For What It’s Worth

A lot has been written about the awful events of September 11. Even more on what has happened to the American spirit since that day. But I particularly like these words of Leonard Pitts Jr., a syndicated columnist for the Seattle Times.

They pay me to tease shades of meaning from social and cultural issues, to provide words that help make sense of that which troubles the American soul. But in this moment of airless shock when hot tears sting disbelieving eyes, the only thing I can find to say, the only words that seem to fit, must be addressed to the unknown author of these sufferings. You monster. You beast. You unspeakable bastard. What lesson did you hope to teach us by your coward’s attack on our World Trade Center, our Pentagon, us? What was it you hoped we would learn? Whatever it was, please know that you failed.

Did you want us to respect your cause? You just damned your cause. Did you want to make us fear? You just steeled our resolve. Did you want to tear us apart? You just brought us together. Let me tell you about my people. We are vast and quarrelsome family, a family rent by racial, cultural, political and class division, but a family nonetheless. We’re frivolous, yes, capable of expending tremendous emotional energy on pop cultural minutiae, a singer’s revealing dress, a ball team’s misfortune, a cartoon mouse.

We’re wealthy, too, spoiled by the ready availability of trinkets and material goods, and maybe because of that, we walk through life with a certain sense of blithe entitlement. We are fundamentally decent, though peace-loving and compassionate. We struggle to know the right thing and to do it. And we are, the overwhelming majority of us, people of faith, believers in a just and loving God.

Some people - you, perhaps - think that any or all of this makes us weak. You’re mistaken. We are not weak. Indeed, we are strong in ways that cannot be measured by arsenals. Yes, we’re in pain now. We are in mourning and we are in shock. We’re still grappling with the unreality of the awful thing you did, still working to make ourselves understand that this isn’t a special effect from some Hollywood blockbuster, isn’t the plot development from a Tom Clancy novel.

Both in terms of the awful scope of its ambition and the probable final death toll, your attacks are likely to go down as the worst acts of terrorism in the history of the United States and, indeed, the history of the world. You’ve bloodied us as we have never been bloodied before. But there’s a gulf of difference between making us bloody and making us fall.

This is the lesson Japan was taught to its bitter sorrow the last time anyone hit us this hard, the last time anyone brought us such abrupt and monumental pain. When roused, we are righteous in our outrage, terrible in our force. When provoked by this level of barbarism, we will bear any suffering, pay any cost, go to any length, in the pursuit of justice. I tell you this without fear of contradiction. I know my people, as you, I think, do not. What I know reassures me. It also causes me to tremble with dread of the future.

In days to come, there will be recrimination and accusation, fingers pointing to determine whose failure allowed this to happen and what can be done to prevent it from happening again. There will be heightened security, misguided talk of revoking basic freedoms. We’ll go forward from this moment sobered, chastened, sad. But determined, too. Unimaginably determined. You see, there is steel beneath this velvet. That aspect of our character is seldom understood by people who don’t know us well. On this day, the family’s bickering is put on hold. As Americans we will weep, as Americans we will mourn, and as Americans, we will rise in defense of all that we cherish.

Still, I keep wondering what is was you hoped to teach us. It occurs to me that maybe you just wanted us to know the depths of your hatred. If that’s the case, consider the message received. And take this message in exchange: You don’t know my people. You don’t know what we’re about. You don’t know what you just started.

But you’re about to learn.

For Your Information

For everyone’s general information, we have instituted stricter security measures at the dam in these uncertain times, at least to the extent of keeping the gate closed and locked at all times. In addition, William Grimes and Donnie McGraw as well as the police department are being more vigilant and watching out for unusual occurrences. The same holds true for the wells and reservoirs of our water system.

Both Police Chief Mike Bustle and Fire Coordinator Ron Morgan are available to speak to any organization in town about what the town is doing to protect us from terrorist and criminal activities and what measures you can take to protect yourselves and your property. They can also describe the procedure to report suspicious packages or other mail. Call me to arrange for a presentation.

McGill Associates have submitted two grant applications the Rural Development Center on the town’s behalf. The first is for a "Water and Sewer Regionalization Assessment" in the amount of $40,000 to determine means to enhance cooperation or actually merge the water and wastewater systems of Lake Lure and the Village of Chimney Rock. The second is for a supplemental grant in the amount of $400,000 for partial funding to support much needed water system improvements. Copies of these applications are on my desk for your review.

