GATEWAY HOLLER September 2013 GATEWAY MOUNTAIN PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION POA CONTACT INFORMATION 5717 Bat Cave Road Old Fort, NC 28762 828-668-7878 Fax 828-668-0240 E-mail [email protected] Web Site www.gmpoa.org Office Manager: Darlene Nolen DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS IN THIS ISSUE MOUNTAIN VIEWS 2 EVENTS COMMITTEE 5 FIREWISE STATUS 6 SAFETY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE 7 ROADS, ROADS, ROADS 8 MAINTENANCE COMMITTEE 9 LANDSCAPE COMMITTEE 9 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE 10 CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING 12 WELCOME NEW NEIGHBORS (New since July) Bruce Gruber Director and President John Evans 7 Director and Vice-President Dave and Linda Fritz – Mitchell View Dr. David and Linda Holtzinger – Skyline Drive Carlos Barnes Director OWNERSHIP AND CONSTRUCTION UPDATE George Holland Director Dave Gilhart Director Garry Kepley Treasurer Homes Completed Homes Being Constructed Number of Class A Members Number of lots owned by Class A Members Number of lots in Gateway Arlene Wells Secretary PUBLICATION COMMITTEE CHAIRS Adjudicatory Panel Architectural Review Budget and Finance Events Firewise Landscape Maintenance Roads Security and Safety Web Site 20/20 Vision Andy Bunch Arlene Wells Garry Kepley Betsy Fritz Michelle Middleton Sue Anson/Kathleen Osborne-Gruber Wayne Mullis Hal Scheidler Arlene Wells/ Hal Scheidler Garry Kepley Karen Scheidler GATEWAY HOLLER – September 2013 180 2 430 695 803 Page 1 The GATEWAY HOLLER is published five times per year by the Gateway Mountain Property Owners Association. The closing date for copy and photos for the next issue is December 1. The December issue will be posted on the POA web site and e-mailed to members who subscribe via the POA website. Submit all copy and photos to editor Garry Kepley ([email protected]). Please submit articles in Microsoft Word format. Photos should be in JPG format and no larger than 100 KB in size. The content, views or opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Gateway Mountain Property Owners Association or the editor. MOUNTAIN VIEWS by Marcella Murphy Our mountain community is filled with a wide variety of animals, plants and insects. This Mountain Views article contains the largest number of stories and pictures ever submitted from our neighbors on Gateway Mountain. Thanks to all who contributed to make this an interesting piece. There have been many reports of a young bear, probably in the one year old range, around the Crimson Road and Mitchell View Drive areas. People have seen the bear alone, without its mother and some are concerned about its wellbeing. Tom Pericak took this picture of it heading to raid his garden on the morning of August 17. He says, “Bonnie noticed this cub eating our lettuce this morning. She's a bit worried because she thinks it is skinny and the mother is not around.” Karen Scheidler submitted this beautiful picture of a young bear in her flower garden on Promontory Point on August 20 and shares, ”We have seen evidence of bears but not actually sighted a bear. This cutie appeared three times in one day. This picture is of his mid-day visit as he/she was checking out the flowers. The bear sat there for quite a while looking around and then left. The third visit we failed to get a picture which was disappointing because the bear stood up and we realized it wasn’t quite so little, about 5'. All this was viewed from our deck. I can't believe how cute they are. No sign of mama though.” When I closely compare Tom and Karen’s pictures, I can see a little hole in the bear’s ear indicating it’s the same animal. Matt Murphy’s wildlife camera captured a movie of what appears to be the same bear at his home on Mitchell View Drive on August 13 at 10:13 am. This still shot is from the movie which shows the bear sniffing around near the house and then ambling down the garden path. No mother in sight this time either. Tim Periard reported seeing the young bear on Crimson Road one morning in August. There have also been reports on Crimson Drive and in our own yard of what we believe is evidence of a bear digging up ground bee hives. The digging in our yard actually helped us identify a huge underground nest which was still active even after being dug up. We were wondering what was killing the bush planted on top of the nest and now we know it was the bees. Bear paw prints were observed near the Crimson Road dig site by Tom and Bonnie. GATEWAY HOLLER – September 2013 Page 2 During that same mid-August timeframe, Lynn Cohan tells about a bear destroying a small Weber grill left on their deck while