24 Sep FHA Newsletter: October 2021
FEARRINGTON HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION
October 2021 Volume 40 Number 9
President’s Message
Small-Town America
Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in. —Robert Frost, The Hired Man
Don’t you just dread it when someone starts a story with the words “I was born and raised”? People can be so tiresome.
Anyway, as you know, I was born and raised in a small, rural town in southeastern Ohio. It was just normal that neighbors took care of each other, and older family members needing care moved in with family. The town council members were just other neighbors.
Unfortunately, the economics of life for most of us meant living our adult lives in cities where some of those old, small-town values seemed quaint; family members now lived a distance from each other, and those old folks needing help became residents of “elder-care facilities” or nursing homes. City life became the norm.
But then, when considering retirement, many of us choose to move across the country to a small town called Fearrington Village. Here, neighbors help each other, and we call on some of them to form our town council (aka the FHA). Even the toughest of us long-term city dwellers feel comforted by the cows, the village center, and the landscape.
Some refer to the village as a “bubble” because this part of Chatham County is developing all around us in different ways. Our bubble is a repository of highly educated people with an amazing variety of skills. Even though we came here to retire, we can assist in maintaining or improving life in our village, thereby keeping costs as low as possible. Volunteers shoulder much of the hard work in both the FHA and Fearrington Cares.
As the county develops, our talent base must not only manage affairs in our bubble but also work with external groups and government officials to ensure that the developments do not adversely affect life here.
I could go on and on about examples of village talent meeting those needs, but here are some key examples:
- Rose Krasnow has brought skills in city government and urban planning to bear on village problems like wastewater management. She also works with county and state officials to address problems that result from the increasing density of populated areas surrounding our village.
- Jesse Fearrington has also been heavily involved in these complex issues, and his understanding of all the rules governing such projects is invaluable.
- Improving communications within the village has been a goal. You will be seeing a new website soon, thanks to Gordon Pitz, who has brought you this new and improved newsletter.
This year, three FHA board members will leave, and other neighbors have stepped forward to take their places. Fearrington Cares also has some new board members.
Board members and volunteers are neighbors helping neighbors. FHA has annual dues that are very low. Fearrington Cares depends on your opening your wallets, since it depends on our contributions to help us all.
Taking on any of these roles involves not just the demands on a person’s time. It often entails taking the heat for decisions that must be made. What would we do if good people did not step forward to take these busy and sometimes stressful roles? So, when you hear of an opening on boards or the many committees, please just step forward. You do not want to see what happens if you do not.
Oh, and if you want details on my growing-up years, just invite me for coffee. I promise to go on for hours.
Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go. —Oscar Wilde
From Our FHA Board
- News from the Vice President
- 2021 FHA Annual Meeting and Elections
- Changes in the FHA Website
- Considerate Dog Walkers
- 3-in-1 Shredding Event
- Road Repairs, 2021-2022
- Fearrington Streetlights
News from the Vice President: Congruus CCO Proposal and LongRange Planning Committee
Development Update
Last month, I reported that the Chatham County Board of Commissioners (BOC) was going to hold a public hearing on a proposal by Congruus LLC to extend the boundaries of the compact community map. The extension would include all their property, which is situated on the west side of 15-501 and stretches from Morris Road to Andrews Store Road and back to Parker Herndon. At that meeting, several people, including me, gave testimony that primarily focused on the assertion by Congruus that they planned to manage their wastewater by connecting to either the Briar Chapel Plant or the Fearrington Village Plant. Given the lack of notice that either community received, Commissioner Hales moved that the BOC bring the matter back in September, but that motion failed by a vote of 3–2. As a result, the proposal was sent to the Planning Board (PB). On September 7, the PB held its public hearing on the Congruus proposal. The hearing was held virtually. Two people from Fearrington Village (FV) (Rose Krasnow and Vickie Shea) spoke, and many residents submitted testimony to the PB before the meeting. (Thank you all.) At the end of the hearing, the commissioners voted 9–1 to table the motion because they had concerns about the impacts of such a development on already overstressed infrastructure in this area, namely wastewater and roads. (The dissenting voter was ready to turn down the application that night.) The next PB meeting will be held Tuesday, October 5.Although the applicant has not submitted their development plan yet, we know they are hoping to build over 1,000 residences. Fortunately, Fitch Utilities has indicated that they have no interest in accepting the wastewater from this proposed community, which is located outside of their service area.
A group of residents continues to meet to determine the best strategy to take in preparation for the next PB meeting. We will post information on the FV website as to how others can help. However, it is important to note that the PB only makes a recommendation to the BOC. The BOC does not have to accept their recommendation. I should also mention that the PB did recommend approval of a request to expand the compact community map to include 101 acres for the proposed Vickers Village. That development would be located on the east side of 15-501 along Jack Bennett Road and would include a maximum of 203 homes, including a mix of townhouses, single-family homes, and possible residential condos over retail.
LRPC Update
Last month, we let you know that the Long-Range Planning Committee (LRPC) received the final report from the Paths and Trails Committee. At the September meeting, the Village Attractiveness and Renewal Team presented their report. Their mission was “To retain and enhance the unique character and appearance of individual neighborhoods and Fearrington Village as a whole.”
FHA Board Members
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 .
| Officers: | |
| President: | Carl Angel |
| Vice President: | Rose Krasnow |
| Interim Secretary: | Pam Bailey |
| Treasurer: | Tony Daniels |
| Directors: | |
| Communications: | Gordon Pitz |
| Community Affairs: | Pam Bailey |
| Covenants: | Eric Frank |
| Grounds and Landscaping: | Jesse Fearrington |
| Health, Safety and Security: | Warren Ort |
| Infrastructure and Facilities: | Mark Haslam |
The Belted Gazette
Newsletter Staff: | |
| Jan Kowal | Production Editor |
| Ann Melchior | Manager |
| Jenny Walker | Assistant Manager |
| Deborah Repplier | Features Editor, Copy Editor; & Proofreader |
| Jackie Walters | Features Editor, Copy Editor; & Proofreader |
| Leslie Palmer | Graphic Designer & Photo Editor |
| Gordon Pitz | Tech Advisor; FHA Advisor |
Printing and Distribution: | |
| Carol Kurtz | Barbara Amago |
This Month's Contributors: | |
| Carl Angel | Matthew Leavitt |
| Carolyn & John Boyle | Tad McArdle |
| Ric Frank | Rose Krasnow |
| Chatham County Historical Association | Warren Ort |
Submissions:
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? Email us at the above address and we will send you the Newsletter Guidelines.
