| THE CAROLINIAN
October 2026
Editor: Lora Castello nfcnewsletter26@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, Fall! According to the old Farmers' Almanac, The autumnal equinox--also called the September equinox or the fall equinox--arrives today, Tuesday, September 22. Equinox marks equal day and night as the Sun crosses the celestial equator. A little bit of trivia surrounding the autumnal equinox involves its relationship with the full Moon. Curiously, the full Moon that occurs nearest the autumnal equinox is called the Harvest Moon. Why is that? Surprise, surprise: the name has to do with farming! Around the fall equinox, the full Moon rises around sunset for several nights in a row, traditionally providing farmers with just enough light to finish their harvests before the killing hard frosts of fall set in. The equinox occurs at the same moment worldwide. Not only do temperatures drop (hopefully soon!) but plant life slows down, and so do we.
I want to congratulate everyone who participated in our Welcome Coffee on September 3. That includes VP of Membership Kris Pacilio and her Welcome Coffee committee, Carol Yeager and Judy DiLiddo, members who brought snacks, board members, interest chairs, new members and potential new members! Within 24 hours after the Coffee we had eight new members and even more joined afterwards. Please read Kris's article for the full details of the Welcome Coffee and for information on welcoming our new members.
As I mentioned in last week's Monday message, we will have a new interest Group titled Game Day. The new day will be the last Wednesday of the month which will start October 28. Please see the description and additional information on the calendar. Look for this new event when registering for October events starting tomorrow, Wednesday, at 9 a.m.
October starts our donation collection for our Community Services recipient Blessing Cart. Chris Green will elaborate on the details for that in her article this month. A bio of the Director and Founder, Tina McLemore, of Blessing Cart is also available under the October Luncheon description.
Last but not least, this month's newsletter promotes our first Social of the year, Friendsgiving, on Thursday, November 12. This takes the place of our usual monthly luncheon for that month. Registration for the event opens on Friday October 9, 9 a.m. Please make sure you read all the details for there is an opportunity for you to enter the pie/cake contest we are having again this year! If you have any questions you can contact our Social Committee Chair, Monya Thomas.
I hope to see many of you and some of our new members at the October luncheon, as well as at some of the upcoming events!
Happy Fall, y'all!
Dee Drobonick
President
704-641-5960
|  | | 10/01 - Carol Yeager
10/02 - Libby Harris
10/03 - Andrea Woods
10/03 - Angie Glender
10/05 - Barbara Lowrance
10/07 - Mitzi Czapla
10/12 - Vonnie Bishop
10/12 - Janet Wakelin
10/13 - Adrienne Jenkins | | 10/13 - Jean Rottmann
10/19 - Lisa Graf
10/20 - Barbara Evers
10/22 - Elaini Bingham
10/23 - Elaine Poston
10/24 - Cecilia Parker
10/24 - Terri Hatcher
10/26 - Pam Wilde
10/29 - Mare Walker | | |  |
Our Welcome Coffee was a tremendous success - one of our best yet! We had a fantastic turnout, great conversation, and so much warm hospitality.
Thanks to everyone who helped set up, greeted guests and shared what makes our club so special. Your welcoming spirit is exactly why 13 wonderful new members signed up this month!
Please Welcome our New Members:
- Becky Boggs - from Ohio
- Mary Ann Britton - from Pennsylvania
- Nancy Coia - from Charlotte
- Laura Grayson - from Statesville, NC
- Lisa McCloy - from Charleston, WV
- Jennifer Neale - from Virginia
- Patricia O'Conner - from Lancaster, SC
- Cecilia Parker - from Ohio
- Elaine Poston - from Salisbury, NC
- Sara Steven - from Charlotte
- Priscilla Taite - from Fort Mill, SC
- Linda Gunn - from Virginia
- Dominique Flores - from Pineville, NC
Ladies, we are so happy you are here and we can not wait to get to know you at our upcoming meetings and events.
Help Us Keep Growing
Our club thrives when members like you spread the word. If you have a new neighbor, a friend new to the area, or someone looking for friendship and connection, please tell them about our website, www.newfriendsofcarolina.com or give them my email and I will be happy to send them more information. A personal invitation is still the very best way to grow our community.
Warmly,
Kris Pacilio
VP of Membership
|  | | Kris Pacilio
Kris is our current VP of Membership.
- Where did you grow up? I spent the first 12 years growing up in Brooklyn, NY. Then my family moved to New Jersey. I stayed and raised my family in Jersey.
- What brought you to Charlotte? My son attended UNC Charlotte and stayed after he graduated. My husband and I really liked visiting Charlotte and decided to move here.
- Tell us a little about your family. I have 3 children and 5 grandchildren. Two of my children live here and luckily all my grandchildren live here. My other daughter lives in California. My husband sadly passed away 4 years ago. We were married for 52 years.
- What was your job before retirement? I worked in Administration at Charlotte Country Day School. I handled registrations and enrollment.
- Who is the wisest person you have ever known or would like to know/known? The wisest person I have known was my husband.
- What do you value most in a friend? I value honesty in friendships.