she and Ron were on vacation. She said the bear walked right up on the deck and left paw prints in the oil on the deck from the ruined grill. It also tore up a garbage can containing fertilizer. If the baby is alone, it may not have all of the skills to find food on its own. I hope it will be alright. On the other side of Gateway Mountain, Loren Barrios of Mulberry Road shares another bear report and photo. She writes, “On July 15, two of my sisters and I saw a mama bear and one cub go across our property. We were on our deck, pointing in awe. The mother bear must have heard or smelled us and stopped and stared. Scared me! They walked across Mulberry and went into the woods. I called my husband back in Louisiana and as I was telling him what we saw, a second baby bear came across our yard! I did manage to get this photo.” Gerald Hamrick of Wild Cherry shared the following picture and even though it is dark, he took a shot at identifying the animal. He reports, “This picture was taken by one of our game cameras that is mounted in front area of home. Prior to that night early August, the camera captured a coyote, black bear and some turkeys all in a two week period.” I suggested to Gerald it might be a bobcat since the size cannot be determined, the tail cannot be seen and the ears might be pointed. Gerald replied, “We feel that the contouring of the head and body represents that of a mountain lion/cougar and not that of a bobcat. We are now anxiously awaiting picture capture of Bigfoot!” We will let the readers decide for themselves! Mark O’Connor has had his share of wildlife sightings this summer and is good enough to share them with us. From his home on Chestnut Drive on August 25 he writes, “It has been very active in our field this past few nights. This morning at 7 am I went out to walk the dog and there was a coyote in the field. My wife and house guests all watched it. I got some pictures with my camera but our game camera got the best one.” GATEWAY HOLLER – September 2013 Page 3 Mark also had another great sighting while driving on August 22 at 7 pm. He says, “I saw this young bear right at the intersection of McKenzie Way North [where the] signs read 2000 and 3000 and Kents Trail. I first saw it on 2000 as I was driving. I stopped the truck, grabbed my phone and got out to take the pictures. It went through the little knoll between 2000 and 3000. The picture is it crossing 3000. It was beautiful, dark shiny black fur and distinct tan muzzle.” I have to wonder if that bear is the same little loner seen on Crimson and Mitchell View. He also reports a rare sighting. “Back on Monday, May 20, Larry Anson and I were heading back from playing golf and we saw a red wolf on Mackenzie Way South close to the picnic lake area. It crossed the road about 100’ in front of us and then went up the embankment and just stood there looking at us. I didn’t get a picture. It was larger and leaner than my 85 lb. German Shepherd.” Mark said that he also heard a wolf-like howl and shares, “The howl was not a coyote which is higher pitched and yippy, this was a deeper sounding howl. It only howled twice and woke us both up.” Since there was no picture, I asked Mark if he was sure about the red wolf. Research shows that red wolves were declared extinct in the wild in 1980. Due to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Red Wolf Recovery Program, breeding and releasing the offspring of captive pairs, about 100 red wolves roam their native habitats in northeastern North Carolina, and nearly 200 red wolves are maintained in captive breeding facilities throughout the United States. As the red wolf population declined they did breed with dogs and coyotes. These hybrid animals could exist here, but only captive breeding has preserved genetically pure red wolves. Pictures to support the existence of any of these animals would be most welcome. If anyone can prove the existence of a red wolf on Gateway Mountain, it would be important information to share with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Red Wolf Recovery Program. Another interesting encounter happened on May 23. Mark explains, “Larry and I were heading down Gateway Parkway and we saw a coyote with a beautiful coat, bushy tail, probably well fed, heading across the road and into the woods by the house with the red metal roof just down from the Anson’s. It too stopped and stared at us before jumping into the woods. I saw another that week when I was hiking down Wild Cherry on the way to the lake just before that large house and property, could have been the same one. Mark, thanks for those great reports and pictures. Dave Fritz of Mitchell View Drive