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JHCA Bookclub 2019/20 Calendar

Tue, 17 Sep 2019 18:44:56 GMT

Junaluska Highlands Book Club meets the First Tuesday of the Month at 6:30 pm.

Junaluska Highlands Book Club meets the First Tuesday of the Month at 6:30 pm. Hostess provides Dessert, Coffee and/or Tea. Book Discussion begins at 7:00 pm.

September 10

Stranger in the Woods by Michael Finkel

Hostess & Facilitator: Marie Aiken

October 8

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

Hostess: Jennifer Conrad

Facilitator: Joyce Brunsvold

November 5

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owen

Hostess & Facilitator: Kathie McCracken

December 3

“Eat, Drink and Be Merry!!”

Social Dinner or Dine Out TBD

Hostess: Patti Surak

Helpers: TBD (need 4). If you want to volunteer, let Patti know.

January 7

A Gift of Time by Jerry Merritt

Hostess: Tammy Wright

Facilitator: Kate Gross

February 4

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Hostess: Suzanne Patrick

Facilitator: Kathy Bell

March 3

The Swan House

Hostess: Kathy Bell

Facilitator: Debbie Savage

April 7

Educated by Tara Westover

Hostess & Facilitator: Susan Lee

May 5

“Spring Fling” Social Dinner Meeting

Includes Book Selections, Signups for Hostess and Facilitators/Helpers for 2020-2021

Hostess: Jan Vittum

Helpers: TBD (need 4). If you want to volunteer, contact Jan Vittum.

June, July, August:

Summer Break

Reminders: Hostess sends an email to members in advance of the meeting. Please include: Title/Author, Time, Date, Your Address, Special Info (Parking, etc.) and a RSVP date.

Important: Please respond on/before the RSVP date so the Hostess knows how many are attending. Thank you!!

Note: If you need to switch a date to host, facilitate, help or request a substitute, please contact another member and see what you can work out. We are always willing to help each other!! :)

Home Grown Road Work

Sun, 30 Jun 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Here’s a shot from the end of June showing George Patrick and Frank Lay hard at work - mostly Frank in this shot - putting down a cold patch repair on the driveway to the pavilion parking lot. Frank is a member of the Roads Committee and George graciously volunteered to help us with this project as well as filling a sinkhole on Crookston.

Work at the Gate - February 2019

Sat, 13 Apr 2019 02:54:24 GMT

The Gates are working!

3 February, 2019

You have likely noticed the new yellow stripping between the entrance and exit gates. This is safety striping to help separate the lanes, but also serves the purpose of directing traffic toward the outside edges of the pavement. This is necessary because the magnetometer that detects the presence of vehicles and automatically opens the exit gate is a little touchy to set up. It has to be sensitive enough to detect small vehicles and open the exit gate for them as well as not being too sensitive when larger vehicle come in the entrance gate. If too sensitive the exit gate will open when vehicles come through the entrance gate, causing additional wear and tear on the gate opening system. The gate group has made numerous adjustments to the sensors trying to get the balance just right.

The roads committee (Charles Gross, Max Wicks, and Frank Lay) volunteers were responsible for getting the new yellow safety striping in place. The roads group has many other responsibilities concerning the J.H. community roads including signage, and road repair. Kudos for a job well done.

Thank you Gate Group (Phil Casso, Jerry Doucet) for your volunteer work in keeping the gate operational.

2018 Spring Work Day

Sat, 13 Apr 2019 02:51:14 GMT

May 5, 2018 beautification and luncheon

Many thanks to the Home and property owners (and friends) of Junaluska Highlands for working to beautify the community on 5 May, 2018. Following the planting of flowers, spreading of mulch, and general clean-up, a luncheon was enjoyed by the work crew. Following are some images of the work and fellowship from this event

2018-19 Ladies Book Club

Sat, 13 Apr 2019 02:45:40 GMT

Reading Calendar for the 2018-19 JH LBC

Kathy Bell is coordinating the meetings for Highlands Residents who want to participate in the book club this year. Meeting start with some general chit-chat, then there is a book discussion followed by light refreshments and merriment.

The Reading Calendar

September 11 “Station 11” by Emily St John Mandel

October 2 “Code Girls” by Liza Mundy

November 6 “The Aviator’s Wife” by Melanie Benjamin

December 4 Eat Drink and be Merry Social Dinner

January 8 “My Italian Bulldozer” by Alexander McCall Smith

February 5 “Isaac’s Storm” by Erik Larson

March 5 “TBD”

April 2 “TBD”

May 7 Spring Fling Social Dinner + Next year planning

The abandoned husbands club will occasionally meet on the same night for alternate festivities that may include dinner, a movie, or whatever else devious minds can conjure.

2017 Spring Work Day

Sat, 13 Apr 2019 02:42:00 GMT

May 2017 Work Day and Pic Nic

Many thanks to the Junaluska Property Owners for their time and effort during the 2017 Spring Work Day and Pic-Nic!! See the Gallery for photos commemorating this great event.

2016 4th of July Pic Nic

Sat, 13 Apr 2019 02:37:44 GMT

Plan on being there - a good time will be had by all!

Mark your calendars now for the Junaluska Highlands community wide July 4th cook out and social at the pavilion next to the ponds. Planning is underway for this annual Community Event. This is a favorite get together for all residents, lot owners, and their guests. Meet and catch up with all your Junaluska Highlands Neighbors. A member of your party will have an opportunity to briefly tell about a memorable 4th of July, or what the 4th means to you (this is optional).

Junaluska Highlands Community Association

4th of July Celebration Picnic

Monday July 4, 2016 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the JHCA Pavilion

6:00-6:45 Meet and Greet

Appetizers, Welcome New Neighbors, Reflections

on the 4th of July,

Sing Along “America the Beautiful” and Blessing

6:45-8:00 Meal and Socializing

· Picnic is Potluck

· Cost: $5.00 per person. You and your guests are welcome.

· Children under 10 are free. You are responsible for paying for your guests.

· Each family is asked to provide an Appetizer, Side OR Dessert (not all 3).

· Bring your own chairs and beverages.

· Bar-B-Q Pork and Chicken, Paper Plates, Napkins, and Eating Utensils are provided.

RSVP to Joyce Brunsvold no later than Friday, June 24

Include in your RSVP:

· Dish you are bringing -- An Appetizer, Side OR Dessert Indicate any items that may be Gluten Free.

· Number of People/Guests in your party.

Weather Note : In case of inclement weather, Charles and Kathy Gross at 36 Kinross Lane have graciously offered their home for the picnic. Notification will be by email by 4:00pm on the 4th if the picnic has to be moved to the Gross’.

2015 Spring Work Day

Sat, 13 Apr 2019 02:31:51 GMT

JH Beautification Work Day and Cookout

Thanks to David Vittum for the photos (see Gallery) from the Junaluska Highlands [2015] Spring Workday!

Also many thanks to the Home and Property Owners who generously contributed their time and resources to this annual Junaluska Highlands beautification workday and cookout.

2014 Spring Work Day

Sat, 13 Apr 2019 02:17:38 GMT

Save the date - 5/3/2014!

This year’s (2014) neighborhood Spring Clean-Up Day is scheduled for Saturday, May 3rd. If the weather is inclement on May 3rd, the backup date will be Saturday, May 17th. David Vittum is Coordinating this event. Additional Details will follow.

Bears in the Neighborhood

Sat, 13 Apr 2019 02:11:40 GMT

There have been several sightings of bears in the JH neighborhood over the past several weeks.

There have been several sightings of bears in the JH neighborhood over the past several weeks. The bears are not timid. One was seen up close and personal on the Coleman’s deck. This bear was interested in bird seed that was in a feeder near the deck. Bears are a fact of life in this area and connot be completely avoided.

Be careful around bears. Do not attempt to wrestle with one. Do not allow your dogs to tangle with a bear, as the bear is likely to win this encounter. Do keep food sources and trash containers in bear proof containers or in a closed garage. Do keep your ground level doors closed and locked. Bears can climb, so upper level decks are not bear proof. If you encounter a bear in the outdoors, do not run, as this triggers an attack response. Also, you cannot outrun a bear. Avoid eye contact and back away if possible. If a bear does not know you are nearby, make some noise so he can avoid you. Bear spay is available as a last resort. This is a pepper spray that will burn the bears eyes, giving you time to depart the area (and leave the bear pissed-off). Small spray cans are not effective, only use the large spray cans designed as a bear deterrent (these can spray 20-30 ft in distance). Bear spray can be found at large outdoor/camping stores such as REI, or can be ordered on line from Amazon.

If you have persistent bear problems, contact animal control for additional help. Also let your neighbors know when and where you saw a bear.

First JHCA blog post - August 2013

Sat, 13 Apr 2019 01:58:35 GMT

Mac Lee's first blog post after the new JHCA site went live

Blog

First Post

I HAVE TENTATIVELY RESERVED THE GAINS AUDITORIUM AT LAKE JUNALUSKA'S BETHEA WELCOME CENTER FOR SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2013 FOR OUR ANNUAL MEETING, SUBJECT TO THE BOARD'S APPROVAL.

THIS IS THE WEEKEND OF THE HAYWOOD COUNTY APPLE FESTIVAL AND FROM PAST MEETINGS IT APPEARS A NUMBER OF OUR NON-RESIDENCES USUALLY PLAN TO VISIT THE MOUNTAINS THAT WEEK.

Mac Lee

Aug 13, 2013 at 11:02 AM

Mountain Living - August 2016

Tue, 09 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Still working to get fast internet into JH!

