John and Kathy Hicks did a double take on Saturday morning when they saw a large black bear crossing the highway in front of Uffington House in Rugby. Barbara Stagg says this is about the third sighting of bears in recent months.
While folks in many communities around the country have bears who “visit” from nearby protected areas, this is a relatively new occurrence for current Rugby residents – and can be unsettling. It appears that the best policy for dealing with bears is to avoid encountering them, and so we should do what we can to discourage them from being attracted to our village. An article by the California Department of Fish and Game describes the relationship between bears and humans this way:
“Active bears spend much of their time foraging for food. … Unfortunately, like humans, bears also appear to relish "unnatural" sweet or greasy foods (e.g., bacon grease, melons, candy, soda, pet food, hummingbird food, etc.). If bears sense food in human backpacks, tents, cabins, garbage cans, vehicles, etc. and subsequently obtain food from these sources, they quickly learn or become "trained" to associate the situation or an object with getting food. In the future, even if food is not present, they may try to obtain food from these sources, having learned that they sometimes contain food. It can take many unsuccessful attempts and negative encounters to change a bear's behavior. People living or recreating in bear habitat may face problems with "trained" bears supplementing their natural diet with food easily obtained from ice chests, trash cans, cars, cabins, chicken coops, gardens, or pet food bowls.”
It appears that bear are often attracted to areas where humans are living because people leave food and garbage outside. So the more we can do to not leave food outside, including pet food and bird food, or to not leave garbage cans outside, the less likely the bears will want to hang around this area. I am not sure what we do about our gardens, although I suspect a dog would discourage bears from hanging around a garden area.
Below are a couple of websites with suggested rules for humans who have black bear living in the vicinity. The first website talks about what to do if you see a black bear and emphasizes the importance of not feeding or getting near the bear. As you can see from this stock photo, bears can be deceptively “cute.” (It is interesting to note that at the end of the article it also discusses the problem they have with pigs in the Smokies and that they are trying to control their populations by trapping and shooting them since they do so much damage to the park’s vegetation.)http://www.yoursmokies.com/blackbearsinsmokies.html
http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/wildlife/living/pdf/living_with_suburban.pdf
Voice/Music Classes This Week
Ron Jackson will be teaching classes in Voice/Music Reading for Singers each evening this week, August 18-22 at the Friendly House. There is a $5 fee for the syllabus and supplies. Classes will begin each evening at 7:30 pm and end at 9:00 pm. All Rugby singers are encouraged to attend. The classes cover the basics of correct singing and understanding the musical score.
Labor Day Hike Announced
Benita Howell wants everyone to know that The Big South Fork Chapter of the TTA is organizing a hike around Rugby for Labor Day, September 1. They plan to divide this hike into segments, none longer than three miles, so that you can easily do just part of the hike if you wish. They will return to the Cafe for lunch, or bring your own. Hikers should bring plenty of water and snacks for the trail. The hike is rated moderately strenuous because of climbs and probable heat and humidity so dress appropriately and be prepared for bugs and poison ivy. Contact Julian Bankston (jrbankston@nxs.net) or Benita Howell (bjhowell@highland.net) for more information.
Friday Night Dancing
Mary Hemminger is organizing another evening of English Country Dancing for Friday night, August 22, in the Community Building. It is scheduled to start at 7:30 pm, but Mary said that folks traveling in for the weekend are welcome to come whenever they arrive. Mary said she was encouraged that the last night of dance filled the Friendly House, and that the new location at the Community Building will offer more room. “We had the Friendly House packed and we liked having the problem” Mary said.
Congratulations Hesters
Harry and JoNell Hester recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary and Harry’s 80th birthday and JoNell’s 60th birthday. They hosted a celebration party Saturday evening at their home in Hendersonville. Guests were chauffeured from a parking area near Johnny Cash Parkway in a white limousine to their residence where the gates were decorated with hula skirts to mark the Hawaiian luau theme. The Hester clan greeted the guests with colorful leis which everyone wore around their necks. Guests wearing brightly colored flowered clothes mingled around the pool and under a beautiful white tent while listening to a live band. Congratulations to Harry and JoNell, hope to see you back in Rugby soon! And thanks to Charles Gibbs for the nice photo of the Hesters from the party.Studio Apartment Available
Mara Trumbo says they are making a studio apartment in their carriage house in Rugby’s Beacon Hill available for rent. Of course, since they just completed their construction a few months ago the space is brand new and has a spacious open living area. It is available by the night, week or month. Fully self-catering. Coffee/Tea supplies included. If interested, call owners Robert & Mara Trumbo at 423-628-6591 or email them at Cadisama@earthlink.net.
Early Deadline This Week
All submissions for the next newsletter must be in by noon on Sunday. Carrie Thornthwaite has graciously agreed to do the newsletter so you can email any suggestions to Carrie.Thornthwaite@lipscomb.edu
Birthdays
August 20 Scott Buck
August 23 Delois Boone and Laurie Britt
August 23 Delois Boone and Laurie Britt
Calendar of Events
August 18 – 22 Voice Classes with instructor Ron Jackson at 7:30 pm EDT at the Friendly House. $5 fee for syllabus and supplies.
August 22 – English Country Dancing 7:30 pm EDT at the Community Building. Contact Mary Hemminger for information at mejs@juno.com.
August 30 – Concert – Farr Horizons Trio – 7:45 pm EDT at the Rebecca Johnson Theatre. Tickets must be purchased in advance through Historic Rugby at 888-214-3400 or locally at 628-2441. Adult tickets $10 in advance, $12 day of the concert. Under-age-18 tickets $6 in advance and $7 day of the concert.
September 1 – Labor Day Hike Around Historic Rugby. Meet at Harrow Road Cafe at 9:30 am EDT. Contact Julian Bankston (jrbankston@nxs.net) or Benita Howell (bjhowell@highland.net) for more information.
September 6 – Community Potluck – 7:00 pm
August 22 – English Country Dancing 7:30 pm EDT at the Community Building. Contact Mary Hemminger for information at mejs@juno.com.
August 30 – Concert – Farr Horizons Trio – 7:45 pm EDT at the Rebecca Johnson Theatre. Tickets must be purchased in advance through Historic Rugby at 888-214-3400 or locally at 628-2441. Adult tickets $10 in advance, $12 day of the concert. Under-age-18 tickets $6 in advance and $7 day of the concert.
September 1 – Labor Day Hike Around Historic Rugby. Meet at Harrow Road Cafe at 9:30 am EDT. Contact Julian Bankston (jrbankston@nxs.net) or Benita Howell (bjhowell@highland.net) for more information.
September 6 – Community Potluck – 7:00 pm
September 13 – Fall Wildflower Walk – Instructor Jack Carman. Walk around Rugby to see autumn wildflowers including several rare species. Plus slide presentation and book signing. 10:00 am to 5:00 pm EDT with lunch break. Fee $12, lunch additional. Contact Historic Rugby for reservation 888-214-3400 or locally at 628-7842
Exercise Group - Monday and Thursday at 9:00 am EDT at the Friendly House
Dulcimer Class – Tuesdays, 2:00 pm EDT at the Friendly House
Quilters Group - Wed. and Sat. 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm EDT at the Friendly House
