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NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSSEPTEMBER 2016
INSIDE: Falconbridge Art WalkNational Night Out • Clubhouse Rocks! • BBQ Rivalry • What’s That Plant?
You Have Friends! • Dam Ponderings • New Board Member • Welcome Wagon
Message from Our President
SEPTEMBER
UPCOMING
EVENTS
We Heard You Since it was incorporated in 2011, the
Falconbridge Village Alliance (FVA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has had an amazing impact on this com-munity through its social and charita-ble activities. It’s about to do more. After reviewing issues raised by the
neighborhood survey and Reimagin-ing Falconbridge meetings, the Alli-ance board was committed to helping Falconbridge operate with more efficiency, clarify responsibilities, and enhance relationships and communi-cation among all groups involved. We devised a preliminary reorganization plan and met with a highly regarded tax attorney to be sure that any chang-es would not jeopardize the 501(c)(3)nonprofit tax status of the Falcon-bridge Village Association (FVA), nor the Falconbridge Community Associ-ation (FCA), the single-family homes’ HOA. Both are in good standing with the IRS and NCSOS, and we intend to keep it that way. We discovered that the extent and
type of some of our social activities were beyond the intent of the 501(c)(3) Articles of Incorporation for the FVA, and that we would be wise to convert to or create a 501(c)(7) organi-zation designed specifically for social activities. After much discussion, we devised a plan we believe will address these issues, while preserving what already works.
We propose...◆ to keep the Falconbridge Village
Association (FVA) as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization to oversee our aging-in-place and Friends activities, and preserve the tax advantage
◆ to keep the Falconbridge Community Association (FCA) as a 55A nonprofit organization to carry out the responsibilities of the single-family homes HOA
◆ to incorporate The Falconbridge Alliance (for the first time) as a 501(c)(7) social organization to house current and future non-charitable neighborhood activities
◆ to have these organizations guided by a single board—known as the Fal-conbridge Alliance (FA)—comprised of members from the FVA and FCA, as well as the Falconbridge Home-owners Association (FHA), to ensure communication and collaboration across all neighborhood governing bodies (not just the single-family homes). The FHA board, of course, will continue to manage the town-home HOA as it always has.
Each Mon. & Thurs. 1:30pm
MAH JONGG [email protected]
Each Tues. • 1:00pm STUDIO TIME FOR ARTISTSPainting, Mixed Media, Collage
Fri. Sept. 2, 16, 30 • 5:30pm TRAVELING PUB
Wed. Sept. 7 • 7:00pm BOOK CLUB
[email protected] (Bill Brown)
Thurs. Sept. 8 & 229:30am-11:00am
WOMEN’S COFFEE KLATCH [email protected]
Thurs. Sept 8 • 8:00pmFILM AT THE CLUBHOUSE
NobleFalconbridgehoa.org/movies.htm
Tues. Sept. 13 • 7:00pm ALLIANCE BOARD MEETING
Wed. Sept. 14 • 7:30pm WOMEN’S BOOK [email protected]
Sat. Sept. 17 • 10:00am-Noon FALCONBRIDGE FRIENDS MTG
Sun. Sept 18 • 12:00-5:00pmFALCONBRIDGE ARTWALK
Mon. Sept. 19 • 7:00pm FHA BOARD [email protected]
Wed. Sept. 21 • 7:00pm 3RD WED. POKER NIGHT
Sat. Sept. 24 • 7:00-9:00pm GAME NIGHT
RSVP [email protected]
Sat. Sept. 24 • 8:00pmFILM AT THE CLUBHOUSE
An Officer and a Gentleman
Tues. Sept. 27 • 6:00pmBOWLING AT MARDI GRAS
[email protected] PRESIDENT MSG continued next page
2
Newsletter Editor: Rae Thompson • [email protected]
Newsletter Designer:
Mia Prior • [email protected]
Join Falconbridge
Alliance
● ● News & Events● ● News & Events
The Falconbridge Alliance newsletter is distributed monthly to all Falconbridge
Alliance members.
What’s next? Members from the FHA and The Falconbridge Alliance boards will attend each other’s board meetings to encourage better com-munication and cooperation among everyone as we make these improve-ments. Any required changes to the FVA bylaws can and will be made by a vote of the current Alliance board. Changes to the FCA bylaws, includ-ing the number of directors, will be subject to a vote at the annual meet-ing on October 9.By instituting these changes, we
believe we can move closer to the shared goal of being one community. With members from all governing bodies serving on the Alliance board, we can better shape the future of Falconbridge. “Feel the Falconbridge energy,
grasshopper, it is all around you.”
