26 Aug FHA Newsletter 2023-09 September
FEARRINGTON HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION
2023 Volume 42 Number 8
President’s Message
Once again, my letter this month will focus on the dues increase the Board is seeking. I am glad that so many of you have been paying attention to this effort and have either sent in questions or attended a Coffee and Conversation. I find it interesting that, even though the Board has tried so hard to be clear and transparent, we have become aware that we did not completely succeed in communicating our thinking on this important topic, so let me reiterate a few key points.
Several residents have said that we have not done enough to justify this increase because we haven’t shown the community how we plan to spend the additional money. It is true that we haven’t designated a specific use for the money we are seeking because this is not a special assessment to meet a particular need. Rather, as we have often stated, the Board believes we have reached an inflection point, where our responsibilities are bumping up against our ability to fund them.
When the Fearrington Homeowners Association (FHA) was created in 1980, the number of homes in the community was small. The Gathering Place did not exist, and there were very few common areas. The dues were only $25/year. Today, we have more than 1350 homes with over 2000 residents, more than 39 acres of common grounds, The Gathering Place, mail kiosks, a monthly newsletter, special events, and so much more. Yet our dues are only $197.40 because we have never sought an increase of more than 5%.
In recent years, our costs have certainly been going up more than 5% a year. We have been turning to our volunteers to do more and more, but it is not always easy to find people for the many tasks that need doing. Unfortunately, we have to share our property manager with several other communities because we cannot afford to have our own. We took The Gathering Place expansion out of the reserve analysis altogether because to tackle that project would reduce our reserve funds to unacceptable levels. We cannot provide amenities that residents have requested, such as additional paths and trails. Here is a partial list of the kinds of things we are concerned about but that are not included in our budget or reserve study because they are not really quantifiable at this time:
- The possibility of a catastrophic weather event, such as hurricane, wildfire, major snow event, etc.— people have differing opinions about the causes of climate anomalies, but they are becoming more frequent, and we have been fortunate so far;
- The possibility that Beechmast Pond could become a severe financial burden;
- The eventual rebuilding or replacement of The Gathering Place;
- The opportunity to acquire additional property to add to the Village’s common areas; or
- Some “Black Swan” event that none of us is even imagining right now.
Which leads us to another frequently asked question: Why couldn’t we seek a 10% increase this year, and another 10% next year and a few years thereafter instead of proposing the larger increase we are seeking now? We wish we could do that. However, any time we want an increase greater than 5%, we would have to start this whole process all over again, i.e., holding a special meeting, trying to meet the quorum requirement, which is quite high, mailing out the proxy materials, etc. The process is simply too labor intensive to be practical. Instead, we tried to pick an amount that wouldn’t be too burdensome but should greatly improve our financial position for the next several years at least.
As we have said, we are trying to “reset” the base. If this measure passes, we hope there will be no need to raise the dues at all for the next few years. In deciding what to recommend to our residents, the Board asked itself the following question:
How can we ensure that Fearrington Village not only maintains its property values but also continues to be the unique place that we all enjoy?
We believe that paying $25/month or $300/year is a wise investment in both our near and long-term future. We hope that you agree with us. Please send in your proxy if you have not yet done so or make plans to attend the meeting in person on September 6.
—Rose Krasnow, president@fhaboard.org
Reminder – Meeting of Fearrington Village Property Owners on Wednesday, September 6, 7 pm at The Gathering Place to Vote on Dues Proposal
Reminder – Meeting of Fearrington Village Property Owners on Wednesday, September 6, 7 pm at The Gathering Place to Vote on Dues ProposalThe only business to be conducted at the meeting will be to determine whether a quorum is present and, if so, to cast and count the votes. Check-in for the meeting opens at 6:30 pm, one-half hour before the scheduled meeting time, and the check-in lines will close at 7:10 pm. Space and parking at The Gathering Place are limited, so we urge as many owners as possible to vote by proxy. Copies of the Proxy and Proxy Instructions can be found on our website, https://fearringtonfha.org/, under the “Dues Proposal Follow-Up” heading in the “What’s New” window on the home page.
Recently I entered a world of light that is normally invisible to us. It enabled me to capture images that are very different from standard photography. Scenes around Fearrington that are familiar to all of us became patterns of surreal light and shade that we cannot see with our eyes.
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The silo in the cow field (left) becomes a silvery structure against a black sky surrounded by white leafed trees. A fern (below) turns white against a dark log. What happened? How is this possible?
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The reason is that objects reflect infrared (IR) light differently from visible light. The human eye sees wavelengths from purple (or violet) to red, red being the color of the longest wavelengths of visible light. Infrared light has an even longer wavelength than red, and is not normally visible.
It is possible to take infrared photos by using infrared film or special filters for cameras and iPhones. The other option is to convert your camera so it is sensitive only to infrared light. In this case grass and leaves may appear very bright, almost like snow. When infrared light is absorbed by an object, it appears dark. So, a blue sky, logs, rocks and water appear dark. The result is a totally new and different way of seeing these objects.
You can also simulate an infrared photo by using some photo editing software with any photo. In my opinion, the results are not as good as using a converted camera, IR film, or IR filters.
Below are three photos that illustrate the difference between color, black and white, and infrared photography. All the photos were taken around noon since infrared photography shows best in bright midday sun. The color photo is flat since midday is not the ideal time for standard photography. The black and white photo shows some contrast. The infrared photo, taken with a specially adapted camera, illustrates the reflection and absorption of infrared light to make it an ethereal scene.
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Infrared photography is not new. The first infrared film was developed in 1910 by Robert Williams Wood. His experimental film required very long exposures to properly capture enough light to illuminate the images. Infrared film became available to the public in the 1930s when Kodak developed film emulsions that were responsive to infrared light. Kodak discontinued the production of 35mm infrared film in 2007 due to the rise of digital cameras.
With the invention of digital cameras, the process of taking infrared photos has been simplified. In my case, I purchased a used digital camera and sent it to a company that specializes in converting it so it can capture infrared light. This process consists of removing a filter that is in all digital camera that blocks infrared light and replacing it with a filter that blocks visible light and allows only infrared light to pass through to the sensor. The filter I selected produces brilliant white and rich black images.
The accompanying gallery of photographs provides other examples of these effects. The effects are subtle in some cases. With IR photos, tree trunks appear darker; people’s skin appears smoother (some photographers use IR photos of people because they like this effect). Recognizable objects look different when viewed in IR. The silo does not look like it does in visible light, and there is a texture to the fur of the Belted Galloway.
Infrared photography creates a challenge for photographers because the resulting image is not what you see in visible light. It reveals a hidden world that transcends the boundaries of human vision. It requires some trial and error at the beginning because there are always surprises. But after taking many photos you can start to determine what may or may not make a good subject for infrared. But that is what makes it a challenge, a challenge worth pursuing because it enables photographers to create breathtaking images that challenge our perceptions of reality.
The gallery below includes some IR photographs taken around Fearrington that illustrate this otherwise unseen Village.
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About the Photographer
Minnie Gallman’s photographs have appeared several times in the Belted Gazette’s Scene Around Fearrington column. She is a member of the Chatham Artists Guild, and will be exhibiting some infrared photos during the annual studio tour which is the first two weekends of December. You can see her work at Studio #33, located at 601 Stoneview. Her photographs are available online at Minnie-Gallman.pixels.com.
October’s Scene Around Fearrington in Black and White
While on the topic of different ways of seeing things, you are invited to try your hand and eye with black and white photography. By eliminating color as a feature of the image, you can emphasize other visual elements: Texture, lines, form and shape, or the contrast of shadows and highlights.
It has been less than 100 years since color photography became popular. Early photographers, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, and others, found plenty of scope for creating visual representations of their world. It was said of Edward Weston he could “make a pepper look like a woman, or a woman look like a pepper”. You don’t have to be that creative, but you might enjoy the attempt.
