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FALCONBRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
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SEPTEMBER 2020
Message from the Alliance Board
—Walt DeGrangeAlliance Co-Chair
• Voting Help - Making a Plan• Pumpkin Carving Contest• Chatham Rabbits!• Pool Hours Changing
INSIDE: • Pickleball Court Upgrade• Fit for Life• Arrivals & Departures• Fungus Among Us
This month I want to highlight the use of our Falconbridge Listserv. This group lets us share important information and organize to solve problems relevant to the neighborhood. Recently, it has been
used to address issues like water treatment plant odors and traffic con-cerns at neighborhood entrances. There’s useful information on lost pets, service recommendations, and available household items. Ob-viously, the more people the listserv reaches, the more effective it is.Over the past year, we have seen a
decline in listserv participants. What is causing this? Using data analytics, I performed text analysis on all Falcon-bridge listserv subjects – 1300 posts – since January 1, 2020. The analy-sis highlights the top 28 words that appear, by frequency. This includes replies, so 20 replies count subject words 20 times. The word cloud above is a graphical representation with the size and color representing the frequency of each word.You might recognize “Chatham” and
“rabbits” from the traveling concert in our neighborhood. “Bear” and “hunt” came from the stuffed bear challenge early in the pandemic.So why might folks be unsubscrib-
ing? I hypothesize that many do so
Let’s Use the Listserv Judiciouslybecause of repeated posts complain-ing about either dog or goose poop. Mostly, these complain of something occurring in or near the poster’s yard,
or amplify a complaint. Note, there is only a small chance (getting smaller by the day) that the person responsible for the negative ac-tion is actually on the listserv and sees the complainer’s post. The most likely outcome
of these repeated posts about poop is that people are being driven away from the listserv. How do we better address communi-
ty issues? Use the listserv to propose and discuss constructive solutions. Know these solutions will require time and resources. Perhaps form an interest e-mail group to discuss the issue further. I receive listserv conver-sations, and can recommend which community organizations might help support the effort.In closing, what might an anthropol-
ogist seeing this a few hundred years from now think when they see that the word “poop” has occurred just as many times as “covid”?
WHAT’S HAPPENING
SEPTEMBER 2020Due to changing pandemic orders,
social events are a “work in progress” - either virtual, in safe
distance mode, or canceled.
Every Monday • 10-11:15amGENTLE YOGA (VIA ZOOM)
Every Saturday • 10-11:00amFIT FOR LIFE (VIA ZOOM)
Tues SEPT 1 • 7:00pm ALLIANCE BOARD MEETING
(VIA ZOOM)[email protected]
Wed SEPT 2 • 7:00pmBOOK CLUB (VIA ZOOM)
Mon SEPT 21 • 6:00pm FHA BOARD MEETING
(VIA ZOOM)[email protected]
Tues. SEPT 22 • 6:00pmEXPLORING RACISM BOOK GROUP
(VIA ZOOM)[email protected]
FRI SEPT 25 • 7:00pm CHATHAM RABBITS CONCERT
See article on page 2 for route.
Watch for updatesWOMEN’S COFFEE KLATCH
Watch for updatesWOMEN’S BOOK [email protected]
Canceled until further noticeMAH JONGG
Canceled until further notice 3RD TUES POKER NIGHT
Canceled until further notice TRAVELING PUB
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Join Falconbridge Alliance
The Bridge - Falconbridge Neighborhood News is distributed monthly to all Falconbridge
residents as a neighborhood service.
FALCONBRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
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Bridge September 2020Th
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Newsletter Editor:
Marian Cannell • [email protected]
Newsletter Designer:
Mia Prior • [email protected]
● ● News & Events● ● Community News & Events
Would you like to advertise your business or an event in our monthly newsletter? Reasonable rates. Click here for more information.