We have been experiencing problems with the pumps at the new sewer lift station. The contractor for the lift station has agreed to replace one of the pumps with one from a different manufacturer on a trial basis. If this works (and the manufacturer of the new pump is confidant that it will), then our contractor and the pump supply subcontractor will share the cost to replace all three existing units with the new ones. The trial pump is on order and should be installed and tested within a few weeks.

Commissioner Blaine Cox and I participated in an interview last month conducted by representatives of the North Carolina Department of Commerce. The topic was economic development in Rutherford County and the department was interested in the opinions of a wide-ranging group of individuals from the county.

I recently attended a meeting of the "Rutherford County Water and Sewer Capital Improvements Blue Ribbon Committee." The purpose of this county-initiated committee is to help the county formulate plans for water and sewer expansion. At this meeting, the county’s consulting engineers presented and discussed their recently completed Water and Sewer Study. Future meetings will look at what roll the county can play in the development of municipal and regional systems within the county.

Flag Etiquette

Most of us are displaying our nation’s flag at home, at work and on our vehicles to demonstrate support for our country. For a refresher on the appropriate manner in which to do so, you may wish to visit the United States Code web site at www.usflag.org/us.code36.html. The following is an excerpt from the code:

"When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be uppermost and to the flag’s own right; that is, to the observer’s left. When displayed in a window, the flag should be displayed in the same way, with the union or blue field to the left of the observer in the street."

At our last Town Council meeting Bob Washburn, Chairman of the Lake Advisory Committee, presented the results of the Survey of Lake Lure Residents for the Lake Use Study. I would like to applaud Bob and the Lake Advisory Committee for their hard work and diligence in gathering data and having long discussions in an effort to create a lake use study. The results of the survey can be seen later in this newsletter. Please note that there will be a Town Council workshop meeting with the Lake Advisory Committee at 9:30 a.m. on November 7, to discuss the lake use study.

Two other committees also made presentations at the Town Council meeting. Dick Washburn, Chairman of the Zoning and Planning Board spoke and Bill Bush, Chairman of the Diamond Jubilee Committee spoke. Again I would like to thank these and all the other boards and committees in our community for all their hard work. Our town is very lucky to have so many folks that graciously donate their time to our town.

The Birthday Party for the Lake Lure dam was lots of fun. I look forward to the upcoming 75^th anniversary events and encourage all interested to donate to the Diamond Jubilee Celebration fund. (Checks may be sent directly to the town hall with a note that it is for the Diamond Jubilee.) We are hoping to complete the beautification work at the Memorial Point before the upcoming spring events.

Mike Bustle, employee of the month, was administered the oath of office and assumed his duties as Lake Lure Police Chief on Friday, July 17, 1998.

Mike has worked with the Asheville Police Department, Buncombe County Sheriff’s Department, the Carboro Police Department and with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Mike is a graduate of UNC - Chapel Hill with a B.S. degree and double major in Administration of Justice and Sociology and also holds an associate degree from Wingate College. Mike attended the FBI National Academy at Quantico, Virginia where he completed a ten-week course of instruction. Recently he completed a specialized program of instruction entitled, Traffic Steps - Criminal Interdiction.

Mike has served the police department and the Town of Lake Lure very well and we say "thank you Mike" for a great job. Mike and his family reside in Asheville.

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TOWN COUNCIL ACTIVITIES

REGULAR MEETING: The regular town council meeting was held on Tuesday, October 9, 2001, at 7:00 p.m. at the Lake Lure Municipal Center.

Under the "consent agenda," Council:

* approved the minutes of September 11, 2001 (regular meeting), and September 18, 2001 (special meeting); and

* approved request from Mary Ann Hollifield for the Crafty Tarheels to: (1) hold craft shows on June 29-30, 2002, July 1, 2002, August 31, 2002, September 1-2, 2002, and October 12-13, 2002; (2) suspend the town peddling ordinance to allow vendors to sell crafts and food; (3) use of the town community center kitchen area and the grassy area adjacent to the town community center/visitor center and between the town marina; and (4) suspend the town ordinance prohibiting overnight camping for these events to allow two self-contained campers to stay on town property located on the grassy area adjacent to the town community center/visitor center

In other activities, Town Council:

