12.
Dates following July will be announced. In anticipation of continuing
interest in the clinic, we need to recruit additional nurses to meet the
need for these services. If you are a retired nurse and could volunteer two
hours every two or three months, please give the nursing office a call.
CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP IN PLANNING STAGES - UPDATE
Karen Marshall, a retired registered nurse and Fearrington Resident, and I
attended a caregivers support group that meets monthly at the Chatham
Council on Aging. The group is composed of 10-15 members who serve as care
givers in a number of ways – as hands-on caregivers, as family members of a
caregiver or as paid caregiver. Our purpose in attending the meeting was to
learn how the support group operates, hear how members cope with the
care-giving role, and explore how Fearrington Cares could start and
structure a group within our community. We are developing a short
questionnaire for those in Fearrington who are in care giving roles to
determine interest in joining a group and what types of issues they would
like to see addressed if a group is formed. If you receive a questionnaire,
please take a few minutes to complete the form and return it to Fearrington
Cares. Depending upon input received, we will schedule an initial meeting to
charter a Caregiver Support Group. If you are a caregiver and do not receive
a questionnaire, please contact the Fearrington Cares office (542-6877) so
we can send one to you.
FEARRINGTON CARES CHOSEN FOR PUBLIC HEALTH ACCREDITATION SITE REVIEW
As of 2005, all public health departments in North Carolina must be
accredited by the Institute of Public Health. Chatham County Public Health
Department was chosen to be one of six counties in the pilot program for the
accreditation review process. As an outlying community health clinic,
Fearrington Cares was chosen for an inspection by the site review team from
the Public Health Accreditation Review Board. On February 25 a team
consisting of a Health Director and Nursing director from neighboring county
met at Fearrington Cares offices and Dorothy Cilenti, Director, Chatham
County Health Department, Jean Vukoson, Nursing Supervisor, Chatham County
Health Department, Merv Shumate, President, and Joyce Baird, Nurse
Coordinator, Fearrington Cares. Fearrington Cares was able to showcase its
unique model for delivering health promotion and disease prevention programs
and nursing services to the Fearrington community. Team members were
impressed with the services we are offering to residents and, particularly,
with the level of volunteer activity in our organization. Comments about our
community and the services being provided were both complimentary and
positive. Fearrington Cares can be proud of their organization and the
support they give to their neighbors. The final results of the accreditation
visit are expected in late March.
A VERY SPECIAL THANKS GOES TO…
Armin Hagin for working so diligently over the past year to arrange donation
of a videotape library to Fearrington Cares containing 73 medically related
titles. Armin worked for over a year with Elaine Smith at UNC Hospitals to
select and review all of the tapes being donated. The FC Board is currently
discussing ways to use the tapes and how to best to make them available to
the community. More on this topic in a later edition.
TOP 10 HEALTH MISTAKES
How many mistakes are you making when it comes to your health? The Institute
of Healthcare Advancement interviewed 500 seniors about errors they make in
caring for themselves. Here are the top 10 mistakes they found:
1. Driving when it’s no longer safe
2. Fighting the aging process and its appearance
3. Reluctance to talk about problems with doctors
4. Not understanding what the doctor says
5. Disregarding the serious risk of a fall
6. Failing to have a plan for managing medication
7. Not having a single primary care physician who oversees your treatment
8. Not seeking medical help after early warning signs
9. Failing to participate in prevention programs
10. Not asking loved ones for help
THANK YOU, VOLUNTEERS
A big THANK YOU to telephone answerers, drivers, office receptionists and
nurses who volunteered in March: Elaine Alexander, Mary Heaton, Mary Stuneck,
Julia Salisbury, Sue Steward, Edie Lange, Barbara Wilburn, Floydine Roberts,
Mary Ann Tharaldsen, Elaine Alexander, Marlene Conner, Uzal and Jun Martz,
Guy and Ingrid Baird, John and Kay Combest, Shirley and Bill Schneerer,
Virginia Childress, Marilyn Brand, Jim and Marg Granger, Paul and Laverne
Troutman, Walter and Stacy Koehler, Sidney and Lilyan Levine, Bob and
Susanne Hotte, Gene and Elaine Landriau, Norman and Nancy Johnson, Jeanne
and Frank Galick - If I missed anyone, my apologies….there are so many of
you!!!!
