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In Asheville, amid the WNC Mountains - March, 2016

March Activities at Crowfields Clubhouse

Tuesday 1 Executive Comm. meeting 4:30 pm Friday 4 First Friday 5:30 – 7:30 pm Wednesdays 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 Simple Suppers 6:30 pm Monday 7 Movie Nights: “ Black and White” 7:00 pm

21 “Ladies in Lavender“ 7:00 pm Tuesday, 15 Vote at Primary Election (T.C. Roberson gym) Tuesday 15 Learn about “Historic Riverside Cemetery” 1:00 pm Tuesday 22 Book Gp. “H is for Hawk” by Helen McDonald 7:00 pm Tues., March 29, Work Session & Tues., April 5: Exec. Comm. meeting & Important presentation re potential Infrastructure changes & costs 4:30 pm For more info on March Notices and Activities, see pages 3-4

Spring is on the way ! Photo by Dean Cox

PLEASE NOTE & USE THE NEW EMAIL ADDRESS: CCA@crowfieldsoffice.com

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Notes from BOB RAY, Crowfields Executive Committee President

The month of March is upon us and much work is underway by our committees:

● The street lights on left side as you enter and proceed up the drive have been repaired and are now working.

● The consolidation committee has progressed along with obtaining current data as well as quotes for reform.

● The infrastructure committee has revived the research with an architect to prepare a presentation for next

month, ● and the by-laws committee has compiled the change requests that will be considered.

Other committees have work in progress. Thanks to the committee chairs and to the volunteers that are helping us move forward here at Crowfields.

Regarding the progress of the Crowfields Website Committee:

To All Crowfields’ Members: As you may have heard, the Crowfields Executive Committee has officially established an

Ad Hoc Website Committee to complete the development of the Private side of the Crowfields Website, which is

separate from the Public site.

The Private side is ONLY for Crowfields members and is PASSWORD PROTECTED, which means that only Crowfields

members with the current password can access and view information on this site.

The mission of the Website Ad Hoc Committee is to complete the structure and content of the Crowfields Members'

website with the ultimate goal of making it a useful and reliable source of information, and to develop

protocols/procedures for the ongoing maintenance of the website and an action plan for future development of the

website that will enhance its service to our community.

The basic framework and intended content for this Private side was established a little while ago, but its design and

details were not implemented. The first section that got uploaded was the Crowfields Directory. The committee is

currently in the process of bringing this information current and making it more user friendly for Crowfields’ residents.

The committee will be working on the following other sections (of the Private side):

● Cluster Officers and Committees

● Activities & Events

● Forms

In addition we are planning on posting the Crowfields Chatter to the Private side of the Website, as well as distributing it

to all on paper.

Also, we will be assessing a more effective process for maintaining current information about units for sale on the Public

side of our Website.

As we progress with periodic milestones, we will be communicating this information to you until we have completed our

mission.

Should you have any questions about the Website, please do not hesitate to contact me (Mary D’Amore at 828-774-6505

after 5:00pm) or Dan Costant at 828-242-7662. Regards, the Crowfields Website Committee

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Important meeting, April 5, for all on site owners to attend: Please mark your calendar!!! April 5, 2016. This is the date of the regular monthly Executive Committee meeting;

however, this also is the time chosen for a formal presentation of issues regarding Crowfields' infrastructure. Mike Cox of Architectural Design Studio will give an informative program regarding changes being considered to update the siding, insulation, windows/doors, etc. for Crowfields. Colors, materials and costs will be displayed via exhibition boards and a 5-10 minute PowerPoint presentation. It is very important that we have maximum attendance from our residents. Your Infrastructure Committee, Property Manager and others have worked diligently over the last year to bring this issue to a head. Your input, including comments and questions, will be encouraged by the architect during this April 5, 2016 meeting at 4:30 PM. Remember this is YOUR community, YOUR money, YOUR (and possibly your heirs') investment! Submitted by J. Richard Dimsdale Chairperson Ad Hoc Infrastructure

