is published each month except July and August. It is distributed to residents, members of the Priority List, and other interested persons. Vol. MMXXV, No. 2
Chapel Hill, North Carolina February 2025
Local Nonprofits Benefit from Carol Woods Contributions
From the day the first residents moved into Carol Woods in 1979, they saw themselves as an integral part of the larger Chapel Hill community. One of Carol Woods’ purposes has always been to improve the quality of life of older adults, whether they live at Carol Woods or in the surrounding area.
In 2024 Carol Woods donated $775,175 to local area nonprofits, which were recognized at a special reception on January 15, 2025. These gifts fall primarily into four categories: 1) General Aging Services and Supports, 2) Workforce Development in Aging Services, 3) Food Security for Older Adults, and 4) Affordable Housing for Older Adults.
Standing (left to
LeadingAge NC
Meals on Wheels
Bearman), Hope Foundation (Janel Burns), Interfaith Council (Jackie Jenks, Stephani Kilpatrick), Jackson Center (George Barrett), UNC Community Practice Lab (Ryan Lavalley)
Twenty organizations received gifts. Some have received gifts in the past but are not annual commitments.
General Aging Services and Supports:
Chapel Hill/Carrboro Public School Foundation to ensure that all eligible CHCCS
middle and high school scholars of color are financially able to participate in the Blue Ribbon Advocate trip to Washington DC; to offer college scholarships to three AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) high school students; and to develop a pilot project, SAGE (Senior Adults for Greater Education), to promote senior volunteerism in classrooms and provide critical literacy support to elementary school students with academic needs.
LeadingAge NC to make a five-year pledge to the Legacy Builders Capital Campaign. It will be used for educational programs for training CCRC staff and developing innovative solutions to meet the needs of the steadily growing older population.
Orange County to provide continued support to implement the 2022–2027 Master Aging Plan, the first data-driven plan in the state. It will develop strategies to make a community more livable for senior citizens through transportation, housing, social participation, respect
("Local Nonprofits Benefit" continued on Page 4)
Seated (left to right): Chapel Hill/Carrboro Public Schools Blue Ribbon Program (Lorie Clark) and AVID Program (Nick Winstead), Habitat for Humanity (Shanell Smaw), Chapel Hill/Carrboro School Foundation (Madeline Blobe, Lynn Hirsch)
right):
(Tom Akins),
(Rachel
WELCOME NEW RESIDENTS
Betsey and Meade Christian, Apt. 2110, became Early Acceptance residents in 2022 and moved to Carol Woods on December 18. They had lived in Chapel Hill since 1967. Betsey was born in San Diego but claims many hometowns because of her father’s naval career. Meade was born and raised in Richmond VA.
Betsey and Meade met in 1961 and married shortly after her graduation from Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg VA, and his graduation from Washington & Lee University in Lexington VA. Two weeks later, Meade started medical school at Western Reserve University Medical School in Cleveland OH. Betsey taught middle school Language Arts for almost a year but had to resign when she became pregnant. In order to make ends meet they both took other jobs and moved into Cleveland City Housing.
After Meade’s graduation from medical school, they moved to Chapel Hill, where he completed his pediatric residency at North Carolina Memorial Hospital. From 1970 to 1973, the family (now including their children — Brit and Anne Catherine) lived in West Germany, where Meade was stationed in Mannheim and later Heidelberg as a pediatrician with the US Army.
Upon their return to Chapel Hill in 1974, son Rob was born. Meade joined Chapel Hill Pediatrics and Betsey returned to teaching — first as a teacher for homebound students, then as a substitute teacher, and finally as a teaching assistant at Ephesus Elementary School. Her goal was to continue teaching while still being a full-time mother. They both retired in 2006.
While in Germany they developed a love of hiking and camping. In retirement, they enjoy traveling (especially camping in rented Cruise America vans), as well as walking, hiking, and birding. Meade works in the San Isidro Labrador Garden at St. Thomas More. They jointly own a house with Jack and Nancy Benjamin on Lake Gaston, where they enjoy fishing and boating. Their most recent golden retriever (Gracie) worked as a therapy dog at Carolina Meadows. When Gracie died in
2018, they began fostering service dogs with Ears, Eyes, Nose, and Paws (EENP) and hope to continue that at Carol Woods.