The Belted Gazette is produced by the Fearrington Homeowners Association (FHA), by and for the residents of Fearrington Village in Pittsboro, NC.
The Belted Gazette contains community news, reports from the FHA Board members, items of interest to residents, and announcements of club and neighborhood activities.
The Belted Gazette is published electronically eleven 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).
To this end, the community was divided into ten areas of similar size, and members were assigned to conduct walk-through assessments of each of these areas. (No individual homes or properties were included in this survey.) The group then categorized the concerns into groups, including: 1) safety, 2) maintenance/repair, 3) signage, 4) landscaping, and 5) areas controlled by Fitch Creations. LRPC members were very impressed with the report and agreed it was ready to be sent on to the FHA Board for discussion and action. Reports from The Gathering Place Team and the Aging in our Community Team are expected by the end of the year. Once all this information has been gathered, the FHA will seek to come up with an action plan that fits within our budget, benefits the maximum number of residents, improves the image of Fearrington Village, and enhances our property values. Successful implementation will require many new volunteers to step up to assist in realizing the plan’s goals.
2021 FHA Annual Meeting and Elections
Once again, given the Covid-19 surge caused by the Delta variant, the FHA Board has decided to hold our 2021 annual meeting via Zoom. This meeting will be held on Sunday, November 21, from 4 to 6 pm. Information about registering will be sent out via email closer to the date. Ballots will be distributed by our block contacts to every homeowner (or mailed to those who reside someplace else). This year you will need to return your completed ballot by Friday, November 19, so we can count them and announce the results at the annual meeting. You may either drop the ballot into the box that will be outside The Gathering Place or mail it to The Gathering Place, 599 Fearrington Post, Pittsboro, NC 27312. As in previous years, only one vote per lot owner and address is allowed.
For those of you who are new to the community, please know the FHA Board consists of ten members who serve staggered, two-year terms. Our nominating committee has met several times to put together a good slate of candidates for the coming year. Their bios appear below. A sample ballot will be available in the November issue of this newsletter and online. We encourage residents to nominate others to the ballot. According to our bylaws, this may be done by getting the approval of a candidate and having a minimum of 20 residents sign a petition for nomination. The petition must be sent to president@fhaboard.org and received by October 15, so that a final ballot may be created and distributed during the last week in October.
Our FHA Board supports the candidates listed on the ballot and believes they will make good additions to our board. Your vote is important! Please vote so we may obtain a quorum and add these volunteer candidates to our vacant positions on the board and the nominating committee.
Candidate Biographies
President:
Rose Krasnow and her husband, Steve, moved to Fearrington Village after spending 39 years in Rockville, Maryland, where Rose managed her homeowner’s association for 17 years. She also served two terms on the Rockville City Council and three terms as mayor. She then became the deputy director of the Montgomery County Planning Department.
Rose has served as vice president of the FHA Board for the past two years. She agreed to head up the Wastewater Management Task Force when it became apparent that sending FV’s wastewater to Briar Chapel was not a good idea. She also leads the Long-Term Planning Committee and serves on both the nominating and finance committees.
Vice President:
Amy Ghiloni moved to the Historic District in Fearrington with her husband, Phil, in 2017 from Ohio. They have a son and daughter-in-law living in Durham and a daughter, son-in-law, and 2 grandchildren in Raleigh. Professionally, Amy is an active realtor with RE/MAX United, covering the entire Triangle area. She has been an agent with RE/MAX since 2005.
She brings with her many years of experience serving in different capacities on various boards. Some of those include president of a chapter of Saint Vincent de Paul, chairperson of the Community Service Committee for the County Board of Realtors and vice president of the County Board of Realtors
She is looking forward to involvement in our FHA.
Director of Communications:
Anthony (Tony) Carroll moved to The Woods in Fearrington Village in May 2019, following his retirement from Dentons US in New York City, where he practiced corporate and mergers and acquisitions law. He has also acted as counsel to several private and public foundations. Since relocating to FV, he has audited several UNC history courses, played some tennis, and during the past election he became involved in researching and disseminating information concerning voting by mail. He graduated from Harvard College (AB English 1974) and Harvard Law School (1979).
Director of Grounds:
Zachary Traywick was born in Raleigh. After seven years in New Delhi, he attended elementary school in Apex before moving to Quito, Ecuador, in 1969. He has been coming to Fearrington to visit his father Jack since 1989 and lived here for 16 months ten years ago before moving back to Creekwood permanently earlier this year.
Zachary is a trained agronomist with 30 years’ experience in landscape management, having been employed in resorts, wineries, private estates, and colleges. Zachary is fluent in Spanish and enjoys travel, bicycling, and hiking. He is an avid reader.
Nominating Committee (vote for two):
Steve Gambino was born and raised in southern New Jersey and worked in the Philadelphia area retail music industry, including five years as a business owner. In 1985 he moved to western Massachusetts and began a 35- year career in operations and management accounting, including construction, retail, and manufacturing. Steve and his wife, Tracy, have been married for 36 years and also lived in New Castle, Delaware, before retiring to the Historic District of Fearrington Village in 2018 where they currently live, trying to keep up with two cats and their “mature” house. Steve has served on the finance committee of the HOA, has a lifelong passion for music, and collects live concert recordings.
Stephen Stewart has lived in Fearrington Village for the past 11 years. Before moving to Fearrington, he earned a doctor of public health degree in epidemiology and served as an academic department head and associate dean at a university in Virginia. He also served as a consultant to various US Government Departments and to the United Nations. Since retiring to Fearrington, Steve has served on the board and as president of Fearrington Cares. He is a member of the FHA Long-Range Planning Committee and is on two committees for the local health department.
Individuals currently filling the FHA positions of secretary, treasurer, director of covenants, director of community affairs, director of infrastructure & facilities, and director of health, safety & security will continue in their roles this year.