Letter from the EditorHow Do I Vote Safely in 2020?Something on every-
one’s mind these days is how to safely vote in the Novem-ber 2020 General Election, and how to be sure your vote is counted. In last month’s Bridge we supplied an overview of the three ways to vote in NC. This month we focus on by mail or absentee voting, since NC absentee ballots will be mailed to those requesting them starting Sept. 4th. How you complete and return these ballots determines whether
your vote counts. Next month we will provide information on early voting sites and what Durham Coun-ty is doing to make in-person voting as safe as possible. The intricacies of absentee voting
surprised me. There are so many steps along the way: accurately requesting your ballot, receiving the ballot through the mail, accurately completing your ballot, having a wit-ness sign correctly, then having your ballot travel through the mail and be
received in time. And to return it in person, you have to stand in line just like you do for early voting.Having researched how Durham
County is handling early voting, I plan to vote early in person, with a self/family-delivered absentee ballot as my Plan B. Whichever way you choose to exercise your civic respon-sibility, making a plan and knowing how to execute it will be more im-portant than ever in this time of viral pandemic.
—Marian Cannell, Editor
Fit for Life Provides Adaptive ExerciseFit for Life continues to meet using Zoom on Saturday
mornings from 10-11:00. The workout includes balance, cardio and lightweight training which is easily adapted to individual needs and/or injuries. Contact [email protected] if you would like to join
us for a full body workout taught by a multiply certified, highly experienced instructor.
—Judy Rosen
A favorite local band, the Chatham Rabbits, will again include Falcon-bridge in their Stay at Home Tour on Friday, September 25th. The group will start at Bayswater Place and travel to Knotty Pine Drive, ending at Lacrosse Place, with stops planned at cul de sacs on Hampton Hill Place and Glen Forest Drive along the way. The tentative route is here: Starting time at Bayswater will be
7 pm. The group performs three or four songs at each stop and then drives the flat bed trailer “stage” to the next stop. You are welcome to follow the band, or just set up chairs and enjoy the show at the stop nearest your home. They ask that you enjoy the concert from your front porch or lawn if possible and avoid congregating closely near the stage with others. Remember to follow NC pandemic precautions of wearing masks, stay 6 feet apart
Chatham Rabbits Return to Falconbridge!
from non-family members, and avoid attending if you are sick.
Chatham Rabbits ConcertFriday, Sept 25 • Begins 7pm
Bayswater Place
FULL ROUTE
You can find out more about the group at their website. If you would like to donate to show your appre-ciation, there will be a tip bucket on the stage or you can use Paypal or Venmo.
—Marian Cannell
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● ● News & Events● ● Community News & Events
Sixteen members of Falconbridge’s Gourmet Dining Group met on the front Clubhouse lawn Saturday, August 8th. Socially distanced, they enjoyed being together and catching up since the group’s June meeting on the lower lawn. Falconbridge’s gourmet group is one of our oldest neighborhood groups. Over the last decade, the members have become friends, discovering beyond-culinary com-mon interests. And what was the gourmet group’s August menu? Six
members chose to bring their own meals; ten members (at least one of whom is a vegetarian) enjoyed takeout from Durham’s Only Burger on Shannon Road. Deliberate cliché here: a good time was had by all.
—Rosemarie Kitchin
Coffee Klatch Finds a Way to Meet
Gourmet Dining Group Adapts to Outdoor
Social Dining The Falconbridge Alliance-sponsored Coffee Klatch held their August meeting – a morning outdoor gathering again hosted by Rani Covington. Attendees brought chairs and snacks, formed a socially distanced circle, and spent time enjoying each other’s company. To join in the fun, contact Judy Holland at [email protected].