Try using a photo editing program to remove the color in some photos you like. Does this bring out features you had not noticed before? Does it offer a unique view of a familiar scene? Here are two online introductions to the topic that offer many more tips and suggestions:
Daniel O’Neil, Black and White Photography: The Beginner’s Guide
Chris Bray, Black and White Photography Tips
Please submit your best efforts to gfpitz@gmail.com by September 12 for publication in the October issue. Check the Belted Gazette photo submissions guidelines.
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Fearrington Celebrates National Night Out with Special Guests and Festivities
Story by Wendy Snodgrass; Photos by Melissa Tomich
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| “Elvis” (aka Billy Thomas) strikes a pose with first responders. |
On August 1, Fearrington Village joined over 17,000 communities nationwide in celebrating National Night Out. This annual event aims to create safer neighborhoods by strengthening relationships among law enforcement, first responders, and the communities they serve. Special guests for the evening included members of the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, NC Wildlife Resources Commission, North Chatham Volunteer Fire Department, and our Community Emergency Response Team. They arrived at The Gathering Place in full force—squad cars, a fire truck, and patrol boat—and were armed with pamphlets of helpful information about safety, fire prevention, and emergency preparedness. Fearrington Cares also participated by offering File of Life refrigerator magnets and the wallet-size folios that first responders use to quickly find important medical information.
Residents perused various displays and collected information as FHA Board President Rose Krasnow offered opening remarks and introduced visiting officials, including Pittsboro mayor Cynthia Perry. With fanfare, she turned the microphone over to an entertainer who needed no introduction. “Elvis” took the stage for a concert where he performed his top hits for an enthusiastic crowd. Everyone enjoyed a casual dinner buffet with watermelon and Alsie’s ice cream treats for dessert—and the “icing on the cake” was a fleet of vintage sports cars presented by the Triumph Club of the Carolinas!
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| Volunteers extraordinaire: Barbara Gilbert and Warren Ort always lend a hand at community events. |
It was truly a memorable evening of festivities that triumphed in bringing our community together! Many thanks to our community manager, Kathy Wood, for planning this event and to our management company, Associa HRW, for sponsoring it. Kudos to all of the Community Affairs volunteers who stepped up to coordinate details and host the event. Consider joining our fun-loving team as we begin planning our next big event—an Octoberfest with a Club Fair and Food Truck Rally! Email community@fhaboard.org to get involved!
Fearrington Farmers’ Market
Story by Bunny Lancaster; Photos by Perry-winkle Farm
In 1991 Fearrington Village residents wanted the opportunity to conveniently purchase high quality, locally grown produce, plants, meats, and baked and home canned goods. The owners of Perry-winkle Farm, Cathy Jones and Mike Perry, were instrumental in establishing the Fearrington Village Farmers’ Market. Recognized as one of the original vendors and mentors, they helped promote organic farming at this venue. Thirty years later, vendors still have to meet and maintain stringent requirements to participate. As a result, the market continues to showcase small local growers, farmers, bakers, florists and creators; “producer only” vendors within a 50-mile radius can offer the “fruits of their labor” to their loyal customers. It also encourages sustainable farming practices yet maintains affordability.
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Continuity is one of the key components to the success of the market, and Eddie Kallam has been the manager for the past 15 years. After volunteering at Perry-winkle Farm to learn organic farming practices, Eddie was more than qualified to manage this popular venue. Despite working full time as a scientist at LabCorp, Eddie can be seen each week putting up signage, collecting fees, talking with vendors or answering customer’s questions. He also visits the vendor farms and production sites to ensure they are in compliance with the market’s regulations.
His daughter, Caroline, is the editor of the Fearrington Farmers’ Market Newsletter. In the past year, readership has doubled to over 2000 subscribers. To sign up for the free weekly newsletter (sent out bright and early every Monday), click here. To see which vendors are coming to the market each week, or to read recent newsletters, check out the news page or newsletter archive. Caroline is also the web administrator for fearringtonfarmersmarket.com.
Rain or shine, the Fearrington Farmers’ Market is held every Tuesday afternoon at the corner of Camden and Madison from 4 pm to 6 pm during daylight saving time; the remainder of the year, the hours are from 3 pm to 5 pm. Keeping a long-established tradition, Eddie recruits a vendor or customer to ring his grandpa’s cowbell, announcing the opening of the market. Customers hail from Fearrington Village and surrounding counties to purchase top-quality items and to enjoy the sense of community at the market.
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The Fearrington Farmers’ Market is special. Whether you are an award-winning chef, working professional, active retiree, or busy stay-at-home parent, everyone is treated with respect. It is a social outing but also an intimate interaction. When customers understand that the vendors have either personally harvested, baked, arranged or made the goods sold, it morphs from a business transaction into a trusted exchange. From the farmer’s hands to the customer’s table, the market is a weekly opportunity to connect with the community and land that surrounds us.
It’s real. It’s local. It’s Fearrington.
Fearrington StoryCorps: Eager to Listen—Ready to Share
Story by Susan Eckblad; Photos by Melissa Tomich
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| Marianne Apple shares her story with listener, John Eckblad. |
How many times have you struck up a conversation with someone you’ve met in the Village and walked away thinking, “Wow! Now THAT’S a great story!”
A group of us here in Fearrington thought, “Why don’t we find a way to capture and share our neighbors’ great stories?” And so, Fearrington StoryCorps was born, and in no time, a team was formed.
We took the national StoryCorps project’s do-it-yourself course, engaged a trainer, and got advice from technical experts. We met with the FHA, Fearrington Cares, and the Women of Fearrington and got a happy thumbs-up. We purchased recording equipment, dove into audio editing apps, and got all our systems up and running. And so, this spring we were ready to launch! Fifteen stories later, we are up and running—and loving every minute!
While we have gotten lots of guidance from the national StoryCorps project, they encouraged us to create our own community model—and that’s just what we’ve done. Our goal is simple: To listen to, preserve, and share the wonderful stories of our community members.
So how does it work? When you’re ready to tell your story, contact us at FearringtonStoryCorps@gmail.com, and we’ll take care of the rest.
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| Marianne Apple, Carol Leatherman and Susie Eckblad work to solve the puzzle of audio editing. |
We’ll contact you to schedule a convenient time for your interview. Working in teams of two, a listener and a facilitator, we typically record at Fearrington Cares, but, if needed, we can arrange to meet and record in your home. About a week before your date, your listener will contact you to schedule a time to chat. This pre-interview is not taped. It gives you time to ask questions and to share a bit, and it helps your listener know how to structure things to assist you in telling the story you want to share. Also, at the pre-interview, you’ll receive a copy of the release form to look over, and a team member will either take your photo or collect one you already have.
On recording day, all you need to do is be comfortable. The facilitator will adjust the recorder. After your listener introduces you and themselves, they will offer a leading prompt, and off you go! Recording sessions typically take 40-45 minutes. We’re easy—you’re welcome to signal a break if you need one.
Afterwards, you will be asked to indicate on the release form that you are willing to share your story. Then we’ll edit your audio into a four-to-six-minute segment for our Fearrington StoryCorps Community Page. Your complete audio story will be sent to the Library of Congress, where it will be permanently archived in the StoryCorps Archive of the American Folklife collection: The StoryCorps Archive – StoryCorps.
For you and your family, we create a memory stick with the complete recording for you to keep and share. We also send you a transcript that you can edit to create a text version of your story for yourself and your family.
That’s it! Easy and fun!
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| Linda and Tony Daniels share their story. |
Here’s a sampling from some of the wonderful accounts your neighbors have already shared by going to our Fearrington StoryCorps Community page: Fearrington StoryCorps – StoryCorps Archive.
Ann Bromberg: “When we were in Rome, an art dealer asked me if I would send my work to the American Iranian Art Show in Iran. That shows you how long ago that was.”