—John Noble
PRESIDENT MSG continued from page 1
Kelly Quisenberry to Complete Rosemary Hutchinson’s Term
The board has appointed Kelly Quisenberry to replace Rosemary Hutchinson who has resigned from the board. The FCA bylaws allow the board to replace board members who resign during their term. Kelly will finish Rosemary’s term, which would have ended in October 2019. We can’t thank Rosemary enough
for all the years of volunteering she has given to our communi-ty, and will continue to do as an active member of Friends. We all owe her a big thank you.
Nearly two dozen authors and artists will take part in our first Art Walk on Sunday, September 18, from 12:00-5:00pm—rain or shine. Authors will set up in the club-house and artists will display their work in individual homes. A map showing artists’ locations will be avail-able by email in advance, and at the clubhouse on the 18th. Examples of artists’ work will also be on display at the clubhouse from September 12-18, so you can identify your favorites and plan your route through the ‘hood. The event, modeled after area studio tours, was orga-
nized by the Falconbridge Art Group, which meets at the clubhouse every Tuesday afternoon to pursue artistic endeavors and exchange ideas. Knowing that our com-munity is full of talented folks, the group invited anyone who creates original art, or who writes fiction or nonfic-tion books, to take part. Come out and see! Shop early for the holidays or get
something for yourself, or both. Everyone loves an autographed copy of a book or an original work of art, especially when you know the author or artist! You’re sure to find something that speaks to you—from water-color, oil, acrylics, pastels, and mixed media to jewelry to handmade books, boxes, collage cards, to fused glass, photography, fiction and non-fiction books, and more!
RESIDENT AUTHORS: Bolton Anthony, Barbara Bennett, Kingsley Greene, Mike Mayo, Alton Rivers RESIDENT ARTISTS: Mary Azoy, Farley Bernholz, Bill Brown, Lee Butler, Carol Charny, Vincent Daddiego, Loretta Day, Michelle Deneke, Susan Frost, Lisa Gilbert, Judy Holland, Ginger Holler, Mike Navascues, Ann Noble, Louise Pagano, Rae Thompson, Ralph Wikstrom
NOTE: Many participants prefer payment in cash or by check; some also accept credit cards.
—Rae Thompson
Countdown to the FIRST Falconbridge Art Walk
September 18!
The Art Walk is for Falconbridge residents, families, and friends, and is not a public event.
3
● ● News & Events● ● News & Events
On August 2 Falconbridge cele-brated National Night Out with the rest of the country. There was free swim at the pool and an abun-dance of ice cream from Maple Farm Creamery. Jim Carroll and Barry Slobin scooped out many dishes of
Falconbridge Gourmet Group (aka Dining Car)
Salutes Julia Child
Carolyn Parker and Ron and Rosemary Hutchinson hosted the gourmet group on August 13 with a “Salute to Julia Child” celebrating what would have been the icon’s 104th birthday on August 15. All the recipes came from Julia’s cookbooks. The hosts prepared salmon poached in wine and fish stock with sautéed cucumber triangles and hollandaise sauce. Other members of the group prepared rosemary cashews, radishes with salt and herbed butter on bread as appetizers to have with Kir Royale at the start of the evening. The din-ner began with an artistically layered gazpacho salad: vegetables accompa-nying the salmon were potatoes and asparagus, and—to finish, a classic crème brûlée and a cookie. French wines were paired with each course. This group meets every other
month, and the hosts choose a theme. It might be the food of a country, an area, or seasonal produce. The hosts take responsibility for the entrée and wine selection and give a recipe to each member to prepare. Everyone gets to prepare new dishes and enjoy a beautiful dinner and wines with minimum work. The next dinner will be on Saturday,
October 8. If you would like to join the group, there will be a sign-up sheet at the next pub, or you can contact Liz Hallgren at 919-401-9553 or [email protected].
Many of Us “Screamed
for Ice Cream”
At National Night Out
ice cream, even seconds for some (below/left and right). You can see youngsters posing before swallow-ing their first bite. Fun to watch.
As usual, those who attended were generous with their contribution to the fun. But, perhaps more importantly, Falconbridge again showed its generos-ity with many, many contributions to the school supplies drive sponsored by the Durham Police Department. Judy Holland helped coordinate this drive again this year. After the celebration, Conni Rivers transported a carload of supplies to our local police precinct office, reporting the sincere appreciation of those who received it.