Obtaining reliable, high speed internet service in the mountains can sometimes be problematic at best. For those of us in Junaluska Highlands who have DSL service through AT&T, speed is an issue. For others who have a “hot spot” through one of the cell service providers, data can be an issue and an expensive one. For some time now we have asked AT&T to improve their DSL speed in the community, without success. Additionally, many residents have solicited Charter Communications to provide broadband cable into Junaluska Highlands, also without success. Presently, we are in discussions with a firm called Skyrunner out of Asheville to provide a wireless internet system into Junaluska Highlands. Skyrunner’s technology uses line of sight signaling from a central transmission point, such as Chambers Mountain to our north east or Mt. Pisgah to our south, to bring a signal into the community and then through a series of repeaters to the individual homes that opt for the service. Internet speed could be up to 5 times (or more) faster than DSL, depending on the Skyrunner plan chosen. We are presently doing our due diligence to vet Skyrunner and are working out some of the details of the arrangement, including the costs and I would hope we would be in a position to make a decision within the next 60 days. In the meantime, I would direct you to Skyrunner’s website, www.skyrunner.net for further information and plan details and costs. Skyrunner has no required contracts, a 30 day money back guarantee and a $10 per month suspension of service fee.

Mark your calendars now for the Junaluska Highlands Community Association’s annual meeting on Saturday, October 15, 2016 at 2:00pm at the Bethea Welcome Center at the Lake Junaluska Retreat and Conference Center. This is our membership meeting and a time in which information is shared regarding the events during the previous year that have impacted our community. It is also a time in which we elect our Officers and members of our Board. I will be sending out a formal notice of this meeting to all property owners in September with more details but wanted to give all members a chance to reserve this date on their calendars.

That’s all for now.

Mac

Mountain Living - July 2016

Mon, 11 Jul 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Happy 4th of July!

Our annual Independence Day celebration and community picnic for 2016 was a great success. 33 home owners, family members, and guests attended the event at the pavilion and the weather was perfect. We sang patriotic songs, heard testimonials about what the day meant to some individuals in attendance, and then enjoyed each other’s fellowship with a covered dish picnic including all the trimmings. Many attendees were decked out in Independence Day garb and the pavilion itself was beautifully decorated in red, white, and blue buntings with American flags adorning the grounds. It was truly a celebratory event with the real reason for our gathering, the recognition of the Declaration of Independence and the 240th anniversary of the birth of our nation, being at the focus for our gathering. Many thanks to our Social Committee: Joyce Brunsvold, Susan Huckaby, Kathy Gross, Bonnie Manga, Barbara Jo White, and Kathy Bell for the time and effort they contributed to the planning, organizing and execution of a very successful event.

We have scheduled our Annual Membership Meeting for Saturday, October 15, 2016 at 2:00pm at the Gains Auditorium at the Bethea Welcome Center at Lake Junaluska. Please mark your calendars now to attend. More information will be mailed to our members in September.

I hope everyone enjoys the summer, visits from family and friends, and vacations.

Mac

Mountain Living - June 2016

Tue, 07 Jun 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Art After Dark - you should try it!

June is one of those busy months in which a plethora of activity takes place. Father’s day, the beginning of summer, Flag Day, and here in the mountains: the continuation of Art After Dark on the first Friday of each month from May until December. If you have not experienced Art After Dark in downtown Waynesville, I would encourage you to take part in this casual and leisurely event. Some ten art studios and galleries stay open from 6:00pm to 9:00pm along Main Street, designated by Art After Dark flags, with many of the resident artist present and engaging in their crafts. Of course, art is available for sale at a very reasonable price.

Also, June is the time for the biennial Haywood County Garden Tour on Saturday, June 18. Jointly sponsored by the Haywood County Extension Center and the Haywood County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers, this year’s theme is “Pollinate, Propagate, and Cultivate”. In addition to visiting several local gardens, this year there will be hands on demonstrations by Master Gardeners on propagation, Square Foot Gardening, monarch butterflies and other pollinators, grafting techniques, along with local honey for sale, all to benefit horticultural and educational projects throughout Haywood County. There will also be Plein Air Artists (the act of painting outdoors in order to paint the actual visual conditions seen at the time of painting) to paint views of the various gardens on the tour. The tour begins at the Mountain Research Station on Raccoon Road where ticket holders pick up directions to the gardens. Tickets are $15 in advance by emailing mgtour2016@charter.net or at the Extension Center at 589 Raccoon Road. Tickets are $20 the day of the tour. I have helped with the tour since 2009 and will again be at one of the gardens with other Master Gardeners to answer questions on the various plants, trees, and shrubs seen in the gardens. It is a great opportunity to see firsthand the hard work that has been put in by homeowners to beautify their gardens and perhaps get some ideas and tips of your own.

Don’t forget the July 4th Junaluska Highlands Community Association cook out and social next month. This is a great time for patriotic fun, food and fellowship with neighbors, friends, and family. More information will be sent out by e-mail to our property owners as we get closer to the event. Also, remember the Balsam Range concert at Stuart Auditorium at Lake Junaluska is Saturday, July 2nd this year. This is an multiple award winning blue grass group made up of residents of Haywood County and if you have not been to one of their concerts previously, make plans to see them on July 2nd for outstanding entertainment you will not forget. Tickets are available at the Bethea Welcome Center at Lake Junaluska.

That’s all for now. Happy summer everyone!

Mac

Mountain Living - April 2016

Mon, 11 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Bears are in the neighborhood!

Lions and Tigers, and Bears , Oh My! Yes, bears have been reported over the last few weeks in Junaluska Highlands. Evidence of bird feeders being emptied and garbage cans being overturned has been observed by several residents in our community. Most likely our new omnivore residents are black bears. These black bears have black coats with brown muzzles and may have a spot of white on the chest known as chest blaze and may weigh anywhere from 200 to 700 pounds. They typically feed on anything from acorns, berries, fish, frogs, peanuts and seeds and have no natural predators. Normally, black bears come out of hibernation around the first part of April. However, this year, due perhaps to the mild winter, the bears came out of hibernation about mid-March. The N.C. Wildlife commission reports bears are more active this year and have a larger number of cubs being born. Bears are typically nocturnal, but have been seen in our community in the early dawn and late dusk hours. They tend to be shy and non-aggressive to humans and have somewhat poor eyesight and largely depend on their sense of smell and hearing to forage for food and can run up to 35MPH for short distances. Care should be taken when out walking pets, especially in the evening, and if a bear is encountered you should back away slowly and make lots of noise and avoid eye contact. Garbage cans should be tightly secured and bird feeders brought in at night to avoid an unwanted visitor on the deck at night.

Over the next several weeks Duke Energy will be relamping our community with new LED fixtures and lamps on our streets, replacing the existing 200 watt high pressure sodium lamps. We will be using the 150 watt LED lamps on Breckenridge Road, Fincher Mountain Road, and Montrose Lane, with 105 watt LED lamps for the balance of the neighborhood where the poles are closer to homes. The new LED lamps will provide a warmer, safer light pattern and will save us between 12% and 33% in annual energy costs, depending on wattage.

Next month we will be scheduling our annual Junaluska Highlands community beautification work day. We will be freshening up our flower beds with new much, planting annuals, and clearing limbs. We generally work half a day and then enjoy a neighborhood cook out at the pavilion around noon. It is a great opportunity to meet and reacquaint ourselves with our neighbors and help tidy up the area. More information and the exact date to be provided in next month’s message.

Finally, don’t forget to clean and put out humming bird feeders now to attract the early scouts that are sent each year out to find the best nesting and feeding areas for the rest of the charm. In our area we have the ruby throated hummingbirds which have be over wintering in Mexico, Cuba, and parts of South America. They are a thrill to watch in the tiny bird’s aerial techniques around the feeders and are among the many welcomed forms of wildlife in Junaluska Highlands.

Mac

Mountain Living - March 2016

Fri, 04 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT

March Madness is on us again!

March is one of my very favorite months of the year. Just consider for a moment all that is going on throughout the month of March, to wit: Daylight Saving Time begins, St. Patrick’s Day with green beer and corn beef and cabbage, spring begins, and this year, Palm Sunday, Easter and Easter Monday all take place within the month of March. Add to all of that the fact that the phenomenon known as March Madness takes place in division I college basketball, culminating in the NCAA championship game April 4th in Houston, Texas.

For those of us who were fortunate enough to be born in the Old North State (nonnatives got here as the saying goes “just as soon as they could”), two important questions are soon posed when being introduced in a social setting: “What number?” and “What school?” The first question relates to what NASCAR driver do you follow, i.e. the number on the car. The second question is an effort to identify which ACC school you follow in basketball, because in North Carolina this must be disclosed under penalty of law under the assumption that everyone in the state must have a local school they follow in college basketball. When I was in college, several fraternity brothers and I attended what was then known as the World 600 NASCAR race in Charlotte. Got severely sunburned, couldn’t hear for 3 days after the race, and never knew who actually won and thus my NASCAR interests were brought to a screeching halt. However, during my formative years I was highly influenced by an uncle who graduated from the University of North Carolina and encouraged me to become a Tar Heel by taking me with him to many basketball games in Chapel Hill. The excitement of witnessing a live college basketball game with thousands of screaming students and fans was exhilarating and for me the die was cast and Carolina blue began to run in my veins. After college I was fortunate to have been accepted into law school at UNC and spent time in Chapel Hill until, at my young age, I figured out that for me a legal career was not in the cards. But I regress. Basketball in North Carolina is a given presumption. Folks that faithfully follow college basketball simply don’t get it why everyone does not share their passion for the game. If you are a Tar Heel, you hate the N.C. State wolf pack and absolutely despise the Duke blue devils. If you are among the great misguided and rout for State or Duke the opposite is true. Regarding college basketball there are no other teams in the state – with apologies to the Wake Forest demon deacons. When the ACC tournament begins on March 8th and the NCAA tournament starts on March 15th colors will be worn, flags will be proudly flown, other activities will be suspended without regret, and we will all be in front of our flat screens embroiled in the excitement of college basketball. Take in a game and you will be hooked too. Just make sure you have a sufficient supply of North Carolina’s official food – barbecue, and the official soft drink-Cheerwine, on hand as you watch and cheer on the Heels. Besides, if God is not a Tar Heel, why then is the sky Carolina blue?

Mac

Mountain Living - February 2016

Sat, 06 Feb 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Spring is just around the corner!