Carol Leatherman, sharing stories of homes she’s enjoyed: “I had to put the feet of the beds in buckets of water so the mice would drown before they jumped on the bed. Women were in the supermarket arguing over who could grab the most mousetraps.”
Laura Volk and Joe Roscoe, celebrating 45 years of marriage, shared that “The start we got, it didn’t look like we were even going to get one year. We were married, and 10 weeks later, Joe got a diagnosis of stage 3 Hodgkin lymphoma.”
Married 54 years, Tony and Linda Daniels recalled, “[As young college students] we had seen the movie Two for the Road. That was us!”
Everyone has a story! Your neighbors can’t wait to hear your story! Know someone whose story you’d like to hear? Invite them to contact us at FearringtonStoryCorps@gmail.com.
Susie Eckblad and husband, John, along with their mini-goldendoodle, Buddy, have been “privileged to enjoy 12 years of Fearrington bliss” in their Camden Park home. Susie delights in daily swims and walks in their neighborhood among friends. They have a large family, scattered world-wide, and they feel lucky enough to have two of their children and their families close enough for pancake breakfasts.
Village Residents Enjoying the Pool at Swim & Croquet Club
“Get Out There” Series—Part 4
Text and Photos by Tad McArdle
[Editor’s note: This article is the final installment in The Belted Gazette’s series focusing on Village clubs and organizations that promote being active outdoors. Many thanks to our roving reporter and good sport extraordinaire, Tad McArdle, for diving in and researching and writing this series. We hope you’ve enjoyed it and have been inspired to “get out there” and be active! Next, we’ll be looking at indoor games.]
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| Andrea Tarpley and Jodi Allen. |
Summer may be winding down, but there’s still lots of warm weather to come and good reasons to get active. One of Fearrington’s most seductive features is the Swim and Croquet Club. Its pool opened in 1990, and there are other indoor and outdoor recreational choices. I recently toured the facility in the company of Andrea Tarpley and Jodi Allen. We started indoors at the ping-pong table, where a game was in progress. Not having played in at least 50 years, I agreed to take on Dan Lewandowski and after screwing up an astounding number of shots, I finally whipped a clear winner off the table and into the far wall, slightly shaking the foundations.
Ping-pong, or table tennis, is a fun, quick sport. Patrick Hooley in Heart Matters magazine writes, “Table tennis raises the heart rate, helps strengthen muscles, mobilizes the joints and, importantly, sharpens reaction times and hugely improves hand-eye coordination. All of which help to improve one’s quality of life.”
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| Me versus Dan Lewandowski. Couldn’t have been my winner—the ball isn’t blurred! |
Then we strolled to the outdoor court area where a cornhole competition was about to start between Jodi and Andrea’s grandkids, Connor and Jack Tarpley. This sport may have originated in Germany 600 years ago, when a Bavarian cabinetmaker saw kids throwing rocks into a hole and made a board for them, replacing the rocks with sacks of corn. Or it may have been invented by Native Americans tossing animal bladders filled with beans. Regardless of origin (Ohio and Kentucky also have some claims), you toss your small bags with their shifting contents toward a flag-painted, slanted board 27 feet away. The hole in the center of the flag’s stars is your target. You get a full 5 points for “corn in the hole,” whether you skid it up the striped ramp or simply loft it with precision into the hole, as did Jodi several times. There are other lower-point possibilities, such as missing the flag completely.
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The sport is growing; there are professionals. Money can be made!
Members can also play badminton and volleyball in the same grassy court area, although neither was happening when I was there.
So, we strolled on over to the big, gorgeous pool, where families were happily splashing and swimming in the heat, and others were reading and chatting in the shade. Serious swimmers were doing laps in the allotted 3 lanes. I spoke to Jan Buehler, who told me that Swim and Croquet, with its pools and ping-pong and badminton, etc., was the attraction that brought her and her husband to Fearrington. “The pool is best in the middle of the summer, when the air is a bit cooler and the water warmer. It’s a beautiful pool to do laps in—people are polite about taking turns, and they follow the 40-minute time limit when it’s crowded.” The pool currently opens at 6 am and closes at dusk.
But well before dusk every Tuesday around 5:30 pm, something exciting happens in the water: Aqua Zumba! I was watching with Andrea from the other end of the pool as some super-rhythmic Latin music started up. The 20 or so people positioned in the water began to follow, as best they could, the spectacular rhythmic moves of Debbie Scotten, a dance instructor who leads Zumba classes throughout the area. Zumba, a Latin-based dance somewhat similar to merengue and salsa, works wonderfully even in the water as a fun fitness technique. I interviewed Debbie after the class. She’s been certified as a dance fitness instructor since 2010. “The land class is designed to give you a good cardio fitness workout,” she explained, “but you won’t get as good a workout if you do small (dance) moves in the water. So that’s why we do bigger moves. And that’s why I was ridiculous outside the pool.” She hadn’t looked ridiculous to me, simply enthusiastic, as did her students, mirroring her moves in a much slower medium.
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Anyway, now you know that Swim & Croquet (the latter game covered in the March 2023 issue of The Belted Gazette) can boast a variety of healthy and exciting things to do if the mood grabs you. I recommend that you do not resist it.
Tad McArdle, a golfer since the age of 12, continues to play with the Fearrington Golf Club and brings his golfing lore to exploring other outdoor games. He approaches a new sport with an open mind and a fearless disregard of looking like a novice. Tad participates vicariously in televised football and tennis and loves watching PGA golf, humbling though it is.
Fitch Sale of Land to Triangle Land Conservancy
By Diane Frazier
It’s safe to say that news of R.B. Fitch’s selling land abutting Fearrington Village to the Triangle Land Conservancy (TLC) was met with delight and gratitude by our residents. We’ve heard many people express these sentiments since the article appeared in the News & Observer in July. You can read the article here.
Several residents approached The Belted Gazette with questions regarding the exact boundary of and access to the property, as well as how the sale would affect the Fitch operations off Woodham. We reached out to Greg Fitch, who shared the following with us:
“We gave permanent access to TLC on much of the gravel road to our wood-recycling operations. That is TLC’s only route to their site. We’ll continue to own and use the gravel road as before, and our operations there remain unaffected by the sale.”
“TLC is well aware the nature preserve is accessed exclusively through the Fearrington community. They’ve said they are years away from putting a plan together but as with their other nature preserves, it will be low impact no matter what.”
Map of Property Conveyed to Triangle Land Conservancy by Fitch Creations, Inc.
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| Map based on Chatham County GIS Portal Tax and Land Records and modified based on survey information provided by Fitch Creations. The conservation easement consists of 247.68 acres. Fitch Creations is retaining a tract that consists of 23.48 acres. The Chatham County survey map for this tract is here. |
We also contacted Robert “Bo” Howes, director of land protection & stewardship west, at the TLC for additional comments. Bo reiterated that it will take a few years to figure out the required staffing, plan a trail system, and build a parking lot. Triangle Land Conservancy envisions “natural surface pedestrian trials.” There will be no mountain bikes, all-terrain vehicles, or horses. He added that the boundary of the land is marked with white signs every 100 feet or so that read “Conservation Property Boundary” and have the TLC logo. The boundary has also been marked on trees with blue paint.
Triangle Land Conservancy will actively engage Fearrington Village neighbors to learn what we want to see happen on the land, although it will be six months to a year before these meetings begin.
You can read their press release on the sale here.
Bo invites anyone with questions to contact him at rhowes@triangleland.org.
Food Trucks for September
By Leigh Matthews
Here are our food trucks in September:
September 6: CANCELLED DUE TO FHA MEETING.
September 13: Sister Liu’s Kitchen (Chinese) serving handmade meat and vegetarian classic Chinese dumplings, Chinese burger, noodles, and steam buns.
September 20: Bulkogi Korean BBQ (Korean, Asian fusion) offering authentic Korean BBQ, tacos, burritos, bowls, dumplings, and kimchi.