Changes in the FHA Website: Progress Report
Work on a redesign of the FHA website, www.fearringtonfha.com, began in July, and is on track for completion in another month or two. Jim Brooking, the current volunteer webmaster, has been managing the site for ten years, creating a variety of functions requested by the board or by residents. Jim has spent his time and energy enhancing and maintaining the website, installing updates, protecting the site against hackers, and correcting errors. Understandably, Jim would now like to pass on these responsibilities to someone else.
It is unrealistic to expect that we can find volunteers in Fearrington with the skills and the free time needed to take Jim’s place. For this reason, the FHA board decided to seek professional help from outside the village. After soliciting proposals for a revision of the current site that would be easier to maintain, we engaged Chatham Fullstack, a website development company in Pittsboro that has helped a number of local non-profits.
We have been working with their lead developer, Sarah Pohlig, to create a site based on the WordPress web management system. WordPress is a widely used system for websites and is relatively easy to maintain. Sarah has been working closely with Jim Brooking to ensure that the capabilities of the current website can be migrated to a WordPress system.
A committee made up of Tony Carroll, Chris Kaman, and me has been working with Sarah to design a website that is both attractive and functional. All of the features offered by the current site will be available, together with some enhancements. The directory data base has been imported into the new WordPress site, and a routine for generating the printed Directory & Handbook is functional. Sarah has been developing a calendar that will integrate information about events in The Gathering Place, Fearrington Cares programs, and other village events. Tony Carroll has been working with FHA clubs to make sure their material can be adapted to the new website. We have designed a layout for the website, and a number of test users have been evaluating it for comprehensiveness and ease of use.
When this process is closer to completion, we will announce a date on which the old site will be replaced by the new one. The address for the site will be unchanged, and we hope to make the transition as smooth as possible. It appears that users will be able to retain their current usernames and passwords, so the launch should occur seamlessly.
The website draws on material from many sources—members of the FHA Board, the editors of The Belted Gazette, village clubs and other organizations, and individual residents. This is a perfect time to review what is available on the website now and consider ways in which its usefulness might be enhanced.
Once the new website is up and running, we will need help maintaining it and creating new content. If you have some background in website operations, especially if you are familiar with WordPress, we would appreciate hearing from you. Even if you know nothing about WordPress, if you are comfortable working with a word processor such as Word, you can probably learn enough to create pages for the website. Sarah will provide training for those who would be willing to learn. If you are interested, please let us know. Write to me at communications@fhaboard.org, using “Help with website” in the subject line.
Considerate Dog Walkers
Consideration: Careful thought, typically over a period of time. Most dogs in the village, like their owners and walkers, are friendly towards people and other dogs. Most residents of the village like dogs. But when you are off-property with your pet, please keep in mind that interactions between dogs and people can quickly become frightening. There is a Fearrington Village covenant requiring that dogs be on a leash, but simple rules are no substitute for thoughtful judgment. Of course, you want to restrain from your dog from frightening other dogs or your fellow walkers, but please be aware all the time of the potential for unfortunate incidents. The FHA Board thanks you for your consideration.3-IN-1 SHREDDING EVENT
Saturday, October 16
9 am – 12 noon
The Gathering Place Parking Lot
Shred Documents
Dispose of Prescription Drugs
Have Fire Extinguishers Checked
MASKS REQUIRED DURING EVENT
Sponsored by Fearrington Green Scene
Road Repairs, 2021-2022
Justin Bullock, county maintenance engineer, has provided a detailed map showing which state roads in Fearrington Village are scheduled for resurfacing during the next year. The map is based on the village map found in The Directory. The project is to be completed by June 30, 2022. The roads to be repaired are marked in blue. You may notice that most of the village roads scheduled for repair are located in the Historic District. These were the first roads built in the village and are in most need of repair. We regret there will be some disruption for some residents during construction, but all residents will benefit from better and safer roads when construction is complete. If you have any questions please contact Warren Ort, healthsafetysecurity@fhaboard.org.
Fearrington Streetlights: Let Their Lights Shine
From time to time a streetlight in Fearrington Village may stop working. As the sun begins to set earlier, and the days grow shorter, this can be a growing hazard for pedestrians, cyclists, and even automobiles. Duke Energy will usually not repair a light unless they have been notified of the problem. There should be a five- or six-digit letter/number ID clearly visible on a lamp post. If you should notice a streetlight that is not working properly, make a note of that number if you can. Note also the street, and the number of any nearby house. Please report this information to Kathy Wood, Associa HRW, in the FHA management office. Contact the office at 919-542-1603 or send an email to kwood@hrw.net.This Month’s Features
Many of you knew Matthew Leavitt for the energy and support he gave to the many clubs and organizations he was involved in within the village—Fearrington Green Scene, Havurah, Artist Studios at Fearrington Village, Fearrington Friends of the Arts—to name a few. We knew him as a friend; an ardent documentarian of local demonstrations, rallies, and marches for social justice; and for his passion for nature photography.
Gimme Shelter!
Where Abused & Neglected Animals in Our Area Have Found Peace, Love, & Even Happiness Article and Photography by Tad McArdle
(This is part 2 of an article in last month’s The Belted Gazette.)
Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge
Just 5 miles outside of Pittsboro is the 45-acre Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge, founded in 2013 by Lenore Braford, whom I interviewed there one recent afternoon. Piedmont provides lifetime shelter for abandoned or neglected sheep, goats, ducks, geese, turkeys, chickens, and eventually—with some recently acquired acreage—cows and pigs. At the start of the tour, Lenore showed me a new multi-purpose pavilion overlooking a large open area, which is used for fundraising efforts.
We proceeded to a little customized barn, where a dozen or so sheep ran up to the fence. Sheep can keep as many as 50 faces in their memory banks. Since I hadn’t yet been entered therein, these sheep came close but wouldn’t let me pat their lovely heads. We moved on to the goats in a building with vertical climbing shelves. (All the Piedmont architecture is tailored to species’ preferences.) Sadly, several goats had had their horns removed by breeders, but they all now seemed contented. Bailey, who had sharp-looking horns, let me stroke between them. Todd, originally found wandering the streets of Raleigh, was contentedly munching his preferred brand of hay (Bermuda, alfalfa). We slipped out the gate and moved on to a little forested area where a flock of chickens, supervised by Carter, a big white rooster from NYC, ducked in and out of the bushes, perhaps in tribute to the old days when their small red or grey jungle fowl ancestors romped in the rain forests of southeast Asia, hidden from aerial predators. Piedmont has six different areas in the chicken house, as chickens are very particular about their diet and their associates.
