HOMEOWNERS’  ASSOCIATION  NEWSLETTER
February 2021      Volume 40      Number 2

President’s Message

Sanity

‘Twas brillig, and the slithy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe—Lewis Carroll, Alice Through the Looking-Glass. Alice reading the poem “Jabberwocky”

Sometimes, when things in our world seem insane, I go with Alice through the looking glass to find a world where things are even sillier and less rational. It has usually improved my view of our own world. Lately, however, in a world beset with pandemic, job loss, and political characters who make the March Hare, Cheshire Cat, and Red Queen seem realistic and sane, that solution has not been so satisfying.

As I said in my last article, we humans try to impose our will on reality with New Year’s resolutions where, according to statistics, at least half will have been broken by this time. In our small world of Fearrington Village, your FHA works in many ways to maintain or create the environment we all want to see. Is this irrational? Is this, too, a resolution doomed to be broken? Take my word for it, our board members are just as sane and rational as I am—or nearly so.

It is my hope that the rationality of our work is evidenced by the continuous desire to work toward ends we all want. I think most of you know that we have recently completed a survey of residents to determine what your priorities are and what you want us to do. While I have resisted a few suggestions to jump in Beechmast Pond, the bulk of responses reinforce our direction to maintain or improve our grounds and landscaping, as well as upgrade The Gathering Place and mail kiosks. Those endeavors are a large part of our work and take the lion’s share of our budget.

We plan another open meeting via Webinar on the 16th of February, where you will hear more about the survey results, as well as other matters which are important to us all. We have in the past gotten good attendance at such meetings, and we encourage all of you to join. More information is provided elsewhere in this newsletter.

FHA is confronted by many tasks which are sometimes not recognized by all of us. For example, our Covenants Concerns Committee reviews a number of requests for building or property alteration, and they address requests for enforcing our covenants. We take great care to listen and take all aspects into consideration, and we tread carefully, respecting the people involved, and trying to avoid conflict to the extent it is possible. It is never an easy task.

We now have a new management company for FHA and several of our service groups, Associa/HRW. As always with such large changes, there are bumps in the road. We and the team from Associa/HRW are working diligently to ensure that things work smoothly. We have a good team in our new manager and assistant manager, who work out of The Gathering Place. I know from working with them that they try sincerely to be successful in meeting the needs of all of us.

We do our best to keep you informed about our actions, in print and via webinars, as well as by dealing with emails and phone calls. Perhaps indeed, “all mimsy are the borogroves”. To everyone, then, I wish sanity in this new year! Mayest thou avoid “the jaws that bite, the claws that catch,” and slay the Jabberwock that assails you personally in this irrational world.

—Carl Angel, president@fhaboard.org

From Our FHA Board

FHA Open Meeting, February 16

The FHA tries to hold open meetings for residents every three or four months to present topics for discussion that are of village-wide concern. An open meeting will be held Tuesday, February 16 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. We cannot hold it in person, but we will schedule a webinar that is available to everyone who wishes to attend. The webinars held last year were very successful; attendance was almost twice what it has been for in-person meetings in the past, and residents appreciated the opportunity to submit questions to Board members.

An email invitation will be sent to homeowners early in February. The invitation will contain a link enabling you to register for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

If you attended the webinars last year, you will be familiar with the procedures. It will be very helpful if you download beforehand the free version of the Zoom Client for Meetings.

The agenda contains two items:

Results of the Community Assessment Survey

Plans for the Future of Beechmast Pond

Members of the Lifestyle Subcommittee of the Long-Range Planning Committee will describe the results of the assessment survey and discuss their implications for future action. The survey results are summarized in a separate article in this newsletter. A complete description of the results has been posted on the website, and links are provided in the summary.

Maintaining Beechmast Pond is one of the larger expense items in the FHA budget. Over the last ten years we have observed that the expense continues to increase each year. In 2020, the Board commissioned a study by Kris Bass Engineering to see if there might be a more cost-effective solution. Based on the results of the study, they presented three different approaches. The October issue of the Newsletter contains an article describing the three alternatives. These solutions will be presented at the open meeting so that residents can fully understand them. The ultimate goal is for residents to decide which is preferred.