February is Groundhog month. Although here in Junaluska Highlands we seem to have our fair share of the rodents, arguably the most famous woodchuck or whistle pig (as they are also called) is Punxsutawney Phil of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Back in 1887, Clymer H. Freas, editor of the then Punxsutawney Spirit , apparently lacking for something to do in the dull winter months, designated the 2nd day of February as the official Groundhog Day and declared Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania as the center of the universe for that purpose. Legend has it that if Phil comes out of his hibernation and sees his shadow, he will be frightened and retreat back into his hole and that there will be six more weeks of winter. Conversely, if Phil is unable to see his shadow, he will stay above ground and we will experience an early spring. On Groundhog Day, 2016, Phil did not see his shadow and thus we should anticipate warmer weather just around the corner. It is a little incredible to predict an early spring when we really have had no serious winter thus far here in the mountains. In fact, Phil’s record of being correct regarding the arrival of spring has only been correct just 39% of the time since the event began. However, the celebration makes for good press and a lively time for all in Punxsutawney.

On a serious note, in our Board’s never ending efforts to reduce expenses and improve services in Junaluska Highlands, we will be testing new street lighting in the coming weeks in our community. Presently, our streets are illuminated by 200 watt high pressure sodium lamps, the kind of lighting that puts out a shadowy, orange glow and a technology that is some 20 years old. Through a program offered by Duke Energy to communities such as ours, we can relamp all of our street lighting to state of the art 150 watt LED lamps and fixtures at no cost to the Association. The advantage to us is about a 12% savings in electrical costs per electrified pole and light per month and a much cleaner, whiter light for our streets. The advantage to Duke Energy is that LED lighting presents less maintenance and repair costs and can last up to 20 times longer than incandescent lighting. Duke will install one LED fixture and lamp on the pole at the intersection of Breckenridge Road and Inverness Drive as a demonstration to show the difference in the two lighting systems. If acceptable to our community, Duke will then change out all lamps and fixtures to the new LED lighting system. Some time ago the Board chose to de-electrify several of the poles on our streets in an effort to save expenses. We will be reevaluating this decision once the new lighting is installed.

The Architectural Review Committee (ARC) tells me that yet another property owner has submitted plans to construct a new home in Junaluska Highlands and that the ARC has approved the plans. The property owners anticipate construction may begin as early as this spring. This now makes two homes presently under construction with plans having been approved for two more homes. Once again, please remember that plans for new construction or alterations of existing homes, however minor, must have the prior approval of the ARC. Additional information, guidelines, and forms may be found on this website under the Building Information tab.

That’s all for now. Stay warm, notwithstanding the prediction of Punxsutawney Phil.

Mac

Mountain Living - January 2016

Thu, 14 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Happy New Year - the Year of the Fire Monkey!

The ancient Chinese thought of the New Year as an opportunity to begin anew. Although according to the Chinese calendar, the New Year does not begin until February 8, and interestingly enough this year is the year of the Fire Monkey, it presents all of us an opportunity for reflection and optimism for the coming days. Confucius said that “a man who had committed a mistake and doesn’t correct it is committing another mistake.” Let us not commit the same mistakes we made in 2015 again in 2016, but may we learn from our mistakes and go forth with renewed excitement to do better in all we do this year.

If you were present at the 2015 Annual Meeting for Junaluska Highlands Community Association last October, you will recall there was some discussion on improving the quality of internet access for our community. A number of residents presently have DSL internet service provided by AT&T, which is often slow and unreliable. Many of us have complained to AT&T about the slow speed and from my experience AT&T is indifferent to upgrades or improvements to improve their service. One of the suggestions that came out of this discussion was that we should all stop by the local Charter Communication office in Waynesville on Sulphur Springs Road and inquire about what could be done to provide high speed cable service (both TV and internet access) into Junaluska Highlands. One of our residents, David McCracken took this suggestion to heart and recently visited the Charter office. David spoke with a Charter representative by the name of Brian Cooper at 828-545-4165, who has some responsibility regarding the scheduling of surveys for future expansion of Charter’s service. Brian indicated that not only had he done a survey in late 2015, but that he had recommended to Charter’s Board that service be expanded into Junaluska Highlands in 2016. To date, no action has been taken by the Charter Board regarding expanding service anywhere in Haywood County. However, the take away here is that if you are interested in having Charter service in Junaluska Highlands in the future, you should stop by the Charter office or call Brian Cooper and give them a sense of how many residents would sign up for Charter service were it made available to us. Many thanks to David McCracken for taking this initiative.

Finally, our Architectural Review Committee (ARC) tells me they have approved the plans for the construction of yet another home in Junaluska Highlands, probably to begin this spring. Please remember that all new construction and any alteration to existing structures in the community must have the approval of the ARC prior to undertaking so that our Design & Development Guidelines and building requirements in our Covenants & Restrictions having to do with harmony of external design and location in relationship to surrounding structures can be adhered to.

That’s all for now.

Mac

Mountain Living - December 2015

Sat, 05 Dec 2015 00:00:00 GMT

The Traditions of the Season ...

Many of you know that I was born and raised in the Myers Park section of Charlotte and spent all my formative years there until I went off to college in the 1960’s. One of my most memorable boyhood experiences was when our parents took us down to the intersection of King’s Drive and Morehead Street each Thanksgiving day to the Simpson family Christmas tree lot to select our freshly cut Christmas tree. The Simpsons have been selling Christmas trees at that location since the 1950’s and continue even today. One year my father asked where the trees were grown and a gracious Simpson family member invited us to visit their tree farm north of Charlotte and cut our own. So, the next year, the old man piled my sisters and me into our Rambler and headed off to the Simpson tree farm. After traveling in the back seat with my sisters for what seemed like hours, we found ourselves traversing the gravel access road that the Rambler was totally unfit for and finally arrived at a conifer clad mountaintop of some 200 acres. The Simpson family grows only Fraser firs, a tree that grows naturally in the southern Appalachians, generally above 2500 feet. The cool climate and generous rainfall here help the Fraser fir keep its needles throughout the Christmas season. After tromping around the farm for what seemed like an eternity in the cold and windy air, we finally spotted the perfect Christmas tree for the Lee family. Someone from the farm came out and sawed it down, bound it in annoying nylon netting, and secured it to the top of the Rambler for the journey home. It was a memorable day for our family and a tradition we kept for many years to come.

Today, North Carolina is second in the nation in the number of Christmas trees cut and sold, the majority of which are the Fraser firs. It is estimated that at any given moment, there are approximately 50 million trees growing in the mountains of our state. North Carolina is home to more than 400 choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms, some of which are right here in Haywood County. Two of the local farms I have visited are Boyd’s Christmas Tree Farm off north Jonathan Creek Road and Nesbitt Christmas Tree Farm off Hospital Drive in Clyde. Boyd’s is a very family friendly farm that introduces folks to the tree hunting experience by first hosting them in a “warming tent” where a certain jolly old elf has been known to frequent. For the unadventurous, Boyd also sells their trees at Grass Root nursery at the intersection of Russ Avenue and Dellwood Road. The Nesbitt family farm is a bit more primitive but last year sold all their fresh cut or you cut your own trees for $40, regardless of size. A word of caution here: trees always look smaller in the field and larger when you bring them into your home. Last year, the tree we picked out at Nesbitt’s looked to be about 6 to 7 feet in the field, but turned out to be over 8 feet once we got it home.

The point of all this is, if you have never experienced tromping around the local mountains for a choose-and-cut Christmas tree, it is a wonderful family experience, especially for grandchildren, and one they will not soon forget.

Christmas is a time of joy, giving, and reflecting on the many blessings God has bestowed upon us. By whatever name you refer to the Creator, take time to wish someone Merry Christmas this season, even if some view it as not being politically correct.

Merry Christmas!

Mac

Mountain Living - November 2015

Fri, 06 Nov 2015 00:00:00 GMT

November - the "coziest month!"

If you are like me, you eagerly await the delivery each month of Our State magazine, a publication devoted to celebrating the people and places that make North Carolina such a special place to live. In the November issue, contributing editor Susan Stafford Kelly has an essay on the month of November and what she calls the “coziest month.” Ms. Kelly writes: “November. No-Vemm-Brrr. The word itself is cozy, mellow, and contained. This is the month for putting away and preparing. For closing down and burrowing in. Here, in North Carolina’s distinct seasons, October teases, urging us to cling to warmer weather even as it wrenches the season away. November, though says It’s OK to let go. I’m here. Let’s settle in .” In the same issue, columnist T. Edward Nickens writes: “It (November) slips up on us when we’re not looking, when we haven’t yet fully embraced the cold reality of oncoming winter.” Here, in the mountains of western North Carolina, truer words were never written. Remember, just last month we were still romping around in shorts, setting out pansies for the fall, cutting the grass, and preparing for Trick-or-Treat visitors. How the weather can change in such a brief period of time. We have already had our first frost, sweeting the collards and a warning sign that winter is near. The first few days of November have been wet and dreary ones and brought us up to nearly our average annual rainfall level. The trees reflect the brilliant colors of fall and call us to a drive along the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway. It is both a very magical time to be in the mountains and a harbinger of what is to come.

Last month Junaluska Highlands Community Association held its annual membership meeting. We had over 40 property owners and homeowners in attendance, representing one of the best attended meetings in my memory. Much information was exchanged and important decisions were reached by our membership that will direct the future of our community. After the meeting, a social was given at the beautiful home of Kathy and Sam Bell and a good time was had by all. Minutes of the annual meeting will not be posted to the web site as has been done in the past but will be e-mailed to all members by our Secretary when completed. If you did not attend this gathering, please try to attend next year’s annual meeting, which usually coincides with the Haywood County Apple Festival.

Finally, November is one of my favorite months of the year in that Thanksgiving provides an opportunity for family and friends to gather together to offer thanks to God for the many blessings He has bestowed upon us, not the least of which is the absolute privilege of living in this special part of His creation we call Junaluska Highlands. Cherish and enjoy the time you have with your family during this holiday time.

That’s all for now….

Mac

Mountain Living - October 2015

Fri, 09 Oct 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Time to gt ready for Winter ... and Spring!

