| March 2025 THE CAROLINIAN
Editor: Sandee Henricks nfcnewsletter2024@gmail.com | NOTE: This newsletter contains hyperlinks for you to view club events.
Prior to reading the newsletter, it is advisable that you log into the
New Friends of Carolina website. Have your Username and Password available. |  | Good Day, Friends,
In March we shall all spring forward as Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at 2:00 am.
New Friends of Carolina members may also spring into a wide variety of March activities. On March 4th, BHG is enticing you to join the Annual Souper Luncheon where members share "homemade" soups and their recipes. NFC volunteers will staff Run Jen Run spots to distribute race packets to participants. Twenty members will travel to Salisbury to view an extraordinary art exhibit, enjoy lunch and hop on a trolley for an historic tour. The newest interest group, Helping Hands, will hold its first session on March 31, in order to prepare books for distribution to disadvantaged children. Plus, members can jump into any number of March activities NFC interest group chairs have thoughtfully planned on sign-up day, February 26, starting at 9:00 am.
You will not want to miss the March Bavarian Buffet Membership Luncheon at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery's Overlook Room at its location in the Ballantyne Bowl. The proceedings for this membership meeting will include the announcement of the proposed slate of officers to serve in 2025-2026. Speaker and Beekeeper Marc Jacobs will share some fun facts about his life with these essential insects.
Spring into action and join in the March fun!
Debbie Williams, President
New Friends of Carolina
|  | If you are one of our March birthday ladies listed below, don't forget to sign up for the Membership Luncheon. Your birthday will be acknowledged, and you just might be selected to receive a special birthday gift! | | Jean Burton 3/3
Marilyn Pietrafesa 3/8
Cher Erickson 3/8
Barbara Haynes 3/12
Karen Zach 3/13
Kim Randall 3/14 | | Debbie Sharp 3/18
Barbara Hannon 3/19
Thelma Wilson 3/22
Karen Olshansky 3/24
Ilene Weiner 3/27
Sonja DeGangi 3/27
Kathy Consler 3/27 | | |  |
With Spring in the air and all of us feeling a renewed zip in our step, we are fully engaged in Club activities. On February 6th, we had a very successful Welcome Coffee with seven of our newer members and five prospective members in attendance. What a showing! Special thanks go out to our Welcome Coffee team: Kim Thorpe and Carol Yeager for their great work and to them and to Kris Pacilio and Jan Pasek for the delectable treats served. In the past month, we have added four new members and Club membership is now at 183 members.
We extent a warm welcome to our newest members:
Lucia Chin who lives in Charlotte, NC
Sheryl Hollander who lives in Charlotte, NC
Noelle Picozzi who lives in Waxhaw, NC
Phyllis Smith who lives in Charlotte, NC
Wishing you all good times and opportunities for new and continuing friendships.
Marie Shea, VP of Membership
marieshea1@yahoo.com
704-408-7303 | | CARE AND CONCERN
Cards were sent to:
Lora Castello (Sympathy)
Mitzi Czapla (Get Well) Surgery
Janice Evans (Get Well) Surgery
Adrienne Jenkins (Thinking of You) Hospitalization
Meal Train - Adrienne Jenkins
If you know of anyone in our club who could use a card, a call, or a meal due to illness, hospitalization, etc., please let Jan Pasek know.
Jan Pasek
janicelpasek@gmail.com
404-276-0984
| | | Sergio and I would like to thank those who have been so kind to us after the loss of both of his parents.
It was a shock and being so far away has been difficult. We are grateful we were able to be there in time for both funerals and that our daughter, Monica was able to go with us. Thank you for all the uplifting cards and messages we received.
I ask you to continue to keep us in your prayers as we travel through this time of grief. You all are so precious to us.