Domesticated birds have many more health problems than mammals; overbreeding is the culprit. Piedmont has clinic spaces and quarantine spaces to deal with these issues, using vets they have worked with for years.
In the chicken house I met Black Bear the turkey, who is gloriously extroverted; male turkeys can show interest in people by extending their “snood”—the pinkish thing normally seen just above the bill, but which can on occasion hang down several inches—a turkey compliment.
I noticed CDs on top of several fence posts. “We use these guys for hawk protection,” said Lenore. Apparently, the predatory birds’ incredible eyesight works against them in this case; reflected sunbeams from way below freak out the hawks, and the chickens can go about their business. And of course, the roosters’ job is to establish protective dominance over their own area, so they just keep crowing all day long, keeping the hens safe and rival roosters away.
She showed me the duck ponds, where 26 waterfowl are grouped mostly by social preference, with occasional transfers based on careful observation. Beyond one duck pond I noticed a few geese, characterized by Lenore as “antisocial…don’t expect them to come close.” Lenore’s husband and refuge architect, Paul Drake, designed cantilever porches that stick out over the water, so waterfowl can start their days by running out and jumping in.
All in all, Piedmont Farm appears to provide a wonderful respite for beleaguered animals from country and city alike, with buildings and surroundings designed to mimic as closely as possible their preferred habitats. To contribute or volunteer, visit http://piedmontrefuge.org/.
Paws4ever
Paws4ever, which is near Mebane (https://paws4ever.org/), works with local shelters; its tagline is “Adopt, Care, Train,” and it functions as a safe haven for abandoned and mistreated dogs and cats by providing medical care and adoption services.
When you arrive, the first building you see is the Adoption Center, where I met Development and Communications Associate Emily Albert, and intern Avery Fletcher. I learned that Paws4ever takes in dogs and cats from local shelters, which often lack the resources to provide medical services, and gives them comfortable living spaces until a suitable home can be found.
Pictured here is the larger of two impressive training centers where certified professional dog trainer Susan Spinks runs individual and group training classes, which she hopes will fill clients and their pets with energy and optimism. Paws4ever also does manners training, to “help them transition into their adoptive home.” A well-timed canine or feline high-five can smooth the path to adoption.
Speaking of comfortable living spaces, there are three feline “community rooms” with shelves for perching—Moo Moo and Roman were obviously curious about their new visitor when I stopped in. These rooms are carefully designed to encourage cats and kittens to climb and play with their pals. Emily says they “try to group cats together that get along or have similar needs.”
As for dogs, they have a separate kennel area, with indoor and outdoor spaces so they have room to play outside in big fields throughout the day. Tony, one of rescued pups, was very anxious to lick my face. Volunteers, in addition to walking and playing with the dogs outside, will spend time on rainy days in the kennel with them, playing manners games, etc., which helps the pooches stay calm.
BeWild
If you want to meet and greet some exotic members of a former worldwide aristocracy whose reign lasted a mere 270 million years, I’ve got just the place for you: BeWild Reptile Rescue, located in Durham about a half-hour’s drive from Fearrington. I recently interviewed Nicole D’Avignon, president of the board, and AJ Hallatt, vice president, and was taken on an enchanting tour of their facility. In the first room we visited, I learned from Nicole that all the animals in the room were “ambassador animals.” In other words, they are trained to accept up-close encounters with humans, not necessarily with physical contact but near enough to give people a window into their world, increasing empathy with some very different forms of life.
As the tour began, I easily survived my first encounter with a caged but charming beaded lizard named Raina. According to Nicole, “Venomous lizards are a really different ball game from venomous snakes. They’re much slower moving. Still, we handle Rena with long Kevlar gloves and a hook; we don’t plan on ever being bit. They are carnivores, so we feed Rena thawed frozen chicks, mice, small rats, and a raw egg every once in a while.” Nearby were two Aldabra tortoises, Mustard and Acorn, both of whom love to be “shell-scratched,” and both of whom could live to be 200 years old, weighing 500+ lbs.
Nicole and AJ kept introducing me to more exotics. I met a crested gecko, whose name was Noumea; I met Taro the Chinese water dragon, who is one of their best ambassadors. I met Sansa, a female ball python who’s up for adoption and “needs a big cage.” At only 5-feet long, Sansa is too small to pose a threat to humans. According to AJ, “If she wraps around your neck, just move her to your shoulders. She’s just trying not to fall and break her ribs.”
Nicole and AJ often rescue animals that have been neglected or abused. In the rescue room they prepare these animals for adoption. Their vet bills are very high, last year exceeding $11,000. They said “people don’t always recognize the signs of pain or distress in a reptile,” the way they would with a dog or cat. BeWild often gets calls about non-native animals that people find outside, or on their porch. Accidental escapes? Sadly, no. The creatures are never claimed. Recently they got a call from someone wanting to surrender an animal, with the message that if BeWild didn’t take it, they were going to put it outside.
BeWild has 40 volunteers at present; Nicole and AJ are happy with the team, who are trained to keep elaborate records of diets, cleaning schedules, medications, etc., in case animal-control agents stop by. BeWild’s calendar is getting quite full with people stopping by for adoptions, surrenders, visits, and donations. To find out how to help, visit https://www.bewildnc.org/.
Additional Resources
Independent Animal Rescue (https://animalrescue.net/), which every year, according to their president, Alan Dow, finds foster homes for approximately 700 cats and 240 dogs and hires local and mobile vets to spay and neuter animals whose owners can’t afford that service.
Orange County Animal Services (http://www.orangecountyanimalservicesfl.net/), which as their website notes, “serves as the county’s only open admission pet shelter, which means no animal in need is ever turned away….”
Note: All of our local animal rescue groups and shelters have struggled during Covid-19, experiencing decreased funding, fewer volunteers, and now, as people return to onsite work, an influx of animals not coping well with being left alone all day. If you’re looking for ways to help, consider volunteering, donating, or providing items designated on the “wish lists” that many organizations have. And of course, you can always welcome a companion animal into your heart and home.