Betsey and Meade have three children and seven grandchildren: Brit Christian (former civil engineer and now a pediatric nurse) and wife Mary live in Maitland FL; Anne Catherine Murray (development for Piedmont Augusta Hospitals) and husband Jeb live in Augusta GA; and Rob Christian (physician specializing in children and adults with autism at Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities) lives in Chapel Hill with wife Jennifer.
Anne Cooper-Chen, Apt. 124, an Early Acceptance resident since 2020, moved into Carol Woods in December. She grew up in South Bend IN and considers that, as well as Port Murray NJ, her hometown.
She received an AB from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie NY, an MA in Japanese studies from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor MI, an MS from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond VA, and a PhD in mass communications from UNC-Chapel Hill.
After college, she worked for ten years as a journalist in Tokyo, York PA, and Richmond VA. She was in the Fulbright Senior Scholar Program in Japan in 1992–93; a DAAD scholar (German Fulbright) in Leipzig, Germany in 1998; and a LAM East-West Center fellow in Hong Kong in 2001. She has lived in or traveled to 40 countries.
Anne joined the faculty at Ohio University in Athens OH in 1985 and was the first female to serve as the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism director for graduate studies and research. She married Charles Chen, a professor of physics, also at Ohio University. He died in 2010. Her two stepchildren are Diana and Derek.
Anne enjoys folk dancing, tap dancing, and playing the dulcimer. She has published seven books, including Games in the Global Village, which was featured in the New York Times, ABC TV, the BBC, and other outlets. She currently serves as co-chair of the Carol Woods Greenhouse Committee, as the creator of the Mahjongg SIG, and as a contributor to the Carol Woods News.
Anita and Paul Farel, Apt. 1313, came to Chapel Hill in 1972 and moved to Carol Woods in October. They were Early Acceptance residents for four years prior to their recent move.
Paul was born in Camden NJ, and his family moved to Hollywood when he was ten. He says “it was for aerospace, not glamour.” Anita was born and raised in the Bay Area.
Paul received his AB from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s degree and PhD from UCLA. He did his postdoc at the University of California, Irvine. Anita also graduated from the University of California, Berkeley and then UCLA with an MSW. They moved to Chapel Hill, where Anita was on the faculty of the UNC-CH School of Social Work.
Paul spent his career in what is now the Department
of Cell Biology and Physiology at UNC-Chapel Hill. His research and teaching focused on developmental processes and how they mitigate the consequences of injury to the nervous system. Anita earned a DrPH from the Department of Maternal and Child Health, in the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. She developed a concentration related to children with special health care needs. The surge in national legislation supporting this population spurred the development of several health care specialties in pediatrics and special education. As a result, practicing clinicians and medical students were attracted to Maternal and Child Health.
Paul enjoys reading history and biography, as well as fiction when it is set in times and places he is curious about. Both enjoy the art, lectures, and music available at Carol Woods. Anita has become a proofreader for the Carol Woods News and has joined the collage class in the Building 1 Art Studio.
Paul and Anita have two daughters who both live in Chapel Hill with their families.
Music By the Tree
Above: Rich Felder and Rebecca Brent Below: Tony and Joan Asplin
Above: Mary Harley Kruter, standing, introduces Mary Sturgeon, flute, and Barbara Wildemuth, piano, before they play music by the Christmas tree.
("Local Nonprofits Benefit" cont. from Page 1)
and social inclusion, civic participation, employment, and community support services.
Piedmont Health SeniorCare (PACE) to support the interface of SeniorCare’s interdisciplinary team with IntusCare (the PACE data analysis program) and receive program information on a continuous basis for better care management and improved outcomes. PACE has health centers in Burlington and Pittsboro.
Senior PharmAssist to provide medical therapy management, Medicare Part D counseling, and financial assistance for medicines to individuals 60 years or older with incomes up to 250% of the federal poverty level.
Snow Approach Foundation to provide programming support for increased generational work. In addition to enhanced educational programming it will provide friend/volunteer-based respite offerings to neurologically diverse or challenged people in a four-county area.