4
● ● News & Events
Falconbridge’s antiquari-an dam, not quite as old as Moses but in its own way just as adept at holding back the waters, ranks as an “intermediate hazard” structure in the assessment of state regulators, though it presents no foreseeable threat to downstream inter-ests.Good news/bad newsThat’s the good news,
according to John Holley Jr., a regional engineer with the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The bad news, if you want to call it such, is Holley’s recommendation that we spend more on dam maintenance. Holley, who is familiar with the
dam and its history, spent more than an hour with advisory committee chairman Bob Wilson (FHA) and members Ed Holland (Alliance), Amelia Matthews (FHA), and Mike Mayo (FHA). Accompanied by Karyn Pageau, assistant state sedi-ment specialist in the environmental
department’s land quality office, Holley used the occasion, which the committee had sought for planning purposes, to conduct the state’s five-year inspection of the dam.Control invasive plantsHolley recommended more aggres-
sive measures against invasive plants such as vines and perennial weeds on the dam waterfront, an item already on the committee’s agenda, as well as filling low spots on the surface with compactable soil. After that’s done, he said, the loose, easily
available gravel often referred to as “Chapel Hill sidewalk” would make an affordable and sustainable all-weather walking surface. The sidewalk gravel would also reduce the risk of people tripping on exposed tree roots, a potential liability issue for FHA.Trees helpHolley said the dam’s
intermediate-hazard rating owes much to
the pines and hardwoods allowed to grow on the dam for decades. Virtu-ally all the trees are too big to remove because to do so would allow their roots to decay, with water filling their space and possibly weakening the dam. The pond covers approximately 6.5 acres.There are ways to mitigate water
seepage should it ever occur, Holley said, none of them inexpensive. For-tunately, the dam shows no evidence of seepage.Make emergency planThe upshot of Holley’s visit is anoth-
er five years of state approval. How-ever, he did recommend that FHA use the state’s online form for making an emergency action plan in case of a breach in the dam or potential cata-strophic failure.The plan will be shared with the
Falconbridge community, and none more so than with those living downstream. A Johnstown Flood it wouldn’t be, but always better safe than sorry with impounded water.
— Bob Wilson
Dam: The Verdict Is In
[Photos by Al Bugg]
Left to right, Amelia Matthews, Mike Mayo, Karen Pageau, John Holley, Ed Holland [photo by James Wilson]
5
● ● Getting Involved
Gere and Winger deserve a 21-gun sa-lute, maybe 42. Rarely does a film come along with so many finely-drawn char-acters to care about. Its famous end-ing may be a bit hokey, but in a movie this honest, it couldn’t feel more right. Gossett, as the drill sergeant, won Best Supporting Actor.
A true story of how one woman
— Christina Noble — overcame the harsh difficulties of her childhood in Ireland to discover her destiny on the streets of Saigon. A feisty, passionate performance by the Irish actress Deirdre O’Kane. [Irish]
Thursday, Septemer 8 at 8 pm
Noble
Cinema 8½, hosted by Bolton Anthony, is an ongoing series of films for the second half of life.
Saturday, September 24 at 8 pm
An Officer and a Gentleman
Host Mike Mayo is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association and the author of Everybody Goes to Jimmy’s.
FalconbridgeHOA.org/movies.htm
Sponsored by RFC
Concessions and donations
benefit our Clubhouse
If you haven’t seen the newly renovated clubhouse and improve-ments on its upper deck, plan a trip! The collaborative remodeling effort between the Alliance and FHA has made holding meetings, social events, and private parties such a lovely experience—with the club-house being used almost every day/night of the week. The Recreational Facilities Committee (RFC), through donations and fundraising efforts, purchased new tables, chairs, au-
Our Clubhouse Rocks!
dio-visual equipment, and dishware for the clubhouse. In April, we introduced Movie
Night! to the community. We show a wide variety of films, and conces-sions are also available. You must come try the popcorn made in our “old fashioned” red and white pop-corn machine. RFC cannot sell beer or wine—but you are always welcome to BYOB for Movie Night!
Interested in renting the Clubhouse? Email your request and questions to [email protected] more information
about the pool? Contact us at [email protected] would love for you to be a part
of our committee. The time commit-ment is up to each individual along with choosing the area(s) he or she is interested in helping. The committee wants to add more events and ser-vices using the clubhouse—join us and share your ideas and thoughts! Call our president, Berry Gentry, at 919-880-7963, to learn more.
— Falconbridge Recreational Facilities Committee
6
● ● Aging in Place
I need help...