Having lived in Junaluska Highlands for over 7 years now, I have come to view the month of October as one of the best times of the year to be in the mountains of western North Carolina. It is a time of transition from the warm, and sometimes hot, days of summer to the cool days of autumn that suggest colder weather is just around the corner. It is also a time that the sun is lower in the sky, reducing the number of sunlit hours in the day and hastening the departure of the green chlorophyll in the leaves of the trees only to expose the pigments of red, yellow, and orange in our fall foliage, to produce a spectacular show of color. October is also a time of preparation for not only the winter months ahead but for the springtime that follows next year. Cool season grass, such as tall fescue, should be over seeded before the middle of the month. When over seeding lawns a starter fertilizer can be applied along with lime where a soil test suggests. Keep the turf moist, but do not mow the newly germinated grass until it reaches a height of between 2 and 3 inches. A final application of fertilizer should be made in November with 1 lb. of nitrogen per 1000 sq. feet. Gradually lower the cutting level on your lawnmower, but never cut more than 1/3 of the grass height at a time, until you make your final cut at the lowest level at the end of October or early November. This will make the task of leaf removable a little easier. Then in December you can take a break, unless you still have leaves to remove.

October is also the month of many fall festivals in our area. Octoberfest in downtown Asheville (October 10th) presents an opportunity to enjoy German staples like bratwurst, pretzels, and of course beer from the many local craft breweries. The Church Street Art & Craft Show is held on Main Street in historic downtown Waynesville (also October 10th) and offers arts and crafts, local food and live entertainment. Finally, the 2015 Haywood County Apple Harvest Festival is held in downtown Waynesville on October 17th and is always a huge draw for arts and crafts and locally grown apples.

Lastly, our Junaluska Highlands Community Association Annual Membership Meeting will be held on Saturday, October 17th at 2:00pm at the Bethea Welcome Center of the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center and is open to all lot owners and homeowners in our community. Lots of information will be shared and officers and directors to our Board will be elected. Immediately following the meeting a social will be held as a relaxing end to an event filled day.

That’s all for now, I hope everyone has a great time in the mountains in October.

Mac

Mountain Living - September 2015

Fri, 04 Sep 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Forecast for a season full of color this fall!

Recently, two articles pertaining to western North Carolina caught my attention. One had to do with the fall foliage forecast and the other had to do with weather predictions for the 2015-2016 winter.

At Western Carolina University there is a biology professor by the name of Kathy Mathews who has over the years become the prognosticator of the level of fall leaf colors each season. Her predictions are scientifically based on historical climate data in the mountains and over time she has proven herself to be more right than wrong. For the approaching fall season, Professor Mathews is predicting “…2015 to be a season full of color, perhaps the best in a long time.” Her conclusions are based on the dry summer we have experienced that will result in more of the brilliant red color in the leaves when the trees stop the process of photosynthesis and loses the chlorophyll green, revealing a class of pigments knows as anthocyanins that turn the leaf red in color . In our area, the color change usually starts in late September at elevations above 4000 feet and works its way down to the lower elevations. One of the many places to view the show of fall color is the Blue Ridge Parkway entrance beyond Maggie Valley and proceeding towards Waynesville, exiting at 19/23/74, the Smokey Mountain Parkway, a spectacular drive.

The Farmer’s Almanac has been around since 1818 when an editor by the name of David Young began to compile data from sunspot activity, moon phases, tidal actions, and more to develop a unique and very specific mathematical formula to predict weather and suggest ideal planting schedules for farmers. That formula has been a carefully guarded secret for 197 years, but has proven to be remarkably accurate. In the 2016 edition of the Farmer’s Almanac, the formula is predicting a “…super cold winter for the southeastern U.S.” Specifically, for the western North Carolina mountains we can expect a normal December, but a colder, with greater moisture levels, for January through February. Considering the bitterness of last winter here, that is not especially good news.

Lastly, our Junaluska Highlands Community Association Annual Meeting has been set for Saturday, October 17 at 2:00pm at the Gains Auditorium of the Bethea Welcome Center at the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center. This is a time when the Members of our association gather to hear about what has taken place in the community during the past year and learn of the plans our Board has made for the future. That weekend is also the weekend of the Haywood County Apple Festival in downtown Waynesville, a street festival of music, crafts, and of course, locally grown apples. Details of the Annual Meeting will be mailed out to Members later this month, but mark your calendars now for this weekend to be in Haywood county.

That’s all for now…

Mac

Mountain Living - August 2015

Sat, 08 Aug 2015 00:00:00 GMT

The Dog Days of Summer!

The proverbial “dog days of summer” have arrived in the mountains of western North Carolina. The term dog days of summer is the name for the sultry period of summer, typically from July 3 to August 11. The Old Farmer’s Almanac explains “the phrase Dog Days conjures up the hottest, most sultry days of summer, coinciding with the rising, at sunrise, of Sirius, the dog star”. The ancient Greeks and Romans believed Sirius to be the brightest star in the summer night, so bright that it was thought that the earth received heat from the big Dog Star, thus creating a stretch of hot and sultry weather. The ancient Greek poet, Homer, wrote in the Iliad :

Sirius rises late in the dark, liquid sky

On summer nights, star of stars,

Orion’s Dog they call it, brightest

Of all, but an evil portent, bringing heat

And fevers to suffering humanity.

Although the dog days of summer are certainly some of the warmest days of the season, the heat is not due to the added radiation from a faraway star, but rather is the direct result of the earth’s tilt toward the sun. Nevertheless, this has been a particularly hot and dry summer – we are still about 4” below our normal rainfall in the mountains and are very much in need of rain. Having said off of this, it is perhaps one of the more lush summers I have witnessed in my seven years in Junaluska Highlands as our trees look green and healthy.

Construction activity continues in our community with two homes under construction and one lot undergoing site preparation. Please remember as you prepare you lot for construction, all county, state, and federal laws regarding erosion control must be adhered to. Any questions on this policy should be referred to the chair of our ARC committee, Ron Brunsvold, or to any member of the ARC. Additional requirements can be found in the Design and Development Guidelines that are posted to the website and are constantly being reviewed by the ARC and our Board. Prior to actual construction of homes, plans must be submitted and approved by the ARC to ensure compliance with the Covenants and Restrictions, a copy of which is also available on the website or through the Haywood County Register of Deeds.

Lastly, just as a reminder, our water provider, Junaluska Sanitary District (JSD) has announced a 5% increase in the water rates due to the Waynesville water rate increase. This rate increase will become effective with the August billings. Please remember to conserve water wherever possible to preserve our precious natural resource.

That’s all for now.

Mac

Mountain Living - July 2015

Sun, 12 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Lots of Independence Day Activities!

Independence Day in Junaluska Highlands brought a mix of sun and clouds and the threat of afternoon thunderstorms. Thus, our annual July 4th picnic and social was moved from our usual venue at the pavilion over to the beautiful home of Bob & Bonnie Manga. A crowd of almost 40 homeowners, lot owners, family and friends gathered to enjoy good fellowship, food, and patriotic remembrances about our nation’s rich history and heritage. We all had an opportunity to reflect upon our most memorable Independence Day event and joined in the singing of America the Beautiful. We had an opportunity to meet our newest neighbors and share their life journeys that brought them to Junaluska Highlands.

The first week in July also brought a number of patriotic events to Lake Junaluska. July 2 brought the award winning and home grown blue grass group, Balsam Range, to a crowd of over 1800 people to Stuart Auditorium. The next two evenings were filled with uplifting and patriotic songs by the Junaluska Singers and the annual Independence Day fireworks display at the Lake. Earlier in the day of the 4th the annual Lake Junaluska Parade took place around the Lake followed by a barbeque at the outdoor Weldon event center. If you have never experienced the Independence Day celebrations at Lake Junaluska you have missed out on a treat and should definitely mark your calendars and plan to visit next year’s events.

As I mentioned last month, two homes are under construction in Junaluska Highlands and site preparations are underway for a third home to begin next year. I continue to receive calls from real estate professionals and prospective buyers about life in our community and my constant reply is “this is a great place in which to live, centrally located and very much a hidden gem in Haywood County.”

That’s all for now. I hope everyone enjoys the summer in the mountains of western North Carolina.

Mac

Mountain Living - June 2015

Wed, 10 Jun 2015 00:00:00 GMT

New construction in the neighborhood!

June has ushered in a flurry of activity in Junaluska Highlands. Last month plans were approved by the ARC and construction is now underway on the 28th home in our community. This month, the ARC approved plans for another home and construction is slated to begin soon on the 29th home in Junaluska Highlands. Additionally, two adjacent lots were re-sold and plans are now being formulated with a construction start anticipated early next year. With this home start we will be more than 50% built out in the development – a healthy sign that the housing economy is rapidly improving, at least in Junaluska Highlands.

June is also a wonderful time for the gardeners in our community as tomato, squash, bean, and other vegetable plants are rapidly growing from the recent rains we have received. Until such time as these vegetables yield their bounties, please remember the two farmers markets we have in Waynesville – the Haywood County Historic Farmers Market which is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays in the parking lot of the HART theater and the Waynesville Tailgate Market which is also open Wednesdays and Saturdays in the parking lot of the American Legion on Legion Drive, behind Bogarts’restaurant. Both markets are currently offering local meats, cheeses, eggs, honey, lettuce, new potatoes, onions, flowers and bedding plants. Help support our Haywood county farmers by visiting these markets for fresh produce and other items.

Also, remember that the beautiful roses along the Rose Walk at Lake Junaluska are now in full bloom, along with many other native annuals and perennials throughout the campus. Additionally, more than 500 native plant species can be seen in the Corneille Bryan Native garden, adjacent to the Lake. These locations are just another benefit we enjoy in living in this most special place in the mountains of western North Carolina.

That’s all for now. Enjoy your summer in the mountains.

Mac

Mountain Living - May 2015

Sun, 10 May 2015 00:00:00 GMT

May flowers are here!

Remember the old adage “April showers bring May flowers”? It is certainly true this year in Junaluska Highlands. After a very wet April, the Forsythia bloomed right on schedule last month and now the Azaleas and Rhododendrons are getting ready to pop out. Coreopsis, Rudbeckia, and Roses of all kinds will not be far behind. Mother’s Day in the mountains of Western North Carolina looks to be a wonderful weekend.