A native of rural western Pennsylvania, Tad McArdle has lived in Fearrington since 2010 and lives happily with his wife, Mary Roodkowsky, on North Langdon. Tad’s interests include writing, golf, the poetry of Emily Dickinson and Wallace Stevens, physical fitness, Latin and African percussion, and providing quick and simple solutions to the major problems facing humanity (any suggestions?).
Food Trucks Continue to Deliver Delicious Takeout Experiences
With favorable feedback and a growing appetite for dining options, our Fearrington food truck schedule is being planned and confirmed for the months ahead. We will be welcoming back some of our favorites—Cousins Maine Lobster, Las Gringas, and Gussy’s Greek Truck—as well as introducing some new palatable possibilities! For the complete schedule and online ordering options, visit and bookmark our neighborhood hotspot page at www.streetfoodfinder.com/fearringtonvillage. This is also a place where you can leave feedback for the truck when they do a great job (or not). As we continue to enjoy this convenient and appetizing amenity in our community, please keep in mind the following:- Online ordering is not required but may reduce your wait time. Walk-up orders are always welcome.
- Cousins Maine Lobster has its own special app for pre-ordering available from the App Store or Google Play. If they have a lunch scheduled for the same day, pre-ordering won’t open until 3 pm.
- Food truck fare is not permitted in the Village Center, so please pick up your meal at The Gathering Place and enjoy it at home—perhaps planning a fall picnic on your porch or patio!
This Month’s Puzzler
Question & Photo Submitted by Chatham Historical Association
October Puzzler: In what Chatham County town can you find this old mansion?
September Puzzler: Before it became a garage, this structure was an important Chatham County building. What was it?
Answer: This building was the old Chatham Court House. When Pittsborough was founded in 1787 and a courthouse was built on the town square, this old courthouse was moved half a mile to Hillsboro Street. Businesses used it until 1929, when a fire demolished all the frame buildings on the west side of the street.
NOTE: The spellings used here for Pittsboro and Hillsborough are correct for 1787!
This Month’s Announcements
Fearrington Clubs & Organizations
Kiosk Courtesy
A number of club officials have expressed concern about the way club posters have been hung in the kiosks. If you need space for your club’s poster, please be courteous and do not cover or move another group’s poster to an obscure location.
Fearrington Bulls & Bears Investment Club
The Fearrington Bulls & Bears Investment Club is a group that is interested in improving our investment knowledge and capabilities. We do this through managing a small portfolio of stocks, making buy-and-sell decisions, and monitoring the US stock markets and trends. We meet monthly during non-summer months and share information, insights, and ideas about investing with fellow members.- Kiosk Courtesy
- Fearrington Bulls & Bears Club
- Fearrington Concert Series
- Fearrington Democratic Club
- Fearrington Dog Club
- Fearrington Dragons Mah Jongg
- Fearrington Duplicate Bridge
- Fearrington Friends of Duke
- Fearrington Garden Club
- Fearrington Genealogy Group
- Fearrington Golf Club
- Fearrington Green Scene
- Fearrington Knit Blitz
- Fearrington Pickleball Club
- Fearrington Swim & Croquet Club
- Women of Fearrington
- Community Agencies
- Chatham Connecting
Fearrington Concert Series
The Fearrington Concert Series continues to offer a variety of chamber music for your listening enjoyment. The second concert of the season features the extraordinary talents of pianist Fred Moyer, who continues to delight our audiences with his repertoire of classical and jazz classics. Please join us at The Gathering Place on Sunday, October 10, at 3:00 pm, for this delightful performance that is sure to please. The Gathering Place requires all attendees to wear masks; we hope all attendees will be fully vaccinated. Seats will be spaced for additional safety. A full subscription to our six-concert series is available for $100 per person, or individual tickets may be purchased at the door for $20 per person on a space-available basis. For more information, please contact Nina Alperin at 919-545-9011 or Barbara Hummel-Rossi at 516-864-4023 or Barbara.hummel.rossi@nyu.edu.
Fearrington Democratic Club
How did so many modern American cities, towns, and developments come to be segregated by race? The Democratic Club’s speaker on October 26 at 7 pm will be Prof. Ted Shaw, who is the director of the UNC Center for Civil Rights and a distinguished professor at the UNC School of Law. He will speak on the topic of “Race and Real Estate”—the historical and legal underpinnings of racially segregated housing in the US. To register and get the Zoom link, please use this link. This event will also be recorded and posted on the club’s website: Fearrington Democratic Club – Welcome Page (fearringtondems.org).
Fearrington Dog Club
The Fearrington Dog Club is postponing the launch of its new club until COVID restrictions at The Gathering Place are lifted. So, please erase the October 20 meeting from your calendar and watch for future announcements here in The Belted Gazette. Our first meeting, whenever it is, will feature a talk on fun ways to exercise your dog’s body and mind. Stay tuned and stay well.
Fearrington Dragons Mah Jongg
“The Dragons Are Ready to Play!!” The Fearrington Mah Jongg Dragons play on the second Saturday of the month, October 9, at The Gathering Place, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm, provided that The Gathering Place is continuing to be open to Fearrington groups. We play under their guidelines, which means limiting the number of players to 50 and requiring all participants to wear a mask. (Read the policy..)
Contact Mary Donna Pond at mdpond@nc.rr.com to reserve your place. Because of the 50-player limit, it is important to cancel if you discover you are not able to play so someone else can take your spot. Annual dues of $25.00 are still being collected at the October game. Drinks and snacks will be provided! May the jokers be ever in your favor!!
Contact Robin Weinberger at weinrob@msn.com or 919-219-5228 or Polly Williams at pw82550@gmail.com or 919-478-4260 if you have any questions.
Want to learn how to play? Contact Mary Donna Pond at mdpond@nc.rr.com.
Fearrington Duplicate Bridge Club
“Take a Detour from the Ordinary: Play Bridge.” This month join us for just such an opportunity EVERY Wednesday in October. Play starts at 1 pm at The Gathering Place. The first time is free; after that, players pay $7 to defray costs. Our director, John Torrey, keeps us honest, and hand records are available. If you have any questions, please contact Jean Hjelle, 919-548-6216.
