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Penland Line
WATER AAAN
Sometime during Ken Botnick’s first week as director of Pen-
land, a state engineer appeared in his office and informed him
that the school was not in compliance with state water regula
tions. Ken quickly found out that Penland had been reclassified
as a “community w^ater system,” which is governed by stringent
and complex statutes. There’s no grandfather clause for com
munity systems, so a thirty-year-old network of springs, pumps,
and plumbing had to be brought in line with modern regulations.
For starters, a community system cannot use low-lying springs,
which Penland has depended on, regardless of water quality.
Furthermore, the system has to be supervised, maintained, and
monitored by a state-certified water-system operator. Con
tracting this service out would have been prohibitively expen
sive, but Bruce Mathis, who is on Penland’s maintenance staff,
offered to take on the job.
Bruce’s college training was in mining technology, and he has a
good background in chemistry and math. He spent several
months studying the water codes and then went to Raleigh for
a week of traimng and testing. After he got there he discovered
that he’d been sent the wrong books, and he also learned that
many of his classmates were making their third attempt at the
test. “Bruce called from Raleigh, and said that it would be by the
grace of God if he passed,” Ken recalls. He did, and with Hying
colors.
Once he finished the training, Bruce cheerfully took on what
turned out to be a huge responsibility. The school has contracted
for new wells, a new pump house, and a second reservoir. Bruce
is laying 5,000 feet of new water line to connect all these
elements, and he will also be installing flow monitors on the
wells and a chlorinator in the pump house.
Water samples must be taken on a regular basis, packed in ice,
and shipped to the lab by overnight mail. Chlorine levels arc
monitored daily at the pump house and at the tap, and testing is
done for bacteria, organic chemicals, and pesticide residues.
Bruce reports regularly to the state and handles reams of paper
work.
All the new work must be completed by the beginning of spring
Concentration, and Bruce will be working full-time on the
water system until then. The maintenance staff is already hard
pressed by the untimely death of Harold Jones, so they expect to
have a busy winter. Ken reports, however, that putting these
plans in motion, along with a high level of
communication, has softened the state’s ini
tially adversarial stance.
Although his new responsibilities appear
complex and intimidating, Bruce speaks with
knowledge and confidence and says he’s re
ally enjoying the work. “He w'as heaven
sent,” Ken said, “and this has been a great
opportunity for someone on the staff to step
forward and move bn with their professional
education.” So keep the pressure up, Bruce,
because everyone’s trying to shower.
AUCTION VOLUNTEERS: NOT JUST FOR A
It takes about 100 extra pairs of hands to put on the event, and volunteers come from all sectors of the school
community. The list begins w'ith the summer’s work/study students. They are already familiar with Penland's
kitchen and other facilities, they have worked with the staff, and they form a dependable core for the auction
crew. Then there are students who had such a good time that they want an excuse to come back, often bringing
friends with them; people enrolled in sixth session who accidentally show up a day early; folks who just like to
be part of the frenzy; and those who simply arrive unannounced and sign up for a job.
The crew also includes board members, former staff, and good neighbors. This year, the Penland Residents
hosted a breakfast for the Auction Patrons, Edwina Bringle helped set up the art show, Cynthia Bringle and
Doug Sigler served as relief auctioneers. Dot Hodges was on the registration desk. Alary Ann Scherr and
Jane Peiser were both seen wearing aprons, and the list goes on and on. And, of course, the beautiful display
of auction art is put together by curator Jane Kessler, and the auction itself is run by her husband, Fred
Kessler. Jane and Fred are part of a dedicated group who have volunteered professional talents year after
year and have been essential to the continued success of the event.
The Penland Benefit Auction, which raised over $150,000 for the
school this year, is more than just an art sale. It’s an elaborately
planned and executed party for the .school’s patrons, but it’s more
than that as well. At its be.st, the auction weekend is a celebration of
the Penland community: a time when staff, students, friends, and
neighbors all come together to work on a common project. Although
a few cooks and coordinators arc paid, much of the work is done by
volunteers.
The tasks arc myriad: an art show is designed and mounted; a huge
tent is set up with tables, chairs, sound system, and drainage; guests
are registered, valuable artwork gets carried from the display to the
tent, then to the Pines for careful packing; tours arc given, questions
are answered, unforeseen problems get solved, and, when it’s over,
everything has to be cleaned up. In addition to all of this, a great deal
of food gets cooked and served. Friday night includes a sit-down meal
for 200, the auction it.self is precxxled by a four-.star buffet, and all of
the staff anti volunteers have to cat as well.
Bruce Mathis
Anyone interested in
volunteering for the
199S Auction, which
^vill be held on August
12, should contact
Geraldine Plato at
204-76S-23S9.
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