We will be able to respond to attendees’ questions on these topics using the webinar Q & A. Attendees can type in a question to be answered by the speakers. If we are unable to answer all of the questions in the available time, answers will be prepared afterwards and posted on the FHA website.

We hope you will take time to attend the meeting, learn more about the two topics on the agenda, ask questions, and express your opinions.

Community Assessment Survey

In 2018, the FHA Board of Directors established the Long-Range Planning Committee (LRPC). This committee meets regularly to examine future issues of the Village and determine a way forward. In early 2020, the LRPC determined the need for a community survey and asked the Lifestyle Subcommittee to conduct that effort. During the summer and into the fall of 2020, the subcommittee developed the survey instrument and launched its survey in November 2020. The survey was distributed to 1709 individual residents; 900 completed surveys were returned, a remarkable 52.7% response rate.

Results Overview

Results of the survey suggest that residents have a generally positive view of life in the Village. They appreciate the attractiveness of their surroundings, their neighbors, the many paths and trails, and the general safety of the Village. Residents tend to be active, with the vast majority using the walking trails at least occasionally. Villagers use and appreciate the availability of Village shops and restaurants and the Farmers Market. Health and wellness are supported by the Duke Center for Living and Fearrington Cares, both used by over 40% of the population.

Major Concerns

Current concerns have surfaced, some of which are presently under the sole or partial control of the developer, Fitch Creations. Wastewater issues are apparently the primary concern of most residents currently. In the longer term, three other related concerns became apparent: upkeep of the Village, the future of the Village Center, and the community after the developer completes build-out. The deteriorating infrastructure is also of concern. In the short term, repair of infrastructure and improvement of trails appear to be of primary importance. Most Villagers are willing to contribute something toward problem solution, especially based on the specific issue at hand. However, approximately one quarter of residents had no interest in contributing.

Perceptions of FHA

The FHA is viewed favorably by approximately two-thirds of residents, though many of its activities are not fully recognized. The major source of displeasure, for those who do not believe the FHA is meeting their needs, deals with covenant enforcement. Other areas of displeasure are perceived lack of maintenance on trails, the tree canopy, and infrastructure. A lack of adequate communication was also noted. When asked what issue should be addressed first, wastewater management was selected, infrastructure also rated highly, as did trail maintenance and road safety. Many residents are concerned about individuals walking on roadways, despite the availability of trails. When asked about the potential for a dues increase to remediate these issues, the response was positive.

Feedback on The Gathering Place

The Gathering Place is a facility that serves as a meeting site for most organizations in Fearrington Village. It is used by two-thirds of residents, though use is variable from “often” to “hardly at all.” For most residents, The Gathering Place was found to meet their needs, though one in five found it inadequate. The inadequacies included shortcomings in technology, lack of room size, and lack of comfortable chairs. When asked what to do about The Gathering Place, over one in five residents were unsure, while another one in five said to do nothing. An additional one in five would like the existing structure to be modernized or expanded. There appears to be little interest in building a new structure.

Feedback on Walking Trails

One of the most popular features in Fearrington Village is the walking trails. More than 80% of respondents use the trails regularly. The trails are viewed as a major resource. Most people find them either fine, or useable but in need of maintenance. Forty percent of respondents feel that trail maintenance should be the responsibility of the FHA. Thirty-nine percent were unsure as to who should be responsible. There was notable support for an increase in FHA dues for trail maintenance. A majority of residents would like to have additional trails, mainly to provide more options for walking. There was broad support for policies that protect wildlife. However, several residents wish to have the deer population controlled. There was even greater support for policies to protect our tree canopy, which is rapidly aging.

Feedback on Communications

Communications within the Village is a topic of major interest. Most residents feel that FHA communication about issues and events is adequate, but roughly 40% feel either unsure about the quality of communication or found it inadequate. The FHA was cited as the major source of information about the Village, but neighbors and the Nextdoor online service also rated highly. The vehicle most cited as a source of information was the online FHA newsletter. Many residents also rely on the Directory. The FHA website appears to be under-utilized. The website meets the needs of two-thirds of respondents. For some, it appears that topics of interest are too hard to find, and the interface is not user-friendly.

You can find more details on the FHA website, where you can find the survey questions, a summary of responses to each question, and a more complete analysis of the results. Individual comments have been removed from the data file to preserve anonymity.