Need Help? Please Ask. Now ONE Telephone Number and Email!Falconbridge Friends now has ONE tele-
phone number and email address! If you need support and help—dealing with an illness or trauma after surgery or an acci-dent, figuring out transportation if you can’t drive, needing assistance with shopping, or needing cooked meals—help is available! Phone: 919-391-8210Email: [email protected] you call or email, one of the Friends coordinators will
meet with you to discuss your needs and let you know how Falconbridge Friends can assist you. We have reminder magnets with the Friends contact information on them as a handy reference. Friends support teams are made up of wonderful Falconbridge volunteers. If you would like to be a neighbor who helps neighbors in need, join Falconbridge Friends. Training for volunteers is available. (Orientation on Sept. 17, see page 7) Call or email so you can be a member of this great group!
— Lisa Anthony
Do you need transportation services (including rides to the airport)?
Go to the Falconbridge Alliance website and click on Neighbor Services to find volunteers.
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The Robbie Davis Team
Durham Senior PharmAssist… A Resource for Saving Money
On RX CoverageAn important ingredient in Medicare’s alphabet soup
is Part D, aka Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage, the optional insurance program that helps cover the cost of prescription drugs, may help drug costs, and help protect against higher costs.The Part D enrollment period for calendar year 2017
begins Saturday, Oct. 15, and ends Wednesday, Dec. 7. A great no-charge local resource to figure out the best
program for people who use prescription drugs is Senior PharmAssist, located in Durham’s senior center at 406 Rigsbee St. in Downtown Durham, which has a large parking lot. More information is at seniorpharmassist.org. A call to
919-688-4772 will set up an appointment for a one-on-one confidential analysis of Part D programs for calendar 2017.
— Rosemarie Kitchin
MEDICAL EQUIPMENTis available for loan to Falconbridge Alliance members through the Falconbridge Friends.
Supplies include walkers,
bedside commodes, shower chairs, and more.
Please contact Claudia Stephens at919-490-1397 or 919-593-5828.
7
● ● Aging in Place
Orientation, Refresher for Falconbridge Friends Volunteers on September 17Falconbridge Friends will hold its next quarterly meeting at the clubhouse
on Saturday, September 17. We expect to welcome new as well as experi-enced volunteers. The meeting’s content will be new for some and review for others. It will focus on the basic organizing principles our group has used since its inception. Paula Clarke and Sharon Meginnis will review the function and purpose of teams, the dos and don’ts of helping our neigh-bors, and the importance of confidentiality. We hope to have fun while reviewing the components of neighbors helping neighbors. Join us at the clubhouse on Saturday, September 17, from 10:00am to noon.
— Paula Clarke
I moved here in 2006. “Falconbridge Friends” came along a year or two after that. When I first heard about the services provided by the group, I figured I was a long way from using them. After all, sixty-something was the new forty-something, right? This past March I learned that the
osteoarthritis in my left hip had ad-vanced enough for a hip replacement. With my surgery set for mid-June, I got busy devising a recovery plan. I arranged for my sister-in-law and close friends to stay with me for the first two post-surgical weeks, but with everything else they would be doing to help, I couldn’t imagine asking them to take care of all meals, grocery shopping, mail, yard work, and trash bins as well. So I made a formal request to Falconbridge Friends for a support team to supple-ment offers of help from other neigh-bors. I was amazed by the response. There
were more than enough willing vol-unteers to meet my needs—all super organized and coordinated. Knowing this allowed me to go forward with my surgery without worrying about how I would get through it all. From the day I came home until the
time I closed out my Friends request, I felt well cared for, even pampered. Groceries appeared in my refrigerator just when I needed them. Healthy and delicious meals were delivered to my door (I was spoiled by all the
great food!). My outdoor plants were watered thoroughly over many brutally hot days. And my trash and recycling bins were carted down and up my driveway at just the right times every week. Friends team members called ahead to make sure of appropriate timing, respecting my privacy while being happy to cheer me up when I was up for a visit. All in all, a great experience!If you need support after a medi-
With a Little Help from My Friends
cal procedure, someone to help you during an illness or drive you to ap-pointments, or a friend to cheer you up in tough times, I strongly encour-age you to contact this group. Make the call (919-391-8210) or send an email ([email protected]) and get a little help from your Falconbridge Friends! Or consider volunteering to help others.
— Rae Thompson
● ● Home and Garden
What’s That Plant?