● ● News & Events● ● @ The Clubhouse
SEPT COVID POOL HOURS Effective 7am September 1 through October 3rd (pool close)
7am-9:30am LapSwimmers9:30-11am VulnerableSwimmers11am-1PM OpenSwim1pm-2pm POOLCLOSEDFORCLEANING2pm-3pm VulnerableSwimmers3pm-6:30pm OpenSwim6:30pm-7:30pm LapSwim
PoolClosesPromptlyat7:30pm
Every year, as the days grow shorter, we shorten the hours the pool is open. This year is no different.Starting Tuesday, September 1st, the pool will close
daily at 7:00 pm. This change will remain in effect until our pool closes for the season at 7:00 pm on Saturday, October 3rd.Here is the slightly changed schedule for our various
populations.We have had three glorious months of pool fun and
look forward to the month of September. It’s been an amazing year! Interesting, yes, but also affirming that Falconbridge is home to fabulous people!!
—Ginny Baas, Recreation Facilities Committee
Pool Hours Change with Earlier Sunset
7am-9:30am Lap Swim
9:30-10:30am Vulnerable Swimmers
10:30-12:30pm Open Swim
12:30-1:30pm POOL CLOSED FOR CLEANING
1:30-2:30 Vulnerable Swimmers
2:30-6:00 Open Swim
6:00-7:00pm Lap Swim
Pool Closes Promptly at 7:00pm
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● ● News & Events● ● @ The Clubhouse
The Social Events Advisory Com-mittee is planning a Pumpkin Carv-ing Contest in lieu of a Halloween Party this year, since neighbors cannot gather in the Clubhouse be-cause of covid-19. The Falconbridge Alliance will provide the pumpkins and the prizes. The carving is up to you!The contest will take place on the
grounds of the Clubhouse (outdoors where we can maintain social dis-tancing). Participants and observers will be able to check out the display.There will be three dates to note on
your calendar. The first date – for sign up – is not yet determined (the committee just met and a pumpkin vendor has not yet been finalized). We will need you to sign up online to participate, so we know how many pumpkins to order. The sign-up date will probably be in September. We will announce the date on the listserv and with flyers on each of the com-munity mailboxes.The second important date is Fri-
day, October 23rd from 4:30-6:30 pm, when you will come to the Club-house (rain or shine!) to pick up one FREE pumpkin per household. The third date will be Friday, Oc-
tober 30th, at 6:30 pm (again, rain or shine), when you will bring your entry to the Clubhouse and place it in the display.
Neighbors who are not entering pumpkins in the contest can still come by between 6:30 and 7:00 pm to enjoy the display. Just be sure that anyone attending this event is careful about measures to keep each other safe and healthy: wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth, main-tain your 6 feet apart physical dis-tancing, use hand sanitizer as need-ed, and don’t come if you are sick.
—Linda Sheer, SEAC Chair
How Will the Pumpkin Carving Contest Work? 1. Sign up online to participate. (Watch for flyer!)
2. Pick up your pumpkin on October 23 between 4:30 and 6:30 pm.
3. Carve your pumpkin at home. Note: all jack-o’-lanterns must contain an artificial light rather than a candle. Put your name and phone number on the bottom of the pumpkin with a permanent marker.
4. Bring your carved pumpkin back to the Clubhouse grounds by 6:30 pm on October 30. A SEAC volunteer will be there to direct you. You will place your own jack-‘o-lantern on the sidewalk and nearby area on duct-taped marks, so they will be appropriately distanced.
5. Enjoy the display. Judging will take place at 7:00 pm that evening.
6. The judge will determine a Grand Prize winner, and a runner up. The Grand Prize will be a $25 gift card, and the runner up will win a $15 gift card.
7. After the winners are announced, take your pumpkin back home to enjoy.
Pumpkin Carving Contest Save the Dates!