—Lifestyle Subcommittee of the Long-Range Planning Committee

Concerning the FHA Website

The FHA Community Survey found that almost 20% of village residents do not use the FHA website as a source of information, and fewer than 20% use it regularly. This is unfortunate, for the website is the most effective way for us to provide up-to-date information about important topics.

The most frequently used source for information is this newsletter. Proud as we are of the newsletter, however, it has some limitations. Anything you read here was written at least ten days ago, and it cannot be updated for another month.

But, if you are reading the HTML version of the newsletter online, you are in fact using the website right now! At the top of this page you may see a blue menu bar. This provides instant access to the features of the website. (If you are using a phone or other small device, you may not see the full menu; you should see a black bar labeled MENU. Tap the bar to see the full menu.)

On the left of the menu bar (or at the top of the menu on a phone) is a small picture featuring a Beltie. If you tap the picture it takes you to the website’s home page. (Please don’t do that yet, unless you know how to get back to the previous page—i.e., this page—in your web browser.)

At the top of the home page, you will see the most recently posted important information about village activities, whether it be information about Covid-19, FHA dues, or any other important topic. I can’t tell you what you will see, because I’m writing this at least ten days before you read it. But it is probably worth knowing.

In future issues of the newsletter, we’ll introduce you to some other features of the website that you may find useful or important. To access some of them it will be necessary to create an account with the website and log in. We’ll explain how to do that, too, though you can find out how on the website itself.

Happy browsing.

—Gordon Pitz (community@fhaboard.org)

Homeowners Dues, 2021

The new management company, Associa-HRW, is in the process of developing a system for handling homeowner dues. The process has gone slowly, as the company adapts to its new responsibilities.

Because of postal delays, many residents received dues statements for 2021 quite late, and some who received them have questions about how to pay the dues. One problem is that the letter sent out by the company did not indicate the amount of the dues. If you are still not sure, dues for 2021 are $179.

You should receive a second letter from Associa spelling out the options for payment. You will be able to pay through a bank draft, or by sending a check to Fearrington Homeowners Association, c/o HRW, P.O. Box 11904, Newark, NJ 07101. Be sure to include your account number on your check. If you do not provide the account number, your payment may not be processed correctly.

Your account number is provided on the dues statement. Or you may call 919-542-1603. The assistant manager will be happy to provide you with the number.

Because of the delay in mailing the 2021 dues invoices, no late charges will be assessed through February 2021.

If you have further questions, please send an email to customercare@hrw.net, or call 919-542-1603.

Whither Wastewater Management

Now that the interconnected wastewater system between Fearrington Village and Briar Chapel is no longer on the table, Fitch Creations, Inc., which owns and manages Fearrington Utilities, is once again managing our plant. We believe this is a good thing because our operator, John Poteat, knows what he is doing. As R.B. Fitch said, in the years prior to 2018 when we managed our own system, we received a total of three Notices of Violation (NOV). Once Envirolink took over we received many, many more. The Board also believes that billing will be much simpler. Fitch Utilities will bill for the entire year, and the rate will remain the same as it has been for the last three years. Those who prefer to pay over the course of the year will need to call to set that up.

You can also expect to see a lot of activity at the plant. First will be the smoke testing. You will soon be receiving a notice about this, if you have not already. Smoke testing will help determine whether extraneous flows might be entering the wastewater system, perhaps with rainwater getting into the pipes through failing joints, or holes caused by corrosion, or the invasion of tree roots. If you have plumbing upstairs in your house (toilet, shower, sink) that you haven’t used for a while, you could see smoke coming out of these pipes. Please don’t be alarmed; this is normal and not harmful in any way.

A bush hog contractor has also been hired to clear the area over the lines going from manhole to manhole throughout the community. It is expected that this work will begin within the next six months. It is important to keep vegetation from growing above the area of the pipes so that roots don’t infiltrate the system (see above). Also, we can access the system with vehicles and equipment when needed for testing, cleaning, emergencies, etc. Clearing has been done in Fearrington on a regular basis over the years, although it has not been done for a while.