Soltys Place to provide infrastructure improvements to enhance safety, comfort, and accessibility and to elevate staff’s skill set and knowledge through professional development.
Town of Carrboro to continue support of the Active Life Program through the Carrboro Recreation and Parks Department. The emphasis this year is to offer transportation and specific programs to those who live in affordable housing.
Town of Chapel Hill to be used in helping to make the town an agefriendly community.
Workforce Development in Aging Services:
Hope Renovations was created with the dual purpose of training underemployed women to enter construction trades and providing home renovations for older adults so that they might remain safe and healthy at home.
OE Enterprises to purchase a passenger vehicle to increase community engagement and integration in activities for senior-age individuals with disabilities through Supported Employment.
UNC Division of Geriatric Medicine to support the operational component for the Geriatric Fellowship, including administrative salary support for the fellowship coordinator.
UNC School of Nursing to enhance the geriatric and long-term care nursing workforce by creating new intra-professional learning opportunities with the School of Nursing curricula and providing a site for student learning and quality improvement at Carol Woods.
Food Security for Older Adults:
Meals on Wheels of Orange County to support delivery of 5,555 healthy meals, accompanied by friendly check-ins, to the homebound and elderly recipients who require additional support and/or cannot afford meals.
Inter-Faith Council for Social Service to support general operating costs of its vision of a community that meets everyone’s basic needs, including dignified and affordable housing, an abundance of healthy food, and meaningful social connection.
Affordable Housing for Older Adults:
Covenant Place to improve accessibility and safety, as identified by a capital needs assessment of this affordable housing facility.
Habitat of Orange County to support its Home Repair Program, which provides critical repair work on aging homes, helps to maintain the existing stock of affordable homes, and helps low-income seniors to age in place, staying within their familiar communities.
Jackson Center to create a feasibility study for developing a property for innovative, affordable eldercare in one of Chapel Hill’s historically black communities.
Pee Wee Homes to provide continued support for a Resident Support Coordinator and some gap funding to help the organization construct three new affordable homes.
St. Paul’s AME NIDA to help develop 20.37 acres located in the Rogers Road community to include independent senior and multifamily housing inclusive of affordable housing units, passive and active recreational facilities, and a multi-use neighborhood center called St. Paul's Village.
Other financial support
In addition to the twenty grants listed above, the CEO Discretionary Fund gave an additional $12,000 to the following nine organizations:
• Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School Foundation
• Community Empowerment Fund
• Duke Caregiver Support
• Extraordinary Ventures
• Friends of Residents in Long Term Care
• LeadingAge NC Foundation
• Orange Literacy Council
• Orange County Living Wage
• Step Up Durham
– Sindy Barker
Seated: Left to right: PeeWee Homes (Quinton Harper, Katina Welch), Orange County Council on Aging (Janice Tyler, Jamezetta Bedford), OE Enterprises (Amy Miller, Dot Williams), Town of Chapel Hill (Jess Anderson) Standing: Left to right: UNC School of Nursing (Monica Music, Kelly Kirby), Soltys Place (Amy Gorely, Tiffiney Whitt), Snow Approach Foundation (Amanda Bulgarelli, Teepa Snow), Senior PharmAssist (Adam Velez), Piedmont Health SeniorCare (Sarah Stoneking), Town of Carrboro Parks and Recreation (Dana Hughes), St. Paul’s AME NIDA (Rose Snipes Bynum, Burnice Hackney)
Carol Woods Accomplishments in 2024
CARF Reaccreditation (2024–2028)
CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) is the only accreditor of Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs). The accreditation is based on a CCRC standards manual and evaluates all elements of the organization's operations, personnel, financials, and administration.
CARF selects survey team members based on both their expertise and their knowledge of a CCRC's unique characteristics. This team observes services, interviews stakeholders, and reviews documentation before making an accreditation decision.
The CARF participation demonstrates Carol Woods' commitment to quality services and operations. It is voluntary, and providers pay for the review. Many CCRCs choose not to apply for accreditation because of the resources required.