There is so much going on in Junaluska Highlands this month I can hardly mention it all in this small space. On May 16 we will hold our annual clean up and cook out day. Our “do it all volunteer”, David Vittum, is again organizing the activities and at last count we have 26 folk signed up to pull weeds, plant flowers and shrubs, spread mulch and generally spruce up the neighborhood. Following a morning of getting our hands dirty in the soil, we will have an old fashion cook out at the shelter where we will no doubt experience some good food, libations and jocularity. There are a number of new folks in our community since last year and we will take the time to introduce ourselves and get to know them as neighbors.

In Haywood County, there is the “Whole Blooming Thing” celebration on Saturday, May 9 at Frog Level. This is a time you can purchase your tomato plants and other fruit and vegetable plants for spring garden planting. Master Gardeners will be on hand for advice. But don’t be too quick to plant tender vegetation right away: remember the last frost date in our area is May 15. The weekend of May 8, 9 and May 15,16 is the annual Waynesville Mulch and Compost sale. This is when the town opens up the area where last fall’s leaves have been composting over the winter. Logs, sticks, and limbs have been ground up for mulch and both are available for $10 per pick up load. The site is on Baptist Bible Road, off Russ Avenue.

Last month Lot 15/16 was sold to new owners and ground was broken this month for what will be the 28th hone in Junaluska Highlands. Additionally, plans are moving forward for ground breaking on another Lot shortly and an existing home in the community was recently sold. Again, the comments I am receiving from inquiring real estate brokers would indicate Junaluska Highlands continues to be among the most desirable communities in Haywood County.

That’s all for now. Remember, come out and join us for clean-up day on Saturday, May 16 (rain date will be Saturday, May 23).

Mac

Mountain Living - April 2015

Sun, 05 Apr 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Lawns & Fertilizer ... and Butterflies and Hummingbirds too!

This month I was going to write about the Monarch Butterfly, an insect that I have become rather fascinated with over the years and one that is vital to our agricultural and horticultural industries, but is rapidly shrinking in numbers in our area. However, I received several calls this month in the extension office plant clinic regarding lawns and fertilizers, so I will save the Monarch for another day and talk a little about lawns in our area.

When the weather in the mountains transitions from winter to spring, people get motivated to do something to hasten along the greening of their lawns. All too often it is off to the big box stores to buy whatever fertilizer is on sale and dump it on the lawn and hope for the best. This is probably one of the worst things to do to encourage a green, healthy lawn. We really need to understand what is going on in our lawns before we can develop a plan to assist it. First and foremost is to do a soil test (available at the extension office) to find out specific information on pH levels and the three basic chemical elements of the soil. Most soils in our area are clay loam, acidic in nature, and are in need of some amendments to provide a proper growing medium. A soil test will tell us what the pH level is and how much lime is needed to “sweeten” and bring it up to ideal lawn growing conditions. For turf grasses in our area a pH of 6.5 to 7.0 is optimum for proper nutrient availability. The soil test will also indicate how much nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) is needed in the soil for proper nutrients. These are the 3 numbers on every fertilizer bag, so that a 100 pound bag of 10-18-16 has 10 pounds of nitrogen, 18 pounds of phosphorus, and 16 pounds of potassium. The point is: apply only the needed nutrients and in the proper proportions, based on the results of the soil test. All too often too much nitrogen is applied to bring about a quick greening only to later damage the turf with too much of this chemical when warmer weather sets in.

In our area, cool season grasses tend to perform the best. They grow best in the spring and fall, are less active in the summer, but still maintain a nice color just about all year long. Tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescue, and ryegrass are examples of cool season grasses. Warm season grasses grow best in the summer and go dormant after the first frost. Bermuda, zoysia, and St. Augustine are examples of warm season grasses. Fall is the ideal time to plant or over seed a cool season turf, but seeding can be done in the spring so long as a crab grass pre-emergent is not applied at the time of seeding as any pre-emergent will cause all seeds, including the good grass seeds, not to germinate. Also remember that the soil temperature needs to be at least 60 degrees for proper seed germination. Sufficient water after seeding is necessary to cause germination and proper root growth and should be reduced after the shoots are 1” to 2”. Sunshine should be at least 6 hours per day.

My experience has been that establishing and maintaining a beautiful turf is part science and part art. Given a little preparation and proper timing, the results can be most rewarding.

That’s all for now.

Mac

p.s. Don’t forget to clean and put out your hummingbird feeders this month. The scout hummers will be back by April 15!

Mountain Living - March 2015

Wed, 04 Mar 2015 00:00:00 GMT

March - a new beginning - Spring is on the way

The month of March. It means many different things to many people. In ancient times, the month of March signaled the beginning of the New Year. In 45 B.C. Julius Caesar set March 25 as the spring equinox, one of only two times during the year that the plane of the earth’s equator passes across the center of the sun. In modern times folks refer to the spring equinox, or vernal equinox, as that time in which daytime and nights are of equal duration. This year, this celebrated event falls on Friday, March 20, 12 days after the beginning of Daylight Saving Time on March 8.

March is also celebrated as the beginning of NCAA basketball conference and tournament play, often referred to as “March Madness”. Those of us who identify with this culture look forward to the plethora of college basketball games that take us into April, culminating with the national championship game in Indianapolis.

No matter what you look forward to in March, the spring equinox, Daylight Saving Time, or basketball madness, March heralds a new beginning, an awaking from the doldrums of winter and a hope for the spring season to come. As Susan and I recently took our dogs on a walk around Lake Junaluska on an especially warm day, the crocus were emerging, singing their song that winter is over. Daffodils and Jonquils are also sprouting and will shortly be displaying their vibrant blooms. We in the Junaluska Highlands community will also awake as well and come out of our winter hibernation and once more get out to meet and great our neighbors. Enjoy this most beautiful part of God’s creation we call the mountains of North Carolina as we celebrate a new beginning in Junaluska Highlands.

That’s all for now.

Mac

Mountain Living - February 2015

Fri, 06 Feb 2015 00:00:00 GMT

6 more weeks of winter?!

Depending upon which groundhog event you subscribe to, we may be in for six more weeks of winter. That may be a dreary thought to some, but for those of us who like to play in the dirt in spring and summer, it gives us a chance to look at seed catalogues and plan for the upcoming planting season. For those of us who are fortunate to live in Haywood County, it gives us an opportunity to place our orders for the 2015 Haywood County Master Gardener’s plant sale. This is an annual event for us Master Gardeners and a way in which funds are raised for educational programs to promote gardening in the county. The sale date is April 11, 2015, but pre-orders and payment must be received at the Haywood County Cooperative Extension Office by March 13, 2015. An order form is attached for your convenience and I would urge you to support this important Master Gardener program while obtaining some quality plants selected just for this area.

This month we welcome our newest permanent resident to Junaluska Highlands, Barbara Jo White. Barbara is a professor at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, N.C. Barbara and her pet rabbit moved into their new home earlier this month and we wish to extend to both a very warm welcome to our community.

I continue to receive calls from real estate professionals and individuals asking about Junaluska Highlands. When I inquire as to what attracts them to our development, I hear it is because we are centrally located, have wide paved streets with lighting, and that everyone maintains their property nicely. All of this is true and we are blessed to live in such a nice part of God’s creation.

That’s all for now.

Mac

Mountain Living - January 2015

Wed, 07 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Happy New Year from WNC!

Happy New Year everyone from the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina and our lovely community of Junaluska Highlands. The frantic times of the holidays are behind us and we can now settle down for what has been predicted to be a very cold winter. With sufficient advance warning of severe weather to come and preparations with stocks of food, fuel, and libations, we will all make it through.

This month I want to reflect on all the folks that work together to make Junaluska Highlands one of the most desirable places to live within Haywood County. We are a tight knit, caring community in which everyone pulls together to improve our lifestyle.

As you enter Junaluska Highlands off Rogers Cove Road, you pass through our estate gate and may wonder who keeps this gate in proper working condition and attends to changing the gate code each quarter. That would be Phil Casso and Wally Surak. Proceeding up Breckenridge Road, we have Buck Williams, George Patrick, and David Vittum (David also maintains our community directory), to thank for the tireless efforts they contribute to maintaining our some 3.5 miles of paved roads by scheduling grounds maintenance to keep the shoulders mowed and the roads clear of debris along with snow removal and salt treatment when weather conditions require. This group also monitors our many street lights and notifies Duke Energy when an outage is detected. As you might imagine, someone has to keep our vendors paid on time and this is the job of Sam Bell and Kathie McCracken, who spend countless hours handling our finances. David McCracken is our liaison to our sister community, Avalon. Kathy Gross maintains our records and minutes from our Board meetings and Annual Meetings. Kathy Bell is our social committee chairwoman and along with the many members of her committee are constantly busy welcoming new residents and lot owners and planning our many social affairs. Our webmaster, Ron Brunsvold, is also the chairman of our ARC (Architectural Review Committee) and along with the other members of his group reviews new building plans to ensure consistency with our Covenants & Restrictions. Seasonal decorations are very quietly done by Vicki Williams and Jan Vittum, and others without even being asked to do so. That leave me with very little to do other than write these messages each month.

There are countless others that I may have failed to name that contribute their time and talents to keeping the community looking good all year long, especially during our annual spring cleanup. I just thought you might want to know who makes Junaluska Highlands the quality community it has a reputation of being. If you have any comments to any of these individuals, you may contact them by clicking on the contact form on this website.

That’s all for now. Everyone stay safe and warm.

Mac

Mountain Living - December 2014

Wed, 10 Dec 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Snow for the holidays!

Snow is falling as I write these words this winter afternoon. The good news is the temperature will probably not fall enough to allow any accumulation today. However, in the future if snow or ice accumulates on our roads, please know our roads maintenance contractor is prepared to clear them with salt, sand, and brine that we have stockpiled on site.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and had a chance to be with your families. Thanksgiving is one of those special celebrations that families should be together to reflect upon the many blessings that have been bestowed upon us by our Creator. Certainly, those of us who have been blessed to live in the wonderful community of Junaluska Highlands have much to be thankful for.