Rose Krasnow and Fran Digiano met using Zoom with RB Fitch, Greg Fitch, and their engineer, John Phillips of Diehl and Phillips. They said they are hoping to completely rehab each of the three tanks by taking them offline one at a time. They will then sandblast the interior before recoating it. Since these are steel tanks, they believe this will extend the life for a considerable amount of time while keeping costs low. They also expect to replace corroded or failed metal pipes and wall sections within the plant itself, as needed, and to make some modifications that will enable them to remove nitrogen from the effluent. The plant currently operates under a 2011 permit that has no nitrogen reduction requirements, but they expect that will change in the future. We asked that they please look at ways to better control odor, which they thought they could do by increasing the size of the sludge holding tanks so that the sludge would not have to be removed as frequently.

We hope to work closely with them going forward so we can keep residents informed as to what to expect and when.

—Rose Krasnow (vp@fhaboard.org)

Fearrington State Roads in 2021

In early February I plan to compile a list of needed repairs such as potholes, cracks, and other issues on state roads in the village that could be a hazard to our residents. If you can identify such hazards, please email the problem with detailed locations to my email address, warrensailo@aol.com. I will then forward this list to the Chatham Highway Department.

I have requested that NCDOT schedule repainting of the lines on our major village roads and add turning arrows on the intersection of Village Way and 15-501. In addition, I will request that reflectors or some other guides be installed to assist drivers making the turn from 15/501 South into Village Way at night. During the past year, the county complained that they had no extra funds for repairs or improvements. Hopefully with the new administration in Washington, more funding for such repairs will be sent to our local municipalities.

—Warren Ort, Health, Safety, and Security Committee

A Note from the Director of Grounds and Landscaping

Photo by Jesse Fearrington

I want to thank all of the volunteers in Fearrington Village who help make my job easier. As a Board member, I took this job knowing that there would be duties and time commitments associated with the position. I am fortunate to have many in our community who help out with grounds. There are individuals who keep a lookout for any concerns and then notify me. There are the Trails Committee folks, headed up by Jim Fink, who maintain our walking paths, as well as the Green Scene volunteers headed up by Jason Welsch, who strive to keep our canopy in good health. Even our neighbors contribute by planting pollinator-friendly and native plants. As we look towards 2021 and plan for the future of our walking paths and of Beechmast Pond, I just want to thank you all for your contributions in the past and look forward to your continued support in the future.

The picture above is of the installation of a bench to replace the one near Village Way and Windstone. The bench was donated by Carol Kurtz and installed by Jason Welsch and Jim Fink.

—Jesse Fearrington (grounds@fhaboard.org)

Volunteers Corner

Welcome all volunteers!

I hope you all have been safely getting through this January. We are making progress on getting the Hospitality Center staffed, and we hope to be open partially by the beginning of March. If you are interested in helping there, meeting and making new friends, contact me. We still have a few spots open! If you call the number in the directory under Director, Community Affairs, you will reach my secretary (my wife) and she will pass on any messages to me. ?

We are already planning a shredding event at The Gathering Place this spring to help clear your house of documents needing to be safely disposed of. If you want some good outdoor exercise helping, contact me.

Several great suggestions on future events have been received, and feasibility studies are ongoing. Please contact us if you have an idea that you would like to see happen. Let’s work together to have an enviable social calendar as the Covid-19 crisis passes away. I look forward to hearing from you.

—Chris Jaeger, 919-451-9372, Director, Community Affairs (community@fhaboard.org)

Features

This Month’s Features

• The Light Brigade Rides Again 
• The “Great Conjunction”

 

 

The Light Brigade Rides Again

Story and Photos by Gordon Pitz

The “Light Cavalry” is the name given to the intrepid crew of volunteers who maintain our nature trails. The cavalry was summoned into action after Christmas when a large dead tree fell across the North Langdon nature trail, near the corner of Langdon and Millcroft.

The problem was more serious than simply blocking the trail, as the tree had fallen across a fence surrounding the Habitat Restoration Project. This is an area where invasive plant species are removed and indigenous vegetation encouraged. The fence serves to keep out deer, who find the native plants a tasty meal.

Hanging the Fence

The only casualty of the engagement

A first sally with chain saw as the primary weapon was led by Jim Fink, supported by Jason Welch and Maarten Simon-Thomas. Their attack restored access along the trail. A follow-up charge by Jim, Jason, and Maarten, accompanied by Helene Carlson, Bil Rosenfeld, and Gordon Pitz, completed the recovery project.

