My Four Days in Swannanoa with Russ Hartenstine
When Russ Hartenstine recently watched the news of Hurricane Helene
ravaging North Carolina he “felt a calling to help.” Soon he was
driving south to the unincorprated village of Swannanoa in Buncombe
County, N. C., where he found a village in shock.” I was able to
conribute,” comments Russ, “ by helping the people understand that
they had within themselves the resources to confront their fear and
distrust and begin to rebuild and heal as a community. This message,
he believes applies as well to individuals in trouble, and to
organizations such as UUSMV. “ There is a natural way for people and
groups to rebuild community, to get themselves back together,” says
Russ, the owner of Pyramid Property Management Company and former
director of Emergency Services for West Tisbury – also a long-time
UUSMV member. He will develop this idea while reflecting on his four
days in Swannanoa.