September 27: Cousins Maine Lobster (seafood, TexMex) Lobster rolls and other seafood delights. (Note: please use their mobile app for preordering on Wednesday; app is available on App Store and Google Play.)
For other food trucks, preorder at our hotspot page https://streetfoodfinder.com/FearringtonVillage, or you can order at the truck. Pick up is between 5 pm and 7:30 pm in The Gathering Place parking lot.
For a weekly reminder email—and a quick link to view the week’s menu—sign up at our hotspot page. Or, if you use Nextdoor, watch for our weekly announcement with a link to the menu.
For more info, please contact Deborah Repplier at drepplier@gmail.com.
Thank you for supporting our food trucks. See you there!
This Month’s Announcements
Please use the Announcement Submission Request form (https://fearringtonfha.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Announcement-Submission-Request_January-2023.pdf) to submit club and organization announcements. Email the form, after saving it first so that we do not get a blank form, to editors@fearringtonfha.org.
If you need assistance, one of our editorial team members will work with you if you email us at editors@fearringtonfha.org.
Fearrington Clubs and Organizations
AM Book Club
Join the AM Book Club to discuss The Paris Orphan by Natasha Lester. Paris, 1942: When an American model arrives in Europe to cover the war as a photojournalist for Vogue, most of the soldiers are determined to make her life as difficult as possible. Three friendships will change that, but her success comes at a price. We will meet at McIntyre’s Books, Wednesday, September 20, at 10:15 am. All residents of Fearrington Village and Galloway Ridge are welcome to participate, including new members. Questions? Contact Cathy Clare, catfearr@gmail.com or Carole Yardley, peacefulathome@bellsouth.net. Masks please.
Carolina Club
The Carolina Club announces its Fall Fling, Friday, October 6, 5 pm, at The Gathering Place. The evening includes dinner; refreshments; a raffle for UNC “swag”; and our featured speaker, UNC basketball star and three-time NBA Champion, Scott Williams. Scott will talk about his wonderful new book,”Through the Fire: A Memoir of Trauma and Loss, Basketball and Triumph.” Scott grew up with an abusive father who murdered Scott’s mom and then killed himself when Scott was a 19-year-old sophomore at UNC. Scott credits the UNC family, especially Dean Smith and Michael Jordan, with saving his life. It’s an amazing story, and you won’t want to miss his telling it. And Scott promises he’ll bring along a few UNC teammates from that era to join our event! Email John Miller, jfmiller1977@gmail.com, to reserve your spot!
Concert Series
The Fearrington Concert Series is pleased to announce its 2023-24 season, including both solo and chamber ensemble artists, some new to the series. On September 17, Grace Ludtke (graceludtke.com), a member of the Guilford College music faculty, will perform a recital for solo harp. She has been praised for her brilliant and stunning playing and “(L)oves giving audiences an impression of the harp and sharing its stories so its secrets can be discovered.”
The series will continue on October 15 with pianist Fred Moyer (frederickmoyer.com), who is equally at home with classical or jazz idioms and who is described by The New York Times as “First Class…clean, unmannered and full of ideas and intelligence.”
On November 12, multitalented violinist Jennifer Curtis (jennifercurtisviolin.com) performs in recital with piano. Improviser, composer, and educator, Jennifer has performed internationally and at Carnegie Hall and teaches at the University of Pennsylvania and at Duke.
The new year will bring a program of strings and winds on January 14, a performance on March 10 by Aurora Musicalis, a diverse chamber music ensemble composed of leading members of the North Carolina Symphony, and a final concert on April 14 by talented young artists from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
All concerts are held at The Gathering Place on Sundays at 3 pm. Season tickets are still available for $100 per person and may be procured by writing a check made payable to Fearrington Concert Series and dropping it in the Fearrington Concert Series box at the mail kiosk next to The Gathering Place, or by mailing to Jo Bolig at 555 Fearrington Post, Pittsboro, NC 27312.
Please direct any questions to Victor Benedict by phone at 919-601-3019 or by email at vicbassoon28@gmail.com.
Democratic Club
With the North Carolina Supreme Court’s recent decision to stop policing gerrymandering in the state, it’s likely that the Republican-led NC House and Senate will make significant changes to many districts before next year’s election. Join us at The Gathering Place on Tuesday, September 26, at 7 pm to hear Rep. Robert Reives II, the House Minority Leader and a charismatic speaker, explain the redistricting process as well as bring us up to date on other news in the General Assembly.
Doors open at 6:30 for socializing; the meeting starts at 7 pm. All Fearrington and Galloway Ridge residents and their guests are welcome. The program will also be available via Zoom. To request the link to register for Zoom, send the contact form on the Club’s website (https://fearringtondems.org/our-club/contact-us) before
5 pm on the day of the event (and earlier is better).
Dog Club
Interested in learning more ways to keep your dog engaged and healthy? Then join us for our September meeting for a program we’re calling, “Go Ahead…Make My Day.”
We launch our club’s second year with a presentation on enrichment activities for dogs. Using slides and videos, member Ann Melchior will show how the movement to enrich the lives of zoo and other captive animals has spilled over to pet dogs. Ann will also present a variety of ways you can engage your own dog that will, hopefully, make their day.
Mark your calendar for Thursday, September 21, 1 pm, and join us at The Gathering Place. For details about our club, this event, and how to become a member as we embark on our club’s new year, check out our club web page at Fearrington Dog Club – Fearrington Homeowners Association, Inc. (fearringtonfha.org).
Duplicate Bridge
Play bridge…it’s cheaper than therapy! Join us for a face-to-face game every Wednesday in September except for a game on September 20, which has been moved to Friday, September 22. We play at 1 pm at The Gathering Place. We’re always looking to add new players. Play the first time is free; after that, the cost is $7 to defray the costs. Questions? Please contact Dianne Hale at haledianne@gmail.com.
Fearrington Village Singers
Come sing with us! We are actively recruiting new singers. Fall season rehearsals, in preparation for our holiday concerts in December, begin Thursday, September 7, for men and Monday, September 11, for women. Check-in starts at 3:30 pm in The Gathering Place.
We welcome new singers from Fearrington Village, Galloway Ridge, and surrounding communities. No audition is required. Come sing with us and enjoy the many benefits that singing with others offers: soothing our nerves, elevating our spirits, improving our respiration, enhancing our memory, boosting our immune system, and expanding our connection to others, to name just a few.
For more information, email our membership chair Donna Corgnati at info@fearringtonvillagesingers.org. And pick up a brochure in your mail kiosk.
Garden Club
No experience necessary! Whether you’re an experienced gardener or a novice, please join our club! We offer programs on topics such as native plants and flower arranging as well as field trips to nearby gardens. We sponsor clean-up days in Camden Park annually, plus a December poinsettia sale benefitting Chatham Central High School. Annual memberships renew September 1, so please join or renew your membership today for $20/year. Membership forms are available at your mail kiosk or download here. Place the form and your check in the Garden Club mailbox at the Swim & Croquet mail kiosk. Or attend a meeting and pay our $5 guest fee. We’ll be happy to see you.
Landscape designer Amy Strunk will discuss container gardening at The Garden Club’s September meeting, Tuesday, September 19, at 2 pm in The Gathering Place. Guests are welcome for a $5 fee.
Genealogy Group
Our research skills aren’t just for researching the long-ago deceased; they also apply to researching a 20th-century loved one. Diane will talk about her research into the youth of her English-born “mum” (or “mom”). Think you know your mom? By the time one is an adult, we often assume that we know all there is to know about, say, a mother, father, or grandparents. How wrong we might be. We sometimes get so focused on researching the long-ago deceased that we skip over the individuals we lived with or frequently visited. Don’t wait! Diane will discuss the research she undertook and share some tips & tricks that you might employ if you pursue similar research into a more recently deceased family member. The group meets on Tuesday, September 12, from 3 to 5 pm at The Gathering Place. Questions? Contact Barbara Ashby, 401-952-4426 or at gjwl@aol.com.