For this, the last President’s Corner message for 2014, I have elected to deliver a very short statement by saying I sincerely hope that everyone has a joyous and blessed Christmas season. Regardless of your beliefs, remember the true meaning of Christmas not just for one day, but carry the Christmas spirit throughout the coming year.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

Mac

Mountain Living - November 2014

Sat, 08 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Halloween brought the first snow of the season!

While winter does not officially begin until next month, old man winter paid a visit to Junaluska Highlands earlier this month. Our first measurable snowfall of the season began Halloween night and continued on into the first day of November, depositing some 3 inches of a wet snow in the community. It was a very pretty snow, sticking to the trees and grass but as the roads were still relatively warm, no significant snow or ice accumulated on our roads. Had it been colder to allow the snow and ice to accumulate on the roads our road maintenance contractor was prepared to come scrape the roads and/or put down ice melt to ensure the safety of our residents that had to get out of the community. The contract with our road maintenance contractor provides that the roads be scraped and/or treated whenever necessary, no matter how often it is required, at a fixed cost. What does vary is the expense of ice melt, which last year averaged approximately $400 to $700 per application. However, we will always place the safety of maintaining our roads above whatever expense is necessary to achieve that goal. Our Vice-President, Buck Williams; Director George Patrick; and ARC member, David Vittum will monitor the weather conditions of each snow event and make the appropriate call to our road maintenance contractor as required. Any concerns our residents have regarding our road clearing policies during a snow event can be sent to any of these individuals via the contact tab on this website or directly by phone.

On Saturday, October 18, we held our 2014 Annual Meeting at the Bethea Welcome Center of the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center. The date coincided with the Haywood County Apple Festival and turned out to be a beautiful day weather-wise to be in the mountains. The meeting was attended by 38 homeowners and lot owners. Much information was shared regarding the happenings in Junaluska Highlands, including the 2015 budget and the Montrose Lane mud slide remediation. Later this month, the unofficial minutes of this meeting will be posted on the website. After the meeting was concluded, a social was held at the beautiful home of Jan and David Vittum in Junaluska Highlands and was well attended. Our sincere thanks to Jan and David for opening up their home and providing good food and wonderful hospitality.

That’s all for now. I hope each of you have a joyous and safe Thanksgiving with your families.

Mac

Mountain Living - October 2014

Mon, 06 Oct 2014 00:00:00 GMT

"Black squirrel winter coming?"

As a Haywood County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer I have to volunteer hours at the Extension Office each year to maintain my credentials. Recently I was in the plant clinic assisting the Horticultural Extension Agent and helping homeowners with questions regarding gardening and plant issues. Interestingly, I received two calls that day, both asking about the significance of the over- abundance of acorns this year. Master Gardeners are trained to only answer questions or give advice based on research based information provided through N.C. State University. While I could find no specific research on the supply of acorns this year, a local native came into the plant clinic on an unrelated matter and I took the opportunity to ask him if he knew what the large acorn supply meant. Having lived in Haywood County all of his life, he stated that he had always heard that the over- abundance of acorns was an omen for what he called a “black squirrel winter” and was nature’s way of providing food for animals, mostly bears, to fatten them up for the coming winter and that such a condition usually signaled a harsh winter to follow. Needless to say this is not a position that is founded on scientific research and I am sure the folks at N.C. State would frown on putting this theory forward; however I thought it to be an interesting tale and hope the coming winter does not rival the previous winter in any way.

On Saturday, October 18, 2014, we will hold our Association Annual Meeting in the Gaines Auditorium of the Bethea Welcome Center at Lake Junaluska Retreat and Conference Center at 2:00pm sharp. Many events have transpired since our last Annual Meeting and this will be a time that the Membership has an opportunity to understand how our Board of Directors has addressed these issues and managed the affairs of our community. We will have a power point presentation on the Montrose Lane slope slide and the extensive work that was required to remediate this problem and restore safety and structural integrity to the road bed. We will also discuss our financial condition and what measures the Board has undertaken to provide for the replenishment of our reserve fund out of which these expenses were paid. This is really the only time of the year that the Membership has an open forum regarding the activities within our community. I would encourage all lot owners and homeowners to attend this important event, that by the way, coincides with the Haywood County Apple Festival and should be a wonderful time to be in the expected colorful time in the mountains of western North Carolina. Following our meeting we will have a community social to relax and met or re-acquaint with our neighbors. If circumstances prohibit your attendance at the Annual Meeting, please return the proxy form that was sent out in the September 15, 2014 letter giving notice of this meeting or request a duplicate proxy from our Secretary, Kathy Gross, through the contact form tab on this website. It is vital we have a quorum of at least 50% of our members either in person or by proxy in order to conduct the business of the Association.

That’s all for now, hope to see everyone at the Annual Meeting.

Mac

Mountain Living - September 2014

Mon, 15 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Saddened at the passing of one of our community.

Most times when I sit down to compose these messages it is with a joyful heart that we live in such a caring and beautiful mountain community. That feeling is tempered this month as we are all saddened over the passing of Jennifer Santoro. Jennifer was a gifted musician and mother and an outstanding Christian woman. The entire Junaluska Highlands community morns the loss of Jennifer and all of our thoughts and prayers are with Steve and Jordan at this most difficult time of their loss.

The heat of this summer is now moderating in the mountains of western North Carolina as we enter the pre-fall dog days of September. Pleasant days followed by crisp evenings signal that autumn is just around the corner, ideal for a brisk walk around Lake Junaluska. Our entrance gate is all decked out for the season thanks to Vicki Williams, Beth Doucet and Jerry Doucet, who really spruced up the area. Later this year we will begin our annual leaf removal and culvert cleaning to keep our roads clean and safe.

Later this month I will be sending out the formal notice of our Annual Meeting on Saturday, October 18, 2014 as required by our By-Laws. Included in that mailing will be the agenda for our meeting along with the minutes from our 2013 Annual Meeting, and very important information on the Association’s finances. We also have three officers whose terms expire this year and have agreed to run for re-election. Also, during our meeting information on the Montrose Lane landslide remediation will be shared. At the conclusion of our meeting, Jan and David Vittum will graciously open up their home for a social. I hope all members of our Association will make every effort to attend this Annual Meeting.

That’s all for now. Hope to see everyone at the Annual Meeting.

Mac

Mountain Living - August 2014

Mon, 25 Aug 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Looking for great fall colors this year!

There is an Associate Professor of Biology at Western Carolina University by the name of Kathy Gould Mathews who for many years has issues what she calls her Fall Foliage Forecast. Professor Mathews, who specializes in an area of Biology called plant systematics, has issued her 2014 Western North Carolina Fall Foliage Forecast and is calling for “… excellent color in the North Carolina mountains this fall with higher levels of yellow, orange, and red pigments”, beginning in September and continuing on into October. I will not go into the scientific basis of Professor Mathews’ conclusions, as I don’t really understand them myself, but it is exciting to look forward to a more colorful fall here in the mountains. The color should still be blazing for our Annual Meeting on Saturday, October 18, 2014 at the Bethea Welcome Center on the campus of the Lake Junaluska Retreat and Conference Center. I will be putting a letter out in September detailing more about our meeting and hope all can attend.

We have run into an issue on the Montrose Lane slope slide that will require additional funds to properly complete the project. It seems the soil that was extracted from the fill side (south side) of Montrose Lane has a moisture content that is too high to be placed back into the excavated area to fill the Terramesh baskets used to stabilize the slope. Therefore, we have had to contract to bring in dry soil from our sister community, Avalon, to finalize the project. Our Board will be meeting later this month to adopt the 2015 Budget and consider how the total cost of the Montrose Lane remediation project will be paid for. This will be a major topic of discussion at our Annual Meeting in October.

The two homes that were begun late last year are now complete and another home began construction in July. There are rumblings that another home will begin construction later this year or early next year. Please remember the ARC must review and approve all plans for construction or alterations prior to the commencement of construction. All building information and required forms are available on our website. You may also contact our ARC Chairman, Ron Brunsvold, through the communications page on the website.

That’s all for now. Make your plans to attend the Annual Meeting in October.

Mac

Mountain Living - July 2014

Tue, 22 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMT

The July 4th Picnic was a smashing success!

Our annual July 4th Picnic was a smashing success with over 40 residents, lot owners, family and friends in attendance. Unlike the previous two years celebrations that were held in my garage due to inclement weather, the 2014 picnic was blessed with simply outstanding mountain weather. We welcomed three new families into the Junaluska Highlands community and everyone enjoyed the good food and fellowship of the afternoon. Our thanks to our Social Chairperson, Kathy Bell, for planning and organizing this event.

Work began this month on the Montrose Lane slope side remediation. Our contractor and engineer began the process of stabilizing the fill bank side of the slide area to insure the integrity of the road bed and prevent further damage. It is anticipated the repairs with take between 30 and 60 days, depending on how the weather cooperates. More about this project will be presented at our Annual Meeting in October.

Speaking of our Annual Meeting, it has been scheduled for Saturday, October 18, 2014 at 2:00pm at the Bethea Welcome Center on the campus of the Lake Junaluska Assembly. This is the same weekend as the Haywood County Apple Festival in downtown Waynesville, one of the most well attended events in the county. Also, if past history is any indication, the fall colors should be in full swing on that weekend. More information will be mailed out in September regarding this meeting and the issues to be discussed.

Finally, for those who are not familiar with or have never attended the Folkmoot USA Festival, it begins on Friday, July 18 and runs through July 27. This is the 31st annual State International Festival of North Carolina and is a celebration of the world’s many cultures through music and dance from nine world cultures and 300 performers. Further information is available from the website www.folkmootusa.org .

That’s all for now. Hope everyone has a great summer.

Mac

Mountain Living - June 2014

Thu, 03 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Summer has come to stay!

Spring is now just a fading memory as summer has come to stay in Junaluska Highlands. The abundance of the spring rains has brought about one of the lusher greening out of the local foliage in recent memory. Everyone’s garden is off to a great start and we are all just crossing our fingers that the blight will not return to damage the crops as it did last year.