* held a public hearing and adopted Ordinance No. 01-10-09 establishing a temporary moratorium (August 28, 2001 to February 25, 2002) on the development of new major and minor subdivisions within the Town of Lake Lure;

* heard a report from Bill Bush, DJC Chairman regarding activities of the Diamond Jubilee Committee;

* Lake Advisory Chairman Bob Washburn gave a progress report regarding the lake use study and survey;

* scheduled a special town council workshop meeting to be held with the Lake Advisory Committee on Wednesday, November 7, 2001, 9:30 a.m.;

* appointed Mary Ann Dotson and Mike Williams to serve on the Board of Adjustment/Lake Structures Appeals Board as regular members;

* approved memorandum of understanding for Rural Planning Organizations for Transportation;

* tabled the adoption of Ordinance No. 01-10-09A amending the traffic schedule in Chapter 72, Town of Lake Lure Code of Ordinances to change the speed limits on Boys Camp Road, Cutaway Road, and Burnt Ridge Road within the Town of Lake Lure;

* approved interim water purchase contract between the Town of Lake Lure and Chimney Rock Village; and

* schedule a special town council meeting to be held on Tuesday, November 13, 2000, 1:00 p.m.

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I am pleased to advise you that the Lake Lure Police Department has been the recipient of several small funding safety grants. The North Carolina League of Municipalities recently funded the department $750.00 for the purchase of three bulletproof vests. Also, the North Carolina Department of Transportation recently funded the purchase of one hundred child safety bicycle helmets for children in our area. This grant followed the passage of legislation requiring children less than 16 years of age to wear a safety helmet. The helmets will be offered to area youth who successfully pass a planned bicycle safety course at the Lake Lure Youth Center.

* Carry a flashlight.

* Walk, don’t run.

* Stay out of roadways.

* Obey traffic signals.

* Stay in familiar neighborhoods.

* Don’t cut across yards or drive.

* Wear a watch you can read in the dark.

* Make sure costumes don’t drag and are loose so warm clothes can be worn underneath.

* Shoes should fit properly, even if they don’t go with your costume.

* Avoid wearing mask while walking from house to house. Facial make-up is safer and more colorful. If masks are worn, they should have nose and mouth openings and large eye holes.

* Carry only flexible knives, swords, or other props, made from cardboard or other flexible materials. Do not allow children to carry sharp objects.

* If no sidewalk, walk on the left side of the roadway facing traffic.

* Wear clothing with reflective markings or tape, or at least light-colored to make children more visible.

* Approach only houses that are lighted and never enter a stranger’s home without adult supervision.

* Stay away from and don’t pet animals you don’t know.

* Bags or sacks carried by youngsters should be light-colored or trimmed with retro-reflective tape.

* Make sure your children eat dinner before setting out.

* Children should carry quarters so they can call home.

* Ideally, young children of any age should be accompanied by an adult, but an adult will be supervising the outing for children under age 12.

* If your children go on their own, be sure they wear a watch, preferably one that can be read in the dark.

* If you buy a costume, look for one made of flame retardant material.

* Older children should know where to reach you and when to be home.

* You should know where they’re going, in familiar areas and along established routes.

* Although tampering is rare, tell children to bring candy home to be inspected before consuming anything. Wash fruit and slice it into small pieces.

* Look at the wrapping carefully and toss out anything that looks suspicious. When in doubt, throw it out.

* Know the names of older children’s companions.

*Review all appropriate trick-or-treat safety precautions, including pedestrian/traffic safety rules with the children.

* When buying special Halloween make-up, check for packages containing ingredients that are labeled "Made with U.S. Approved Color Additives," "Laboratory Tested," "Meets Federal Standards for Cosmetics," or "Non- Toxic." Follow manufacturer’s instruction for application.

* Report incidents of treat tampering to local police.

* Make sure your yard is clear of such things as ladders, hoses, dog leashes, and flower pots that can trip the young ones.

* Pets get frightened on Halloween. Put them up to protect them from cars or inadvertently biting a trick-or-treater.

* Battery powered jack-o’-lantern candles are preferable to a real flame.

* If you do use candles, place the pumpkin well away from where trick-or-treaters will be walking or standing.

* Make sure paper or cloth yard decorations won’t be blown into a flaming candle.