Fearrington Friends of Duke
Reluctantly, we’ve decided not to continue with our plan to gather October 1 due to the level of the Delta variant in our area. We hope that conditions will improve so that we can resume our usual activities later in the year.
Fearrington Garden Club
For our October gathering, we’re touring the beautiful Montrose Garden in Hillsborough. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the grounds include several 19th-century buildings, a rock garden, scree garden, extensive woodland plantings, and large areas of sunny gardens with unique color and planting schemes. Unusual trees and trellises, fences, and arbors, designed and constructed by a local artist, enhance the gardens.
Our hour-long tours take place on October 11 and October 13 at 10:00 am and cost $15 per person. Each tour is limited to 20 people and will fill on a first-come, first-served basis. If you would like to join us, please email Debbie Liebtag: dliebtag50@gmail.com. Parking is limited, so carpooling is strongly encouraged.
A selection of plants, produced on the property, is available for purchase at the end of each tour, along with copies of Montrose founder Nancy Goodwin’s book, Montrose: Life in A Garden.
Fearrington Genealogy Group
Tuesday, October 12, 3:00 pm, Zoom teleconference on “Chatham County Heritage and Genealogy: Facts and Sources” presented by local genealogist Jim Davis. Contact: Linda T. Grimm, 919-533-6296 Newcomers are welcome.
Fearrington Golf Club
The Fearrington Golf Club (FGC) is a great way to develop new golfing friends and to play a variety of courses within a 60-mile radius. The FGC is open to players of all ages and skill levels. Outing schedules and sign-ups are done through our easy-to-use website. As always, we strive to keep our commitment to promoting fun and safety, maintaining a smooth pace of play, and allowing our members to enjoy the game of golf. Please consider joining us as a new member. For more information and an application for membership, please contact Brian Wong, Membership Chair, at bwong5705@gmail.com.
Fearrington Green Scene
After taking time off for the summer months, and since the world is still turning, and the environment is still very much in need, the Green Scene will resume in-person meetings beginning Wednesday, October 13, from 11:00 am till noon. We will meet—with masks—in The Gathering Place. OR—if the weather cooperates—we will grab some chairs and convene outside. Please come dressed for that possibility.
Our first agenda item will be crystallizing plans for the Saturday, October 16, “3-in-1” Event, which will take place in The Gathering Place parking lot from 9:00 am till noon. As most of you know, it is an opportunity for Fearrington residents to shred unwanted documents, have their fire extinguishers checked out, and dispose of unwanted medications.
We will also review the status of our wastewater-treatment facility, including some developments concerning proposals before the Chatham County Board of Commissioners about possible neighboring wastewater-treatment facilities.
There is also significant community interest in the status of the Beechmast Pond project as well as the Paths and Trails Committee. We will try to assemble current information on those topics for discussion.
All are welcome!
Fearrington Knit Blitz
Do You Knit? Crochet?
In 2013 a group of dedicated knitters created a colorful Knit Blitz along the Creekwood Trail, followed by a second installation in the Village Center. Both whimsical projects caught the eye and brought smiles to viewers.
We have been given approval by RB Fitch to use a corner piece of Jenny’s Park property to do another Knit Blitz. If you are interested in signing on for a repeat project, work will take place during the coming winter with a spring target date for installation. Drawings will be provided for consideration, but inspiration from others is very welcome. If enough people are interested, we will have a meeting in late October. This is something that is pure fun…and don’t we all need a dose of that?!
Interested? Questions? Contact Carol Kurtz, 919/542-3582, McKurtz1322@gmail.com.
Fearrington Pickleball Club
We are holding our fourth and final pickleball clinic this year on Saturday, October 2, to introduce residents to this popular sport. Paddles and balls will be provided. Wear athletic shoes and attire. Suntan lotion and liquid refreshment encouraged. Covid vaccinations required. No advance registration needed; just show up.
Meet at the FV tennis courts on Saturday, October 2, 2021, (rain date: Monday, October 4) at 1 pm, 2 pm, or 3 pm. (Take Creekwood off Village Way and go left on Benchmark to end.)
Questions? Contact Mike Eberling (m7meber@aol.com) or Art Gonzales (artgon@verizon.net).
Fearrington Swim & Croquet Club
The pool season is over, but club activities continue. The upper lawn, cabana, and croquet court are available year-round. Here are our croquet plans for the fall:
Jeff Soo, Internationally Known Croquet Player
Plans are underway for Jeff Soo to be here Tuesday, October 19! The day will include individual and group lessons and demonstrations. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to participate in this special activity.
Wednesday Wine and Wickets
Most Wednesdays will start with John May coaching up to eight members. It’s a great opportunity to learn and improve. If you like, bring a snack and your beverage of choice (no glass). We’ll rotate play and enjoy the company of other players on our beautiful court.
First Sundays
First Sunday organized play is scheduled for November and December. Players sign up the day before and receive an email Sunday morning with their scheduled time to play.
Thursday Morning Ladies Day
Play starts at 9 am in the summer and moves to 10 am in the fall.
Fall Croquet Ladder
Ladder play is a great way to get together with other players at a time that fits your schedule.
Court News
Two practice wickets have been added in the out-of-bounds area to help save wear on the main court. Wickets on the main court will be reset in late September. Sand is available in the bin for players to repair divots.
Contact Jan Droke at jantomdro@gmail.com to be added to the croquet email list.
Women of Fearrington
All women new to Fearrington Village or Galloway Ridge and who are interested in learning about the village and meeting other newcomers are invited to sign up for our “Welcome to Fearrington” coffees, currently being held outdoors. Please pass the word to your new neighbors! Small groups will be scheduled monthly from October through May. To be placed on our invitation list for future coffees, please contact Jan Jan Cope-Kasten, 920-573-2910.
Join us for a walk along the Eno River in Hillsborough, led by Kate West, on Thursday, October 28, 10 am to noon. Riverwalk is an easy trail with well-maintained paths, informational markers, and scenic overlooks. This will be followed by an optional lunch at Antonia’s Restaurant.
Have you renewed your membership yet? If not, please take a moment to do so. Click here for a membership form.
Please visit www.womenoffearrington.org for up-to-date information and registration forms. All our events are subject to government guidelines for health and safety.
