Thank Heavens for Fathers
/Family was everything to my father and he lived for us to be together. He promised us that one day we would thank him for his words of wisdom and family rules. He did it for love …. And I loved him for it.
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Family was everything to my father and he lived for us to be together. He promised us that one day we would thank him for his words of wisdom and family rules. He did it for love …. And I loved him for it.
Read MoreSpend just a couple of minutes chatting with John Wilkerson, Park Ranger for The Park at Flat Rock, and it’s impossible not to come away with one primary impression. He is a good guy. And, to the great benefit of the Village for the past three years, John has been the smiling face and affable presence welcoming thousands of visitors to one of the crown jewels of Flat Rock, NC.
Read MoreSince the early 1900s, thousands of children have packed their trunks for an annual pilgrimage to summer camps in North Carolina. Camps play a large role in Henderson County and the arrival of camp season draws many families to Flat Rock. Tucked away in the mountains of Western North Carolina are more than 70 summer camps. Flat Rock is home to some of the oldest ones.
Read MoreMeredith Ward started in the wine business long before she was old enough to purchase a bottle of her family’s signature Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards wine. A little over a decade later, she could not only legally purchase the product but also found herself managing the Saint Paul wine tasting room in Flat Rock, NC.
Read MoreFlat Rock artist Miriam Hughes is colorful in many ways. She is an artist known for whimsical and vibrant multicolored paintings. She wears bright clothes that complement her shock of wild and curly red hair. And Miriam has a commanding and colorful personality seldom constrained by norms.
Put all those elements together and you have an artist who adds a lot to the kaleidoscope of life in the Village.
Read More“For as long as I can remember just the lights going dark and the overture starting would make all the hairs on my arm stand up. It was like, ‘I don't know where I’m going, and I don't care. But I'm ready!’”
That magical feeling still keeps Lisa Bryant going, even during challenging times.
Read MoreMy mother was a genius! When other mothers were fighting the child-war on vegetables, she was working on strategies. Her quick wit coupled with her creative brilliance fed her “think outside of the box” tactics. Somehow my siblings and I did not die from eating these vegetables …
Read MoreWhile the adults provided the organization and the planning, the Cub Scouts clearly provided the energy and enthusiasm. Small but willing muscles excavated the holes for the new trees and then shoveled dirt and nutrients around the Park’s newest leafy residents.
Read MoreFlat Rock is home to many talented and successful individuals who’ve arrived in our Village with an impressive variety of skills, experiences, and perspectives. A defining characteristic of Flat Rock residents is a commitment to sharing time, talents, and resources with the greater community.
In recognition of National Volunteer Week, this week we recognize Flat Rock volunteers for the Council On Aging and celebrate their unselfish concern and tireless efforts on behalf of our neighbors who need a helping hand.
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The Vision Statement for Council on Aging for Henderson County is as simple as it is profound:
No one ages alone.
These four simple words are the driving vision of an organization that has focused on making Henderson County a better place for older adults since its inception in 1969.
Many people are familiar with the Council on Aging’s flagship program, Meals on Wheels, which serves older residents who are home-bound and have difficulty making nutritious meals on a regular basis. In addition, COA has programs providing support for caregivers and companionship for isolated seniors. It also operates the Sammy Williams Center which in non-pandemic times serves as a social hub for seniors and administers programs that provide supplemental nutrition and assistance with utility bills.
Dedicated volunteers make it possible for the Council on Aging to provide this level of support to hundreds of local seniors. Here are a few stories of Flat Rock volunteers that make the Council’s mission possible.
John Langston
John and Margaret Langston moved to Flat Rock from Davidson, NC in 2015. John’s wife, Margaret grew up in Flat Rock and still has family in the area. John spent 27 years working with Duke Energy and in the latter part of his career, he worked closely with special assistance agencies that were provided funds by Duke to help low-income customers pay utility bills.
When John and Margaret first purchased their home in Flat Rock, the house needed a lot of work, and one day one of their contractors pulled John aside and told him about Meals on Wheels. He also suggested that if he and Margaret ever had any extra food, they may want to share with their neighbor who was not always able to get enough food.