Growing along the pond edges are some very interesting plants. The biggest, by far, are the Taxodium distichum trees. They were planted perhaps 15 years ago by the former landscape chair, Dave Suwala. As you might guess, this is a slow-grow-ing species. These trees develop “knees” that allow oxygen to reach other parts of the trees. The largest
and probably the oldest of this species is in North Carolina, in the Black River. I’ve paddled that river and can tell you that these trees, some of which are estimated to be 1600 years old, are absolutely magnificent. They can also be seen in Merchants Mill Pond State Park. Worth a ride over.A more humble plant is swamp
primrose, otherwise known as Ludwigia. This “weed” has a
stick-like form, 5’ tall (more or less), and bears a yellow blossom. Not totally unattractive, it does seed itself around. We won’t mention the dog fennel ex-cept to say there is now available a sterile cultivar, great for a cutting garden.
—Mary McClure[Photo by Al Bugg]
8
● ● New Neighbors
WELCOMEto Falconbridge
Falconbridge welcomes new neighbors with open arms...and lots of information. Members of our townhome and single-family home Welcome Committees visit new arrivals to (1) tell them about the neighborhood and Alliance events, activities, and resources, and (2) get contact information for the Neighborhood Watch and Resident Directory. These visits are also a way for us to learn a little about new folks—from families and pets to hobbies and interests—making it easier for us to connect around shared interests and build new friendships.
Petra EppleStreet Address: 2310 Ridgefield Drive
Telephone: 919-260-5959
Email: [email protected]
Moved from: Carrboro
Career: Plant scientist at BASF in Research Triangle Park,
prior Plant Science Department, UNC
Interests/Hobbies: Reading, cooking, and gardening
Dick and Rosemary FordStreet Address: 6416 Falconbridge
Telephone: Dick 617-610-9994 (cell)
Rosemary 617-818-1408 (cell)
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Moved from: Boston via Downing Creek
Children: two sons and their families
Pets: 4-year-old rat terrier Tsuly
Careers: he publishing, she government attorney
Interest/hobbies: he politics, tennis, opera: she tutoring, refinishing
furniture, reading, knitting .
Sonda and Tom OppewalStreet Address: 9 Hampton Place
Telephone: Sonda, 919-619-4125: Tom 919-619-4126
Email: [email protected]
Moved From: Carrboro, Lake Hogan Farms
Children: Two daughters: Anneke, middle-school Spanish
teacher in Orange County and Durham resident,
and Alyssa, student at UNC Greensboro
Careers: Sonda, UNC School of Nursing: Tom, retired
professor of science education.
Interests/Hobbies: gardening, biking, hiking, knitting
WELCOME COMMITTEE
Do you have a new neighbor(s)? Please let one of the welcome committee members know. Would you like to join us in greeting new “Falconbridgers” and sharing information about our community? Single-family homes;Contact Michelle Wolff at 919-401-6609 or [email protected]
Townhomes:Contact Marcia Mayo at 919-908-6984 or [email protected]
Yehudis and Zalman Bluming Street Address: 6514 Glen Forrest Drive
Telephone: 919-357-5904 (cell)
Email: [email protected]
Moved from: Chapel Hill
Children: Five
Careers: student activity directors
Interests/Hobbies: sports, singing, music
Cheryl Young Street Address: 3 Hampton Hill Place
Telephone: 804-577-8889
Email: [email protected]
Children: Daughter, Lindsey
Herbert W. Stover IV, and Shawn H. Stover Street Address: 6519 Glen Forrest Drive
Telephone: 804-577-8889
Email: [email protected]
Moved from: Chapel Hill
Children: Son Quinn, 3 months old
9
● ● New Neighbors
Remember those Welcome Wagon Ladies who called on new homeown-ers with baskets full of local informa-tion and samples and coupons from local businesses?
Well, Falconbridge’s Welcome Com-mittees do the same thing, although sans baskets, samples, or coupons. Both townhome and single-fami-ly-home committee members call on new neighbors to talk about the neighborhood and the communi-ty’s many amenities. They deliver a welcome kit filled with pertinent materials (e.g., Alliance membership
Welcome Wagon was founded in 1928 in Memphis, TN, by Thomas Briggs who was inspired by stories of early Conestoga “welcome wagons” that would meet and greet westward travelers and offer fresh food and water for the journey. Briggs hired “hostesses” to tell new homebuy-ers about local civic and cultural activities in the community while handing out gifts and coupons from local businesses that paid to be in the Welcome Wagon kit. This hostess network expanded across the country until, aside from Briggs and a hand-ful of other males, Welcome Wagon became one of the first majority-fe-male companies in the United States.Source: www.welcomewagon.com/about-us
Falconbridge Has Its Own “Welcome Wagon” form and directory, security tips, a recent newsletter, information about Friends, mail, garbage and recycling pickup, homeowner responsibilities, relevant community covenants and contacts, and local area information and guides.) They also answer ques-tions like what-the-devil are those two-colored wooden blocks on top of the communal mailboxes? Committee members communicate
with each other, and with helpful realtors, about Falconbridge home sales and rentals. They make an appointment for a 30-or-so minutes visit at the new neighbors’ conve-nience. Contact either Michelle Wolff,
[email protected] (sin-gle-family homes) or Marcia Mayo [email protected] (town-homes), to alert them about your new neighbors who will appreciate learning about all that living in Fal-conbridge offers.