Activity in the community continues at a rapid pace. One home that was under construction last year has now been completed and another is nearing completion. Ground has been broken on yet another home and I understand a lot has recently been purchased with the expectation of beginning construction soon. Just a reminder that all building plans for new construction as well as additions to existing homes must have the approval of our ARC (Architectural Review Committee) prior to beginning construction. Refer to the Building Info tab on the website for further information.

Next month we will celebrate Independence Day with our annual July 4th community wide social. Our social committee has been hard at work for some time planning this event, which will take place at the shelter next to the upper pond. In the event of inclement weather, we have secured an alternative venue. If you are a member of the Junaluska Highlands Community Association family and have not received an e-mail notice of this event, please contact our social committee chairperson, Kathy Bell, by clicking on the Contact Form tab on the website.

Our Board has set the date for our Annual Membership Meeting for Saturday, October 18, 2014, at the Lake Junaluska Bethea Welcome Center. Mark your calendars for this important meeting and further information will be forthcoming.

That’s all for now, enjoy the summer in Junaluska Highlands.

Mac

Mountain Living - May 2014

Sat, 03 May 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Spring is here!

I believe it is now safe to say that spring has officially come to the mountains of western North Carolina. After a few sub-freezing days in late April, the weather has been absolutely perfect since with cool, crisp mornings and very pleasant afternoons with highs in the upper 60's to low
70' s. After a brutal winter most of the perennials have leafed out and are returning the lush green to the community. Among the exceptions are butterfly bushes and hybrid tea roses along with knock out roses. I am going to give mine another week to see if they will reemerge from their long winter's sleep.

Speaking of greening out, Junaluska Highlands Community Association held its annual spring planting and beautification day earlier this month. 19 residents turned out to trim bushes, rake leaves, pull weeds, plant annuals, and spread mulch at the gate entrance and along Breckenridge Road and down at the pavilion. The community now looks absolutely beautiful as a result of the efforts of these volunteers, who were treated to an old fashion hamburger and hot dog roast after the workday. Our sincere thanks to David and Jan Vittum for organizing, pre-planting, and directing the work crews in this initiative. See the pictures of this happy crew elsewhere on the site.

The Architectural Review Committee (ARC) has approved plans for another home in Junaluska Highlands and construction is under way. This is in addition to the two homes already under construction and I have received rumors of yet a fourth home that may start shortly. Regarding the ARC, David Vittum has graciously agreed to serve on the ARC along with Patti Surak, and chaired by Ron Brunsvold. Don't forget to get approval of any new plans for construction in Junaluska Highlands from the ARC before you begin construction.

Lastly, the contract for the remediation of the landslide on Montrose Lane has been let and work should begin shortly. The project is expected to be completed in 30 to 60 days and will stabilize the fill side of Montrose Lane and ensure the integrity of the road bed that was damaged by the excessive rains that fell last year. We have also had to effect repairs to the upper pond dam to ensure its stability and integrity.

That's all for now. Enjoy this outstanding springtime in the mountains.

Mac

Mountain Living - April 2014

Mon, 07 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMT

April showers are here!

There is an old saying that "April showers bring May flowers". As I write this in the first few days of April, we are expecting a steady rain over the next several days, perhaps as much as 2 inches. This will be a welcomed rain for the mountains of western North Carolina as we are about 4 inches behind our normal for the year. This will also be beneficial for the May flowers that are expected next month. However, as most of us are chomping at the bit to go play in the dirt and begin planting annuals, please be mindful that the last frost date for Haywood County is May 15, meaning we could get an unexpected killing frost anytime between now and the middle of next month. Speaking of expected events in Haywood County, mark your calendars for Sunday, April 27 for the 79th Annual Ramp Festival at the American Legion Field in Waynesville. For those who do not know what a ramp is, it is a naturally grown wild onion found native to western North Carolina, the flavor of which you will not easily forget.

Kevin Alford, our professional engineer, has completed his specifications for the remedy to the Montrose Lane slope slide that took place last year and has put the proposal out for bid to certain pre-qualified contractors. We should have the numbers back soon, at which time the Board will determine the best, most cost effective, and practical approach to correct the slide and insure the integrity and safety of the road bed.

The spring is typically the time of year we as a community come together to pitch in and work on the landscape and beautification of our
neighborhood. One of our newest residents, David Vittum, will be heading up the event this year, which is scheduled for a Saturday in late May. David will be putting the word out soon as to what tasks need to be done and will be soliciting volunteers to work. More about this initiative next month.

The Architectural Review Committee (ARC)tells me they have approved another home for construction in Junaluska Highlands and ground should be broken soon.

Mountain Living - March 2014

Fri, 07 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMT

March coming in like a lion!

I believe there is an old saying that "March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb". This is particularly true tonight, at least the first part, as we are under a Winter Weather Advisory for all of Haywood County calling for periods of snow, sleet, and freezing rain. It would seem that after a harsh winter in the mountains that Mother Nature would cut us a break, but such is life in the mountains of western North Carolina. Incidentally, the forecasted high for this weekend is 62 degrees and the Vernal Equinox, the official start of spring, is just two weeks away. It is always tempting to those of us who like to get our hands dirty in the soil to begin to think about spring planting. However, in Haywood County the last frost date is May 10 and any planning prior to that date is subject to grave disappointment. Things continue to progress in Junaluska Highlands with two homes presently under construction. The Architectural Review Committee (ARC) tells me another home is under review and construction may begin in the spring. I view this as a favorable sign that our community continues to be a sought after place to live and one that we can all take pride in.

We will hold a community work day this spring to tidy up the neighborhood after the ravages of the winter. Colorful annuals will be planted at the entrance gate and along Breckenridge Road. Trees will be trimmed and/or removed as necessary, and a fresh topping of mulch will be put down for a finishing touch. This has traditionally been a time the folks of Junaluska Highlands come out for a morning of gardening and socialization, followed by a light lunch together. More on this happening as we get a little further into spring.

It always impresses me by the many talents we have among the residents of Junaluska Highlands. Such is the case with Joyce Brunsvold with her traditional and modern designs in her quilting. Joyce is among the many artists whose work is part of the Local Flavors Show at Gallery 86 in Waynesville, now through March 29th. It is well worth the time to visit Gallery 86 and see Joyce's handiworks.

That's all for now. March Madness begins in a few days. Go Heels!

Mountain Living - February 2014

Mon, 17 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Winter in the Mountains - Snow everywhere!

Happy February, everyone:

As I write this there is perhaps 2-3 inches of wet snow on the ground with the forecast of another 4-6 inches over the next two days. Such is the season of winter in western North Carolina. You just have to plan ahead and hunker down for the duration. It has made for a very pretty scene in the community and I hope someone submits some pictures to Ron Brunsvold through the website.

We have again tried to stay ahead of the winter conditions by salting and sanding the roads in anticipation of the snow and ice and scraping when necessary. Our contractor, A&A, has done an excellent job in keeping the roads clear. However, as previously stated, nothing substitutes for advanced planning and prudent judgment when driving on wintery roads.

At our Board meeting this month, the Board approved a proposal submitted by Alford Engineering, RLLP, of Maggie Valley to remediate the slide condition on Montrose Lane. Alford will engineer and design the necessary repairs using a process called a “Terramesh Wall” to shore up the slide area and stabilize the bank and the roadbed. Construction will begin in early spring and take about 30-60 days, assuming unforeseen issues are not encountered. The process of soliciting bids and vetting construction firms has been an arduous process and the Association owes a debt of gratitude to Board members Buck Williams and George Patrick for their efforts.

Over the last several weeks we have seen the last of the two existing homes for sale in Junaluska Highlands be sold. Additionally, we presently have two homes under construction that should be completed sometime this year. I am also receiving calls from real estate professionals and potential lot buyers seeking information about building and living in Junaluska Highlands. I view all of this as a positive reflection on the value of our community and a sign the economy is headed in the right direction.

Earlier this month, about 14 of our residents and friends attended “1964 The Tribute” at Western Carolina University at Cullowhee, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Beatles in the USA. Our social committee chairperson, Kathy Bell, organized a very nice outing that included lunch before the concert and we all enjoyed a walk down memory lane back to the Sunday night the Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan show for the first time. Thanks, Kathy!

Thanks all for now. Everyone stay warm and think about the prospects of warmer weather this spring.

Mac

Mountain Living - January 2014

Mon, 06 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to All!

I sincerely hope everyone had a joyous Christmas and a safe and prosperous beginning to 2014. We are cold in the mountains of western North Carolina. As I write this the temperature is 19 degrees, which will probably be the high today. Tonight the forecast is for the temperature to plummet to -1 degrees. Let’s hope the cold weather has caused our bears to seek hibernation.

We continue to try to stay out front of the snow and ice by having our road contractor, A&A Contractors, salt and sand the roads prior to the arrival of inclement weather and scrape when necessary. However, nothing can substitute for good judgment when planning to drive on the roads in ice and snow.

I believe it is safe to say that the conversion of our community water system over to municipally supplied water by Junaluska Sanitary District is finally complete. JSD had some issues with adjusting the pressure valves throughout the community and this caused some cloudiness and air in the water, but it appears all is now normal. Should you have any problems with water quality, contact JSD at 452-1178. JSD also installed 4 new fire hydrants in the community which should further assist firefighting equipment should it be necessary.

The Board continues to monitor the Montrose Lane slide issue and will take the necessary and appropriate action to secure the safety of the roadbed.

Just a reminder that 2014 assessments were mailed out in December, 2013 and are due by February 1, 2014. Contact our Treasurer, Sam Bell, through the website should you have any questions regarding the assessments.

That’s all for now. Hope everyone stays safe, sound, and warm this winter.

Mac

Mountain Living - December 2013

Mon, 09 Dec 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Happy Holidays and Season's Greetings from WNC!

