Skip to main content
Date: 11/25/2025
Subject: NFC Newsletter December 2025
From: New Friends


December 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.

Welcome to December...
 

It’s the most wonderful and the busiest time of the year. As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving this week, I want to thank each of you for being New Friends.  Whether you are playing card games, making crafts or attending lunches or dinners, I am thankful for each one of you.  You make this club very special, and I am honored to call each of you my friend.  Enjoy the holidays and take time to remember those who are not as fortunate.  Volunteering at the food pantry, visiting an assisted living home, serving a meal at the shelter or helping families of domestic violence are some ways we can bless others.

 

I will be announcing the nominating committee for 2026 in December at the Holiday Luncheon and via an eblast to all members of the club.  If you are interested in more information about becoming a board member, please reach out to the chair once her name is announced.  Nominations will be taken through February 26, 2026. 

 

Last call to register for the holiday luncheon to be held on December 11.  As of this writing we have 20 spaces left.  The final cutoff for registration is Friday, November 28.  If you need to cancel, please do so before this date to receive a credit for another event.  No cancellations or registrations will be accepted after noon on November 28.  This year, we will begin at 10:30 am for Social time and at 11:00 am we will enjoy a delicious Brunch Buffet.  The brunch will include fresh fruit, pastries, scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage, home-style potatoes, pancakes, shrimp and grits, salad, desserts, coffee, tea and juice.  This luncheon is highly subsidized by the club with members at $40.00 and guests $50.00.  We will NOT be having a gift exchange this year, but Santa says, “Don’t worry I have something for everyone.”  There will be a fun short program entitled “The Night Before the Holiday Luncheon”.

 

Just a few things to think about registering for in December. Ladies Night Out will be having a fairy hair party.  If you have never had fairy hair this is your chance to sparkle for the holidays. Lunch Bunch 1 and 2 will combine and have a delicious meal at Tap & Vine in Stonecrest Shopping Center.  Book Lovers has their annual luncheon on December 17.  Bunco #2 has their annual cookie exchange.

 

Can you believe the infamous Y2K was 25 years ago already? 

 

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa to all!  As you celebrate, enjoy your friends and family this holiday season.

 

Blessings to all,

 
Jeanne Deiger, President
New Friends of Carolina
 
If you are one of our December birthday ladies listed below, or you celebrated a birthday in November, don't forget to sign up for the next Membership Luncheon.  Your birthday will be acknowledged, and you will receive a special birthday gift!
Connie McKay  12/1
Laurel Chivari  12/13
Diane McCartney  12/15
Noelle Picozzi  12/16
Kathy Reynolds 12/22 
Lorna Jacobs  12/23
Helen Speer  12/24
Merry Lee Wheeler  12/26
Suellen Chandler  12/27
Jan Pasek  12/27
Julia Mann  12/28
 
Every June we have our membership renewal and we tend to lose a few members for various reasons but then we start to get new members joining most months.  We currently have 163 members and we continue to grow!

We have two new members this month.  Please join me in welcoming:

Patricia Spencer - Patty has lived in South Charlotte for quite a few years and is originally from Chattanooga, TN. She learned about our club from her friend and neighbor Patsy Rumbley who attended our September Welcome Coffee and became a member in late September.

Bev Taylor - Bev is originally from Ohio but is not new to Charlotte or NFC.  After being gone a few years, she rejoined so she is now back with us again!

We currently have some availability at our December brunch but the deadline to register is noon, November 28. Cost is $40 for members and $50 for non-members. If you have a friend or two that you think would enjoy NFC why not invite them to our holiday brunch on December 11 at the Ballantyne Country Club?  There is a fun agenda planned so they will get to see what fun we have together as members and friends!

Please keep in mind we will have another Welcome Coffee on February 6, location TBD.  If you know anyone who may be interested in our club but is sitting on the fence, invite them to come to our next Coffee.

Hope everyone has a lovely and delicious Thanksgiving!  We all have a lot to be thankful for, especially our friendship!

Dee Drobonick, VP of Membership
nfcmembership2025@gmail.com
CARE AND CONCERN

 If you know of anyone in our club who could use a card, a call, or a meal due to illness, hospitalization, and etc., please let me know.
 