The dead tree had impaled itself on a fence post. Removing the post required some heavy bombardment with hacksaw and shovel. A new post was installed, a damaged cable supporting the fence was repaired, and the fence was re-hung. As a final step, Maarten installed a motion-sensitive camera to record wildlife in the area. The native plants are once again safe from hungry deer.

Installing a wildlife camera

Who knew a tree could cause such damage?

For examples of previous recordings from the area, and for more information about the North Langdon Trail and the Habitat Restoration Project, see this website. If you are unfamiliar with the area, it is well worth a visit, as it’s yet another example of Fearrington treasures that we can all enjoy, thanks to the tireless efforts of volunteers.

 

The “Great Conjunction” Draws Fearrington Stargazers Out on the Winter Solstice

Jackie Walters, Features Co-editor

A cold, crisp, clear December evening drew several dozen Fearrington residents out at sunset to witness the “Great Conjunction” of Saturn and Jupiter. With the closest degree of the two planets occurring so near to Christmas, this conjunction became popularly known as “the Christmas Star.”

Jupiter “pursuing” Saturn
Photo by Gordon Pitz

Astronomers define conjunctions as meetings of planets and other objects in the sky. Only the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, the two largest planets in the solar system, is referred to as a ‘great conjunction.’

Although Jupiter “pursued” Saturn all month, the orbits finally overtook each other on December 21, the Winter Solstice. Their closest alignment appeared just a tenth of a degree apart (or as NASA explained, “[A] pinkie finger at arm’s length will easily cover both planets”), but in reality, they were 456 million miles (734 million km) apart.

According to NASA, Saturn and Jupiter’s orbits align in the sky about every twenty years. So why was 2020’s great conjunction considered so unusual? The last time the planets passed as close together was 1623, and the most recent observable (i.e., in the night sky) alignment occurred in 1226.

Jupiter and Its Galilean Moons Closing in on Saturn
Photo by Gordon Pitz

Henry Throop, astronomer in the Planetary Science Division at NASA, explains: “Conjunctions like this could happen on any day of the year, depending on where the planets are in their orbits. The date of the conjunction is determined by the positions of Jupiter, Saturn, and the Earth in their paths around the Sun, while the date of the solstice is determined by the tilt of Earth’s axis. The solstice is the longest night of the year, so this rare coincidence will give people a great chance to go outside and see the solar system.”

Passing through Fearrington Village on the night of the Solstice, one would have seen sky watchers taking advantage of that great chance gathered along the fence line of the pasture near Galloway Ridge, in lawn chairs on the Village Green, or standing in streets and driveways.  With the right equipment, observers could see Jupiter’s four moons, Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, as well as Saturn’s ring, all discovered by Galileo in 1610. Since the planets were low in the southwest sky, the only obstacle would have been trees or buildings obscuring the horizon. Cameras ranging from phones to telephoto lenses captured the moment that brought neighbors together to witness what for most of us will be a once-in-a-lifetime event. 2020’s close Jupiter-Saturn conjunction won’t be matched again until March 15, 2080!

Announcements

Fearrington Groups and Organizations

Fearrington Democratic Club

The Democratic Club’s speaker on February 23, 7:00 pm will be Allison Riggs, Interim Executive Director of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice. Her topic will be “The Current Status and Future Prospects of Voting Rights in the South.” Ms. Riggs has litigated redistricting cases on behalf of State NAACP Conferences in Texas, Florida, Virginia, and North Carolina, and in 2019 she argued the North Carolina partisan gerrymandering case before the U.S. Supreme Court. She is an impressively knowledgeable and engaging speaker. Click here to register and get the Zoom link. (Please register as soon as possible; if your plans change, please cancel your registration so others may have a chance to join.)

Fearrington Genealogy Group

Tuesday, February 9, 3:00 pm, Zoom teleconference

Program details will be emailed to members around the first of February.
Newcomers welcome: Contact Linda Grimm at 919-533-6296 for details about participating in this event.

