Carolina Colours, a planned community designed for seasonal escapes, raising families and retirement living in New Bern, NC

Christmas at Carolina Colours

Blog 3

Thanks to the many volunteers who got all our community wreaths and decorations ready for display, and to those hearty souls who climbed the ladders throughout the community to hang and display them.  As has been the case for years, Carolina Colours looks great at Christmas, thanks to a lot of labor and love.

The community Christmas party at our Pavilion had over 100 members in attendance.  Featuring a great meal by Chef Katherine and a coastal Christmas decoration motif, thanks to the social committee, everyone had a great time.  The Christmas gift exchange and “stealing” , as is the case every year, brought a lot of laughs, and gave everyone a chance to savor their wine.

On to our New Year’s party upcoming, as we will end the year in style!

Friday Evening Breakfast

Joan, Trish, Kathy & Carol 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chef Katherine turned the normal Friday night members meal at the Carolina Colours Pavilion into an elaborate breakfast recently.  The food, including the home made  pastries, drew raves.  And those electing to attend in pajamas were the evenings entertainment!

The event was so popular, we can start looking at some Sunday brunches in 2012.

Member Guest Golf Results

flight1

ladies

 

 

 

 

 

The first Carolina Colours Golf Club member/guest golf tournamant was held the weekend of October 15th.   Flight winners were Jeremy Bruno/Dick Larimer; Marc LaFrance/Jim McGraw; Phillip Williams/Steve Armstrong and Terry Blythe/Jason Wilson.  The team of LaFrance and McGraw won the shootout among flight winners, and are the overall champions.

The team of Mary Anne Ohsol and Sandy Loughren were the women’s division winners.   Mary Roberts/Tracy Carrutheres finished second, with Kathy Amato/Jo Nelms coming in third.

Second place finishers in the men’s division flights were John Lucas/Jeff Bennett; Tim Tabek/Randy King; Tom Saunderson/Jeff Duncan and Larry Nelson/Mike Maher.

The weather was great, the course excellent, the hospitality outstanding and the conradarie best of all!

NC Golf Panel Visit

On Sunday, October 9, a group of NC Golf Panel members visited Carolina Colours Golf Club for lunch and a round of golf.  The Golf Panel is a non-affiliated group of NC golfers that, for the past 15 years or so, have played and rated North Carolina golf courses, but on a regional and state wide basis.  This was their first visit to our new course. 

We at Carolina Colours were thrilled with the response of the players.  Since the visit, we have received written feedback, including: “Your golf course is fun to play.” You succeeded in making it a joy for any handicap.”  The tees are my facorite that I have ever played.”  “The condition of the course was excellent and a pure enjoyment to play.”  “You should be proud of your staff.”  “As a member of the panel, I feel fortunate to have played at the Carolina Colours Golf Club.”

Following these comments, we look forward to next year’s rankings, which will appear in the spring in the Business North Carolina magazine, as well as on the website of the Panel.  It is always great to hear how the hard work of our staff is paying off in a great golfing experience for our players!

Hole in One!

John Lucas, a property owner in Carolina Commons at Carolina Colours, and a member of the Carolina Colours Golf Club, made his first ever hole in one today (9/23/11) on hole number 2.  He used a 9 iron on the 133 yard hole.  Congratulations!

Guys and Dolls

Guys and Dolls, presented by the New Bern Civic Theater group, has gotten excellent reviews from the numerous Carolina Colours residents who have attended the show.  This coming weekend is the last chance to attend the musical.  The Athens Theater, in downtown New Bern, is where the production is staged.  Dating from 1910, it is one of the oldest active theater facilities in North Carolina, and well worth a visit.

Books and More

Please remember that the Carolina Colours “loaner” library located in the Pavlion continues to grow, with a very eclectic selection of books: fiction, sci-fi, non-fiction and biographies abound.  Due to space limitations, we are unable to put on the shelves duplicates, and some books are rotated in and out of circulation.  Thanks to those that continue to donate; more than 20 books a week are being borrowed by our owners.