* Healthy food alternatives for trick-or-treaters include packages of low-fat crackers with cheese or peanut butter filling, single-serve boxes of cereal, packaged fruit rolls, mini boxes of raisins and single-serve packets of low-fat popcorn that can be micro waved later.

* Non-food treats: plastic rings, pencils, stickers, erasers, or coins.

Drivers

* Go slow, slow, slow all evening. (Adult Halloween partiers should have a designated driver.) Careful thought and planning may go into a child’s Halloween costume, but the excitement of the night can cause children to forget to be careful on the streets.

* Watch for children darting out from between parked cars.

* Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs.

* Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully.

* If you are driving children, be sure they exit on the curb side, away from traffic.

* Do not wear your mask while driving.

* At twilight or later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing.

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Our vision statement is "Protecting soil and water resources through watershed education and program participation." We accomplish these goals by providing information, technical support, and financial reimbursements. All landowners within our 94 square mile watershed are eligible for assistance through the Upper Broad River Watershed Protection Program. Our programs range from financial assistance in implementing erosion control measures on eroding areas existing prior to October 18, 1999, low interest loan for new construction, stream bank restoration, and riparian conservation easements.

It is with great pleasure to introduce to you our latest addition to our staff; Jackie Dobrinska is assisting us in our program implementation. She is from Green Lake, Wisconsin and has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Zoology from Madison, Wisconsin. Her work background consists of program planning and implementation in the conservation field. We are looking forward to her contributions to our program helping property owners in our watershed.

Our watershed protection meetings are held at the Town of Lake Lure Municipal Center. Our meetings are informative with a full report on the implementation of our program objectives and interactive in nature.

Our next meeting will be held December 5, at the Town of Lake Lure Municipal Center at 9:00 a.m. Come join us as we continue to develop and implement our watershed protection efforts. We value your input. Please call Pamela Pyles or Jackie Dobrinska at the Town of Lake Lure at (828) 625-9983, ext. 123 for information.

Free computer classes open to the public at the Union Mills Lifelong Learning Center each week. Call 828-287-5876 or 828-287-5163 for details.

Safe trick or treating in Chimney Rock Village, October 31, 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Haunted Halloween events in the Hickory Nut Gorge will be held on Friday and Saturday, November 2 and 3 from 6:30 p.m. until 10:00 a.m. There will be haunted boat rides at the Lake Lure Marina; a haunted house at the Lake Lure Conference Center and haunted hay rides at the Lake Lure Arcade Building across from the town beach. Activities include apple bobbing, food, variety of games, and more. For more information call 828-625-2725.

Friends of the Mountains Branch Library will have their Semi-Annual Meeting on Sunday, November 4, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Robert L. Williams, who has written 42 books to date, including 100 Practically Perfect Places in the North Carolina Mountains, and Faces of the Snow (a mystery novel) will be the guest speaker. He should give a delightful talk spiced with local "flavor." Refreshments will be served. A Silent Auction will begin the week preceding the meeting with the final sale at the end of the program. Please stop by the library and see these items which have been donated by your neighbors. (If you would like to have something included in the auction, please contact B. J. Washington at 828-625-9101). The public is invited, and we hope everyone will come out and meet your friends and Robert Williams at this afternoon gathering. The Mountains Branch Library is located at the corner of Bill’s Creek Road and Highway 64/74A.

The Grand Opening of The Tile Store at 448 Memorial Hwy., next to the Point of View Restaurant, is now under way. The Tile Store is locally owned and operated by Dick Sequin. It will be featuring Dal tile at discount prices. Dick has been in the tile installation business in Asheville and will be overseeing professional installation in Lake Lure. Business hours are 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information call 828-625-1301.

Attention Boat Owners! We hope you have been scheming along with us on your boat decorations for this year’s boat parade. December 1, is the 7^th annual boat parade! Mark this on your calendar and start your plans. Judging will be in three categories: commercial, group, and homeowners. Also, a prize will be given for boats less than 17 ft.

Lake Lure Tours will have a bonfire and refreshments on the beach again and an "after parade party" will be held at the Lake Lure Inn. New this year is "Deck your Docks!" Decorate your dock and if you would like to have your dock judged, call Vicki Smith at 828-625-4121 to register. Letters are being mailed with more details. If you don’t receive one, contact John and Kathy Kilby at 828-625-8186. Please join us for all the fun and festivities.

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