With Love,
Lora Castello |  | March Membership Luncheon
BEE HAPPY
Thursday, March 27, 2025
11:30 am - Social
12:00 pm - Lunch
Olde Mecklenburg Brewery (OMB) Ballantyne
15025 Bowl Street. Charlotte, NC 28277
(Plenty of parking in lot adjacent to the building
We will be in the Overlook Room and can be accessed by the staircase or elevator)
Dine at a Bavarian Buffet of
Garden Salad
Pork Schnitzel with Lemon and Lingonberries
Whole Roasted Chicken with Lemon and Rosemary
Spaetzel with Brown Butter and Green Beans with Toasted Almonds
Warm Apple Strudel
Iced Tea and Cash Bar
Cost: $35
Our Guest Speaker will be Marc Jacobs, Certified Beekeeper and member of the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association. He will present some fun facts about beekeeping and how he became involved in the wonderful world of beekeeping!
Capacity: 65
|
Monthly Board Meeting
and Special Events | | The board meeting is for Elected Officers and Standing Committee Chairs
Thursday, March 6, 2025
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
At the Home of Lora Castello
1204 Avalon Place
Matthews, NC 28104
Event Contact:
Deborah Williams
716-326-6915 | | | | Better Homes & Gardens
Annual Souper Luncheon...
"Soup's On"
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
12:00 noon
Home of Lori Herzhauser
5026 Willing Court
Ft. Mill, SC 29707
704-953-5181
We are looking for soups, some salads and a few desserts. Please contact Lori (704-953-5181 or diallori@aol.com) as soon as possible to advise what you will be bringing to avoid duplications. We would love everything to be HOMEMADE.
See you there!
Space for 15 Soup Lovers | | | | Calling all Matinee Madams...
Due to the fact that movie information comes out too late to publicize in the newsletter...
Please be on the lookout for an NFC eblast or in the President's Monday Letter to advise you of the movie, date, time, etc. for this event.
Then, please contact Karen Mockler as soon as possible if you're planning to attend.
Karen Mockler
434-906-7761
kmock756@gmail.com
| | | | Join us for...
LADIES NIGHT OUT
Please join us for a St. Patrick's Day Celebration at the home of Carol Henderson. A traditional Irish meal of Corned Beef and Cabbage will be served. Details on signing up to bring appetizers, desserts and beverages will be updated on the calendar
Don't forget to wear GREEN!
Wednesday, March 12
5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Capacity: 18 Lovely Ladies
Carol Henderson's home
4230 Merryvale Drive
Lancaster, SC
704-219-1516
Event contacts:
Diana Congdon 704-608-1529
Barbara Hannon 980-245-2665 | | | | Crafty Creations
Cabbage Floral Arrangement
Wednesday March 26, 2025
10:30 am to 12:30 pm
At the Home of Andrea Woods
1909 Crestgate Drive
Waxhaw, NC 28173
210-836-4264
Come create with us!
This is an easy but fun activity - learn a new way to display your fresh florals!
No charge for this event...everyone is responsible for providing their own materials. A list will be sent to attendees once registration is complete. (Best selection and price for florals at Trader Joes)
Space for 12 Crafty Chicks | | | | HELPING HANDS
Volunteer Opportunity with Promising Pages
Promising Pages is an organization that collects new and used children's books for redistribution to more than 200 schools in underprivileged areas within Charlotte. Our Helping Hands Club will clean books using sponges, erasers and then get them organized for distribution.
Many HELPING HANDS are appreciated.
Monday, March 31, 2025
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Promising Pages
4020 Yancey Road
Charlotte, NC 29707
Capacity: 12 pair of helping hands
Event Contact:
Audrey Herman 704-996-8034
| | |  |  | FUNNY BUS CHARLOTTE COMEDY TOUR
Sunday, April 6, 2025
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Meet at First Ward Park
301 E. 7th Street
Charlotte, NC
Join a local comedian and myself for 90 minutes of laughter as we tour through the streets of CLT and historic neighborhoods in a covered bus. This is a PG-13 rated tour, so friendly for all!