Golf Club
A golf club with 60+ members and no golf course? Our Fearrington Golf Club’s primary goal is to make golf easily available to members who are enthusiastic about the wide variety of great courses in our golf-rich area. We play courses mostly within a 35-mile geographical radius ranging from Mebane/Graham/Greensboro to Sanford and Southern Pines. Our most-often-played courses are Mill Creek in Mebane and Quail Ridge in Sanford.
Our membership includes men and women who enjoy golf and companionship with others and who have a wide range of skill levels and handicaps. We level the competition and give everyone a chance by playing from tees appropriate to people’s ability and age. To make scheduling and scorekeeping easy, we use a phone app called EZGolf.
Weather permitting, we play every Tuesday and Thursday year-round. There is no pressure to play; members sign up when golf is convenient for them. Members will often ride together and visit after a round to enjoy beverages and a snack. We hold three tournaments a year featuring a team format that mixes handicaps in a scramble. We also have several social events each year to bring people together outside of golf.
Even though we had very warm weather this summer, we had a great time golfing. Forty people enjoyed our July Summer Tournament at Mill Creek Golf Club. You can view some images here: FGC – Summer Tournament (google.com).
Here is our September Tuesday/Thursday schedule of outings:
9/5 8:30 am- Quail Ridge, Sanford
9/7 9 am- Carolina Trace, Sanford
9/12 10:12 am- Lochmere, Cary
9/14 9:42 am- Chapel Ridge, Pittsboro
9/19 8:30 am- Quail Ridge, Sanford
9/21 8 am- Mill Creek, Mebane
9/26 11 am- Longleaf, Southern Pines
9/28 9 am- The Valley, Burlington
10/17 Fall Tournament, Forest Oaks, Greensboro
Our members range in age from 57 to 91 and have a great time playing together. We would like to welcome even more new members to share in the golfing fun. If you would like to join our Golf Club or try one of our outings as a guest, please contact Chris Horn, membership chair, cphorn.128@gmail.com. You can learn more on the FHA website under the Clubs and Organizations tab: FGC (google.com). Come join us!
Great Decisions
Lectures on Current National and International Affairs
Thursday, September 14, 2023
1:30 pm at The Gathering Place
Fear, Anger, and Disgust: How Political Actors Try to Push Your Emotional Buttons
Every complex issue of public policy—things we read about in the news every day—can be explained or “framed” in a variety of ways. Depending on the frame, individuals may respond differently because many frames are designed to trigger certain core emotional responses. Using a variety of examples from the news, we’ll discuss how emotional responses follow from political frames and to what effect. We’ll also discuss strategies of competition if you want to reframe an issue and strategies of news consumption if you simply want to understand what they are trying to do to you! Join the first in our series of lectures and discussions on current national and international affairs on Thursday, September 14, 1:30 pm at The Gathering Place. Our guest speaker is Frank R. Baumgartner, Ph.D., distinguished professor of political science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Green Scene
Following our summer “vacation,” we look to kick off our autumnal return to “business as usual” with a special guest speaker for our September meeting. At 11 am on Wednesday, September 13, in the large room at The Gathering Place, we will welcome the return of Shannon Culpepper. As many of you may know, Shannon is the recycling & education specialist at the Chatham County Environmental Quality Department. She will share her up-to-date knowledge of “What IS, and ISN’T, Recyclable” in our community.
Looking ahead to October, mark your calendar for our FHA/Green Scene Fall Event featuring free paper shredding, excess pharmaceutical collection, and fire-prevention information. This popular event takes place on Saturday, October 21, in The Gathering Place parking lot from 9 am until noon. More details to follow in the October issue of The Belted Gazette.
All are welcome to our monthly meetings. Feel free to bring a friend.
—Jason Welsch, Moderator
Fearrington Green Scene
914-806-4852 (cell phone)
Havurah
Join us on Tuesday, September 12, at 7 pm at The Gathering Place for an exciting meet and greet, the first Fearrington Havurah meeting of 2023-24.
Along with good company and some food and drink, we plan to have an interesting and lively discussion facilitated by our own Bob Pearson, former US Ambassador and lifelong diplomat, concerning the historic and still-pertinent issues stemming from the current movie, Oppenheimer. Seeing the film is not a prerequisite but a plus. No guest fees for this event.
Further information: Joe Labenson, 516-647-7807 (jltaxtips@aol.com).
Mah Jongg Dragons
This month’s Fearrington Dragons Mah Jongg game will be Saturday, September 9, from 1 to 4 pm at The Gathering Place.
We have decided to open the games to non-members, both those living in Fearrington or outside the Village. These guests will need to register and pay $5 each month if they are not a member of the Dragons. Anyone who would like to join the Dragons can pay a membership fee of $25 per year and forego the $5 monthly fee. All current members can pay their yearly fees of $25 at the September game with checks payable to Robin Weinberger or in cash in an envelope with your name on it.
Join us on September 9 for a fun-filled afternoon; snacks and drinks provided.
May the jokers be ever in your favor!!
Republican Club
Your Fearrington Republican Club will meet on Wednesday, September 27, from 7 to 8 pm at The Gathering Place. We will have our annual BBQ dinner, and the doors will open at 6:30 pm for socializing. There is no charge for dinner, but donations are accepted. Allen Mashburn, candidate for NC Lieutenant Governor, will attend and will speak to us after dinner. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to frc-nc@hotmail.com so we can have a head count for our caterer. All Fearrington and Galloway residents are welcome.
Swim & Croquet Club
It’s not too late to join the fun at the Swim & Croquet Club! The summer pool season is well underway, and we have myriad activities for everyone to enjoy, from refurbished grills on the upper lawn to horseshoes, cornhole, badminton, shuffleboard, ping pong, croquet, and water Zumba. Be sure to check out the Club’s online calendar for more details on what’s happening each day: https://sites.google.com/view/fearringtonswimandcroquet/about/calendar?authuser=0
Poolside happy hour on Wednesdays has been a hit, so c’mon down with your beverage of choice (no glass allowed on Club grounds) and enjoy some camaraderie with fellow members.
Our Board is having a fit of a time trying to find a water-exercise instructor with the proper certifications and insurance. While three strong prospects have been interviewed, none could be hired—yet! If anyone has a lead on a certified and insured water-exercise instructor, please let us know as soon as possible.
Tennis & Pickleball Association
Hurray for September and cooler temperatures! As many FTPA members know, our courts are being reborn as we speak. By the time you read this, the tennis/pickleball courts will sport a new surface! Come out, meet your neighbors, and get some exercise now that the summer is waning. Contact Karen at karenallenvaca@gmail.com for tennis information and Stokes at stokesadams63@gmail.com for particulars about pickleball.
Women of Fearrington
At the Fall Welcome General Meeting on Wednesday, September 20, beginning at 1:30 pm at The Gathering Place, hear Melissa Driver Beard, executive director of CORA (Chatham Outreach Alliance), a WoF grantee. Doors open at 1 pm for fellowship and refreshments. Open to all residents of Fearrington Village/Galloway Ridge. Register here. To prevent a bottleneck at the entrance, renew or join your membership for 2023-24 ahead of time here.
Small Group Gathering: Tuesday, September 12, at 12 noon. Luncheon limited to 8-10 Women of Fearrington members, with new members encouraged to attend. Hostess and location will be announced on Friday, September 8. Register here.
Guided Road Trip: Transplanting Traditions Community Farm, Friday, September 22, 2023, 10 am. Cost: $10. Come and hear the inspiring story of how refugees from Burma and Thailand have found a home here in North Carolina. Optional lunch to follow at Rasa Malaysia. Register here.
Bluegrass Battleship Benefit Concert led by Village resident Terry Baker on Sunday, October 22, 3-5 pm, at The Gathering Place. General Admission: $25 per person. Proceeds benefit the Wonderful Options Fund. More information soon at: www.womenoffearrington.org.