Touched by the contractor’s story, Margaret baked some cookies, and John walked them over to the neighbor’s house. “His eyes lit up,” recalls John. “After that, Margaret would periodically bake something and I would take the food next door That really helped us understand the impact of a program like Meals on Wheels.”
Armed with a first-hand experience of the benefit of a plate of food and a friendly smile, John contacted COA and was soon delivering meals provided by the food services at Pardee Hospital and Advent Health to about 12 Henderson County residents twice a month. And, as it turned out, the neighbor he and Margaret had been sharing food with was on John’s MOW delivery route. Frequently John’s deliveries are supplemented with some special treats baked by Margaret - a favorite with John’s contacts.
John particularly enjoys the connection he feels with the people he sees during the delivery process and considers them to be friends. “Oh gosh, yes. They become part of your heart. I really look forward to seeing them and checking to see how they are doing. It is really an amazingly diverse group of people.”
John was so pleased with his experience as a COA volunteer that he also volunteers once a week at the Council on Aging Thrift Store on Spartanburg Highway. “It’s a great organization and I’m glad I can help them help others.”
Chuck Kelsey
Chuck Kelsey has 30 years of experience as a healthcare consultant and executive. When his mother was encountering confusing questions about her Medicare coverage, Chuck took it upon himself to learn more and eventually became a certified Medicare Counselor for the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP).
Armed with the knowledge, the certification, and most importantly a heart for helping others, Chuck connected with COA and has been helping seniors navigate the maze of Medicare options facing new enrollees and long-time Medicare recipients considering new coverage options. Chuck has been a COA volunteer since 2013 and sees clients each week.
“The need is out there,” Chuck explains. “A lot of the people I see could not afford to pay someone to help them figure out all the options involved with Medicare. Many people only have social security as a source of income. I can also provide unbiased information - I’m not an insurance agent selling anything.”
Chuck enjoys being able to help people make informed decisions about Medicare and appreciates the relationship he develops with clients. “It’s rewarding to help people and then have them return year after year.”
David and Anne moved to Flat Rock after many years of living in northern Virginia. Anne worked as a librarian for the public school system and David spent many years as a staff member in the US Senate. His last 12 years were spent as Chief of Staff for United States Senator Carl Levin of Michigan.
When it came time to leave DC, David was intimately familiar with Henderson County as an option. His grandparents lived on Evans Road and every summer for the first 12 years of his life was spent here. Ironically, it was Anne who had to convince David that they should move to Flat Rock. “I had to drag him down here,” she says with a laugh. “But now that I’m here, I’m not leaving,” David is quick to add.
The couple had volunteered with Meals on Wheels in Arlington VA for nearly seven years and after the move to NC in 2019 they were quick to reach out to COA to continue their volunteer activities. Currently, they deliver meals once a week to approximately 12 homes in and around the Mountain Home community. And it is work they both enjoy and find rewarding. “It’s direct contact with people who need the help,” says David. “We both enjoy helping and a lot of the people we see wouldn’t be able to stay in their homes if it weren’t for Meals on Wheels.”
Anne really enjoys the people - and their pets. “They are really interesting and funny people. And they have some great dogs,” says Anne. Working as a team, David drives and Anne delivers food to the door. “The people are glad to see us,” explains David. “They are friendly. and generally don’t have much communication with other people. It feels good to check to see how people are doing from week to week.”
Both David and Anne have been very impressed with the Council on Aging and appreciate the opportunity to learn more about their new home. “They are extremely well organized and we’ve gotten to see a lot of the county that we would never have seen otherwise,” says Anne.
Keith Logan, Executive Director of the Council on Aging, knows firsthand how instrumental COA volunteers are to the success of the organization. “We simply could not serve 400 clients each week without a dedicated core of volunteers,” he explains. “They are integral to our success.” Ultimately, because of volunteers like John, Margaret, Chuck, Anne, and David, hundreds of Henderson County seniors enjoy a better quality of life and, as the Council’s Vision Statement imagines, do not have to age alone.