MARCH ACTIVITIES

Here is the assortment of Activities planned for this month: Two special events planned, and another rescheduled:

● SUP-ON-SOUP POTLUCK ----- FRIDAY MARCH 11---6:00

Let's banish the winter chill and tame the March winds with a hearty potluck. Share your favorite soup or chili and toppings, enough for about six servings, at the Clubhouse on Friday the 11th t 6:00. Bring your beverage---tea and lemonade will be provided as well as cheese, bread and dessert. Contacts: Adrienne Williams, Helen Eill

● JOSHUA DARTY, Cemetery Director, to speak about HISTORIC RIVERSIDE CEMETERY Asheville has been called home by writers, artists, governors, senators, generals and many notable individuals. These figures have left their mark on communities, city streets, schools, public parks, and the pages of Asheville's history books. Riverside Cemetery offers a unique look into the past and gives us the opportunity to learn more about these people who shaped our area and the city of Asheville.

• Another journal workshop, facilitated by Elizabeth Addison, rescheduled:

Several who wanted to participate in the September journal workshop at Crowfields could not do so at that time.

The facilitator, Elizabeth Addison, has rescheduled another for March 25-26, this time at her home, 508

Crowfields Lane (Cluster G), Friday 7-9 p.m. and Saturday 10-3.

If others are interested, we have room for a few more; just let Elizabeth know

you want to come (331-8234, addison@email.wcu.edu).

Progoff’s workshop process uses several approaches to exploring and evoking energy, the predominant ones

being listing (or logging) and inner dialogue. Our entire lives – past, present, and future – are up for our own

deeper understanding. Those who participated in the fall are welcome to come and work with other life

material, and those newcomers interested, please contact Elizabeth for more information on how this is done.

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• SIMPLE SUPPERS for March 2: 67 Biltmore; 9: Cici’s Culinary Kitchen; 16: 12 Bones; 23: Pomodoro’s; 30: Carrabba’s . Menus, Sign-up sheets are in lobby & via email. Serving at 6:30

• FIRST FRIDAY, March 4 Bring your neighbor/s, a drink of your choice, and a snack to share. All welcome! 5:30 – 7:30 pm. Next First Friday will be April 1st – no kidding! See you now & then!

• MOVIE NIGHTS: March 7, “Black & White” @ 7pm – with Kevin Costner. (& Popcorn & lemonade) ; Monday, March 23 @ 7: “Ladies in Lavender”, with Judi Dench and Maggie Smith

• BOOK GROUP Tues., March 22, @ 7 “H is for Hawk” by Helen McDonald, discussion led by Eliz. Addison. Tues., April 26: “Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania” by Erik Larsen – Led by David James. Tues., May 24: “Lost City of Z” by David F. Grann, discussion led by Carol Schmidt.

Ongoing Activities in March:

• Men's Coffee & Conversation . All welcome. Mondays 10:00 – 11:00+ am

• Crafts and Conversation Mondays (Bring what you’re working on or chat) 1:00 + pm

• Senior Exercise Class ($6 fee) led by Liz Ridley - meets Mondays & Thursdays from 2- 3 pm

• Tai Chi (fee) Contact King Goslin at 575-9940 for times. 4 – 5:00 pm?

● Final ‘Downton Abbey’ Tea: Sunday, March 6th at 8:00 pm

Welcome to Kitty McKeithen who moved here in January. A true North Carolina native, she was raised in Winston-Salem and later lived in Chapel Hill, Raleigh, and Charlotte before moving to Asheville. Beyond raising two daughters and serving as homemaker/volunteer, she taught grades four and five; later she was a Patient Representative at Carolinas Medical Center, where she worked her way from floor rep to department head; she also worked as a Realtor, representing buyers and sellers in Raleigh and Charlotte.