The Women of Fearrington logo is accompanied by the words “Learn, Laugh, Lead.” Leadership is perhaps best reflected by our grants program. In May, we distributed $44,000 in grants to organizations that help women and children in Chatham County. Our Wonderful Options Fund is one way we raise donations for this program. We have made it easier to give via the ability to use a debit or credit card through PayPal without the need for a PayPal account. Just go to our website: https://www.womenoffearrington.org, and click on “Donate” for details.
Women’s 9-Hole Golf Club
We invite Fearrington and Galloway Ridge social golfers to join us Tuesdays and/or Thursdays at Twin Lakes Golf Course (and occasionally other courses) for golf and lunch afterwards. Membership is free, but golf and lunch are paid individually.
For further information contact:
Arlene Labenson at arl366@aol.com or 516-633-9914 or
Susan Lundblad at stlundblad41@gmail.com or 919-593-0316
Community Opportunities
Calendar Drive
When 2024 calendars start to arrive in your mailbox, consider donating any you don’t want. It’s easy and convenient to donate! Please take your extra calendars to a calendar donation bin, which will be set up near the front door of The Gathering Place from August through October. Village volunteers will distribute them to local nonprofit agencies and Chatham Senior Services for their Meals on Wheels and Senior Center clients. Thank you!
Chatham County Aging Services
Does Medicare have you asking questions? The Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) has answers. As part of Chatham County Aging Services, SHIIP has experts specially trained to answer your Medicare questions and to help you with other insurance issues important to seniors 65 years of age and over or approaching the age of 65.
Some of the issues SHIIP addresses are:
- Selecting a Medicare prescription-drug plan
- Comparing Medicare Advantage plans
- Choosing a Medicare supplement plan
- Preventing Medicare billing fraud
Friends of the Chatham Community Library Book Sale
Join us for our Fall 2023 Book Sale at the Chatham Community Library in Pittsboro. The three-day sale runs on Thursday, September 21, from 9 am to 5 pm; Friday, September 22, from 9 am to 5 pm; and Saturday, September 23, from 9 am to 2 pm. Thursday prices: hardbacks $3 and softbacks $2, audio/visual (a/v) items $2. Most children’s books are $1 and $2. Friday is half-price day. Saturday is bag day: books are $5 per grocery bag; a/v items are $1 per item. There are more than 20,000 items in 26 categories, including exceptional collections of Civil War materials, The Great Courses, and Manga books. Members of the Friends of the Library receive a 10% discount on purchases of $5 or more. See Friends of the Chatham Community Library – Home (friendsccl.org) for more information.
North Chatham Elementary School
Volunteer Tutors Sought
The Learning Trail, a long-established volunteer program serving the Hispanic community, seeks tutors for elementary school students. The volunteers work one-on-one with the same child one afternoon per week, from 2:45 to 4:30. The lead tutor in each grade provides the lesson plans and materials. Orientation and on-the-job training are provided. Tutors come from varying backgrounds and are not required to have had a career in education. The program follows the school calendar, so there is no tutoring during school breaks or holidays. Also, substitutes are provided whenever a tutor may be absent. If interested, please contact The Learning Trail at info@thelearningtrail.org.
Continuing Education
OLLI-Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Duke University
This year-round educational community for retired folks meets on the Duke campus, at Judea Reform Congregation Durham and online. Courses cover history, literature, natural or social sciences, art, music, drama, and current events. Registration starts on August 22 at 9 am for Monday and Tuesday classes and August 23 for Wednesday and Thursday classes. Classes start September 11. For a catalog of classes, additional information, and to register, go to their web site, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute | Continuing Studies (duke.edu), or contact Warren Ort at 919-533-6597 for additional information.
Shared Learning of Chapel Hill
After 30+ years, Peer Learning of Chapel Hill merged with Shared Learning of Chapel Hill on July 21, 2023, to create a new organization that combines the strengths of both entities with a large vibrant membership and enthusiastic, knowledgeable instructors/facilitators. The new organization will operate under the name of Shared Learning of Chapel Hill.
Shared Learning of Chapel Hill is offering 28 full-length courses (14 weeks in duration) during its upcoming fall 2023 term, as well as eight shorter “Spotlight” classes, with lengths varying from two to four weeks. These courses cover a wide range of topics, including current events, philosophy, literature, science, and conversational languages. A full-year membership fee of $70 enables you to take as many courses as desired during the upcoming fall, winter, and spring terms. Some classes are held on-site at a church, some are via Zoom, and a few are conducted in hybrid mode. Go to Shared Learning Association of Chapel Hill — Together We Learn to view the catalog and register for classes (which can be done online). Classes begin on September 11, so early registration is important.
The School of Athens
The School of Athens is an independent, unaffiliated, private, nonprofit adult academy that provides educational and social activities of intellectual value. Examples include course offerings of interactive or didactic instruction, book discussion, formal debates, topical lectures, colloquy, and group educational excursions. Also included are social events such as Oishii, a Japanese cooking class, and High Tea & Talk in the British tradition.
The School of Athens is, at its essence, an ideal. It is the pursuit of literature, poetry, history, philosophy, civics, political science, art, music, mathematics, science, architecture, rhetorical skills, and colloquy, within the classical tradition.
The School of Athens is committed to the exploration of the noblest ideas and artistic and intellectual accomplishments of humankind, using the highest standards of pedagogy and group decorum.
Our inspiration and our logo come from Raphael’s painting, The School of Athens (c. 1509), which depicts significant philosophers, scientists, and mathematicians of classical antiquity.
We are keen to attract younger persons and inquisitive “young persons of all ages” as students, instructors, and participants.
Upcoming activities include High Tea & Talk, The Oresteia, The Iliad, and with plans for Literary Memoir and Math: The Queen of Sciences to follow. Ekphrastic Poetry, our March 2022 inaugural course, will repeat in spring 2024. We’d like to add a Greek cooking class, Nóstimo Fagitó (νόστιμο φαγητό), which means “delicious food.” Many other courses are being considered.
The School of Athens is a registered 501(3)(c) nonprofit organization. Its articles of incorporation are on file at the office of the NC Secretary of State. The School of Athens is supported exclusively by private funds and offers scholarship assistance.
Visit School | The School of Athens | Chapel Hill for more details, course descriptions, and to register.
Fearrington Cares material is edited by their staff and volunteers. Direct comments or questions to them at (919) 542-6877 or info@fearringtoncares.org. —Edited this month by Carolyn & John Boyle |
The Fearrington Cares Center Will Be Closed on September 4 for Labor Day
Message from Kim Schneider, Executive Director
Hello Fearrington Villagers! I would like to convey my gratitude for your warm welcome as I adjust to my new role as Fearrington Cares Executive Director. I have lived in Chatham County for over 30 years, during which Fearrington Village has been woven throughout the fabric of my life in many ways. My professional background is in healthcare administration, which I believe will serve as a strong foundation to support the Center’s growth and evolution as we aim to meet the changing needs of our community.
I have benefited from the guidance of our former director, Karen Metzguer, who has been so gracious and generous with her time as she enters a well-deserved retirement. I have also enjoyed meeting many of you in your various roles as volunteers, participants, and leaders at the Center and will be focusing these early days on making connections with you and building key relationships and partnerships with other organizations.
In the coming months I look forward to meeting many more of you and encourage you to be in touch and get involved!
Welcoming Our New Administrative Coordinator
Please join us in welcoming the Center’s new Administrative Coordinator, Jennifer Harris! Jennifer will be responsible for our bookkeeping, donor and volunteer records, communications, and more. She will be taking the reins from Pat Skiver, who is retiring after many years of dedicated service. We are delighted to welcome Jennifer to our team and are so grateful to Pat for keeping us going during staff shortages.