Also remember that we have an extensive magazine collection, and many puzzles.  Magazines and puzzles are located (along with some audio books) on the table beside the bookshelves.   Enjoy!

As an aside, (although not in our library yet), I strongly recommend the Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny, for those that like detective fiction.  The writing is excellent, and the characters memorable.  Perhaps the best series of its genre I have come across in years.

Ken Kirkman

Golf Club Championship

The first Club Championship golf tournament for Carolina Colours Golf Club was held this past weekend, September 15-16.  There was a good turnout, and everyone had fun.  Amazing, with Irene having visited a couple of weeks prior, the course was in good enough shape to play the ball down.  

Our first Club Champion is David Barnett on the men’s side, with Chris Babich taking home the trophy for the women.  Mal Roberts is the men’s senior champ, while Nancy Philipow took senior honors for the ladies.

Skip Zimmerman was the men’s runner-up, while Denise Plourde finished second among the women.   Flight winners included Ed Czernik, Phil Williams, Peter Koines and Mary Roberts.   The low net winners were John Lucas and Claudia Moran.   Flight low net winners included Jack Pyburn, Herb Martin, Larry Nelson and Susan Lucas.

Now, on to the member/guest, October 14-16.

What A Group!

Fortunately, Carolina Colours has good elevation and drainage.  Therefore, our recent storm visit resulted in no flooding, no injuries, and minimal home damage.  It did, however, leave a lot of debris from trees over roads, yards and the golf course.   In large part because of unrecruited volunteer efforts by a large number of residents, all roads were made passable by the day following the storm, all driveways were cleared within about another day, and most amazingly, the golf course was open for play in a week.  None of this could have been accomplished without the dozens of volunteers who worked, with a smile, to help their neigbhors.   It was truly amazing to see how quickly Carolina Colours was back to normal.   While none of us ever smile when we pay property taxes, we also saw another benefit to being within the New Bern City limits, and the city staff is already working to haul of debris, big and little, where in may communities the citizens have to pay for such service after a storm.

I cannot thank our residents enough.  Our sense of community, as is does so often, shone through.

Ken Kirkman

Annual Pig-pickin’

The annual Carolina Colours pig-pickin’ on Sunday evening, July 17, was, as usual, well attended.  About 110 residents came to the Pavilion for pig, cooked on site, as well as chicken and all the sides.  Attendees brought appetizers and desserts, more food than one can imagine.  After dinner, many played horsehoes, bocce ball and other games, while spectators cheered them on.  Photos from the event will be in our next community newsletter.

July at Carolina Colours

July is another busy month at the Carolina Colours Pavilion.  Activities for the second half of the month include the following:

July 11, 18, 25: Yoga from 8:30 to 9:00 am

July 12, 19, 26: 9:00 am.  Ladies Golf Association play

July 13, 14, 20,21,26,27,28: Yoga from 8:30 to 9:30 am

July 13, 27: Knitting from 2-4 pm

July 13, 20, 27 at 7:30 am: Mens golf association play

July 14, 21: Duplicate bridge from 12:30 to 4:30 pm

July 21: Social bridge from 12:30 -4:30

July 17: Member’s annual pig pickin

July 22, 29: Members drinks and dinner in the Tap Room at 5:00

July 23 at 6 pm: Wedding and Reception

July 27 at noon: Neuse Board of Realtors meeting

July 30: Wedding and Reception

Celebrate The Birth of Our Nation at Tryon Palace, July 2-4

CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF OUR NATION AT TRYON PALACE

JULY 2ND, 3RD, AND 4TH

Tryon Paalce Picture 

This year, celebrate Independence Day with a fun-filled weekend at Tryon Palace.  There’s something for everyone, with activities ranging from a presentation by Tryon Palace Theater to a 19th-century town picnic celebration, a special performance by the Fife & Drum Corps, colonial games, kids craft activities, cannon loading demonstrations, and a dramatic 18th-century reading of our Declaration of Independence.