took this picture at his home on Mitchell View Drive on July 22. He shares, “While I was moving some of the firewood I’ve cut up, this little guy was “hiding” under the pile. As always, I have no idea what it is other than looking like a black toad!” GATEWAY HOLLER – September 2013 Page 4 Mike and Nancy Cowal shot these pictures shot on July 15 on Mitchell View Drive near an outdoor light. They identified them as uncommon silk moths. The orange one is a regal moth and the yellow one is a royal imperial moth. They are both very beautiful and big, with wingspans of up to 6”. Tom Pericak had great luck capturing these pictures of grey foxes on his motion cam. Tom shares, “The first picture taken on June 19 is a baby and the second one taken on June 21 is mom grooming a baby. Typically gray foxes will have a litter of 4 or 5 but we have only seen 2 kits at once on the camera.” That last picture is one of the most moving I have ever seen and shows that humans are not alone in caring for each other. EVENTS COMMITTEE by Betsy Fritz The Events Committee is again up and running. We are pleased to present our members: Betsy Fritz - Chair, Cathy Evans – Secretary, Arlene Wells – Liaison, Bonnie Simmons, Karen Scheidler, and Sue Anson. Our next event will be the fall picnic on Saturday, October 19, at 12:00 noon. It will be held at Waterfall Park on Standing Rock Rd. Dave Gilhart will again be providing burgers and dogs for this event. Please bring a dish to pass. Also be sure to mark your calendars for the upcoming holiday party on Saturday, December 14th, 5:30 pm, at the home of Mike and Betsy Fritz, 126 Mulberry Drive. More info will be forthcoming closer to the actual date. GATEWAY HOLLER – September 2013 Page 5 FIREWISE STATUS by Michelle Middleton The Firewise Committee had its initial meeting on August 24, 2013 and set a very ambitious agenda. GMPOA members will be hearing a lot about Firewise and upcoming activities and projects over the next few months. We want to raise GMPOA awareness of Firewise and its benefits to our mountain community. The Firewise Committee will be communicating through the Holler, e-Bulletins, hard copy postings, word of mouth and smoke signals. On second thought, probably not smoke signals. The NC Forest Service performed a FireWise audit of Gateway Mountain in 2008 that identified 2/3 of our homes as being at extreme risk of wildfire. Mr. Scott Ellis of the NC Forest Service told us that fuel, primarily brush and downed trees, have increased 600% in McDowell County since that audit. We have had some fires on the mountain in the last few years, but thankfully these fires have not spread due to diligent efforts of Crooked Creek VFD, other VFD and vigilant residents. The Firewise Committee hopes to reduce the risk of wildfire in our community through education and voluntary efforts of individual residents. Some of our planned activities are: Preparing a Firewise mitigation plan Visiting a certified Firewise community Including Firewise materials in the ARC new home construction information packet Periodic Firewise articles in the Holler Asking residents to complete a voluntary Firewise self-assessment Updating the 2008 Firewise audit by the NC Forest Service Scheduling a voluntary Clean Up Day followed by a voluntary Chipper Day Applying for a Firewise grant The final step would be applying to be a certified Firewise community. Please feel free to contact any of the Firewise Committee members for any information on this valuable initiative; Michelle Middleton – Chair, Kathleen Gruber, Garry Kepley, Bob Rietz, and Karen Scheidler. GATEWAY HOLLER – September 2013 Page 6 SAFETY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE by Arlene Wells and Hal Scheidler The primary focus of the S&S Committee is to maintain and improve the safety and security of all property owners, residents, and their guests on Gateway Mountain. The Safety &Security Committee would like all property owners and home owners to be aware of the following: 911 Addresses: One and only one correct 911 number must be posted at the end of your driveway, visible from the road. If you do not have the official McDowell County, black with white numbers, reflective placard, please see Ed Epley at the McDowell County EMS office in Marion to obtain one. The cost is $10. Speed Limit: Our posted speed limit is 16 mph on all roads. And although driving down the middle of the road may make you feel more comfortable, it is not allowed! Emergency Evacuation Gate Designation Signs: Our Emergency Evacuation signs direct drivers to the closest available exits. They are very beneficial in providing the necessary clear and consistent