Buying, renovating, building and selling personal properties while in Asheville has been a source of both frustration and fun. Volunteer activities have centered on family, Central Methodist Church, and AAUW. Kitty enjoys art, music, bridge, movies, drama (only in theaters), and almost any social gathering. A sense of community is important. Kitty's family consists of two daughters. Laura, her children Jack and Liza, who live in Asheville; Anna, husband Steve, and sons Will and Ben are in West Hartford, Connecticut. Now Kitty and her gray tabby live at V 428 Drive. Please welcome Kitty McKeithen – contact her by email @ kittymckeithen@gmail.com or phone her at 808-6061.

The Library committee, Alice Magee, Elsie Beaver & Fran Myers, would like to thank you for using the library, borrow-ing books, and leaving donations of books. It would help if you make a book donation to leave them including your contact information, and to call one of us if you have a donation of more than ten books. The committee accepts books, relatively recent, deemed of common interest and will find - or refer you to - other donation sites for dated, worn, repeats, or otherwise unsuitable books for the limited bookshelf space that we have. Do come, look, pick-up & enjoy reading the books that we have here!

The Grounds’ Committee requests that residents hold off on their individual planting requests this spring; several months of adverse weather has caused a major backlog in the normal flow of work. The Community Gardens have also experienced damage from the rains, frost & a flash flood. They will need work before planting.

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We all have infirmities from time to time, and require special care and TLC to get us back on our feet - so also can be the case with our not re-tired, but 4-Tired equipment : Read about it from Property Manager, Charles Bennett

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My, oh my, February is definitely a short month even with the extra day this year. It has flown by for me as I am sure it

has for others. Just can’t seem to catch a break with the weather. Either it is raining or the ground is frozen, preventing

our staff members from their normal winter activities. Raking needs to be done prior to mulching as well as stray leaf

clean-up in plant beds. Frozen material is quite difficult to rake or blow as it is stuck firmly to the ground.

Luckily for staff members our aging equipment keeps them busy indoors as they conduct repairs.

It has been a brake failure month for three of our more important vehicles. While replenishing our

salt supplies a few weeks ago, our Ford dump truck had a brake line rupture just as we pulled away

from our suppliers loading dock. A tow truck ride back to our shop and several hours of labor, plus

new brake lines and parts and she is back in running order or should I say stopping order. A few days

later our mini Suzuki truck which delivers mulch developed a brake issue. The front brake calipers locked against the

rotors making it difficult to move the vehicle. A few hours in our shop, lots of penetrating lubricant, a hammer and

a propane torch, BAZINGA! the problem is rectified. She is up and running delivering mulch to sites near you.

As I write our Dodge pick-up is in our shop receiving two new rear brake cylinders, a front brake caliper, a new master

cylinder and some new brake lines. Hopefully, she will make a full recovery. Also in the past weeks we have replaced the

tires on our trusty tractor. This is the first rear tire replacement it has received since its purchase. Because the rear tires

are loaded for proper weight distribution of the tractor, they were difficult to maneuver onto and off of our truck for

delivery to and from our tire supplier.

Even with routine scheduled maintenance, equipment failures are inevitable, unpredictable and of course

happen at the worst times. Fortunately for Crowfields residents, you have a dedicated staff that has the

knowledge and expertise needed for conducting equipment repairs and routine maintenance. This saves

you time and money as most of the equipment can be repaired on-site.

I receive this question at least once a week, “what does your staff do when the weather is foul”? Well, there is part of

the answer. You don’t have to look hard to find something to do around here. We keep a running list of things to do as

time and weather permits, even when the weather is bad, there is plenty for us to do.

Spring will be here soon, so please be aware as you travel along the community roads Observe

Crowfields community-wide speed limit is 20 mph and stopping at all Stop signs is the law. 20 mph Outdoor activities greatly increase and workmen will be out conducting grounds-related tasks. Signs!