PUMPKIN CARVINGCONTEST SCHEDULE
TBA- Sign up for pumpkin
Friday, Oct 23 • 4:30-6:30 pm Pick up your FREE pumpkin
Friday, Oct 30 • 6:30 Bring your pumpkin to Clubhouse for display and judging
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● ● News & Events● ● @ The Clubhouse
Pickleball has it all: a social ac-tivity that provides exercise and outdoor opportunities for Falcon-bridge residents, while maintain-ing social distancing. The Pickle-ball Group has been active again for the last two months and is ea-gerly anticipating the next level of repairs to our courts. Falconbridge pickleball players, non-players, the Falconbridge Homeowners Association, and the Falconbridge Alliance all have contributed to the next level of repairs to our courts. All repairs are being paid for by dona-tions from players and supporters.Construction will begin in the next
week and will continue over the next two to three weeks as we bring our courts up to a much higher level playing surface. After the new sur-face is finished, Falconbridge will
have one of the best pickleball courts in the area. Our new four-court complex will have a Sportmaster surface and will be a state of the art pickleball venue. This facility is for residents and is only open for pickle-ball play. No guests will be allowed until the state moves to Phase 3 in the covid-19 regulations. Pickleball is open to all townhome
residents and to single-family home
owners who have joined the pool as a regular or social member. New players must take an orien-tation lesson. All lessons are free and we have loaner equipment. We plan to have a new player Open House once the courts are reopened, and will be happy to in-troduce new players to the fastest growing sport in the country. See link.We also hope to start a junior
program in the fall. Children and grandchildren of residents can partic-ipate in our areas first junior program with lessons and open play. We will limit attendance to keep our players safe. There will be more details soon. For information on pickleball, please email BJ Attwood at [email protected].
—BJ Attwood
● ● Neighbor Services/Aging in Place
If you would like to request help from Falconbridge Friends
or learn more about volunteer opportunities, email [email protected]
or call 919-391-8210.
A Friends co-coordinator will respond within a day or two to messages, which are either requesting help or asking about
volunteer opportunities.
Need Help?
How to Contact Falconbridge Friends
Pickleball Court Upgrade Underway
MEDICAL EQUIPMENTavailable for loan to Falconbridge Alliance members
through the Falconbridge Friends.
Supplies include 2 portable wheelchairs, 5 bedside toilets,
4 shower chairs, 1 ice machine, assorted crutches, 3 rolling walkers, 3 fixed walkers, assortment of braces, 1 bed table
Please contact Claudia Stephens at 919-490-1397 (leave message)
or [email protected] leave message and call will be returned.
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FALCONBRIDGE HOMEOWNERS ASSN.
town homeHAPPENINGS
FHA Board
No Meeting
August 2017 September 2020
FHA
Online (Zoom)
Board Meeting
Mon Sept 21
FALCONBRIDGE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION
Message from Marese Casey, FHA PRESIDENT
● ● Townhome News
Our Annual Meeting took place virtually on August 24th and was moderated by Hope Carmichael of Jordan Price Law Offices in Raleigh. Voting was not allowed because this was an electronic meeting. Voting will take place by mail. All townhome owners will receive a paper ballot in the mail to vote for the three board candidates (Kim Fahs, Ruby Bugg,
and Shirley Sennhauser), and approve the 2019 Annual Meeting Minutes, which will be included in the package.
CAS ManagementJacob [email protected]
919-403-1400 ext. 1210
Upcoming Bids and Projects
Painting: CTI has started painting the following units: Bayswater 5,6 and 10 -13, Tottenham 12-17, and Weybridge 1-4, 16-19, and 21-23 on August 24th.Roofs: Onofrio replaced roofs on Bloomsbury 3, 5, 7, 11, 15, 19, 21, 23, 29 and 45, and Vauxhall 20-22. Sidewalks: We have received one bid for the repair of the damaged side-walks on Waltham and Dartford. We are still awaiting a second bid.Walls: We are still working on clear specifications in order to solicit bids.Power washing: completed by South-ern Outdoor Restoration Please contact Jacob Hildebrand at
[email protected] if you have any questions on facilities.
Thanks for Pond Water Level Management Keeping Us Safe
Falconbridge avoided the worst of Hurricane Isaias, and thanks to the advance efforts of members of the Emergency Action Plan pond sub-committee, our pond was kept safely below flood level. Over the weekend before Isaias made landfall (Monday, August 3rd), committee members Kathy King and Howard Goldberg reviewed the rainfall forecast of 3”-5” and, out of an abundance of caution, decided to reduce the level of the pond.