Thank you to them … and thank you to everyone who volunteers to help in Henderson County.
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If you are interested in learning more about the Council on Aging you can visit their website at coahc.org. There you will also find a place to make online donations and/or submit a volunteer application if you’d like to help out. They currently have roughly 150 volunteers but will need many more as they slowly return to their complete range of programs and services offered prior to the limitations necessitated by the pandemic.
Thanks to everyone who gives of their time and talents to make our community a better place for everyone. Your generosity enriches us all.
One would never expect to find an extensive collection of stained glass from early 20th century Detroit, Michigan in Flat Rock, NC. Until that is, you meet the very unconventional John Fundukian and experience his passion and enthusiasm for his amazing collection. Then it all makes perfect sense.
Read MoreDavid Lawrence Dethero came to Flat Rock in 1971 by way of a family friend, I’on Lowndes. He was born and raised in Cleveland, Tennessee, where I’on also resided and worked with the Park Service. The two were members of St. Luke Episcopal Church and began chatting one day about places to live and opportunities to buy land. I’on’s family had a long history with Flat Rock, NC, and he recommended David give Flat Rock a try – so he did.
Read MoreTucked inside the beautiful community of Highland Lake in Flat Rock, NC lies The Garden Hamlet, a charming neighborhood made up of permanent residents and vacationers, all surrounding a large pasture.
Inside the pasture lives The Hamlet Herd.
Read MoreSandy Hunter Jones was born with a needle and thread in her hand. When Sandy was only three, her mother spotted her mending Elfie, her stuffed elephant. This young creative prodigy had remarkable dexterity, and she in time developed a lifelong passion for smocking and heirloom sewing. Her story here …
Read MoreIn December of 2003, Howard Molton was delivering a Christmas gift at WTZQ when he ran into local radio legend, Frank “Hollywood” Johnson. At that time, Hollywood was manager of the Skyland Arts Cinema in Downtown Hendersonville and Howard told him how much he and his wife Barbara loved the cinema. He casually added that he would enjoy doing something like that someday. Hollywood suggested he call the owner and inquire about the possibility of buying the theater…
Read MoreTim Jones reflects on the difficulties of the past year and the promise of a new beginning as discovered in his search for the earliest wildflowers on the forest floor.
Read MoreThe Highland Lake Inn & Resort is known today as one of the Southeast’s premier resort destinations. But its history extends back over 230 years to the earliest European settlers in western North Carolina.
Read MoreActors often tell stories of the “big break” that altered the course of their lives and careers. Stories typically involve one last casting call before giving up on their dream, or a chance meeting while struggling to make ends meet as a waiter at a local bistro. For Flat Rock Playhouse Vagabond legend, Scott Treadway, his big moment transpired in a place familiar to anyone that’s ever been to the Playhouse - during the organized chaos of Playhouse parking.
Read MoreWhen I was in the first grade, I volunteered my mother to be in charge of our class Valentine Party. She was clever and creative – holidays and parties were her forte. They brought to the surface a breed of woman not to be believed …
A Valentine’s Day story from Missy Izard Schenck
Read MoreAs the original group of about 50 former slaves traveled northward through Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina, news of their crusade spread, and their numbers grew to about 200 people. Upon reaching S.C., the entourage met with freed slaves who spoke of families from the “Lowcountry” who made annual pilgrimages to the high country where miles of uninhabited mountain wilderness existed. Led by a dream, the caravan of former slaves set out on the Buncombe Turnpike for North Carolina — the possible end to their questing pilgrimage.
Their quest was to take them to an intersection in history with the family of John Davis, one of Henderson County’s earliest settlers.
In a few short weeks, spring will arrive once again at the Carl Sandburg Home here in Flat Rock. Forsythia will begin blooming on the bushes near the house. Daffodils will dance in the grass, and baby goats will start emerging from the barn sporting jaunty colorful sweaters. We can thank Lilian Steichen, Carl’s wife, for this annual spring treat.
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