information needed by residents, guests, and renters to navigate and exit our mountain. Every main intersection provides at least 2 exit options for use during an emergency. The gate designations are: Main gate: Gate A Crimson Drive gate: Gate B England Gap Trail gate: Gate C (these signs have not been hung due to unresolved issues with the developers regarding this gate closure) Sally Gap gate: Gate D Emergency Exit gate: Gate E Hickory Nut Hollow gate: Gate F Maps are available on the website showing all gate locations and their letter designations. Home owners renting their homes are responsible for providing road maps and exit information as part of their renters’ packets. Coming soon: New and Additional Road Signage and Reflectors S&S will complete Phase II of the road signs replacement project in October. Phase II involves replacement of signs on secondary roads on the mountain. Additional 16 MPH speed limit signs and stop signs are also being installed at needed locations throughout our community. Phase II of our reflector project is also a project in the works. The primary targets for additional reflectors are Crimson, Mitchell View, Gateway Parkway, and sections of McKenzie Way North that were not included last year in Phase I. This installation of these signs and reflectors is a large project. We will need the assistance of volunteers. The Maintenance Committee and the S&S Committee request your help. An ebulletin notification of the date and time will be sent. Please volunteer to help. Your participation is needed and appreciated. GATEWAY HOLLER – September 2013 Page 7 S&S Goals and Objectives: Smart Entry System: we continue to investigate upgrading our gate entry system by implementing the use of a smart entry system. This technology allows us to replace our aged remotes by issuing new programmable gate entry cards or remotes to all property owners and contractors. Property owner gate entry devices would be programmed for 24/7. Contractor devices could be programmed for certain times of day, days of the week, and for limited durations thus controlling who and when non-residents are able to gain vehicular access to Gateway Mountain. Current remotes allow unlimited access for whoever has one in their possession, thus compromising the security of our mountain. A Dial-up system for the Crimson gate would enable residents of the 330 section to utilize their phone to allow authorized entry for their guests at the Crimson gate, as is available at the main gate Siren Open Systems: gate opens upon long whelp blast of emergency vehicles’ sirens) for Sally Gap and Hickory Nut Hollow gates Knox box for Hickory Nut Hollow gate: this is a red box located at our other gates that enables first responders to open the gate immediately using a key provided to them We thank our Committee members, Debbie Mullis, Secretary; Bill Thornton, and John Evans, BOD Liaison for their commitment of time and energy in working to ensure the safety and security of Gateway Mountain properties, homes, residents and guests. ROADS, ROADS, ROADS by Hal Scheidler The Roads Committee has been concentrating efforts on repair of Storm Damage caused by the heavy spring rains and on repair of potholes. Potholes: The pothole repairs were completed in August. This will help preserve our paved roads as well as improve the driving surface. Storm Damage: Six areas where the shoulder had slid down the bank have been filled and seeded. Two areas like this are still to be repaired. The sink hole that opened up in McKenzie Way South has been dug out and filled with compacted rock and gravel. The road still needs to be re-paved in this area. A contract has been issued for the repair of the two areas along McKenzie Way South where part of the road has fallen off. Work on these spots should begin this month. Quotes are being obtained for repairs to Sally Gap and Wolf Pen. In the meantime two other areas of damage from the storms have surfaced. A large washout along Kent’s trail will need filled and an additional crack has opened up on a stretch of Wolf Pen. We are obtaining quotes for these repairs. Chip and Seal: A contract is being issued for top-coating McKenzie Way from Bat Cave Rd. to the flagpole and McKenzie Way South to Kent’s Trail. This work is scheduled for October. Committee members: Hal Scheidler, - Co-Chair, Andy Bunch – Co-Chair, Dan Wells, John Summerour, Mike Gosey – Alternate, and John Evans – Board Liaison. GATEWAY HOLLER – September 2013 Page 8 MAINTENANCE COMMITTEE by Wayne Mullis The Maintenance Committee has recently added two new members. They are Bill Thornton, a retired physician, and Gary Herman, a retired dentist. The committee