Please be cautious. Thank you for your attention. – Charles

An Advisory from Mike Herzoff, Security committee chair (Contact him at 505-3325; herzoff@hotmail.com)

Over the past month or two, Crowfields has had a couple of reported instances of suspicious cars in our neighborhood in late night or early morning hours, but we have no indications of any criminal activities or disturbances. This information was given to the South Asheville Community Police Resource Officer who said he reported it to the dis-trict patrol officers to keep extra checks in the area. He suggested that residents call police dispatch (252-1110) if any-one ever feels like a vehicle or person is out of place in our area.

TUESDAY, MARCH 15 is an important day – PRIMARY PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

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& NORTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR, SENATOR. & OTHER IMPORTANT STATE OFFICERS. There’s also a $2 billion bond referendum to support N.C. universities & community colleges; water & sewer loans; state parks, N.C. Zoo and more. The recent restructuring of N.C. congressional districts is requiring an election for those officers to be moved to June 7.

Do vote on Election Day, Tuesday, March 15 – we vote at T.C. Roberson HS via the Long Shoals entrance. If you need transportation to the polls, Bonnie Gordon (CC 466; 828 773-1809) is organizing a carpool, leaving the clubhouse parking area at 10, 12 and 2.

”Dear Sweet People of Crowfields, My husband and I moved to this beautiful community five yrs. ago and have loved every minute of living here. Ed died two years ago but I have continued to enjoy my time here. Now is the time to leave. I will be moving to Savannah, Georgia. to be with my daughter and granddaughter who live close by. We feel that being close to family is most important as we get in the upper years of life. Mid- April is my leaving time with bittersweet emotions but in my heart I feel this is best. I wish you all well and thank you for being kind and caring to me. - Best, Milli Adams.” [Milli, your vibrant personality & help, leadership in so many areas will be sorely missed! Best wishes to you!]

C Our community has experienced other losses and potential losses this winter of 2016: Possibly many of you have learned that one of Crowfields' most senior and beloved residents, Tom Davis, has a very serious medical issue. As caring neighbors and friends, we quite naturally wish to express our encouragement. Rather than unknowingly taxing his energy, however, with visitations or phone calls, considering being in touch with positive notes and cards might perhaps be a more appreciative choice at this time. – contributed by D & B Dimsdale

Inez Montgomery Bridgford, 95, resident of Crowfields since 1987, died at home, V 429, Saturday, February 6th.

Inez was a beautiful, dynamic woman who was born in Cincinnati, grew up in Denver, then lived in Sheridan, Wyoming for 35 years before moving to Asheville with her husband. Bruce, & their beloved black lab.

Inez was a leader of Colonial Dames and had deep knowledge of Robert’s Rules of Order and thus was often called on as she participated in Crowfields and other organization’s meetings. She had been ailing & having full-time help for several years, her caregiving managed by Priscilla Gentry and a loyal staff, and Inez continued to participate in activities here as long as she was able. She is survived by her daughter, Dershie McDevitt, husband Larry, of Weaverville, three grandchildren & four great-grands. A private interment is planned at a later date in the Trinity Church Memorial Garden.

Ken Metcalf of CC 470 Dr. died February 16th at his home, just three weeks after the death of his wife, Patti. Patti and Ken had lived at Crowfields for many years, and during their recent health failings, were lovingly cared for by daughter Evetta Metcalf and Melissa Barker. – contributed by friend & neighbor, Margo Waters.

Tom & Cade Garden, 531, mourn the death of their son-in-law, husband of Mary Cade and father of three grand-children, Gawain Mainwaring, 47, from cancer, February 1st

Legette Zorn,(505-4587; zorn@charter.net), manager of our community Home Health Aids, reports that “we now have a hearing aid telephone (you can read what is being said), and we are well blessed with potty chairs and walkers.”

--Until next month and beautiful Spring, Jocelyn Baumgarten, editor.

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