FEARRINGTON CARES CALENDAR
Walking Group-Monday/Wednesday/Friday 8 a.m., Nursing Office
Blood Pressure Clinic-Wednesday, April 7 and 21, 10a.m.-Noon, Nursing Office
ElderFit - Strong and Steady - on Mondays and Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-Noon -
Gathering Place
Foot Care Clinic-Monday, April 5, 2-4 p.m. - FC Office - Gathering Place -
You must make and appointment -542-6877
Medication Evaluation/Consultation by CVS Pharmacist - Monday, April 5 -1-2
p.m. - Fearrington Cares Office - Village Center
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ACUPUNCTURE AND WESTERN- STYLE MEDICINE:
A dual approach
A mixture of traditional Western-style medicine and Eastern-style medicine
(acupuncture) - a dual approach to healthcare, is the title of the next
Fearrington Cares health education seminar. Dr. Remy Coeytaus, assistant
professor in the Department of Family Medicine, UNC, and Dr. Wunian Chen,
who practices at the Family Practice Center, and also holds an appointment
at the UNC School of Medicine, will be the speakers. Come and join us
Wednesday, April 21, at 7:30 p.m. at the Gathering Place and find out more
about acupuncture, and if it is right for you.
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PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY SUPPORT GROUP
The Peripheral Neuropathy Support Group will meet at the Gathering Place on
Friday, April 23, at 11:00 a.m. Dr. Caroline Kline from UNC Neurology
Department , a specialist in Peripheral Neuropathy, will be our speaker. If
you have any questions please call Vera Reece at 542-7272 or e-mail to
breece@mindspring.com.
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FEARRINGTON YOGA WILL TEACH YOU MANY THINGS!
You can learn the stretches, balancing poses, breathing techniques and
stress-reducing relaxation in the company of our small congenial group and
under the guidance of our skilled instructor. We meet every Wednesday
8:15-9:30 a.m. and would love to have you join us. For details please call
Laura Hyer at 545-9607.
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THANKS TO ALL THE BLOOD DONORS
Thanks to all the blood donors who willingly gave their "gift of life" to
the Red Cross Blood Bank March 5 at the Gathering Place. Fearrington again
exceeded its assigned goal of 30 units and we should all be proud of those
who were able to help attain that goal. Thanks to all for making the time
and effort. Martha J. Wilson (coordinator)
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BOARD BRIEFINGS
FEARRINGTON HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION
MARCH 2 BOARD MEETING
President Gaudet called the meeting to order and turned the meeting over to
Vice-President, Steve Ruziecki who called for Resident input. Ruth Kreisman
remarked how good the kitchen in the Gathering Place looked after recent
improvements and thanked Lisa Stewart for her good work in upgrading the
building.
Carol Ann Greenslade posed two questions: 1) She has been notified by the
Camden Service Group to remove a window hanging; could the board clarify the
rules and regulations on the use of window hangings? 2) What is the penalty
for not complying with requests from Camden? Steve Ruziecki referred her to
the Camden Service Group officers and said he would check on the penalty.
Jerry Gaudet added that there are problems with interpretations of the
covenants and that Ann Bigelowe would be working with all the Fearrington
service groups to gain clarity and consensus on standards.
Joy Metelits, representing twenty-six Fearrington residents who border the
recently sold Crist property, requested that the board continue to monitor
the County Compact Community Ordinance legislation and be a voice for the
residents regarding the outcome. In particular, the group is concerned that
a waver clause has been put back into the proposed ordinance. She requested
that the board take a stand on this issue. Jerry Gaudet promised the board
would do so after study of the issues involved.
Treasurer’s Report. Frank Chut reported that expenses for January were
understated due to the transition in grounds vendors. The treasury has
$30,000 more this month than it did last year at this time. The report was
approved .
Committee Reports : Community affairs – Cynthia Jones announced that the
Easter Bunny will be arriving in Fearrington on April 11 at 1:30 at the
playground. The Smokehouse library space has increased and is being well
used. The recent contribution of CDs has resulted in their immediate use.
Covenant Issues – Anne Bigelow announced that on March 17 at 1 p.m. members
of the Fearrington covenants groups will meet to review the covenants, and
find commonalities or variances. Their goal will be to reach consensus on
interpretations of the covenants and standardize the resulting actions. FHA
board members are invited to attend.
County Liaison (Click
here for full report) –Al Lebeau reported that there will be a public hearing on
the Compact Community Ordinance held by the county commissioners on March
23. He also announced that there are two commissioner seats open for
election this July; the seats open are those presently held by Bob Atwater
from District 1 and Margaret Pollard from District 2.
The Chatham County Planning Board recently requested additional information
from the Jordan Lake LLC regarding the proposed Homestead development before
making zoning change recommendations to the Commissioners. The project
proposes constructing 475 homes on 577 acres of land on Big Woods Road,
south of The Preserve. The proposed density is four times greater than
currently allowed. The Planning Board is seeking information on the effect
of the project on Jordan Lake and the cost to the county schools.