is in good shape if one of us has an accident while completing a project for the community! Unfortunately, our committee lost Bruce Gruber and John Evans once they were elected to the board. On August 27, 2013, the committee completed a work day to repair and reposition reflector posts and reflectors. We also removed a large section of black plastic culvert located near the flagpole. This section of culvert was unsightly and was serving no purpose. Thanks to Bill Thornton for cleaning and repainting the boxes that house the fire extinguishers at Lake George and Standing Rock Falls. Both fire extinguishers have been inspected and one was recharged after someone partially emptied the fire extinguisher at Lake George. Property owners and guests are urged to leave the extinguishers untouched unless there is a fire. The main gate seems to be functioning properly after several weeks when the gate remained open. The concrete pad was replaced by the company that installed the gate. The original pad had cracked and the gate operator was moving as the gate closed. This repair was made under warranty. Frontier Communications had to repair the telephone line for the dial up system and a ground wire had to be replaced in the dial pad box. Maintenance is planning to rebuild the steps at Standing Rock Falls that lead from the parking area down to the picnic tables. This project should be completed by mid November 2013. Thanks to Gerald Hamrick on Wild Cherry Lane for his generous donation of 48 railroad ties for the various committees to use. Some of the donated ties will be used to rebuild the steps at Standing Rock Falls. The handrails will also be replaced. The plan to have a professional trail building company redesign and rebuild the trail at Standing Rock Falls is still moving forward albeit rather slowly. Details must be resolved regarding property boundaries and a potential land swap. The trail design would include a much wider trail, a gentler grade, and more switchbacks to avoid erosion problems. Many of the current steps would be eliminated making it easier to descend to the base of the waterfall and an easier walk back to the top. After considerable discussion between the committee and the board, a decision was reached not to pursue the purchase of a 12x16 foot storage building. Attempts to secure a suitable location on Gateway that did not violate our CR&R’s proved to be a serious challenge. Members of the Maintenance Committee include: Dan Wells, Bill Thornton, Mark O’Connor, Gary Herman and Wayne Mullis-Chair. George Holland serves as Board Liaison. LANDSCAPE COMMITTEE by Kathleen Gruber The Landscape Committee has been very busy with gardening work at many locations on our mountain. Thanks to all the volunteers that worked so tirelessly to kill poison ivy, weed, spread mulch and clean up the Lake George area and Crimson Gate areas. We had some very good landscaping efforts at the Sally Gap Gate and flagpole areas. Despite an unprecedented amount of rain, we have been able to keep up with our mowing schedule. We have another mowing scheduled for September. A special thanks to our property owners that take the effort to trim the vegetation on the road frontage on their properties. The long days of summer are quickly fading away. There is a bite in the air, as fall is just around the corner. The days are getting shorter and there is much work to still be done in our gardens. GATEWAY HOLLER – September 2013 Page 9 Garden Chores for September Fertilize fescue and bluegrass lawn and reseed bare spots. If you are planning some re-landscaping, fall is a good time to plant shrubs and perennials. Move house plants indoors before temperatures drop below 50°. Start checking house plants for signs of insects. Strawberries are forming next spring’s flower buds now. Fertilize, weed and water as needed. Keep after those weeds to prevent them from spreading. Landscaping Don’ts 1. Don’t let landscaping overwhelm your house. Choosing varieties of trees & shrubs that are bred to grow to a particular size which means you won’t have to spend your time pruning 2. Don’t start landscaping without a plan even if you intend to do the work yourself. 3. Don’t plant too much of the same thing. Have something of interest in all seasons. 4. Don’t plant trees too close to the house. Don’t plant species that may overtake the yard or your homes proportions. 