Fortunately, the actual rain-fall amount was toward the lower end of the forecast and the pond level rose only several
inches before the storm passed. The EAP subcommittee (Kathy, Howard, Rosalie Dominik, Ed Holland, Sai Balu, and Harriet Crisp) will need to keep a vigilant watch over the next couple of months as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin-istration forecasts nearly twice the normal number of named storms in the Atlantic this season. While our past experience of how to manage
the pond level has served us well, we do expect to put in place an automat-ed pond level and rainfall monitoring system within the next few weeks, to assist us in ensuring that the pond does not overtop the dam, and that the downstream Falconbridge home-owners are safe.
Pickleball
The pickleball community has in-vested $4,500 in court improvements since pickleball was introduced to the community. They are now invest-ing an additional $16 to $18K to do a complete resurfacing and install permanent pickleball nets. The new surface is guaranteed for 10 years. In light of their investment, the Board voted to dedicate the resurfaced courts to pickleball only for the next 10 years.
Upcoming Dates to Remember
September 21 - FHA Board Meet-ing at 6:00 pm via zoom. As always, homeowners will receive an invita-tion to join the call.
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● ● Things to Do
● ● Getting Involved
All are welcome.Several members of the Book Group,
which came out of the Walk Against Systemic Racism, met Monday, Au-gust 24th at 3:30 pm on a Zoom call. After discussion and review of the suggested books, we decided to start with Best of Enemies - Race and Re-demption in the New South by Osha Gray. The book is a true story based on the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s and is about a Durham Civil
New Book Group in Falconbridge – Exploring RacismRights activist and a Ku Klux Klan member and their efforts to change the “old Durham.” There is a docu-mentary based on this book. The Exploring Racism book group
will meet on Tuesday, September 22nd at 6 pm via Zoom. Please con-tact me at [email protected] if you would like to be added to the list of invitees to the Zoom meeting.
—Pam Richey
We hope you’ve had a chance to enjoy the wonderfully whimsical curbside mandalas that our good neighbor Ginger Holler has been cre-ating at the corner of Ridgefield and Knotty Pine Drive since the COVID pandemic has kept us so much closer to home. Inspired by artist Day Schildkret, author of Morning Al-tars – a 7-Step Practice to Nourish Your Sprit Through Nature, Art, and Ritu-al, Ginger uses an array of natural materials from the mountains to the sea, from the Falconbridge pond, and may include just about anything from anywhere: shells and stones, pine cones, goose feathers, flowers, bird
nests, twigs, and even cranberries – to name a few.With many years of experience with
mixed media art, Ginger started her current project back in March “as another way to connect with and encourage people during these difficult times. Anybody can do this, and it doesn’t have to be public. It can become a very meditative heal-ing experience in the privacy of your own backyard.”Ginger and her husband, Don
Basnight, have lived in Falconbridge since 2007. In her day job for 30+ years before retirement, Ginger was a children’s librarian in both com-munity and school libraries in Wake and Orange Counties. She provided interactive library programs integrat-ing literature, art, music, science, and more to stimulate the imagination and promote a love of reading.We’re fortunate to have Ginger as a
Falconbridge neighbor. We hope you take time to enjoy your neighbor-hood.
—Ed Holland
Take a Neighborhood Art Walk
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Each month we will publish brief notices of neighbors who have left us. Please send notifications to the Bridge editor, Marian Cannell at [email protected].
● ● Transitions
Falconbridge welcomes new neighbors with open arms...and lots of information. Members of our townhome and single-family home Welcome Committees visit new arrivals as a way for us to learn a little about new folks — making it easier for us to connect around shared interests and build new friendships.
We Welcome New Neighbors to Falconbridge
WELCOME COMMITTEE Do you have a new neighbor(s)? Do you want to help welcome newcomers? Please let one of the Welcome Committee members know. Single-family homes; Contact Michelle Wolff at 919-401-6609 or [email protected] Townhomes: Contact Melissa Haft at [email protected]
Christina Garwood and Edward PatchStreet Address: 6701 Glen Forest Dr.