Fearrington Havurah

“Equal Justice in Chatham County” is the subject of the upcoming Zoom meeting of Fearrington Havurah on Tuesday, February 2, 2021, at 7:00 pm. Fearrington resident W. Robert (Bob) Pearson, retired Ambassador to Turkey, who currently serves as Co-Coordinator, Equal Justice Initiative Community Remembrance Coalition Chatham and Chair, Education Committee, NAACP Chatham Community (East) Branch, will be joined by Ms. Mary Nettles, President, Chatham Community NAACP Branch, Pittsboro and the Reverend Carl E. Thompson, former County Commissioner for Chatham County and Senior Pastor, Word of Life Christian Outreach Center in Silk Hope. Register in advance for this webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3Tywb4PiSHytWhn7vknetA

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. For more information, contact us at fearringtonhavurah@gmail.com.

Fearrington Republican Club

TO ALL FEARRINGTON REPUBLICANS and FELLOW CONSERVATIVES:

Please note that the Chatham County GOP will hold its REPUBLICAN PARTY CONVENTION on March 20. To be a voting participant, you must be a registered Republican no later than January 31, 2021.

At this time, the convention will probably be virtual. This is an opportunity to participate in electing our party leaders and approving a Chatham County Republican Platform. It is an important time. Your inputs are needed. Please stay tuned for more details as we approach the date.

We all wait for our vaccine to allow us to return to a normal program. When safe, the Fearrington Republican Club looks forward to you joining us at our monthly meetings.

Fearrington Swim & Croquet Club

Our virtual Annual Membership Meeting was held on Zoom January 31, 2021. Watch for information about our meeting in next month’s newsletter. 

In the meantime, pick a pretty day to get out on our croquet court for some fun. Ladies Croquet continues on Thursdays at 10 am.

Remember to save your cards. Cards are activated for the season when you rejoin.

Fearrington Village Singers

Choosing Music for a Concert
Thursday, February 25, 4 pm

Matt Fry, choral director of the Fearrington Village Singers, presents an hour-long Zoom program on how he puts together the music for the winter and spring FVS concerts. The FVS music committee puts together a wide selection of music from which Matt chooses. In addition to what he listens for, and how he orders the program, he will share the pros and cons of having others initially pick the music, as opposed to selecting it himself. Find the link to this Zoom program on fearringtonvillagesingers.org.

Women of Fearrington

Are you interested in joining Women of Fearrington, or have a new neighbor or other friend in Fearrington or Galloway Ridge who would be? We are hosting two Welcome Coffees on Zoom, Friday morning, Feb. 12, and Monday evening, March 1. Contact Jo Anne Rosenfeld or Barbara Fearrington for information.

The deadline for contributions to our 2021 Wonderful Options Fund is fast approaching. We hope that you will be able to donate soon if you have not done so already. WoF continues to use 100% of your contributions to fund this grant program. We appreciate your donations whether large or small. Please click here for a donation form and a list of our grantees for 2020.

Our Webinar will be “The Benefits of Movement for People with Arthritis,” presented by Dr. Leigh F. Callahan, UNC Professor of Medicine. Register here to get the link for Wednesday, February 17 at 1:30 pm.

Chatham County Agencies

Chatham Connecting

If the coronavirus doldrums have set in and you find yourself going stir-crazy, we have just the thing to disrupt boredom and offer a world of good to your local community. Check out the easy-to-use Chatham Connecting website, which lists more than 100 nonprofits in need of both volunteers and donations of all sorts. Filter by activity or interest. For example, help kids who are challenged with virtual learning through groups like Communities in Schools, the Chatham Education Foundation, and Kidscope. Volunteer with animal welfare agencies or even work on social media. There are opportunities for youth to get involved too. And of course, monetary donations are especially welcome, given that many organizations have had to cancel fundraising events due to Covid-related concerns. Whatever your interests, you’re sure to find a good fit—and whatever you can give will be greatly appreciated.

Chatham Literacy’s Unique Online Spring Author’s Event Involves Goats, Beauty and Excellent Writing

On April 20, from 11:00 am to 12:15 pm, Chatham Literacy presents Duke Professor and folklorist Tom Rankin and noted novelist Jill McCorkle to highlight their acclaimed book, Goat Light (vivid photography and stories about their Piedmont farm).

Registration starts Feb. 15. Tickets $100/person (includes prize opportunities); available at https:\\www.chathamliteracy.org or 919-742-0578.