Al also reported that the commissioners have approved an expenditure for
$184,000 as the first phase of upgrades and modifications of the county’s
Jordan Lake water treatment plant. Besides improving the effectiveness of
the water system, the upgrades are expected to allow for increased capacity
in the future. The board also approved $49,650 to purchase new water meter
reading equipment that will allow county employees to read meters via radio.
FHA office – Steve Ruziecki announced that the 2004 FHA directories have
been distributed. He asked residents to alert the FHA office if mistakes are
found. He also acknowledged the good work and efforts that are being made by
the Long Range Planning Committee highlighting the recent insert about
transportation information in the March issue of the FHA newsletter.
Gathering Place – Lisa Stewart thanked Frank Chut for his great work done
recently as part of his FHA Treasurer’s duties. Lisa reported that a survey
was done of the electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems at the Gathering
Place. Although no major problems were found there are some areas that need
to be addressed and this will be done over the next couple of months. Using
the responses to her request about lighting and sound needs of Fearrington
groups who meet at the Gathering Place, Lisa presented a list of needs to
three lighting experts and sought their advice on how to proceed with the
changes. These recommendations will be made to the board at a later date.
The refurbishing work on the Gathering Place is continuing working around
scheduled events and meetings.
Grounds and facilities - Steve Bodner announced that there were some minor
repairs needed at the Fearrington playground, that he made one temporary
repair, but is having trouble contacting the vendor to make the permanent
repairs. Steve said that he was concerned about the erosion on the hillside
behind the Gathering Place, and moved that the board approve $500 for new
plants. The motion was carried. Steve also moved that the board approve $500
to remove overgrown bushes and improve the appearance at the front entrance
of the Gathering Place. The motion was carried.
Other Reports. Jerry Gaudet announced that Fitch Inc. will be putting sewer
lines into Bush Creek and that FHA is working with Fitch to construct
walkways in that area. Jerry added that the former barn along Village Way by
the pool is being remodeled and FHA is working with Fitch to improve the
nearby walking area there. Jerry Gaudet informed the board that in response
to his request for Fearrington lawyers for assistance, three residents have
responded and will be available to advise the board on issues upon request.
Additional Resident Input. Ruth Kreisman asked when the board will arrange
repair of the potholes on the streets near the intersections of Langdon and
Camden. President Gaudet informed her that this street is owned by Fitch
Inc. Local residents should request that Fitch do these repairs. Bob Oram
asked when spring cleanup will occur. Steve Bodner said he had no date as
yet to announce but would set a date and put it in the newsletter.
The next meeting will be on April 6, 2004.
Submitted by Janet Lorant, Secretary
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FHA ALTERNATIVE SECRETARY POSITION
The Fearrington Homeowners Association is seeking interested candidates to
serve as alternate secretary for the remainder of 2004-2005. The purpose of
the appointed position is to have someone available to substitute for the
elected secretary in her occasional absence. The alternate secretary would
be asked to take notes at a monthly FHA meeting, and prepare the minutes.
Skills needed include: word processing and ability to send and receive
attachments electronically. Interested parties should contact Janet Lorant
at 542-5760.
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NEWSLETTER-CALENDAR EDITORS
Bob Comey
542-0842; Fax: 542-0831
rcomey@mindspring.com
Mary Hammond
545-2026
prinny@mindspring.com
Layout Editor
Bill Schneerer
Directory Editors
Print Version
Michael Cotter
542-4414
joannenmike@hotmail.com
FHA Website Version
John Rimmler
545-0550; Fax 545-0532
jdrimmler@mindspring.com
Mary Hammond edited this issue.
Bob Comey will edit the May issue.
The deadline for the May issue is Thursday, April 15.
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REMINDERS ABOUT SUBMISSIONS
Newsletter submissions must be on full sheets of paper to avoid getting
lost. Typed items are preferred – in upper and lower case, not caps. And
please avoid using caps, boldface and italics in the text.
It is important that only one designated person submit articles for a
particular organization.
Please check your copy (particularly the date and time) before submitting it
and mark your submissions clearly – “Newsletter” or “Calendar.”
There are two ways to submit items:
_ E-mail (the preferred method). Both editors have e-mail and can easily
redirect items if necessary, but it is best to check at the left and submit
articles to that month’s editor. Please send in either e-mail message format
or as attached documents in MS Word or Rich Text Format (RTF).
_ The Newsletter box at the Gathering Place kiosk.
Please do not leave submissions at the FHA office. Please send calendar
items to the Newsletter editor.
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FEARRINGTON MONTHLY CALENDAR |