Phone: Home: 434-960-0079; Cell: 910-305-4737
Email: [email protected];
Moved from: Carrboro
Pets: One cat and one large rabbit
Careers: Private Business LLC
Hobbies: Arts and crafts and animals
. . . And We Say Good-bye
Petra Epple, our neighbor on Ridge-field Drive, died on August 10. Petra, originally from Germany, worked at BASF in RTP. She lived in Carrboro for several years, then moved to Fal-conbridge in 2015. She served on the FCA and the Falconbridge Alliance Boards until her health became an issue. Petra was a kind neighbor and a wonderful gardener. We miss her.
Jenny Tone-Pah-Hote, our neighbor on Shallowford Lane, a UNC profes-sor, author, and member of the Kiowa tribe, died on August 8. She is sur-vived by her husband, Keith Richotte, and her son. Further information is available here.
Nan Hoyt, who lived with her two West Highland white terriers on Fal-conbridge Rd. until her move a few years ago, died at her new home in Cody, WY on July 1. Her obituary is available here.
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● ● Good To Know
Is Your Voting Plan in Place?Health concerns are complicating an
already intricate voting process. With 27 races on our district’s Nov. 3 ballot – from President to Register of Deeds, we must learn about the candidates and decide how to vote, while weigh-ing health risks. Many people who have never voted absentee are con-sidering it.
Best: Vote Early and In Person
Absentee ballots returned by mail had the largest rejection rates in past elections (see below). In person vot-ing during early voting hours is the best way to ensure your vote counts. • Durham County Board of Elections
(BOE) added both hours and voting sites to the early voting process this year, for social distancing and shorter lines. There are 1000 more hours of early voting, poll workers must use masks and face shields, plus other covid-19 precautions. If you are able to go out to the gro-cery store, you will probably find early in-person voting no more risky.
• For more about Durham’s covid-19 mitigation plans for in-person vot-ing, go here.
• For a new online tool to find out how busy an early voting site is and to get directions, go to this link.
Absentee Voting: Sign, Seal and Deliver
If you must vote absentee, you can return the completed ballot directly rather than mail it.• Drop it off at the BOE in Durham by
5 pm on Nov. 3.• Or deliver it at any of 14 early
voting locations in our county, be-tween Oct. 15 and 31.
• You still have to stand in line to
drop off your ballot. • Only you or a near relative may
deliver your ballot.
Track Your Ballot
Research shows that first time users of absentee ballots are most likely to have them not counted. The rules are complicat-ed and often not intui-tive.• If you vote absentee,
spend time carefully reading and following instructions, return your ballot as early as possi-ble, and track your ballot here.
• If it is not accepted, follow up with the BOE immediately to determine what you need to correct. NC must now provide notice and an oppor-tunity for you to “cure” an error on the ballot or complete a new ballot. By tracking your ballot, you are more likely to be able to use this provision.
• Details about curing ballot errors are at this link.
Avoid Ballot Rejection
In 2016, 9% of NC absentee ballots were rejected. The most frequent reasons were:1. Spoiled ballot. Do not: damage the
ballot or envelope, use the wrong color ink, mark two people for one office, erase a selection, or open and re-seal the envelope. Return each ballot in its own sealed enve-lope.
2. Not properly witnessed. In 2020 you must have one witness (18 or older) who saw you mark the ballot. They can stand across the room or look through the window, but the witness must complete and sign the return envelope in the correct space, and print their name
and address.3. Not properly signed by the vot-
er. The NC BOE has instructed county boards that the signature need not match the registration record and “absent clear evidence to the contrary,” it is presumed to be the signature of the voter. But you must sign the envelope in the correct place.