United Way Campaign

The United Way of Chatham County concluded its annual campaign at the end of December, and we are pleased to announce that Fearrington raised $132,453 in donations, exceeding its goal of $128,000! Residential campaigns like Fearrington’s provide close to 80% of monies raised by the county’s campaign. These funds support numerous well-designed programs to help families, children and seniors improve their education, health and financial stability.

We are proud that Fearrington residents are exceptionally generous supporters of the United Way and extend our sincerest “thank you” to the many Fearringtonians who contributed to the annual campaign and to the United Way COVID-19 Relief Fund last spring. Our appreciation is also extended to those who volunteer their time and talent to United Way and other Chatham organizations, with special gratitude to our 2020 United Way neighborhood captains.

—Jack Zollinger, Galloway Ridge; Ruth Murphy and Ellen Shanahan, Fearrington Village

Sparking Possibilities for Your New Year Ahead

Fridays, February 5 and 12, 1:30 pm via Zoom

The new year promises to be filled with dips, bumps, and curves! You may find yourself feeling a bit muddled, disconnected, or even stuck, as you face the new year ahead.

Join us for the last two sessions of this three-part Zoom series to explore, clarify, and spark possibilities on your path forward in 2021. Over the course of these one-hour sessions, you’ll have the opportunity to rekindle your personal set of strengths and apply down-to-earth tips and tools for living your best life forward. Come to one or both!

Each individual lively session combines “lecturette” with time for guided self-reflection, fun exercises, and focused discussion. This course is taught by Vicki Field, who has designed and led a wide range of workshops in her professional life and as a resident here at Fearrington Village over the past seven years.

Foot Health and Common Foot Conditions

Thursday, February 11, 7:00 pm via Zoom

Pain and uncomfortable feet aren’t a natural part of growing old or something to “put up with.” A lot can be done to improve comfort, relieve pain, and maintain mobility. Most Americans will have walked 75,000 miles by the time they turn 50 (about 115,000 in a lifetime.) Many of us are walking more than ever during the pandemic. Dr. Katherine Williams, DPM, a podiatrist with the Chapel Hill office of Foot and Ankle Specialists of the Mid-Atlantic, will discuss a variety of foot problems and treatments. She will give tips to keep your aging feet healthy, including knowing how to select proper fitting footwear.

“Hear Ye… Hear Ye”

Thursday, February 25, 1:30 pm via Zoom

Dr. Stephanie Sjoblad, an audiologist with the UNC Medical Center’s Audiology Department, will speak on various aspects of auditory health and communication. She will discuss how best to communicate while wearing a mask, highlight resources that may be used with online communication, and cover other tips for communicating as one ages and loses hearing. There will be ample time for questions.

Dr. Sjoblad has provided hearing care services at Carolina Meadows for almost 20 years. She understands hearing loss in a unique way, having grown up as one of three siblings with congenital hearing loss. She has worn hearing aids since the age of six and received a cochlear implant in 2009. She now has bimodal hearing (one hearing aid and one cochlear implant). Dr. Sjoblad has been a member of the faculty at UNC-Chapel Hill since 1999 and the Clinic Director for the UNC Hearing and Communication Center since 2001. Her practice incorporates the most current research in audiology/communication.

Zoom Movement Classes, Support Groups, and Education Programs Links Are on Our Website www.fearringtoncares.org

Occasionally Zoom program IDs and passwords will change; if you have saved a link it may eventually become inactive. Use the links on our website for a quick, current connection to all Zoom programs. If you would like to practice a Zoom connection and meeting, email info@fearringtoncares.org and we will set that up.

Like to Socialize? Become a Fearrington Cares Ambassador!

Have you already broken some of your New Year’s resolutions? Here’s one well worth making and keeping: Resolve to help your neighbors by becoming a Fearrington Cares Ambassador; no diplomatic experience necessary.

Launched as a pilot project in 2016, the Fearrington Cares Ambassadors Program trained a group of volunteer residents to represent Fearrington Cares. When opportunities arose, the Ambassadors explained the various services and educational, health-related, and social programs offered by Fearrington Cares or referred Villagers with questions to the staff. The need for this program is even greater now because it can help Villagers cope with the various limitations on their lives imposed by the pandemic.

