December is always busy with holiday and end-of-year events, but I hope you’ll join us for one of the “new” (to us) activities planned for this month:
1. The Newcomers Club will be marching in the City of New Bern Christmas Parade, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, at 10 a.m.
We’ll gather at the parade starting-point beginning at 8 a.m., on George Street by the New Bern Police Department and parade through downtown on Broad and Craven Streets. Please plan to dress in holiday attire — wear holiday colors, a Christmas sweater, or whatever you’ve got. I may try and have some Santa hats for folks to wear, as well (but no Santa suits—only the official Santa is allowed in the parade). Our group will walk carrying a Newcomers Club banner, handing out candy and waving at the crowd—so start practicing your “royal wave” and we’ll see you there. If you plan to join us and haven’t already signed up, please send me an email at ecioccio123@gmail.com to let me know you’re coming.
2. We’re excited for our first Newcomers Club service activity with Wreaths Across America.
The Club used the proceeds from our last 50/50 raffle to sponsor 5 wreaths. In addition, we’ll join the group at the New Bern National Cemetery, 1711 National Avenue, at noon on Saturday, December 16, for a short ceremony followed by placing of wreaths on veterans’ graves.
You can find more information about the event and the organization by clicking. here. You can also use that link to sponsor a wreath, if desired. But act quickly–the deadline for sponsorship is November 28th. As of mid-November the group has wreaths sponsored for just under 40% of the 6,773 veteran graves.
If you do plan to join us, note that no parking will be allowed in the cemetery. The web site advises that the small city lot next to the cemetery fills up quickly. The City of New Bern will be providing buses from Ruths Chapel (Simmons St & Oaks Rd) to the cemetery and back after the ceremony. The buses start at 11:00am. We highly recommend using the buses.
The December 7th sign up deadline is approaching for our extended day trip to Asheville, N.C., including a tour of the Biltmore Mansion, in April, 2024.
The trip is being organized by the Day Trips group but is open to all Newcomers and Alumni. To reserve a spot, each traveler must provide a deposit of $75.00 via check made out to Diamond Tours, Inc. by December 7, 2023. For additional information click Asheville Trip. or email andybritton@verizon.net. If we do not receive enough interested folks by December 7th, 2023, the trip will not be held and checks will be returned.This is a text block. You can use it to add text to your template.
Of course, we’re also looking forward to the new year for more exciting activities, including the possible start-up of new groups and the revitalization of the Dining Out group. In the meantime, I wish you all a happy, healthy, and peaceful holiday season.
Ellen Cioccio, Activities Director