Large Business of the Year Award
Carol Woods was named by the Chapel Hill/Carrboro Chamber of Commerce as the 2024 Large Business of the Year. The recipient must have 50 or more employees and demonstrate the following criteria: 1) growth, 2) innovation, 3) exemplary customer service, 4) response to adversity, and 5) contribution to the community.
Carol Woods has been able to show examples of each of the five criteria. For instance, the Early Acceptance program, which began in 2013, has demonstrated both an innovation of product and resident growth. Carol Woods was the first CCRC in North Carolina to create a program that allowed people on their Priority List to become full residents while remaining in their own homes.
The last criterion is contribution to the community. Each year, Carol Woods provides monetary support to more than 20 local organizations including schools, local governments, and nonprofit organizations. In addition, residents and staff provide more than 25,000 hours of volunteer commitment to many nonprofit organizations.
Great Place to Work —
(certified April 2024–April 2025)
Great Place to Work is a research and certification company that identifies and recognizes organizations with excellent workplace cultures, providing a
benchmark for others. According to the company, workplaces can be measured by five dimensions — credibility, respect, fairness, pride, and camaraderie. This certification recognizes that employees find the company an excellent environment in which to work.
5-Star Quality Rating from CMS
A 5-Star rating in Medicare is the highest quality rating given to a health plan or provider by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). A health center with a 5-star rating is considered to be providing exceptional care based on Medicare standards.
The criteria apply to areas such as patient satisfaction, preventive care, chronic disease management, and overall health outcomes. CMS uses data from member surveys, claims data, and provider performance metrics to calculate the star rating.
Commute Friendly NC (CFNC) Gold Status
This statewide recognition is funded by the NC Department of Transportation to celebrate the leadership of state businesses and organizations who are taking valuable steps to shift single-occupancy transportation trips to sustainable commute options among employees.
To achieve Commute Friendly Gold Status, businesses must meet the following criteria:
• Provide at least five transportation benefits.
• Ensure that at least 10% of employee commute trips are made using alternative modes.
• Promote transportation benefits through an annual event.
• Make transportation benefits easily accessible.
• Connect with a regional CFNC contact.
• Complete a biennial commute survey.
IDD Inclusive Employer Certification
Work Together North Carolina is a statewide initiative that brings together self-advocates, families, employers, state agencies, and service providers to improve access to opportunities and resources and assist in the transition to adulthood for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
To help make Carol Woods a disability-inclusive
workplace, we partner with local employment providers for job candidate recruitment. Our primary employee resource is Orange Enterprises. We also partner with Extraordinary Ventures, whose employees come to campus to help with trash collection. Several employees have also participated in a training course entitled Work Together NC. This course provides a brief introduction to IDD, focusing on such things as accommodations, community resources, legal
considerations, tips for non-disabled coworkers, and how to set up an inclusive interview.
Summary
These acknowledgments, as well as the awards to three of our staff members, illustrate Carol Woods’ commitment to excellence, making it a great place to live, work, and enjoy the sunsets.
– Sindy Barker
Three Carol Woods Staff Received 2024 SHARP Awards
Annually, the Orange County Department on Aging partners with the community group, Senior Health Advisory and Resource Partners of Orange County (SHARP), to recognize direct care workers within Orange County. This year three Carol Woods certified nurse assistants (CNA) won awards in three of the five categories. The categories and the winners are:
Going the Extra Mile — Geo Caceres. This award recognizes a CNA who is passionate about providing extraordinary care in many ways that exceed expectations. Geo has worked at Carol Woods for the past two and a half years. He might take a long excursion with a resident or bring a rose to someone who is down or distressed. He often brings a book to read to someone who can no longer read. He worked with the Life Enrichment Team to set up a Sip and Paint event for residents in higher levels of support. He has often been described by his residents as “fantastic.” Geo thinks outside the box and gives residents a purpose in their day.
Leadership — Phyllis Sheref. The award is given to a CNA who has served as a role model and provided leadership to other direct-care workers and staff. Phyllis has been a CNA at Carol Woods for 14 years and currently works on the third floor of Building 4. She sets an example of integrity, teamwork, initiative, and patience. She anticipates the needs of her residents before they ask, and leads the team in supporting residents at end of life. One resident recently wrote “Phyllis is the gold standard.