4. Not postmarked in time. Your ballot must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by the BOE by 5 pm Nov. 6. Use a 55-cent or Forever stamp. Remember, mail dropped in a blue mailbox or in your neigh-borhood collection box will not be postmarked. If your ballot might not be received by Election Day, you need a postmark. For that, take the ballot into the Post Office and wait while the clerk postmarks it. You may use a commercial carrier (UPS, FedEx, or DHL), if it will arrive by Election Day.
Timing is Everything
Requests for an absentee ballot must be received by the BOE by 5 pm Oct. 27, but realistically it will be hard to receive your ballot and return it in time if you wait that
long. The U.S. Post Office notified NC that voters who plan to request an absentee ballot should do so 15 days before the election at the latest (Oct. 19). The NC Board of Elections advises voters to put the completed ballot in the mail no later than Oct. 27.
—Marian Cannell
Mail ballot before Oct 27
10
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rates are also low.
Now is a great time to think about selling your home.Trust your Falconbridge Expert who has been selling homes
for over 30 Years!Please stay safe during these challenging times.
● ● Nature News
Q: If April showers bring May flowers, what do all the August thunderstorms bring? A: FungiOn your next walkabout, keep an eye out for the many
kinds of mushrooms popping up in Falconbridge – in gardens, on forest paths and especially at the edge of the woods. Mushrooms play an essential environmental role, breaking down organic matter to recycle essential nutri-ents, and are vital to the health of trees. Besides, who can resist the fantasy of seeing a “fairy ring”, or not wonder at the names – Death Angel, Coral Fungus, Earth Star, Chicken of the Woods Mushroom, Wolf-fart Puffball?I use the term “mushroom” loosely, as it could be a toad-
stool. Scientifically, they are the same: the fruiting body of a fungus with a cap and a stem. However, historically “mushrooms” referred to the edible fungi that enhance the flavor complexity of many a delectable culinary dish. In addition to being delicious, edible mushrooms are good sources of vitamins and important minerals. How-ever, not all mushrooms are edible. “Toadstools” – associ-ated with toads, which were known to carry diseases and bacteria – is the common name for toxic fungi, those that are hallucinogenic or poisonous. So how do you really tell the difference (check here) or
know how best to cook them? NOT by a taste test! The easiest way is to talk to the farmers who sell them at the local Farmer’s Markets, such as Haw River Mushrooms, LLC.To identify mushrooms, check out this link. To grow mushrooms, NC State Extension has great information. To forage for mushrooms, you can join others through
the Piedmont Mycological Society Meet-up. Enjoy wandering and appreciating these fascinating
living organisms in our neighborhood.--Catherine Alguire
The Fungus Among Us All photos taken of mushrooms in our Falconbridge neighborhood by Catherine Alguire and Mark Nelson
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● ● Board Reports
Board action and discussion included the following: ■ Discussed ideas for possible outdoor social events in
the fall, where we could still comply with covid-19 precautions. Pumpkin carving was a possibility, and the Social Events Advisory Committee will consider this.
■ Agreed that Walt DeGrange will arrange for the Oc-tober 4th Annual Meeting to be virtual, with a format that allows voting.
■ Considered what will happen to Neighborhood Watch, with it’s current lead moving out of the neighborhood. Pam Richey will investigate options and the FHA and FCA will need to be involved.
■ Approved an agreement that clarifies the role of the Alliance in financial transactions involving events sponsored or funded by the Alliance. Walt will distri- bute copies of the guidance to each leader of an Alli-ance-related event.
■ Discussed a proposal from BJ Attwood asking the Alliance to contribute to the fund for resurfacing the pickleball court, given that most pickleball players are also Alliance members; the pickleball group welcomes visitors at Alliance events; and the court provides a unique social opportunity to Falconbridge residents. The Board asked for additional information and will vote on this matter sometime in August.
■ Determined we need to elect three new Board mem-bers in October. So far we have only one candidate. We will put an article in the Bridge, and continue to contact townhome owners to look for interested candidates.
■ Next Falconbridge Alliance Board Meeting will be on Tuesday, September 1st at 7 pm, via Zoom.