IMPORTANT...you must purchase your own tickets online at the company's website
(the live link will be available on our calendar page when events open at 9 am on February 26). Cost of ticket is $35. Be sure to purchase a ticket for
Sunday, April 6, 2025
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
(The company does not issue refunds)
The bus only seats 40, and we are planning for 20 slots, so purchase your tickets as soon as possible. Open to ALL members, friends, spouses and significant others. You can bring your own beer and wine!
Questions?
Andrea Woods
210-836-4264
|  | | IN THE KNOW...
Thrive Personalized Healthcare and Wellness
Presented by Dr. Amy Fletcher
Friday, April 11, 2025
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
South Park Regional Library
7015 Carnegie Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28211
Dr. Fletcher has been practicing Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Charlotte community for nearly 20 years. She reflects fondly on her time with her previous practice. However, the traditional office setting did not provide the type of environment where she had the resources or time to devote to her vision of optimal health. In 2017, she opened THRIVE, a comprehensive medical facility that focuses on prevention and addressing root cause of disease. By offering patients an alternative healthcare setting that embraces Eastern and Western medical modalities, she strives to empower them to play an active role in their future health and vitality. She is uniquely qualified to address health concerns with her breadth of traditional, integrative and functional medicine training.
As a member of the THRIVE experience, Amy strives to form a partnership with her patients to optimize their health and well-being. Her unique comprehensive approach to wellness inspires clients to achieve vitality and balance in mind, body, and spirit.
Capacity: 50 Health-minded women
Event Contact:
Barbara Evers, 704-996-4705, jdeacon43@aol.com
| Getting to know you...
Karen Dykes | |
What's something that you're nostalgic for? I'm nostalgic for the three summers I spent during college (Virginia Tech) living in Ocean City, Maryland. I worked at a glass blowing shop, spent the days on the beach and the nights having fun.
What is the best part of your day-to-day life? Visiting my grandkids every month. I don't have family here. They live 2.5 hours away.
If you wrote a memoir, what would it be titled? "Things Really Were Different Back Then"
What are you looking forward to most in your life right now? Going to see my two sons and three grandkids this weekend
Someone famous that I would love to meet... Keanu Reeves. He gives away so much of his money, appears to be humble, is a talented actor (and is handsome!)
| | | Please use the links below to learn more about each event. | Appetizers with Friends - Meet at member's home for appetizers and desserts
Better Homes & Gardens
Brews and Bites - Explore a new brewery/pub each month
Dining with Divas
The Divas enjoy lunch and fellowship at the home of members on a rotating basis. This is a closed group and meets the first Friday of the month usually. They are looking to start a new Dining with Divas group. If interested in joining a new group, contact
Chris Green chrisgreen126@yahoo.com 704-621-0893
Ladies Night Out - FUN and FRIENDS
Lunch Bunch 1 - Meets on the 2nd Friday each month at a different restaurant
Lunch Bunch 2 - Meets on the 3rd Friday each month at a different restaurant
Matinee Madams - Meet for a movie and sometimes lunch
(Watch your email or President's Monday message for updates)
Winers and Diners (Groups 1 and 2)
Meet at member's home for cocktails and then out to dinner
| Books, Crafts and Service | Book Lovers - Meet the 3rd Wednesday of every month to discuss a selected title
Book Swappers - Sharing interesting books
(We meet every other month at a member's home)
Crafty Creations - Make new friends and learn a new craft
Sip and Stitch - Bring your needlework...new members always welcome
Helping Hands
| Bunco #1
Bunco #2
Contract Rummy
Five Deck Canasta
Mexican Train 1
Mexican Train 2
Mexican Train 3
Mexican Train Evening
Pickle Ball
Rummikub
Samba
Scrabble
| Any and all feedback is welcome. Email your suggestions and comments to
Sandee Henricks at nfcnewsletter2024@gmail.com | |