The three Carol Woods CNAs who won SHARP awards, left to right: Geo Caceres, Latasha Branch, and Phyllis Sheref
She is highly efficient and focused. Her cluster runs very smoothly. Because of her effective management style, she has time to be friendly and attentive to the emotional needs of her residents.”
Longevity — Latasha Branch. This award is presented to a caregiver who has provided direct care for at least ten years and plans to continue in the field. Latasha, CNA, is serving both as a Resident Life Specialist and a Med Tech and is pursuing additional education in the health care field. Her residents and their family members have a trusting relationship with her and will often ask her to assist in special events or activities. Besides being compassionate and friendly, she can take control and remain calm in emergency situations. She also has provided care to residents who are at the end of their lives.
Coming Together for the Winter Solstice
Four Carol Woods residents gathered to talk about how best to celebrate the Winter Solstice. Wish papers would be nice! Luminaria would be a wonderful way to light the shortest day of the year. How about walking a labyrinth to reflect on the events of old and new year? What if we put these all together in a single evening of celebration? And that is what they did!
Trish Rafalow, Ilene Nelson, and Lois and Al Howlett made it happen. Each person took a specific role. Ilene bought 100 luminaria bags and batterypowered votive candles. The Grounds staff filled the bags with sand and Ilene placed them around the pond, the bocce ball court, and the front sidewalk entrance to Carol Woods. Bob Healy helped light the candles, and the Carol Woods grounds glowed with a warm light.
Trish contacted Julia Lambie with the Flying Wish Paper company in Washington DC about her “wish papers.” These are 3 x 3 squares of tissue paper on which to write a wish or a hope for a new year. Trish received from Julia a gift of the wish papers in many colors. Between 30 and 40 people finished their wish papers and brought them out to the front lawn and placed them in a hibachi. Tommy Best supervised the ceremonial burning of the papers.
Lois and Al Howlett contacted their son, Lars Howlett, who launched his business, Discover Labyrinths, in 2015. He is a Veriditas faculty member and a Certified
Residents meditating on the classic seven-circuit labyrinth.
Advanced Labyrinth Facilitator. Two weeks before the Solstice, the Howletts drove to Silver Spring MD to pick up Lars’ 24-foot seven-circuit classic canvas labyrinth. Then on the Solstice (as a surprise), Lars came to Carol Woods to celebrate Al’s 80th birthday and helped them set up the labyrinth. He constructed a simpler labyrinth with painter’s tape that could easily be used by people with walkers. There were also paper labyrinths to color and then finger-walk through. In addition, Lois brought a pottery labyrinth created by Phyllis Swank, and Phyllis brought another. Again, people could trace these labyrinths with their fingers while meditating.
Obviously, a wonderful evening of reflection among friends!
P.S. When the ad hoc Winter Solstice committee members were asked if this was going to be an annual event, their response was, “It was a wonderful experience, but not one we necessarily want to repeat on an annual basis.” Al said he might consider it on his 90th birthday.
– Sindy Barker
Above: Tommy Best supervises the ceremonial burning of the wish papers in a habachi.
At right: Lars Howlett explains the evening events to the residents.
Service of Remembrance
Each year Carol Woods holds a Service of Remembrance in January for the residents and staff who have died during the past year. This year, family members lit a candle for each person who died in 2024. Jill Kuhlberg, Spiritual Care Coordinator, moderated the service, and Marianne Ratcliffe, Carol Woods CEO, recalled the contributions that each resident and staff had made to the Carol Woods
community and beyond.
One of the special parts of the service is the reading aloud of the name of each person. Rebecca Brent, RA President, and Beth Schultz, RA Vice President, read each name followed by the sounding of a Tibetan Singing Bowl.
Meg Genderson read a poem and the Threshold Singers provided music.