Minutes are available here. For further details contact Walt DeGrange [email protected] or Pam Richey [email protected].
Summary of August 4, 2020 Falconbridge Alliance Board Meeting
Our pond at Falconbridge in 2015.
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WEB ACCESS
WHY JOIN THE ALLIANCE?
With your Alliance Membership, you can:• Stay up to date on neighborhood news with our
newsletter and website• Share information with your neighbors via our
listserv• Look up a neighbor in our Falconbridge directory• Meet your neighbors at our numerous social events • Pursue interests with a variety of sponsored social
groups• Receive discounts on some Alliance-sponsored
classes and events• Participate in special members-only events• Feel more secure with our Neighborhood Watch • Be reassured that trained neighborhood volunteers
can help your family with transportation, meals, and other services if you have a short-term health or other crisis
• Ensure the continued growth of programs and activites to enhance the lives of all Falconbridge residents
2019-2020 Falconbridge FHA Board of Directors (Townhomes)
OFFICERS
Marese Casey, President • [email protected] • 919-817-3218 Naveed Moeed, Secretary & Communications • [email protected] • 919-203-8709 AT LARGE MEMBERS
BJ Attwood • [email protected] • 804-869-7806
Ruby Bugg • [email protected] • 919-210-0016
Kim Fahs, Pool, Landscaping and Clubhouse • [email protected] • 423-834-1120
Howard Goldberg, Treasurer • [email protected] • 518-878-9296 Dick Robinson • Facilities Committee • [email protected] • 919-493-4230
Shirley Sennhauser • [email protected] • 919-545-0511
Pete Waggoner, Architectural Review • [email protected] • 919-408-0144
2019-2020 Falconbridge Alliance Board of Directors
Walt DeGrange (SF), Co-Chair • [email protected] • 919-442-8164
Pam Richey (TH), Co-Chair • [email protected] • 919-641-8525
Stephanie Curtis, Treasurer • [email protected]
Sara Morris, Secretary • [email protected] • 203-214-1529
Pamela Lothspeich • [email protected] • 919-548-0766
BJ Attwood • [email protected] • 804-869-7806
Linda Sheer • Social Chair - [email protected] • 919-636-1825
Marian Cannell • [email protected] • 919-452-5439
2019-2020 FCA Board of Directors
Walt DeGrange, President • [email protected] • 919-442-8164
Linda Sheer, Secretary • [email protected] • 919-636-1825
Pamela Lothspeich • [email protected] • 919-548-0766
SF=Single-Family home TH=Townhome
BOOK CLUB* Ronit Weingarden [email protected] GAME NIGHT GROUP* Barb Carroll [email protected]
GOURMET DINING GROUP* Carolyn Parker [email protected] &
Karen Fitzhugh [email protected]
MAH JONGG* Lawrence Proctor [email protected]
MARDI GRAS BOWLING Lawrence Proctor [email protected] OUTDOOR ADVENTURE GROUP* JB Marr [email protected]
PICKLEBALL BJ Attwood [email protected] STUDIO TIME FOR ARTISTS* Ann Noble [email protected]
THIRD TUESDAY POKER* John Noble [email protected]
TRAVELING PUB Barb Carroll [email protected]
WINE TASTING GROUP* Jim Carroll & [email protected]
Bob Jackson
WOMEN’S COFFEE KLATCH* Judy Holland [email protected]
WOMEN’S BOOK CLUB* Michelle Wolff [email protected]
* Must be a member of the Alliance to participate
FALCONBRIDGE ALLIANCE-SPONSORED SOCIAL GROUPS
https://www.facebook.com/groups/153955664771981/
(Falconbridge Families Facebook)
www.falconbridge.org
Falconbridge Alliance[Constantly being improved,
an increasingly vital source of information – progressive and
historical. Do visit often.]
FalconbridgeHOA.org
(Townhomes)
groups.yahoo.com/groups/FalconbridgeAlliance
(Listserv)
Falconbridgehoa.org/pool.htm
(Pool and Clubhouse)