Get Well card was sent to
 
Adrienne Jenkins  - Recovering from Hip Replacement Surgery
 
Diane McCartney
(917) 399-9189
dianemccartney1@yahoo.com
Fun events in and around Charlotte in late November and December...
 

THEATER 

12/05-12/07 Handel’s Messiah: Knight Theater

12/05-12/14 A Christmas Carol: Theater Charlotte

12/05-21 Charlotte Ballet-Nutcracker: Belk Theater

12/05- Alabama- The Band: Spectrum Center

12/05-07 Charlotte Symphony-Handel’s Messiah: Knight Theater

12/12-12/21 Scrooge! The Musical: Matthews Playhouse

12/12-14 Charlotte Symphony-A Carolina Christmas

12/18 Festival Of Lights: A Hanukkah Concert: Knight Theater

12/23-28 How The Grinch Stole Christmas! Belk Theater


FESTIVALS & EVENTS

11/ 22-01/ 05 Speedway Christmas: Charlotte Motor Speedway 

11/28-01/03 WinterFest at Carowinds 11 AM- 7 PM

11/29-12/31 Holidays at The Garden: Daniel Stowe Gardens

12/01-23 Christmas at the Billy Graham Library 5-9 PM

12/02-26 Christmas Town USA: McAdenville

12/05-29 Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular: Ballantyne

12/06-12/07 Charlotte Holiday Market/ Food Festival: Wm Davie Park


SPORTS

Carolina Panthers: 

11/30 LA Rams @ BOFA 1:00 PM

12/14 Saints @ New Orleans 3:25 PM

12/21 Tampa Bay @ BOFA 1:00 PM

12/28-12/30 TBD


Charlotte Checkers Home Games @ BoJangles Coliseum

12/05 Rochester Americans @ 7:00 PM

12/06 Rochester Americans @ 6:00 PM

12/09 & 12/10 Cleveland Monsters @ 7:00 PM

12/20 & 12/21 Springfield Thunderbirds @4:00 PM


Charlotte Hornets Home Games @ Spectrum Center

11/28 Chicago Bulls @ 7:30

11/29 Toronto Raptors @ 6:00 PM

12/07 Denver Nuggets @ 6 PM

12/18 Atlanta Hawks @ 7 PM

12/23  Washington Wizards @ 7:00 PM

12/29 Milwaukee Bucks @ 7:00 PM

12/31 Golden State Warriors @ 1:00 PM 


LOOKING AHEAD

02/03-08 The Outsiders: Belk Theater 


 
 

Monthly Board Meeting
and Special Events
December Board Meeting
 
The Board Meeting is for Elected Officers and Standing Committee Chairs
 
Thursday
December 4, 2025
10:00 am to 12:00pm
 
The Home of Jeanne Deiger
  6706 Charter Hills Road
Charlotte, NC  28277
 
Event Contact:
Jeanne Deiger
704-607-3105
December Monthly Membership Event
Your LAST MINUTE REMINDER...
Registration closes November 28th!
 
Join all of your NFC Friends 
for a
Holiday Brunch Buffet
 
Music...Delicious Holiday Treats...Surprises...And Laughs Galore!
 
 
It's the MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR
 
Thursday, December 11, 2025
10:30 am Social - 11:00 am Brunch Buffet    
at
Ballantyne Country Club
11120 Ballantyne Crossing Avenue
Charlotte, NC  28277
 
Menu
 
Fresh Harvest Fruit Platter
Freshly Baked Assorted Breakfast Pastries
Applewood Smoked Bacon
Country Sausage Links
Homestyle Potatoes with Sweet Peppers and Onions
Buttermilk Pancakes
Shrimp and Grits
Romaine Salad with
Cranberries, Apples and Toasted Almonds
Assorted Petit Desserts...
Mini Tarts, Layer Cakes, Cannoli and Frosted Donuts
 
Coffee, Hot Tea and Assorted Juices
Bar with Credit Card Only
 **********
Cost: $40 Members...$50 Guests
Space for:  100 New Friends "Sisters"
IN THE KNOW
Presents
Pharmacy in Your Kitchen
with Cheryl Hoover, RPh
Cheryl Hoover is a pharmacist and cancer survivor who actually wants to keep you out of the pharmacy and encourages you to
"Eat Your Vitamins." 
 
