Seniors Get Free Service, Door To Door On AppalCART,December 14, 2003
By Betty Jane Sheffield - photo's below
Originally Red, Green and Gold, as in Golden Delicious. Now there are eight bus routes. Pop 105, Blue, Orange and State Farm Shuttle Routes were added. Animals in carrying cases, college students, homeless people, parents, mobility impaired, students with bikes in racks, and rural dial-a-ride routes, covering all of Watauga County. AppalCART keeps winding up, down and around the mountains all year. Over the rivers and creeks. Down rough, narrow, gravel and dirt roads. Through rain, snow, sleet and fog AppalCART keeps rolling along. All the time keeping a sharp lookout for wild animals. One day while driving up Hardin Road we spotted four deer in the road. All but one jumped over the fence running into the woods. One fawn freezes right in the middle of the road looking at us for a minute before struggling to get through the fence. All fend for themselves. On another occasion on Orchard Road we see mother and three baby peacocks walking peacefully on the edge of the road. Wild Turkeys we have spotted many times way out in the pastures. Most abundant is cattle grazing or lowing in pastures with a few horses thrown in for good measure.
“In 18 years as Transportation Director, I have never lacked for on the job challenges”, Chris Turner states.
“Oh, life would not be life without challenges! Just keeping up with who drives what is a real big challenge, alone, much less vehicles, routes and weather.” Just riding the van two days a week I have met drivers T.K. Vickie, Kara, Tim (my Tolkien man), Hugh, Robert, Dennis, Roger, Louis (my solar man) Phillip, Glenn, Fletcher and Gary just to name the ones I recall, “We have 49 employees,” Tim Townsend, Trainer, tells me. Joanna Wilcox Chris Turner’s Secretary and Michelle is the Accountant who keeps the number of apples straight. Please note, there are only two women who keep all running very efficient and smoothly. Troy and Tom are dispatchers. I quizzed Troy today, December 4th, to see how many women there were totally. Come to find out they have seven—lucky number. I don’t recall having met Liz or Lisa who drive part time.
As a senior citizen AppalCART enabled me to live independently in Deep Gap-Stony Fork, NC right on the Wilkes County line, 17 miles to Boone where I lived for over two years. I was in heaven—free door to door service on Tuesdays and Fridays. I just dial 264-2278 by 8 am, “Good Mornin Troy”. Half awake, since I am a night owl, took me awhile to get the voices straight. Usually Troy or Tom answered my call. Guess I need to go to town to get some groceries. “Who is driving today?” Tim McGuire, said Troy. “Oh, my Tolkien Man.” “I got you down, Betty”, said Troy. Thanks so very much.
Upon dialing my ride Tuesday morning around 7:30 am after moving to the edge of Heavenly Mountain 4th of October I didn’t recognize the voice. “Hi, with whom am I speaking?” “Chris Turner, Director.” “Oh, Chris I sure do love AppalCART. Your drivers are so friendly (helpful) and courteous. You take care of all my transportation needs being a senior living in the Mountains between Boone and Blowing Rock.” Yes, AppalCART gives me door to door service same days, Tuesday and Friday. Being a little ways out still, the drivers got a little lost but with their two-way radio they feel secure. “Please give Tim good directions to find my little cottage as it is tricky.” “Oh, he won’t have any problem. He can feel your energy.”
My first experience began in Deep Gap. Around 9 am I see and hear the beautiful spotless white AppalCART van arrive at my door with its Red and Green apple. Reminds me of the Italian flag or Christmas in America. Either way I see it, it is good and healthy. Making the rounds in Deep Gap to pickup Melvin and Hallie Trivette, Rosa Mae Watson, Treva Nichols, Edith Hendrix and Robert Winebarger we are taken safe and sound to the door of Lois. E. Harrill Senior Center-Project on Aging, in Boone on Popular Grove Extension. With charm and grace Sherry Harmon, the Director, greets me in her office to fill out the paper work in order to ride free as a senior. Now that you signed in you don’t have to come here at all.
Over the past two years I have witnessed Sherry Harmon keeping numerous activities running smoothly in her busy center. There is nutrition, exercise, weaving, ceramics, quilting, bingo, bridge, music, computer to name a few classes held on a regular basis. Every hour of the day is full of something for a senior to do. Sherry is a true wizard. Recently Appalachian State University students organized a talent show which I hear was a great hit and our Halloween Party didn’t scare anyone away. Note picture of Sherry as a cowboy ‘dude’. In addition, every month from April through November there is a special trip planned where both centers get together. AppalCART furnishes a big bus to go out for the day. My first trip was to Wildcat Lake in Avery County and Whip-poor-will Academy in Ferguson, Tom Dula Museum and Bristol, TN/VA Birthplace of Country Music-Museum.