Crafts and Conversation
Tuesdays, September 5 and 19, 9:45—11:15 am at the Fearrington Cares Center
Do you enjoy handwork or have a button that needs re-attaching? Would you enjoy crafting with others? If you crochet, knit, make cards, scrapbook, needlepoint, or practice any other craft, we invite you to bring your project and join us at Fearrington Cares for a twice-monthly get-together on the first and third Tuesday of each month. This is an opportunity to get to know neighbors and make progress on your favorite craft. If this sounds like something you would like to participate in, then let’s get together for crafting, conversation, and fellowship.
Fearrington Cares Presents Film Nite
Thursday, September 7, 7:00 pm at The Gathering Place
Join your neighbors for a romantic period drama with stunning cinematography that sweeps you away to a heartwarming immigrant story set in the 1950s. Admission is free, and complimentary popcorn, beverages, and treats are provided. Your contributions to Fearrington Cares are gratefully accepted to support this and other programs in our community.
Remember that due to licensing restrictions, the title of the film cannot appear in public places like our mail kiosks or this newsletter, which appears on a publicly accessible part of our website. If you would like to check the title of the upcoming movie, it is posted on fliers at the Fearrington Cares Center and The Gathering Place. You can also email us at FearringtonFilmNite@gmail.com for an automated response that offers the title and a blurb about the film. Any subject line will do as will any text in the message.
Once you find out, please share the news with your neighbors! Word-of-mouth and personal emails are acceptable and appreciated, but please don’t post anything publicly.
Note that all films will be captioned and the AudioFetch system at The Gathering Place offers hearing assistance. Download the AudioFetch app to a smartphone and listen with noise-canceling headphones or directly through Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids.
What You Can Do to Prevent Falls
September 13 at 1:30 pm at the Fearrington Cares Center
September is National Fall Prevention Awareness Month, and this is an issue facing everyone as we age. Donna Costa, an occupational therapist, will provide an interactive presentation on this topic. You will learn some facts about falls, how to evaluate your home environment for fall hazards, and become familiar with national and local resources. This information will enable you to avoid falls while maintaining an active lifestyle.
Volunteer Drivers and Handypersons Needed
We are looking for volunteers to join our team of drivers to help your Fearrington neighbors with transportation. We assign two to three drivers per week and ask our volunteers to drive twice per year.
We are also looking for volunteer Handypersons to assist neighbors with minor household tasks. If you have any experience or expertise with plumbing, carpentry, or general home maintenance, your neighbors could use your help! Common requests include changing smoke alarm batteries or light bulbs, assisting with or assessing minor plumbing issues, help with assembling various items, hanging pictures, etc.
If you are looking for great volunteer opportunities, we invite you to come by Fearrington Cares and fill out our interest form or to fill out our online form at https://fearringtoncares.org/getting-involved/become-a-volunteer/volunteer-interest-form/. To learn more, call us Monday—Friday from 9:00 am—1:00 pm at 919-542-6877. These are rewarding jobs that offer a chance to meet your fellow Fearringtonians.
Blood Drive Success!
The Red Cross reports that the Fearrington blood drive in July went beyond their expectations. They collected 37 units of blood products and welcomed six first-time donors! As you know, there is a historic shortage of blood, and the success of our drive helps in many ways. The generosity of the Fearrington Villagers is never in doubt!
Introducing Fearrington StoryCorps
Many of us have enjoyed the stories collected and shared by the national project, StoryCorps, on NPR. StoryCorps’ mission is simple: to help us believe in each other by illuminating the humanity and possibility in us all, one story at a time.
To enable the collection and sharing of all our stories, StoryCorps has developed a wonderful resource of training materials and online support to help us develop our own community program. Fearrington Cares, The Women of Fearrington, and our own FHA loved the idea—and so was born Fearrington StoryCorps.
Who are we? The Fearrington StoryCorps Team are your neighbors. We are here to help you share and preserve your story—in your own voice.
How does it work? You can sign up or you can suggest someone whose story you’d love to hear. Just email us at FearringtonStoryCorps@gmail.com and we’ll do the rest!
Everyone has a story! Listen to some of the wonderful accounts your neighbors have already shared by going to our Fearrington StoryCorps Community page. Just click on the following link or copy and paste it into your search box to enjoy: https://archive.storycorps.org/communities/fearrington-storycorps-diy/.
Questions? Want to know more? Just contact us at FearringtonStoryCorps@gmail.com.
Reap the Benefits of Movement Classes This Fall
The proven benefits of moderate and regular exercise extend beyond physical health to impact emotional and mental well-being as well. Our movement classes offer the opportunity to enhance your flexibility, balance, strength, and stamina. Additionally, the social aspect of exercising in a group setting can provide motivation, energy, and social connections.
Note that our Chair Yoga class will now be held on Tuesdays at the Fearrington Cares Center. The chairs at the Center may require a firm throw pillow for participants who prefer back support. Yoga mats are recommended for those who intend to explore standing poses behind their chair.
Our September schedule for classes is presented below. Find one that sparks your interest and join us to experience the many benefits of movement!
Movement Classes at the Fearrington Cares Center (except as noted) Suggested donation of $5/class session (cash or check to Fearrington Cares). Mondays, 10:00 am—Otago Fall-Prevention (No class September 4.) Tuesdays, 11:30 am—Chair Yoga (Begins on September 5.) Thursdays, 10:00 am—Chair Tap Dance (No Class September 7 or 14.) Thursdays, 11:30 am—Line Dancing (No class September 7 or 14.) Thursdays,—Intermediate Yoga Fridays, 11:30 am—Light Cardio
| Support Groups Meeting in Person at the Fearrington Cares Center Alcoholics Anonymous: Mondays, 10:00 am (No meeting September 4) Parkinson’s Group: Tuesday, September 5 & 19; 1:30—3:30 pm Brainiacs Memory Café: Wednesdays, 10:00 am Meditation: Fridays, 10:00 am |
:Health Services Offered Nurse Consultation Triage Clinic: Call 919-542-6877 to schedule an appointment. | :Support Groups via Zoom Caregiver Support Group: Wednesdays, September 6 & 20; 1:00 pm Living with Chronic Conditions: Thursdays, September 7 & 21; 1:00 pm |
Welcome to Our New Residents
The following new villagers were added to the Fearrington Village Directory between June 15 and August 14. Want to reach out to your new neighbor? You will find their contact information on our community web page. Go to: FearringtonFHA.org (click Find People under the Directory tab).
| Name | Address |
|---|---|
| C. Arnet & L. Pagano | 30 Benchmark |
| Holly M. & John R. Bailey | 439 Crossvine Close |
| Lauren Bianco & Kathleen E. Birmingham | 397 Lyndfield Close |
| Anne & Brad Bishop | 4634 Halifax |
| Elizabeth Anne (Betty Anne) Carlin | 2 Caldwell (1123*) |
| Elizabeth E. (Liz) Crowley & Virginia W. (Ginny) Gregory | 46 Trestle Leaf |
| Madeleine Dahl | 1 Benchmark |
| Leigh W. Dillard & John D. Taylor | 25 Yancey (1077*) |
| Robin Eisner | G-201 G Wing** |
| Tyler D. Fortney & Katherine M. Greco-Fortney | 121 Becket Bend |
| Sarah Hardin | 684 Spindlewood |
| Cathy Holt | 89 Shagbark |
| Maj-Britt Johnson & Michael Shulman | 557 Weathersfield |
| Annette F. (Nettie) Lynch & Mitchell Dean (Mitch) Strauss | 307 Baneberry Close |
| L Kay K. Murphy | 390 Lyndfield Close |
| Jane Moore Nash | 711 Spindlewood |
| Catherine G. (Cat) & Lawrence G. (Larry) Rogers | 1359 Bradford Place |
| Adam & Colleen Sturdevant | 822 Rushing |
| Kevin Wray | 42 McDowell (1086*) |
*Fearrington Post number
**Galloway Ridge
Are you a new resident? To register your information in the Directory, please visit the FHA website at https://fearringtonfha.org. From the left menu (top right on a mobile device) choose Directory, then select New Residents. To confirm you are not a spambot, answer the two questions (answers: Cow and Fitch), and select Check answers. This should take you to the new resident directory registration page.