Cheryl will offer inspiration and lifestyle suggestions that promote eating the way your body was designed to be nourished.
 She graduated from UNC Chapel Hill Pharmacy School, is certified in Plant Based Nutrition, co-author of HEALTHY LIVING FOR A SHARPER MIND, and the founder of Pharmacy in Your Kitchen.
 
Friday, January 16, 2026
10:00 am to 11:00 am
South Park Regional Library
7015 Carnegie Blvd.
Charlotte, NC  28211
 
REGISTRATION OPENS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26
 
Event Contact: Barbara Evers 704-996-4705
 
Spaces for 60 Members and Guests
$5.00 per person
 
 
 
Getting to Know You  (Holiday Version)
 
We asked several NFC Past Presidents to answer the question...
 
"What holiday activity or food do you always enjoy?"
 
Sandy Cummings - It would not be the holidays for the Cummings family without TORTE DE NOEL, a delicious pork pie served with homemade corn relish. It has been our tradition since the girls were small.
 
Monica Taft - I have an Advent box handcrafted in Germany that I fill with little messages for Dorian from December 1 through the 25.  The messages send him on a scavenger hunt to find the prize for the day.
 
Marie Shea - When I was younger and living in Buffalo, I so enjoyed having 28-32 family members for Thanksgiving. It was a lot of work but such fun. Now I enjoy having family for Shea Christmas which features Beef Wellington and the trimmings including at least 3 pies.
 
Kathy Consler - My family and I enjoy homemade Cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate on Christmas morning while opening presents. 
 
Mickey Key - I make spicy cheese straws once a year for gifts; of course I end up eating the most of them enjoyed with a glass of wine.
 
Pauline Trautman - Being with Family on Thanksgiving enjoying a wonderful meal
 
Susan Brandenburg - I love getting up in the morning when the house is dark and sitting with the tree lit up.  It is magical.
 
Andrea Woods - On Christmas Eve, we celebrate with cheese fondue and then watch a holiday movie before leaving cookies out for Santa (even though our daughters are adults)!  Also, a special treat during the holidays is peppermint ice cream topped with my mother's delicious hot fudge sauce in her dishes.
 
Lora Castello - I loved Christmas Eve with my family.  I would always cook Shrimp Gumbo and then go to Christmas Eve Mass.
 
Debbie Williams - Every holiday season, my family and I plan an evening to view a festive area light display together such as Daniel Stowe Conservancy, McAdenville, Speedway Winterfest, etc.
 
 
Just a short note to say THANK YOU to so many New Friends members for stepping up and volunteering this year! 
Whether you served...on the Board, on a Standing Committee, as an Interest Chair, as an Event Host, as a driver to an event, by helping at one of our Community Volunteer events, by donating food for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, by providing a meal train meal, by sending a get well or birthday card or you helped in some other anonymous way...
 
Thank you for making this world a better place...and NFC, too!
Please use the links below to learn more about each event.
When you take pictures at one of our events...
 
Send them to:
 
  nfchistorian@proton.me
Food, Friends and Fun
Appetizers with Friends - Meet at member's home for appetizers and desserts
      
 
 
Better Homes & Gardens - Special events held every other month
          
 
Brews and Bites - Explore a new brewery/pub each month
 
 
 
Dining with Divas - An 8-member group who meet for lunch at a member's home on a rotating basis.  Contact Pauline Trautman (704) 507-5680 for information to be a sub or create a new group.
        
Ladies Night Out - FUN and FRIENDS
 
Lunch Bunch 1 - Meets on the 2nd Friday each month at a different restaurant
(Canceled this month)
             
 
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
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)
 
 
Creative Adventures
(See you in January)
                  
  
 
Sip and Stitch - Bring your needlework...new members always welcome
(Canceled this month)        
 
 
Sports and Games
Bunco #1
 (Canceled this month)
         

 
Bunco #2
           
 
Contract Rummy
         
Five Deck Canasta
(Canceled this month)
       
     
 Mexican Train 1
          
 
Mexican Train 2
            
 
Mexican Train 3
             
Mexican Train Evening
             
   
Rummikub
           
 
Samba
              

Scrabble
    
 
       
Any and all feedback is welcome.  Email your suggestions and comments to
 
Sandee Henricks at nfcnewsletter2024@gmail.com
Return to Previous Page