Community Agencies
Chatham Connecting
Fall is one of the most beautiful seasons in Chatham County and a good time to think about your neighbors who need help in every season. Chatham Connecting, chathamconnecting.org, lists over 100 non-profits and government agencies serving the county and supporting those in the community who struggle to put food on the table, educate their children, and care for the aged. The list of organizations and their needs is diverse, and the ways you can help include volunteering, donating goods, or financial support. For example, CORA and Chatham County Schools seek to feed all students this school year. This effort needs volunteers, and you can register your interest at www.corafoodpantry.org. Donations are needed by educational non-profits such as Chatham Literacy, Communities in Schools, and The Learning Trail. The Chatham County Council on Aging seeks activity books such as large-print crossword puzzles and other supplies for seniors sheltering in place. The Chatham Historical Association, chathamhistory.org, seeks volunteers to prepare historical documents and pictures for digitalization in the state archives. Work on this program can be done with masks and social distancing. Check our website for information about the non-profit of your choice to learn more. We connect those who need help with those who can help.
The News You’ve All Been Waiting For!
Not that winning lottery number! But Fearrington Cares has a newly revamped website. The site is now much easier to navigate, contains many more photos, and has streamlined text. Check out the education programs, support groups, movement classes, our helpful vendor list, and a new feature called Fearrington Faces.Fearrington Cares material is edited by their staff and volunteers. Direct comments or questions to them at (919) 542-6877 or info@fearringtoncares.org. Carolyn & John Boyle, editors
- The News You’ve All Been Waiting For!
- Ethical Decision-Making at the End of Life
- Is Your Home an “Accessible-Place”?
- Hospital at Home…
- New! Cancer Support Group
- Movement Classes
- Support Groups via Zoom
- Health Services/Support Groups
- Support Groups in person
- Bricks for the Patio
- Knox HomeBox
- Medicare Open Enrollment
- In-Home Vaccination Hotline
Continuing Series: Ethical Decision-Making at the End of Life
The first session in this four-part series explored the ethical and legal context for end-of-life decision-making, from foundational “right to choose” cases that brought bioethics into public awareness in the 1970s, to the present-day landscape related to medical aid in dying (sometimes referred to as “assisted suicide”). Also included was a discussion of the limits of our choice mechanisms and the distress that can occur at the hospital bedside when patient preferences have not been communicated in advance. Session 2 continues those topics. In the last two sessions of the series, we will build on this background by supporting participants in articulating their values for care at end of life and exploring the range of available options for translating those values into purposeful advance care plans.
Session 2: Medical Aid in Dying (MAID): Lessons Learned from Vermont and Elsewhere
Thursday, October 21, 7:00 pm (NOTE: Third Thursday) via Zoom
Mara Buchbinder, PhD, is a professor in the UNC Department of Social Medicine and a core faculty member in the UNC Center for Bioethics. Her presentation will cover:- Current legal landscape of medical aid in dying in the US.
- Stories from clinicians and patients in Vermont—and how they stray from the dominant public narratives about assisted death.
- Broader takeaway lessons about choice, control, and the privilege of planning.
Session 3: Death and Dying: Isn’t It Time We Talked?
Thursday, November 11, 7:00 pm (Zoom or in person to be determined.)
Deb Love, JD, MBA, MA (bioethics), an adjunct assistant professor in the UNC Department of Social Medicine, and Mara Buchbinder will provide a joint session covering:- Personal nature of values and preferences.
- Clarifying your values.
- Considerations in selecting your healthcare agent; understanding the North Carolina statutory hierarchy for decision-makers in the event you do not choose.
- Beginning the conversation with your loved ones.
Session 4: Helping Others Know and Honor Your Wishes
Thursday, December 9, 7:00 pm (Zoom or in person to be determined.)
Deb Love will complete our series by discussing:- Advance directives and portable medical orders—benefits and limitations.
- Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking (VSED).
- Dementia advance directives.
- Differences between palliative care and hospice.
- End-of-life doulas.
Is Your Home an “Accessible-Place”?
Tuesday, October 12, 7:00 pm via Zoom
If you are contemplating how well your home will serve you as a supportive environment for aging in community, come learn from your neighbor, Doug Zabor, a certified aging-in-place specialist. Doug has combined the best references and designed an assessment that will benefit any homeowner interested in an accessible home. Recent clients commented, “Thanks for your recent aging-in-place assessment of our home. We appreciated your professionalism and the fact that you went just deep enough into the most important issues without getting us too lost in the details. We thought you asked all the right questions and we found your recommendations very helpful.” From looking carefully at your primary entrance to the placement of stability bars, this comprehensive home assessment will help identify critical areas of focus to support your goals. Note: This program is a repeat of the program presented on September 14.Hospital at Home…Would You Be a Candidate?
Thursday, October 28, 1:00 pm via Zoom
UNC Health Care program leaders, Dr. Meera Udayakumar and Ila Mapp, RN, MSN, will present a new program that will be offered at the UNC Medical Center and Hillsborough Hospital. The program, which is in partnership with the Boston-based Medically Home Group, will identify patients needing acute-care level of service that can be provided by UNC staff in the patient’s home. Patients who qualify may have Covid-19, heart failure, COPD, pneumonia, or infections that require some monitoring, or require other services currently available only in an inpatient setting. Please join us to learn more about this aspect of care that UNC Health will provide.New at Fearrington Cares: Cancer Support Group
Fearrington Cares will offer a new support group this fall designed to help people cope with a cancer diagnosis by providing a safe environment to share experiences and learn together while supporting each other. Three meetings are planned. In addition to our October 26 session, we will also meet on November 9 and December 14. Attendees will help design future meetings. If you or a loved one are living with a cancer diagnosis and are interested in attending, we welcome you to join us. Questions? Call Karen at 919-542-6877.Movement Classes at the Fearrington Cares Center
Mondays—Chair Yoga (via Zoom)
Wednesdays—Otago Fall-Prevention Exercises (via Zoom) (No class October 13.)
Thursdays—Line Dancing in person; attendees must be fully vaccinated. (No class October 7.)
Support Groups via Zoom www.fearringtoncares.org
Caregiver Support Group: Wednesdays, October 6, 20; 1:00 pm.