To obtain full access to website features, you must also create a website account (available only to residents or non-resident owners). You can do this by selecting the Login/Register link in the top menu. Enter your information and select Register . Once your status as a resident or non-resident owner is confirmed by the Website Resource Team, you will receive an account activation email.
Are you an existing resident whose contact information has changed? Don’t forget to update your listing on the http://www.fearringtonfha.org website. Use the Login/Register link in the top menu if you aren’t logged in yet. Then, click the Directory tab on the left menu (top right on a mobile device), then select Edit My Directory Info. Directory updates can also be sent to directory@fearringtonfha.org. When you update your contact information online, the updates will be included in the Fearrington Village Directory & Handbook printed in January of each year. Stay in touch with your fellow residents by keeping your contact information current.
Death Notices: Residents may sign up to receive email notices of the deaths of current and former Village residents by emailing notices@fearringtonfha.org. Survivors wishing to submit a notice or obituary can use the same email address. Notices or obituaries should include the name of deceased, survivors (optional), date (and optionally cause) of death, particulars about funeral or memorial service, and any donations in memoriam.
September 2023 Calendar
All activities will be held at The Gathering Place unless otherwise noted.
These links will bring you to the online Combined Village Calendar, which is updated periodically from multiple sources. The Table below contains the calendar compiled by the editors from announcements that are submitted for publication.
| Day/Date/Time | Organization | Event | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday September 6 7 pm | FHA | Meeting of property owners | duesquestions@ fhaboard.org |
| Thursday September 7 3:30 pm | Fearrington Village Singers, Inc | Men’s rehearsal | Donna Corgnati info@ fearringtonvillagesingers .org |
| Thursday September 7 7 pm | Fearrington Cares | Film Nite | FearringtonFilmNite @gmail.com |
| Saturday September 9 1-4 pm | Mahjongg Dragons | Mahjongg | Polly Williams pw82550@gmail.com 919-478-4260 |
| Monday September 11 3:30 pm | Fearrington Village Singers, Inc. | Women’s rehearsal | Donna Corgnati info@ fearringtonvillagesingers .org |
| Tuesday September 12 12 pm | Women of Fearrington | Small Group Gathering | https://www. Womenoffearrington .org/ |
| Tuesday September 12 3-5 pm | Fearrington Genealogy Group | Monthly Meeting | Barbara Ashby gjwl@aol.com 401-952-4426 |
| Tuesday September 12 7 pm | Fearrington Havurah | Discussion of Oppenheimer | Joe Labenson jltaxtips@aol.com 516-647-7807 |
| Wednesday September 13 11 am | Fearrington Green Scene | Shannon Culpepper Recycling & Education Specialist, Chatham County Environmental Quality Department—What IS, and ISN’T, Recyclable in our community | Jason Welsch 914-806-4852 |
| Wednesday September 13 1:30 pm Fearrington Cares Center | Fearrington Cares | Education Program— What You Can Do to Prevent Falls | info@ fearringtoncares .org |
| Wednesday September 13 5-7:30 pm | Food Truck | Sister Liu’s Kitchen | Deborah Repplier drepplier@gmail.com |
| Thursday September 14 1:30 pm | Fearrington Great Decisions | Frank R. Baumgartner, Ph.D. Distinguished Professor of Political Science University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill— Fear, Anger, and Disgust: How Political Actors Try to Push Your Emotional Buttons | Liz Welfel welfeler@yahoo.com 216-299-4355 |
| Sunday September 17 3 pm | Fearrington Concert Series | Grace Ludke— music for solo harp | Victor Benedict vicbassoon28@ gmail.com919-601-3019 |
| Tuesday September 19 2 pm | Fearrington Garden Club | September meeting— Landscape designer Amy Strunk Container Gardening | Debbie Liebtag dliebtag50@gmail.com |
| Wednesday September 20 10:15-11:15 am McIntyre’s Books | AM Book Club | Monthly book discussion— The Paris Orphan by Natasha Lester | Catherine Clare catfearr@gmail.com Carole Yardley peacefulathome @bellsouth.net |
| Wednesday September 20 1:30–3:30 pm | Women of Fearrington | Fall Welcome General Meeting | https://www. Womenoffearrington .org/ |
| Wednesday September 20 5-7:30 pm | Food Truck | Bulkogi Korean BBQ | Deborah Repplier drepplier@gmail.com |
| Thursday September 21 1-2:30 pm | Fearrington Dog Club | Talk on Canine Enrichment Presenter, Ann Melchior | Katie Baer kbbaerno1@gmail.com |
| Friday September 22 10 am | Women of Fearrington | Guided Road Trip— Transplanting Traditions Community Farm | https://www. Womenoffearrington .org/ meetings-activities |
| Tuesday September 26 7 pm | Fearrington Village Democratic Club | Democratic Club | Vickie Shea Victoria.shea32 @yahoo.com 919-545-0024 |
| Wednesday September 27 5-7:30 pm | Food Truck | Cousins Maine Lobster | Deborah Repplier drepplier@gmail.com |
| Meeting Multiple Days in September | |||
| Wednesday September 6, 13, & 27; Friday September 22 1 pm | Fearrington Duplicate Bridge | Duplicate Bridge | Dianne Hale haledianne@gmail.com |
| Wednesday September 13 & 20 10 am-12 pm Chapel in the Pines 314 Great Ridge Pkwy. | The School of Athens | The Oresteia, by Aeschylus Presented by Professor Al Duncan UNC Department of Classics | Blaine Paxton Hall bph7952@gmail.com |
| Thursday September 21 9 am-5 pm; Friday September 22 9 am-5 pm; Saturday September 23 9 am-2 pm Chatham Community Library, Pittsboro | Friends of the Chatham Community Library | Fall 2023 Book Sale | Reece Jones reecejones@att.net 919-542-1598 |
| Wednesday September 27 October 4, 11, & 18 10 am-12 pm Chapel in the Pines 314 Great Ridge Pkwy. | The School of Athens | The Iliad, by Homer Presented by Blaine Paxton Hall | Blaine Paxton Hall bph7952@gmail.com |
| Upcoming Events in October | |||
| Friday October 6 5 pm | Fearrington Village Carolina Club | Carolina Club Fall Fling | Jfmiller1977@gmail.com |
| Saturday October 21 9 am-12 pm | Fearrington Green Scene | FHA/Green Scene Fall Event | Jason Welsch 914-806-4852 |
| Sunday October 22 3-5 pm | Women of Fearrington | Bluegrass Battleship Benefit Concert | Jo Bolig jobolig@gmail.com |
Our Fearrington Homeowners Association (FHA) is a volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to the health, safety, and welfare of residents. In addition to fostering resident participation, the FHA is responsible for maintenance of common property and covenant enforcement. For additional details, including job descriptions, visit the FHA tab on our webpage, fearringtonfha.org.
| The Belted Gazette The Belted Gazette is produced by the Fearrington Homeowners Association (FHA), by and for the residents of Fearrington Village in Pittsboro, NC.
| Submissions The Belted Gazette contains community news, reports from the FHA Board members, items of interest to residents, and announcements of club and neighborhood activities. Content deadlines are the 15th of the previous month. All persons submitting content will receive a confirmation email. Email submissions to: editors @fearringtonfha.org. Do you have content for an upcoming newsletter? Please read the Publishing Guidelines at https://fearringtonfha.org/newsletter-guidelines-for-d-hb/. The Belted Gazette is published electronically 11 times a year (July/August is a combined issue). A link to the current issue is emailed to all residents who have an email address in the FHA Directory. A PDF copy of the current issue and back issues can be found on the FHA website (fearringtonfha.org). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||