On Saturday, July 2, at 1:00 p.m., get yourself into the patriotic spirit with an interactive program presented by Tryon Palace Theater entitled “Making of the State”.  In this lively performance, the audience will participate in our First Provincial Congress and help determine North Carolina’s course leading towards the Revolutionary War.  The program will take place in Cullman Performance Hall at the North Carolina History Center.  Tickets are $6 per adult, $3 per student; or free with regular admission.

 In the 1800s, New Bernians celebrated their 4th of Julys on the lawn of the New Bern Academy.  On Sunday, July 3, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., you are cordially invited to attend a recreation of the 19th-century Town Celebration held there on July 4th, 1836 – the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  Bring your own picnic and join 19th-century New Bern citizens in patriotic merriment.  There will be music, dancing, and games including townball – an early precursor to baseball. A special period reading of the Declaration will take place at 2:30 p.m., followed by the ringing of the bells celebrating the years of independence.  In case of inclement weather, the celebration will be moved inside the Academy.  Admission is free, although donations are appreciated, and all ages are welcome!

 On Monday, July 4, Tryon Palace will be returning to July 4, 1777 with a Celebration of the Declaration. Enjoy patriotic kids craft activities, colonial games, and a special Fife & Drum Corps performance at 11:00 a.m., followed by a dramatic 18th-century reading of the Declaration of Independence — all free of charge (although donations will be gladly accepted)! Between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., practice your colonial penmanship by signing your own copy of the Declaration of Independence with a quill pen, decorate a fan, run in a Minute Man race, play colonial cricket, and explore the equipment of a soldier in the Revolutionary War with reproduction objects you can handle. In an interactive demonstration, you’ll even learn what it took for soldiers to load a cannon during the Revolution. In the event of rain, most activities will be moved inside at the North Carolina History Center. Purchase a Time Traveler’s Pass or Governor’s Pass and enjoy interior tours of all our historic buildings as well. The gardens will be open free to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

 For detailed information on individual events, explore the Tryon Palace calendar at www.tryonpalace.org or call Karen Ipock, Curator of Education, at 252-639-3581.

Saturday, July 2, 1:00 p.m.

Tryon Palace Theater: Making of the State

North Carolina History Center, Cullman Performance Hall

$6 per adult, $3 per student; Free with regular admission.

Come get yourself in the patriotic spirit and help us kick off our 4th of July weekend! During this interactive program, the audience will participate in our First Provincial Congress and help determine North Carolina’s course leading towards the Revolutionary War.

 Sunday, July 3, 1:00p.m. – 4:00p.m.

A 19th Century Town Celebration

New Bern Academy Green

Free admission, all ages welcome

In the 1800s, the citizens of New Bern celebrated their 4th of Julys on the lawn of the New Bern Academy.  You are cordially invited to attend a recreation of the celebration held there on July 4th, 1836 – the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  Bring your own picnic and join 19th century New Bern citizens in patriotic merriment.  There will be music, dancing, and games including townball – an early precursor to baseball. A special period reading of the Declaration will take place at 2:30 p.m., followed by the ringing of the bells celebrating the years of independence. 

 Monday, July 4

Celebration of the Declaration

Fife & Drum performance and reading of the Declaration of Independence: 11:00 a.m.  

Kid’s Craft Activities:  9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

FREE Garden Admission:  9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Interior tours require the purchase of a ticket. 

Come join us for a celebration of our nation’s Declaration of Independence!  Enjoy patriotic kids craft activities, colonial games, and a special Fife & Drum Corps performance followed by a dramatic 18th-century reading of the Declaration of Independence — all free of charge!  Purchase a Time Traveler’s Pass or Governor’s Pass and enjoy interior tours of all our historic buildings as well.