Living with Chronic Conditions: Thursdays, October 7, 21; 1:00 pm.
Health Services Offered at the Fearrington Cares Center (9:00 am—12:00 pm, Monday—Friday)
Nurse Consultation: Walk-in clinic open for fully vaccinated residents. Appointment required for unvaccinated residents; call 919-542-6877.
Foot Clinic: Thursday, October 21; appointment required; call 919-542-6877.
Support Groups Meeting in Person at the Fearrington Cares Center
Alcoholics Anonymous: Mondays 10:00 am.
Brainiacs Memory Café: Every Wednesday, 10:00 am.
Parkinson’s Group: Tuesdays, October 5, 19; 1:30 pm.
Cancer Support Group: Tuesday, October 26; 1:30-3:00 pm.
Bricks for the Patio
2021 orders by October 15
As an ongoing fundraiser, Fearrington Cares is offering 4”x8” engraved personalized bricks; these will be placed in our patio every November. A brick can include your own name or be in memory or honor of another individual. You choose your own text, up to 3 lines, 20 characters per line. To order a brick, pick up an order form at the Fearrington Cares Center or download it from fearringtoncares.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/fearrington-order-form-1.pdf. Complete the form, attach a check for $125.00 made out to Fearrington Cares, and either (1) mail it to Fearrington Cares, 2020 Fearrington Post, Pittsboro, NC 27312, (2) bring it to the center, or (3) drop it off in our Fearrington Cares box at the Swim and Croquet mail kiosk. The last order date for 2021 is October 15; all orders MUST BE PREPAID.Knox HomeBox
Emergency responders have access to your home in an emergency if you install a Knox Box. To view and order the product, visit knoxbox.com/home. Call the center, 919-542-6877, for more information.Medicare Open Enrollment
October 15 to December 7
Open enrollment is a great time to evaluate your Medicare coverage and make sure it’s still the best choice for your needs. You can use the Medicare open enrollment window to make changes to your Medicare plan, including:- enrolling in Medicare Advantage.
- enrolling in a Medicare Part D plan.
- switching back to original Medicare from Medicare Advantage.
In-Home Vaccination Hotline for People with Limited Mobility
North Carolina has set up an at-home vaccination hotline for people with limited mobility. The NC Department of Health and Human Services has partnered with the Piedmont Triad Regional Council Area Agency on Aging to provide free COVID-19 vaccinations to people who cannot leave their homes. Caregivers, providers, and individuals across North Carolina can schedule an in-home vaccination by calling 866-303-0026.
Welcome to Our New Residents!
The following new villagers were added to the Fearrington Village Directory between August 15 and September 14. Want to reach out to your new neighbor? You will find their contact information on our community webpage: FearringtonFHA.org (click on Find People under the Directory tab).| Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Catharine Gilliam Burns & Dr. W. Woodrow (Wood) Burns, Jr. | 8 Yancey (1045) |
| Loretta Cook & Pat Skiver | 28 Swim and Croquet (2020) |
| Henry C. (Rock) Curlee III & Nancy Locke Curlee | 4124 The Knolls Close |
| Sandra Deschamps | 13 Yancey (1042) |
| Elizabeth Joy (Joy) & John R. Dibble | 4502 Tyrrell |
| Carolyn Edmonds | 414 Brampton Close |
| Carolyn & Neal Harrell | 43 Caswell Sidewalk (1212) |
| Susan Mantz | 259 Clover Thatch |
| Roger Jerry (Jerry) Rosenblum | A-107 A Wing |
| Gayle P. Van Velsor | 4607 Montgomery |
Are you a new resident? To register your information in The Directory, visit the FHA website at https://fearringtonfha.org. From the top menu choose Directory, then, in the drop-down menu, click on New Resident, then List Me in the Directory. Fill in the resulting form with your information.
Then, to obtain full access to website features, you must also create a website account (available only to residents and non-resident owners). Return to the website’s homepage and find the words Login Form in the left column. Click Create an Account, and follow the instructions. You can read about the account activation process here.
Are you an existing resident whose contact information has changed? Don’t forget to update your listing on the http://www.fearringtonfha.org website. 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 Fearrington Village Directory & Handbook printed in January each year. Stay in touch with your fellow residents by keeping your contact information current.
October 2021 Calendar
Effective August 10, 2021: Due to rising infections and the unvaccinated, individuals using The Gathering Place must wear a mask when inside the building, whether or not they have been vaccinated. This is in keeping with CDC guidelines. If a club does not follow the rules, it will lose its use of the facility. Group leaders may decide whether to require their members to be vaccinated. Check the FHA webpage (http://www.fearringtonfha.org) for any updates to this policy.| Day/Date/Time | Organization | Event | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday October 2 1 – 4 pm (Rain date: Monday, Oct. 4) | Pickleball Club | Orientation Clinic FV Tennis Courts | Art Gonzales 301-807-5074 artgon@verizon.net |
| Friday October 8 10 am | Bulls & Bears Investment Club | Monthly Meeting via Zoom | Anna Shearer 703-217-0322 ashearer1219@gmail.com |
| Sunday October 10 3 pm | Fearrington Concert Series | Fred Moyer, Pianist The Gathering Place | Nina Alperin 919-545-9011 Barbara Hummel-Rossi 516-864-4023 Barbara.hummel.rossi@nyu.edu |
| Tuesday October 12 3 pm | Genealogy Group | Zoom Presentation “Chatham Heritage & Genealogy” | Linda T. Grimm 919-533-6296 |
| Wednesday October 20 1:30 pm | Women of Fearrington | WoF General Meeting: Our Grantees Report Zoom meeting | Adrienne Lallo 512-619-1365 |
| Tuesday October 26 7 pm | Democratic Club | Zoom Meeting Speaker “Race & Real Estate” | Cheri DeRosia 919-923-4506 cheri_derosia@hotmail.com |
| Thursday October 28 10 am – 12 noon | Women of Fearrington | Road Trip: Riverwalk in Hillsborough, Optional lunch at Antonia’s | Mif Flaharty 808-234-0008 |
| Meeting Weekly in October | |||
| Every Wednesday 1 pm | Duplicate Bridge Club | Duplicate Bridge The Gathering Place | Jean Hjelle 919-548-6216 jeanshjelle@gmail.com |