Mary Alice Blank
Eleanor Broadus
Barbara Burns
Neal Cheek
Joe Clontz
Barb DeLuca
Nick DeLuca
Wade Dorland
Martha Dougherty
Muriel Easterling
Carol Eckerman
Joel Farber
Ed Flowers
In Memoriam
Lallie Godschalk
Tim Grossfeld
Roger Hart
Don Hartman
Marlene Heslip
Barbara Hesselman
George Houston
Mahla Ivey
Lois Kirkwood
Jerry Kruter
Zell McGee
David McKay
Don Misch
Joyce Munk
Mary Paterson
Chatzi Rankow
Ken Reeb, Sr.
Jacqueline Sices
Caroline Sikorsky
Otty Snyder
Fred Taylor
Vivian Varner
Marilyn Wagner
Rebecca Warren
Siegfried Wenzel
Don Willhoit
Lew Woodham
Cal Wong – Carol Woods Resident Artist
I was born and raised in New York City and educated in New York City's public school system through Stuyvesant High School and City College of NY (before it became City University). Student school trips included museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History. My father, a high school art scholar and recreational painter, introduced his two sons to drawing but neither followed up professionally or recreationally.
When I entered the Entomology graduate program at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, I had no previous exposure to research and was essentially undirected and unsupervised. I spent my spare time teaching myself photography oriented to the biological-ecological perspective of the Entomology Department. I focused on garden and flower photography so that I could send photos to my flower-gardening father in thanks for my first serious camera, which he had given me as a college graduation gift.
In 1967 I arrived at UNC-Chapel Hill, where I taught Zoology for three years while continuing my flower and garden photography. I now think of myself as a nature documentarian — a photographer who observes and records, in still images, the way animals and plants appear in their normal manner of living.
Graphic appeal is an additional benefit if it can be emphasized in an image, but it is not to be the result of digital editing. My close-up images frequently use additional artificial light to reveal details of structure and color which would otherwise not be captured.
During my years in Chapel Hill a few sidelines arose, including employment as an architect's assistant, private teaching of photography, pottery, and Chinese cooking, as well as three years teaching ceramic art at Meredith College. Late in the 1980s I joined the Chapel Hill Camera Club, where I expanded my photo skills and perspectives. I spent my last 25 years at UNC as a research tech and administrative assistant.
I came to Carol Woods in 2016 with my cat, who passed away last fall. For the past 60 years, I have been catless for only five months.
– Cal Wong
MUSINGS: Excitement
The other day, I received an email from my car shop: “Hey, Jeanette, we’re so excited to see you here for your upcoming appointment with us on . . .” I was taken aback by this message. I had indeed scheduled a routine service check for my old car, but why should that provoke excitement? Is a mechanic’s job that boring?
A week later, my bank enclosed a message in my monthly statement, ”We are excited to let you know that we have increased your daily ATM withdrawal limit . . .” This made me suspicious. Why should my benefit excite them? Are staid bankers rubbing their hands with glee? If so, why?
Here at Carol Woods, a sign at our dining room check-in read: “Dining services is excited to announce the return of water service at dinner meals. . .” Excited? Really?
Curious to know if all this excitement is merely local, I consulted my friend Bob in Massachusetts. From Harvard University: “We are the original and largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, and we are excited to offer you . . .” From
a neighborhood sports group: “We're excited to announce the Cambridge Street Hockey League, a co-ed street-hockey league . . .” Even the arrival of a mundane purchase promised him thrills: “Get excited!! Your Kiian Hardware package is on its way! We’re thrilled to inform you that the items on your order are enroute . . .”
What's next? Bob recently forwarded this message received from a colleague: “Dear Friends, Family and Friendly Clients — Guess who’s going to be on NETFLIX this coming month? That’s right, me! I'm beyond excited to share that . . .”
Postscript:
I just got an update. For fun, Bob asked AI to write him a “catchy email” to announce a presentation. ChatGPT’s reply: “I’m excited to share that I will be presenting my very first lecture focused on Native Plants in New England.” Even the algorithms are excited!