Greetings from Junaluska Highlands:

As I write this tonight, warmed by a glowing fire, it is a joy to look northward in the community, toward Utah Mountain, and see the many homes decorated for Christmas. Looking from west to east, the Casso’s, the Coleman’s, the Surak’s, the Santoro’s and the Brunsvold’s. At the ridgeline, the Mistretta’s, the Bell’s, the William’s, and our newest neighbors, David and Jan Vittum are all decked out in anticipation of the season. A special thanks to Vicki and Buck Williams for taking the time to decorate the front gate and our sign posts with holiday cheer. This is truly a special time of the year to be in the mountains of western North Carolina.

We had our first significant snow of the season last month and our road contractor, A&A Contractors, was able to pretreat the roads in an effort to minimize the dangers of icy and slick areas. We will continue to do the best we can to anticipate ice and snow on our roads and treat accordingly. However, good judgment in driving under adverse conditions is always the best approach to take.

In late November a Knox Box was installed on our main gate to allow emergency vehicles access to the community without a gate code. The Board felt this was a necessary and rather inexpensive step to insure rapid response of police, fire, and EMT teams without being delayed at the gate.

Last month we made the transition from our own community well to municipally supplied water from JSD. We anticipated that there would be transitional issues in the process but didn’t expect them to last as long as they did. Hopefully, JSD has stabilized the water pressure through the several pressure valves throughout the community and the water quality and pressure should steadily improve. Thanks to everyone for their tolerance and patience during this period. Should you have any problems with your water, please call JSD at 452-1178.

Our Annual Meeting was held last month and we saw perhaps the best attended meeting in recent memory. Lots of information was shared and received about how to make Junaluska Highlands a better place in which to live and the Board will take these matters under advisement in the future. The Montrose Lane slope slide continues to be one of the major issues before the Board. Several engineers and contractors have been interviewed to date regarding what should be done to secure this site and roadbed. Improvements have been made to the drainage ditches on the north and aqua diverters have been installed on the south side in an effort to divert water away from the slope and prevent further erosion. The Board will continue to monitor this area and will do what is necessary to ensure the safety and stability of the road.

I believe we are truly blessed to live in this most special place in God’s creation. May you and your family have a joyous Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year.

Mac

Mountain Living - November 2013

Thu, 07 Nov 2013 00:00:00 GMT

We now have municipal water!

The big news this month is that we now have municipal water in Junaluska Highlands! After over a year, petitioning JSD (Junaluska Sanitary District) to become part of the JSD service area, working with JSD on the transition from our community well to municipally supplied water, waiting for the construction of the pipeline from route 209 into Avalon, the cut over finally took place earlier this month. We now enjoy a clean, reliable source of water from the Waynesville reservoir, which is among the best water in western North Carolina. Additionally, all water sources in Haywood County, including the Waynesville reservoir, originate in Haywood County and are not subject to interference or control by outside influences. While our community well system served its purpose adequately, municipal water supplied by JSD is a better quality water and certainly more reliable. The providing of water by JSD should also enhance all property values within JH.

The Board continues to monitor the situation regarding the Montrose Lane landslide that took place earlier this year from the torrential rains. Repairs have been made to the shoulders to stabilize the banks and provide better drainage away from the slide site in an attempt to maintain the integrity of the road bed. This expense was paid by Association reserve funds. If additional repairs become necessary, the Board will decide on a course of action that ensures safety of this area and will determine how this cost should be borne.

We would like to welcome David and Jan Vittum to Junaluska Highlands. David and Jan are now the proud owners of the home on lot 45 at 107 Fincher Mountain Road and hope to be moving soon from their Atlanta area home to become full time residents. Both recently retired, Jan from public education and David from the internet banking industry, they have two grown children and enjoy hiking and tennis.

That’s all for now. I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving. We all have so very much to be thankful for.

Mac

Mountain Living - October 2013

Fri, 04 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Mountain living at it's best!

I can’t imagine any place better to be at this time of the year than Junaluska Highlands in the western mountains of North Carolina. Crisp, cool nights followed by pleasant, moderate temperatures during the day make for terrific weather. We are already beginning to see some indication of the turning of the leaves at the higher elevations. Virginia Creeper is now a brilliant red and is to be followed by dogwoods, tulip poplars, red and silver maples, black walnut, river birch, and finally the red, white and black oaks. I volunteered to answer the phones at the Haywood County Extension office earlier this week and fielded numerous calls from folks asking what kind of winter we should expect to see in the mountains. The Farmer’s Almanac is forecasting a colder than normal winter with greater precipitation. The old timers talk about the colors of the wooly worms and the abundant amount of acorns that are falling from the oak trees as a precursor to a severe winter. Only Mother Nature knows what she will bring our way in terms of weather this winter and we will just have to adapt to whatever it is.

I trust all Lot owners and Homeowners have received my letter of September 15, 2013 announcing our Annual Meeting on Saturday, October 19, 2013 at 2:00pm at the Bethea Welcome Center at the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center. It contains a lot of information regarding what we will be discussing including important changes to our By Laws, the presentation of our 2014 budget, updates on our roads and water, and brief bios on folks who will be running for election to our Board. I urge everyone to attend this Annual Meeting and ask that your contact our Secretary, Jerry Doucet, at jddoucet@ymail.com prior to October 5, 2013 indicating your intentions to be present or complete and return the General Proxy form to Jerry by October 5, 2013. We must have a quorum of at least 50% of Members present or by Proxy in order to conduct the business of the Association. Immediately following the Annual Meeting, we will meet at Beth and Jerry Doucet’s home for a social time of making new or renewing old acquaintances.

Don’t forget to take advantage of Ron Brunsvold’s photo challenge and send your pictures of landscapes, nature scenes, mountain ranges, or any other photo within our beautiful community to Ron through our web site at www.junaluskahighlands.com . However, a word of full disclosure: Ron is a professional photographer and has taken some stunning pictures of absolutely gorgeous scenery here.

That is all for now. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the Annual Meeting.

Mac

Mountain Living - September 2013

Mon, 09 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Autumn is in the air!

Although autumn does not officially begin until later this month, there is already a cool change in the air in the mountains, signaling things to come. My lower deck is lined with plants in containers that I have accumulated over the last several weeks just waiting for the last hot days of summer to pass so I can get them in the ground. Susan reminds me that we are only in the 5th year of our 12 year landscaping plan and each year I look forward to this time of the season that is best for planting.

Exciting things are beginning to happen in Junaluska Highlands. Charles and Kathy Gross have broken ground on their new home on lot 8 on Kinross Lane. Ciro and Josie Sotelo have prepared their building site on lot 31 on Inverness Drive and should begin construction of their new home shortly. We welcome these new neighbors and look forward to their being a permanent part of our community.

I would like to provide to you an update on the landslide issue on Montrose Lane. After extensive and exhaustive meetings with engineers and contractors, the Board feels we may have found a safe, practical and less expensive approach to the issue, albeit it may only be a temporary fix. You will recall the slide took place on the fill side of Montrose Lane (south side) back in January as a result of torrential rains in the mountains. Original estimates of repairs ranged from $110,000.00 to well over $200,000.00 using a process called soil nailing to stabilize the bank. These estimates were well beyond the Association’s present cash reserves. Our options were to place a special assessment initiative before the membership to cover this extraordinary expense or to look for less expensive alternatives that could be paid out of Association reserves without a special assessment. Due to the tireless efforts of our Vice-President, Buck Williams, and Director, George Patrick, a plan was developed to improve the drainage ditch and the slope on the north side of Montrose Lane, create berms and shoulder improvement on the south side of Montrose Lane, and install an aqua diverter (no, it is not a speed bump) on Montrose Lane with the express purpose of diverting water away from the fill bank. Again, this may only be a temporary fix and we will continue to monitor the situation for any signs of erosion that may affect the safety and structural integrity of the road bed. Should evidence develop that suggests additional work needs to be done to shore up the fill bank to prevent further erosion; we would have to incur additional costs that may or may not be made from Association reserves. Thanks to Buck and George for spearheading this project.

You will recall that last month I informed everyone of the Association Annual Meeting on Saturday, October 19. We will have some important business issues to discuss and vote on, including the election of a new Board Member (Assistant Treasurer and Controller) and Secretary to the Board to replace Kathy Coleman and Jerry Doucet, respectively, who are rotating off after 4 years of valuable service. These are two key positions on our Board and I would ask that anyone interesting in serving on the Board in these capacities contact me as soon as possible. The ARC is also in need of additional folks to serve.

Finally, we would welcome pictures that you have taken in our beautiful community and wish to have posted to the website. These could be landscapes, nature, or other shots taken in Junaluska Highlands. We can’t guarantee we can post all pictures due to space limitations, but you may send them to our webmaster, Ron Brunsvold at ron@junaluskahighlands.com.

That is all for now. Please mark your calendars for the Annual Meeting on Saturday, October 19 at 2:00pm. More details to follow.

Mac

Welcome to the site - August 2013

Tue, 03 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Welcome to Junaluska Highlands Community Association’s new website!

We are pleased and very proud to finally have our own website and hope you find it both beneficial and helpful in the exchange of information and happenings within our community. Please check the site periodically for new postings and events as the site will constantly be changing. Also, note the Contact Form tab that allows a message to be sent to the Association on any topic. If you have suggestions for how this website can be improved or better serve the needs of our members, please let us know.

We are indebted to Ron Brunsvold for his work in creating the website and his willingness to serve as our webmaster. Kudos to you, Ron.

While a formal announcement will be sent out by mail next month, I wanted to tell everyone now that our Association Annual Meeting will be held on Saturday, October 19, 2013, from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm in the beautiful Gaines Auditorium at the Lake Junaluska Bethea Welcome Center at Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center. This weekend coincides with the Haywood County Apple Festival and should be a wonderful time to be in the mountains of Western North Carolina for our out of town friends. At that time we will be receiving the 2014 Budget which the Board of Directors approved this month (which, by the way, does not include any annual dues increase), hearing the various committee reports, voting on changes to our By Laws, and electing one Officer and one Board Member. I hope you will mark your calendar and plan to attend.

2013 has been a very challenging year thus far for our community with all the rain and we are looking forward to the cooler days of Autumn and the changing of the leaves in the mountains.

That is all for now. Please continue to check back in at this site for additional information.

Mac