- Is there something else you would like us to know about you? I feel truly blessed for the life I have had and have now. The family I have as well as the wonderful people in my life today.
 | | Thursday, October 8
12:30 pm
At the home of Monica Taft
1206 Shelly Woods Dr.
Fort Mill, SC 29707
Please notice day and time change
This meeting is for Elected Board
and Standing Committee Chairs | | | | Get well Cards were sent to:
Kim Gross and Susan Isley after their surgeries.
Please let Diane McCartney know if anyone in the club is ill, had surgery or is just experiencing a difficult time and could use a little encouragement.
Diane McCartney
917-399-9189
| | |  | Blessing Cart
This year NFC will be supporting the Blessing Cart which is a free-choice community market providing food and essential items to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity throughout the Carolinas. Their mission believes in welcoming everyone with dignity, compassion and respect in an effort to build a stronger, healthier community-together. NFC will host a food and supply drive twice during the year, plus members will have an opportunity to volunteer at their Waxhaw location. Our first drive will begin in October with a final collection at the Friendsgiving event. Members can begin donating while attending any event up to Nov 12th. Please give donations to any Interest Chair as they will be helping to collect items. You may also bring items to the October luncheon as well. See list below of some of the needed items. Monetary donations are accepted as well. These donations will help provide needs to our community throughout the upcoming holiday season.Thank you in advance,
Chris Green, Community Volunteer Chairperson | |
Please use the link above to donate to the Blessing Cart through their Amazon List
|
Monthly Membership Luncheon | |
Join us at 11:00 am for Social time
Brunch at 11:30
Enjoy a delicious brunch buffet consisting of:
Fresh Baked Pasteries
Fruit and Cheese Board
Shrimp and Grits with tomato bacon butter
Scrambled Eggs
Bratkartoffeln (German Fried Potatos)
Country Sausage
Applewood Smoked Bacon
Assorted juices, coffee and hot tea
Cash bar available
$35 for members
$40 for guests
| |
Our Guest speaker for today will be Tina McLemore.
Tina is the founder and Director of The Blessing Cart.
The Blessing Cart is our board-selected charity partner for this year.
Join us to hear how one woman's experience raising four children and relying on food pantries inspired her to give back in a different way. After receiving food boxes with few practical items for feeding her family, she resolved to help others if she ever had the chance. In 2022, she planted nearly 200 tomato plants and began sharing the extra produce with families in her community. That simple act of kindness grew into the Blessing Cart.
Come hear her story!
| | | | We are so excited to be offering Friendsgiving again this year. Registration will open October 9 at 9 am
Please check out the link: FRIENDSGIVING!! - 11/12/2026 on the calendar. What better way to share our friendships than showing our appreciation for one another at this wonderful time of year.
Thursday, November 12, 2026
William Davie Park Pavillion
4635 Pineville-Matthews Rd
Charlotte, NC 28226
90 Spaces available
For any questions contact:
Monya Thomas
NFC Social Chair
704-654-6249
| Everything Pumpkin
Better Homes and Garden
Friday, October 30
12 pm - 2 pm
Home of Andrea Woods
1909 Crestgate Ave.
Waxhaw, NC 28174
| Creative Adventures
Back by popular demand:
No Sew ornaments
Monday, October 26
12:30 pm-3:30 pm
Cost $10 pp
Andrea Woods
1909 Crestgate Ave
Waxhaw, NC 28173
|  |
Check out these fun events happening in our area in August, supplied by our
ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER: CHRIS GREEN
THEATER & CONCERTS
09/24-10/04 Come From Away: Theater Charlotte
10/08 Cinderella: Knight Theater
10/11 Swan Lake/ Char Symphony: Booth Theater
10/13-18 The Great Gatsby: Belk Theater
10/16-17 Char Sym/ Tina Turner Music: Knight Theater
10/19 Outlander In Concert: Belk Theater
10/23-25 Char Sym/Schubert: Knight Theater
SPORTS (Home Games)
Carolina Panthers: Bank of America Stadium
10/04, 10/25
Charlotte Hornets: Spectrum Center
10/06, 1O/11, 10/23-26, 10/31
Charlotte Football Club: Bank of America Stadium
10/10, 10/28, 10/31
Charlotte Checkers: Bojanges Coliseum
10/16-17, 23-24
FESTIVALS & MISCELLANEOUS
10/02-04, 09-10 Mecktoberfest @0MB
10/10 Fall For Matthews Festival
10/15-17 Pineville Fall Festival
10/17 Fort Mill Festival
LOOKING AHEAD:
11/03-08 Dirty Dancing Musical: Beck Theater
12/03 Leanne Morgan: Spectrum Center
| | At this time, there are no active Dining with Divas groups in the club. If you’re interested in starting one, please contact Dee Drobonick. Dining with Divas is a fantastic way to get to know club members in a cozy luncheon setting. They meet at people’s homes in groups of eight, and the group members remain constant. The hostess designs the meal, and the homes are rotated among the members. | | | | When you take pictures at one of our events...
Send them to our Historian, Terri Hatcher at:
| | | |
Please push on the link above which will take you to the website calendar to see all the upcoming events. | |