– Jeanette Pfaff
Holiday Dining Gala
The third floor of Building 1 celebrated their second annual Holiday Dinner Gala. Almost all the residents were able to come and were delighted in each other’s company and great food. They were asked to bring a favorite dish, dessert, or drink that reminded them of a special occasion in their lives. And what a variety — NJ lasagna, Kaesespaetzle, coconut citron cake, stollen, Glühwein, and prosecco. Once again, Ann Crawford provided musical entertainment on her dulcimer. Jim Wilde and Michael Hoppe, this time accompanied by Ruth Whitsel and Carol Hoppe, rendered the first verse of “Oh, Christmas Tree” (“Oh, Tannenbaum”) in German. The other residents joined in on the remaining verses in English. This is a summary from an article written by Michael Hoppe.
Visiting artists Bunny (Bernice) Koff and Betsy Vaden are presenting their artwork from January 17 to March 11. Stop by the long wall in the Social Lounge and the cabinet in the Dining Room to see some particularly fine paintings and ceramics.
Visiting Artists
Bunny Koff (in red) began her career as a high school English teacher. She said her favorite word is “serendipity” because it combines good luck and good fun. That is how she views her art career. When she was young, she loved drawing with crayons, but her family could not afford to have her take art lessons.
Many years later, she became a docent at the Columbus Museum of Art. One day she participated in an exercise of painting hearts – she used no red. The teacher came by and asked if she had ever considered going to art school. The Columbus School of Art and Design adjoins the Museum. She began taking classes and discovered there is no color that makes her uncomfortable.
Her paintings were chosen to accompany Dale Chihuly’s glass exhibit in the Museum. They had one important thing in common — Chihuly also was comfortable with all colors. Her show here features
COMING EVENTS
The Assembly Hall, 7:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY EVENING CONCERTS
02/05/25 Atlas trio; Ann Witherspoon, poet
02/12/25 Nicholas DiEugenio, violin; Mimi Solomon, piano
02/19/25 Deborah Davis, cello; Deborah Hollis, piano
02/26/25 Jennifer Curtis, violin; Ieva Jokubaviciute, piano
THURSDAY EVENING SPEAKERS
02/06/25 Chuck Flink, FASLA, PLA, Landscape Architect. “North Carolina 2050: Challenges & Opportunities"
02/20/25 James Chappel, PhD, Professor of History at Duke University. “Golden Years: How Americans Invented and Reinvented Old Age”
vibrant flowers, elegant koi, and a trellis painting that you can almost see hanging on your own wall.
Betsy Vaden (in blue) was a design major at Duke University, training in drawing, painting, and printmaking. Thirty years ago, she took a clay class from the Parks and Recreation Department. In 1998, she became part of the Red Clay Co-op on Mt. Carmel Church Road.
Betsy likes being referred to as a ceramicist because her methods are so varied. Often her pieces incorporate hand building, as well as using an extruder and/or a pottery wheel.
She also talked about the various ways of adding color to her work. She might color the clay as she begins to work on it or adds color after the first firing. This led to a discussion of firing methods that include electric kiln, gas kiln, pit firing, and wood firing. Betsy’s exhibit illustrates her talent for using a wide variety of colors and techniques You will immediately notice a smokefired fish. Her designs serve useful purposes and provide a touch of whimsy. Editor’s note: Her milkweed pods are particularly appealing.
THE CAROL WOODS NEWS
Carol Woods News Committee
Co-Chairs: Sindy Barker and Nancy Martin
Editorial Team: Lucinda Glover, Carol Hoppe, Susan Marston, Jane Misch, Jeanette Pfaff, Harriet Solomon, Sally Walker
Council Liaison
Shirley Geissinger
Proofreaders (Round 1)
Jan Dodds, Anita Farel, Gail McKinnis, Claire Miller
Proofreaders (Round 2)
Jeffery Beam, Susan Bendlin, Janet Campbell, Anita Farel, Gail McKinnis, Julie McVaugh
Layout
Linda Graham Design LLC
Distribution
Linda Blumner, Marty Broda, Carol Candler, Ann Crawford, Frances de Usabel, Sue Goodman, Lois Howlett, Donna Kavee, Ilene Nelson, Anne O’Connor
Photographers
Susan Barco, Sindy Barker, Hailey Boone, Michael Hoppe, Al Howlett, Jordan Medlin, Vicki Moran, Sheril Sheppard