— Rosemarie Kitchin
● ● Did You Know
BBQ and North Carolina are inextri-cably connected throughout history and culture. Rivalries exist between states and cities over which one of-fers the best (NC vs. Texas vs. Mem-phis vs. Kansas City); and intrastate rivalries between the Eastern NC and Piedmont styles. These “friendly preferences” are as deep as your lat-est gallon of BBQ sauce. Many books have been written about NC BBQ styles, chefs, and restaurants, but it really gets down to what tastes good to you. Whether you like a strong vinegar and pepper taste with your
chopped pork, brisket, or chicken, or a richer tomato and molasses flavor, you can satisfy your BBQ hankerings nearby.For traditional style Q, check out
the very popular Allen and Sons in Bynum or at their other location on 86 just north of I-40 in Chapel Hill, or stop in at The Pig on Weaver Dairy Road in Chapel Hill. A favorably reviewed new “joint” is Picnic on Cole Mill Road in Durham. Or take a short drive to Hillsborough BBQ on S. Nash St. just west of downtown.
For a variety of BBQ styles, check out The Q Shack on University Drive in Durham, especially on Wednesday nights when they have top-notch bluegrass from 6:30-8:30pm. You can also find fine chopped BBQ, excel-lent ribs, and music every night at The Blue Note Grill on Washington Street in downtown Durham, near the old Durham Bulls baseball stadi-um. Find your favorites and enjoy!
— Bob Jackson
BBQ Rivalry Is Part of NC Culture
10
● ● Getting to Know You
Editor’s Note: We hope you’re enjoying these snapshot bios of fellow Falconbridgers. Feel free to nominate one of your neighbors (or yourself) by contacting Rae Thompson at [email protected].
Harold grew up in Kansas and graduated from Kansas Wesleyan University. He retired eight years ago from a successful career in management training and development for a major insurance com-pany. Eleven years ago
Harold and Tina moved from their three-story home in the Durham area to their present one-story home in Fal-conbridge. They con-
tinue to enjoy the wooded neighborhood and great neigh-bors. He has been active in the neighborhood as treasurer and chair of the FCA.Harold has had many interests over the years. His home
has some beautiful examples of his woodworking skills, but bonsai are now his passion.His interest in bonsai started 23 years ago when he and
Tina visited Charleston, SC, and bought a bonsai in the Market. This bonsai died, but he was challenged to find
out more about them. They joined an evening class and learned how to take care of and create bonsai. This has become a passion for both of them over the years. They are members of The Triangle Bonsai Society where both have held many offices: Harold is program chair at present. He has served
on the board of directors of the American Bonsai Society. From attending conferences to teaching classes at the JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh, Duke Gardens, and N.C. Botanical Garden to giving Power Point presentations to
Harold Johnson Corporate Trainer, Bonsai Enthusiast, Master Gardener
[Photos by Rosemary A. Hutchinson]
groups around the Triangle and demonstrating at the State Fair, Harold’s hobby has become all consuming. He and Tina, along with his primary bonsai teacher, were instrumental in proposing and fundraising for a bonsai display garden at The North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, which now boasts a $1.8 million Bonsai Dis-play Garden. Five years ago Harold became a Master Gardener and
recently has produced a series of podcasts on garden-re-lated subjects for the NC Extension Master Gardener website. Recent interviewees include the biographer of JC Raulston and the curator of the Japanese Garden at Duke Gardens. The podcasts are titled “Getting Dirty in Your Garden.” Do check it out: http://gettingdirtyinyourgarden.org
— Rosemary A. Hutchinson
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11
● ● Neighborhood Watch
At the risk of sounding like a bro-ken record, it’s more of the same this month. A couple of new telephone and computer scams have surfaced, and we’re still experiencing car break-ins. Crimes of opportunity
The good news on the break-ins is that almost all of these are crimes of opportunity. People aren’t forcibly breaking into vehicles; they’re just looking for unlocked cars, prefera-bly ones with stacks of cash, wallets, purses, or iPads left on the front seat. But even if they don’t see anything, they may try the door and rifle quick-ly through the glove box and change compartment.Prevent car break-insAt the most recent District 3 Part-
ners Against Crime (PAC3) meeting, Lt. Morais said that car break-ins are a problem throughout Durham. When I asked if they’re looking for a few guys who cover a lot of ground, or many guys who work in a limited area, he answered that it’s both. Ba-sically, this is a low-risk/low-reward kind of crime. For an industrious few, it’s full-time work; for most, it’s casu-al. At the same meeting, Officer Mock handed out a list of tips to prevent vehicle thefts and break-ins. These are the most applicable to Falcon-bridge:
■ Secure your vehicle at all times. Lock your doors and do not leave windows cracked even in summer.