One of the many goals of the Fearrington Cares Board is to revitalize and expand the Ambassadors Program in 2021. To find out more about this program or to explore the possibility of becoming an Ambassador yourself, please contact Karen Metzguer, RN, Executive Director of Fearrington Cares, at 919-542-6877 (weekdays, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm) or at www.fearringtoncares.org.

You Can Be an Immediate Responder

Social psychologists have identified something called the “bystander effect.” When encountering an emergency situation, people who are alone will more likely take action than if they are in a group. This idea is still somewhat controversial, but what is not controversial is that if you identify someone who needs help, try to help them. You can be an Immediate Responder when our First Responders are minutes or longer away.

Fearrington Cares normally offers CPR classes at this time of year to help people be First Responders. Clearly, this is not a good option this year! However, you can still prepare yourself beforehand in order to help someone while 911 assistance is on the way. This is the true meaning of FIRST Aid. The Red Cross has a web site that describes necessary steps in providing this aid https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/first-aid/performing-first-aid/first-aid-steps. Please review the five steps outlined. Some of the links to CPR videos don’t work (a common web issue!), but there are detailed instructions linked here: https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr/performing-cpr/cpr-steps. While obviously not as good as hands-on experience, this information can provide an introduction to you and a refresher if you’ve already had a CPR course. And when life finally returns to normal, watch for Fearrington Cares CPR classes!

Protect Yourself with Smoke and CO Detectors

Installing and properly maintaining smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in your home can save your life. CO detectors are needed even in all-electric homes because CO can seep into the house from an attached garage or a backup generator that is used during a power outage.

Everyone knows that the backup batteries in smoke and CO detectors need to be replaced at least annually. However, many homeowners are not aware that both types of detectors have a limited lifetime. Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years; even if the test button on the alarm sounds when pressed, the sensors inside may no longer be able to detect smoke. CO detectors have an even shorter lifespan: they should be replaced every five years.

For more information on smoke detectors and CO detectors, consult the Consumer Reports buying guide: (https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/smoke-carbon-monoxide-detectors/buying-guide/index.htm).

Covid-19 and Vaccine Information

Fearrington Cares maintains a web site with county, state, and national information about the pandemic and the virus: fearringtoncares.org/resources/covid-19-coronavirus-current-information/. Vaccine information is changing frequently, so check the links on the website for the most current information.

Details on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Chatham County are online at https://www.chathamnc.org/services/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-vaccine. To be notified when it is your turn to receive a vaccination, click on the “COVID-19 V.I.T.” tool in the center of the page. After filling out the survey, you can choose to be placed on an email list to receive these notifications.

Open Part-Time Position at Fearrington Cares

Are you qualified and available to join a small, dynamic, mission-driven team and to work 20 hours/week? Fearrington Cares is hiring an Administrative Coordinator responsible for a portfolio that includes bookkeeping, database management, and communication functions for Fearrington Cares. The Administrative Coordinator maintains all financial records and documentation required for grants, ensures that revenues and expenditures are properly recorded and documented in a manner consistent with adopted fiscal policies, and supports the Board Treasurer. Additionally, the Administrative Coordinator coordinates Fearrington Cares communication and helps manage the facility. Download the complete job description from https://fearringtoncares.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Fearrington-Cares-_ADMIN-COORD_final.pdf.

Fearrington Directory Changes

Welcome to Our New Residents!

The following persons have been added to the Fearrington Village Directory between December 16 and January 15:

Are you a new resident? Be sure to register on our FHA community website. Doing so will give you full access to website features and allow you to be added to our resident directory. Log on to FearringtonFHA.org and on the top menu click on “Directory.” Then, in the drop-down menus click first on “New Resident” then “List Me in the Directory.”

Are you an existing resident whose contact information has changed? Don’t forget to update your listing on the FearringtonFHA.org web site. On the landing page, click on the Directory tab on the top menu and then on Update Preferences on the drop-down menu. When you update your contact information online, the updates will be included in the FHA Directory & Handbook printed in January each year. Stay in touch with your fellow residents by keeping your contact information current.

February 2021 Calendar

Fearrington Village clubs and groups will be meeting on these dates. Events are usually held at The Gathering Place unless stated otherwise. However, The Gathering Place is currently closed due to Covid-19 restrictions. Therefore, if you have questions, be sure to check with the person or web page listed in the “Contact” column for the most up-to-date information.