At the moment, I personally do not participate in any of these wonderful pastimes due to keeping myself busy with a new career as a writer. At the present time I am working on two books one about the Greenes, another about the Wilsons so when I go to town I interview people as my books are oral living history tales. Most days I barely get to the Center for a delicious/nutritious free lunch by 12:30 which is the cut off time for serving, beginning at 12 noon, and to socialize a bit with these nice folk as our driver picks us up at 1 pm heading off to either Lowes Food or Winn-Dixie to grocery shop for an hour. One hundred year old Forrest Wilson drives his car to the center every day to eat lunch. Forrest is full of good stories I don’t want to miss. Yes, we old folks still like to eat even though we don’t work as hard as we once did to work it off. I make sure I walk in our fresh high country air up and down hills every day and cook my meals from scratch so I can eat.
There is a second Senior Center in Cove Creek run by Toni Wait who is a stitch and a half—all heart. Both centers have a living room. Both include a nice collection of books but Cove Creek has a fireplace. The entire building looks more like a home where ours looks like an office building. However, the warmth you find inside is what counts.
Upon my desire to visit Cove Creek Senior Center located in the Western Watauga Community Center, Joanna Wilcox, AppalCart’s Secretary personally took me over there today, Friday, December 12th, in an AppalCART van. Starting at 10 am every Friday all the local musicians gather to pick and sing their old mountain favorites—CC Ramblers. Both centers have pianos in their dining rooms. Christmas decorations created extra warmth in this spacious center where I found rook players cuddling in one corner of the living room, gigantic brown teddy bear sitting in rocker next to the fireplace, ladies painting snowmen on red aprons and a group hanging out in the dining room drinking coffee and sweets which Toni so generously furnishes upon my arrival around 10:30. Looking at their December calendar Toni gave me I see numerous activities to fill up a senior’s day: Body Recall, Quilting, Ceramics, Crafts, Sewing, Pottery, Tolepainting, Line Dancing and Meet the Author. This building is utilized every minute of the day and night. Western Branch of Watauga County Library has two rooms full of books, tapes, computers, story telling, just like the main branch. Today the library was closed, as the librarian was out and about the county bringing books to the homebound. Churches and non-profit organizations can perform their activities free. Private groups, can rent this beautiful space for a fee. Only three or four people ride AppalCART now, Toni tells me. See we have a lot full of cars. Since I came here in 86 things have sure changed. This building was built in 88. When the building changed, the people did too. All of the original people who came here are gone. Only one fourth remain—young seniors. All are special, very diverse. I love them all dearly. The old Cove Creek School is next door with a gym they use for their exercise classes. We have outgrown our building. Blue Ridge Resource Conservation & Development Office is in this building as well. BRRC&D Coordinator, Stan Stury, can be reached by calling 297-5805.
I will be giving an introduction on holistic health measures which I practice on January 14th, at 10 am in the Cove Creek Center.
Thrills of riding AppalCART get better as time goes by. Now that I am living on the edge of Heavenly Mountain I have met Dorthea, Betty Jo, Frances, Ruby, Joe, Mary, Raymond, Shirley, Betty Jean and Aida. Some of these folk live in town and some live out further than I.
Upon beginning to write this article, I pulled out my AppalCART Schedules and Routes brochure finding it was dated 2001-02 which shows you I don’t have to look at it. Upon picking up 2003-04 AppalCART Schedule at the Center AppalCART has become more colorful (services). They are in the process of acquiring a bigger home as they have outgrown their present one.
AppalCART never ceases to amaze me as their vans are not four wheel drive. Being born and raised in DC I thought all country vehicles had to be four wheel drive for them to go. A few wheels have spun but never have gotten stuck. These drivers are terrific—smart and courteous which amounts to a good day for this senior.
They have taken me to the doctor, dentist, library, hardware, natural food store and bookstores. They will take you anywhere around town you need to go within the time frame allowed. Once I had a dentist appointment other than the time allowed. They accommodated my need through previous arrangement.
Riding AppalCART every day will keep the doctor away……. If you can’t go pick your apple from the many orchards around here, AppalCART can get you to grocery store to buy whatever apple you prefer. I never can get my fill of apples, cooked or raw. No one can OD on this gift from God as every seed holds a different DNA. Apples aid digestion due to their fiber and may lower your cholesterol, Their vitamins strengthen your immune system. Their minerals give your bones and blood strength. And their phytochemicals may lower your risk for certain types of cancer.
Thank you Tim McGuire for inspiring me to read J.R.R. Tolkien. This guy has such a unique command of the English language creating immortal thoughts of beauty and truth of Nature—God—Peace in an exquisite tale. Tim McGuire celebrated 20 years at AppalCART on December 9th.
I have not paid an electric bill in years, Louis Ogletree tells me as he drives us to the drive thru window of Blue Ridge Electric so Melvin and Rosa Mae can pay their bill. Above is just a taste of AppalCART. If you wish to learn more check out their website: http://www.appalcart.com or pick up their brochure around town.
Driver Munsey Millaway delivers meals to
the Cove Creek Community Center from
Boone's Project on Aging.
I ride the AppalCART, because I don't have a car... a long long time ago
there were no cars ...
and I bet people like me rode actual apple carts to get around! I guess I'm old
fashioned that
way. If only everyone rode REAL AppalCARTs, then there would be no pollution,
which hurts
real apples... until then ride the Appalcart!