■ Do not leave valuables or packag-es in plain view inside the vehicle. Put them in the trunk or cover them.
■ Park in a well-lighted area.■ Be aware of your surroundings
and your neighbors.■ Report any suspicious activity to
911 immediately. When in doubt, call 911.
■ If you have information about vehicle thefts or break-ins, contact the Community Resource Unit at 919-560-4404.
Debt collector telephone scamOn another note, Kristin Keckeisen
of AARP’s Fraud Watch Network reports that telephone scammers are pretending to be debt collectors.
To be sure, there are legitimate debt collection agencies, but some crooks are using that as a cover to pressure victims into revealing important personal information. That infor-mation could then be used to open credit card accounts, steal from existing accounts, or even apply for loans. You should be suspicious if the alleged debt collector refers to a bill or loan you don’t recognize, refus-es to provide a mailing address or
telephone number, requests sensitive information (bank account numbers, social security number, etc.), or tries to intimidate you.Ms. Keckeisen suggests: “Tell the
caller you refuse to discuss the debt unless you receive a written notice that includes the debt amount, the name of the creditor, and your rights under the federal Fair Debt Col-lections Practices Act. If the debt is legitimate, but you think the collector may be a fake, contact your creditor about the calls.
“If you get a call like this, report it to the Federal Trade Commission and warn others on the Fraud Watch Network Scam-tracking map.”
“Typosquatting” ScamFinally, Larry Charny provided
another Fraud Watch Network re-port on “typosquatting.” It’s a scam wherein miscreants register a domain name that is a commonly mistyped version of a popular legitimate website. “amazonc.om” for “amazon.com,” for example. If you inadver-tently go to such a site, you may find ransomware or some other bit of nastiness infecting your computer.
So, lock your car, don’t accept du-bious telephone callers at face value, and type carefully.
— Mike Mayo
Something Old, Something New...
amazonc.omswissbankc.om
12
● ● Message From Our BoardThe Alliance Board wants you to know what we discuss and decide, so here’s a summary of our August meeting. And we welcome your attendance at our monthly meetings, held on the first Tuesday of every month.
–Alliance Board
Summary of the Falconbridge Alliance Board Meeting, August 2, 2016
At the August 2, 2016, regular meeting of the Falcon-bridge Alliance Board of Directors with Rae Thompson and Conni Rivers attending as guests, the following discussions occurred, and these actions taken:• Harriet Crisp reported the first Falconbridge Art Walk will occur at the clubhouse and various residences on Sunday, September 18, from noon to 5:00pm. More than 15 artists and authors will participate. The event is for Falconbridge residents and families and the artists’ and authors’ friends and families. The general public is not invited.• Rosemary Hutchinson reported that all Falconbridge Friends refrigerator magnets with the phone number and email for seeking assistance have been distributed by 20 volunteers, and that six new volunteer Friends have been identified. A training and orientation for Friends volunteers will be held at the clubhouse on Sat-urday, September 17, from 10:00am to noon. • The Board approved the installation of a garden shed at 2203 Ridgefield provided its location meets all set-back requirements.• Howard Goldberg presented and briefly discussed the financial report. It was approved. There was discussion that separate budgets for FCA, FVA, and the Alliance should be developed in September and be adjusted as necessary based upon any forthcoming changes in the neighborhood governance reorganization that is under-way. • There was extensive discussion of the possible changes in governance and responsibilities of FCA, FVA, and the Alliance. Attorney Edward Chaney, an expert on 501(c)(3) corporations, will provide legal ad-vice about how those might best be organized. A variety of possible governance changes were discussed. Very careful attention will be paid to avoid anything that would put the 501(c)(3) status of the FVA at risk. The Governance Change Committee made up of Roger Ber-nholz, Howard Goldberg, Ed Holland, John Noble, and anyone else interested, would meet with Chaney and then report to the Board about the advice received so that future actions could be directed by the Alliance Board. A special meeting of the Alliance Board may be needed.