5. Don’t install one dimensional planting beds. Plant in layers with low-growing plants concealing the “legginess” of the taller plants behind. The small ‘facer’ plants give you the chance to introduce plants of a complementary color and texture. Committee members: Sue Anson and Kathleen Gruber – Co-chairs, Lee Entrekin, Brad Owen, Lynn Lively, Debbie Mullis, Denise Murray, Linda Thornton, Karen Scheidler, Betsy Fritz, and Gary Herman ARC COMMITTEE by Arlene Wells Summer on Gateway Mountain turned out to be a time of beauty. Mother Nature has brought us plenty of rain but also an abundance of sunshine and comfortable temperatures. All are delightful aspects of our lives. The ARC meets monthly and continues to be busy. Always a good sign! Projects Completed to Date Construction work has been completed on the following: two new homes, plus a variety of home improvement projects. We welcome new home owners Dave and Linda Fritz, Mitchell View Drive; and Robin Holtzinger, Wild Cherry Lane On-Going Construction Projects There are currently 2 new homes under construction (Wildflower Lane and McKenzie Way North). This is a very exciting time for these property owners as their homes near completion. The ARC continues to work with home owners as they submit plans for a variety of improvement projects to include new roofing, changes to exterior paint colors, additional decks, and garages. Continuing Work The ARC continues its work on developing a packet of important information for property owners reiterating established and required construction procedures on Gateway Mountain. This packet will be presented to property owners or current home owners whose applications or plans for new construction or improvements have been approved. This is designed to be a living document but we are striving to be sure that it is helpful, inclusive, clear, concise, and consistent with our CR&R’s, the Gateway Design Guidelines, DNR requirements, McDowell County 911 address posting information, and FireWise suggestions. GATEWAY HOLLER – September 2013 Page 10 Thank you to all property owners who submit queries to the ARC concerning a proposed project. It is only by working together, within the framework of the Design Guidelines and CR&R, that we can continue to ensure that Gateway Mountain is a community of beauty and increasing property values. We, as a committee, welcome any questions and/or comments that you might have regarding the ARC guidelines and you can find e-mail addresses for committee members on the GMPOA website. All forms for requesting ARC approval are posted on the GMPOA website. Our committee thanks all property owners and home owners for your continued support, cooperation and compliance. As ARC Chair, I would like to recognize and express my most sincere thanks to the hard working members of the ARC for the great deal of time and energy that they commit to ensuring that all construction projects are on track to both enhance property values and add to the beauty of our mountain. I appreciate Cathy Evans, Vice Chair; Linda Thornton, Secretary; Karen Periard, Patti Wiebe, Brad Owen, Allan Cook, Tom Pericak, Alternate; and Bruce Gruber, BOD Liaison. Frequently Asked Questions for the Architectural Review Committee: Can I build this/change that/replace something/add whatever? Probably.* Should I notify the ARC? Definitely!* Do I need ARC approval? Probably.* When in doubt, let us know your plans. Let us work together for, and with, you on your new home or new features being added to your mountain retreat. Your ARC strives to ensure that our lovely mountain community retains its beauty, its property values, and remains in harmony with the guidelines set forth. Help us to attain that goal. We appreciate your support and thank you for your cooperation and compliance. Forms for requesting approval may be found on the GMPOA website and may be sent to Arlene Wells (ARC Chair) by email or snail mail. These addresses are also on the website. *According to the Gateway CR&R (Covenants, Reservations and Restrictions) , Article 5.3: “No construction, improvement, building, structure or development of any kind whatsoever, including any driveway providing ingress and egress to and from a common road, shall be commenced, carried on, constructed, altered, added to or maintained upon any lot unless approved in writing by the ARC, as to the harmony of external design, location in relation to surrounding structures and topography, driveway construction standards and other appropriate considerations as set out herein.”. GATEWAY HOLLER – September 2013 Page 11 CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING Advertising in the GATEWAY HOLLER provides an opportunity for local merchants and service providers to make themselves known to a very targeted audience of local customers at an extremely reasonable price. We are charging $10 per issue or $40 for five issues. 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