Tryon Palace Garden Lecture Series, August 20, 2011

 TRYON PALACE GARDEN LECTURE SERIES

“Bringing Bits of Eden to the South”

Saturday, August 20 at Tryon Palace

August 20, as part of the 2011 Garden Lecture Series, Tryon Palace will host gardening guru Felder Rushing as he presents “Bringing Bits of Eden to the South”. The lecture begins at 10:00 a.m. in the North Carolina History Center’s Cullman Performance Hall, 529 S. Front Street in New Bern and is free to the public, courtesy of a generous grant by the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation.

 Mr. Rushing will share with us how the English “stole” a lot of our best plants for their own gardens – but how we can learn from their age-old gardening practices that were, as he puts it, “green before ‘green’ was in.” He will highlight great low-maintenance plants and low-input design ideas that work well on either side of the Pond, and share basic green technology he learned to use while living and gardening in England - including concepts from the unique Eden Project and some of the greatest flower shows on earth.

 Using an offbeat, “down home” approach rife with humorous anecdotes and garden-irreverent metaphors, Felder Rushing provides zany observations and stunning photography to help gardeners get past the “stinkin’ rules” of horticulture. He has authored or co-authored 16 gardening books (including several national award winners), has written thousands of gardening columns in syndicated newspapers, and has had hundreds of articles and photographs published in regional and national garden magazines.  In addition to hosting a popular weekly call-in garden program on NPR affiliate stations called The Gestalt Gardener, Mr. Rushing has been featured three times in full-length articles in the New York Times. He has hosted a television program that was shown across the South, and appeared many times on other TV garden programs. 

 Immediately following the presentation, Felder Rushing will be signing copies of his new book, Slow Gardening – A No-Stress Philosophy for all Senses and Seasons, available for purchase in the Tryon Palace Museum Store.

 For more information, contact Lisa Wimpfheimer, Tryon Palace Curator of Gardens, at 252-639-3566 or lisa.wimpfheimer@ncdcr.gov.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carolina Colours June Events

The following events are scheduled for the Carolina Colours Pavilion and Golf Club in June:

June 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.   Yoga

June 6, 13, 20, 27 from 8:30 to 9:00 a.m.  Yoga

June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 at 7:30 a.m.  Mens Golf Association events

June 3, 10, 17, 24 at 5:00 p.m.  Member bar and dinner events

June 4 at 4 p.m.  Wedding and reception.

June 5 at 1 p.m.  Habitat for Humanity charity golf tournament

June 5 at 6 p.m.  Temple Baptist Church dinner

June 7.  Brice’s Crossing Association meeting.

June 10 at 2:30.  Nine and Dine golf event.

June 14 at 6 p.m.  Private dinner party.

June 14 abd 23 at 7 p.m.  Bunco

June 16 at 1 p.m.  Social bridge

June 18: Wedding and reception.

June 19: Father’s day golf event.

June 24: private event in ballroom

June 29 at 11:30 a.m. Neuse Board of Realtors meeting in ballroom

June 2 at 7:30 a.m.  Rotary Club breakfast

June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 at 12:30 p.m.  Duplicate bridge

June 2, 7, 14, 21 and 28 at 8 a.m.  Ladies Golf Association events

2011 Golf Club Member Member

The first ever member/member Carolina Colours Golf Club tournament concluded successfully Sunday, May 15.  With 4 nine hole formats (super ball, Texas scramble, best ball and modified alternating shots), all participating members had an enjoyable experience.

Our men’s division winning team was Gale Biers and Lou Moran, while the ladies champions were Patti Peebles and Claudia Moran.

In order of finish, other men’s teams in the money were David Barnett/Ken Kirkman; Ed Czernik / David Gaulin; Luigi Montesano/Bill Moloney; Jim Babich/Mike Wilkerson; and Jim Emerson/Tom Trimmer.

As for the women, Denis Plourde/Mary Roberts finished second, followed by Nancy Filipow/Kathy Amato third.

Thanks to Pete Dunham, our head professional, for a well run and fun tournament, and to Ken Gerhardt and Chef Katherine for two excellent luncheons.