More collaboration with the FHA board was also prom-ised.• Rae Thompson, editor of the Falconbridge Alliance newsletter, discussed a variety of issues that may arise if one newsletter serves the entire community. She noted that clearer liaison relationships with the governing boards in the community would be necessary. There was also discussion of whether the distribution would be only by electronic means. Some mailing or a pick-up location may be required for those residents who do not use electronic means of communication (email).Because of scheduling conflicts for some members, the next regular meeting of the Board was scheduled for Tuesday, September 13, at 7:00pm at the clubhouse.
— Roger Bernholz
Good-bye summer! [Photo by Harriet Crisp]
13
● ● Calendar & Contacts
Falconbridge Calendar : September 2016
SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 CLUBHOUSECLOSED FORRENOVATIONS*
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30
MAH JONGG 1:30pm
MAH JONGG 1:30pm
MAH JONGG 1:30pm
ARTISTS STUDIO1:00pm
ARTISTS STUDIO1:00pm
COFFEE KLATCH9:30-11:00am
POKER NIGHT7:00pm
ALLIANCE-SPONSORED SOCIAL GROUPS FOR ALL NEIGHBORS:
MARDI GRAS BOWLING Lawrence Proctor: [email protected]
TRAVELING PUB Barb Carroll: [email protected]
FOR ALLIANCE MEMBERS:
BOOK CLUB* Ronit Weingarden: [email protected] / Bill Brown: 919-493-8296
GAME NIGHT GROUP* Barb Carroll: [email protected]
GOURMET GROUP* Liz Hallgren: [email protected]
MAH JONGG* Paula Clarke: [email protected]
STUDIO TIME FOR ARTISTS* Ann Noble: [email protected]
THIRD WEDNESDAY POKER* John Noble: [email protected]
WINE TASTING GROUP* Ron Hutchinson: [email protected]
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
TRAVELING PUB5:30-7:30pm
BOWLING6:00pm
ARTISTS STUDIO1:00pm
TRAVELING PUB5:30-7:30pm
MAH JONGG 1:30pm
MAH JONGG 1:30pm
ARTISTS STUDIO1:00pm
BOOK CLUB7:00pm
MAH JONGG 1:30pm
COFFEE KLATCH9:30-11:00am
FILM @ CLUBHOUSENoble8:00pm
FILM @ CLUBHOUSEAn Officer & Gentleman8:00pm
MAH JONGG 1:30pm
MAH JONGG 1:30pm
FALCONBRIDGE FRIENDS10:00am-Noon
FHA BOARD MEETING 7:00pm
TRAVELING PUB5:30-7:30pm
GAME NIGHT7:00-9:00pm
WOMEN’S BOOK CLUB7:30pm
FALCONBRIDGE ART WALK12:00-5:00pm
MAH JONGG 1:30pm
ALLIANCE BOARD MEETING 7:00pm
Falconbridge Alliance21 CharringtonChapel Hill, NC 27517
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• 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
www.falconbridgealliance.org
(Falconbridge Alliance) – [Constantly being improved, an increasingly vital source of information
– progressive and historical. Do visit often.]
FalconbridgeHOA.org (Townhomes)
groups.yahoo.com/group/falconbridge (Listserv)
www.Falconbridgehoa.org/pool.htm (Pool and Clubhouse)
2016 Falconbridge Alliance Board of DirectorsJohn Noble, President • [email protected] • 770-313-0194
Mike Mayo, Vice President, Communications, Neighborhood Watch • [email protected] • 973-722-4772
Roger Bernholz, Secretary • [email protected] • 919-937-9802
Howard Goldberg, Treasurer • [email protected] • 518-878-8296
Jamie Ashmore, Membership, Fundraising • [email protected] • 919-806-0730
Harriet Crisp, Social Events • [email protected] • 919-490-2080
Ed Holland, Architecture & Landscaping Review • [email protected] • 919-489-9809
Robert Kintz, Information Technology, Member Directory, Website • [email protected] • 919-932-7849 Kelly Quisenberry • [email protected] • 919-219-3051
CLICK HERE TO JOIN TODAYSingle-family homes = $50/year, $75 (2 or more)
Townhomes = $20/year, $30 (2 or more)
