Connestee Bocce Courts Get Major Improvement

Completion of the major renovation of Connestee Fall's bocce center, including a total replacement of the world-class courts, is winding down just in time for the season. This is welcome news for many residents with bocce one of the most popular activities in the community. The project improvements included:

• Removal of the top four inches of the court’s surface
• Removal of the heavy-duty permeable cloth between the surface and subsurface materials
• Removal of the existing one-inch drainage pipe system
• Removal of approximately 14 inches of rock
• Breaking and removing through the eight-inch concrete layer that served as the old shuffleboard courts
• Installation of approximately 14 inches of dirt
• Installation of approximately 12 inches of clean drainage rock, comprising about 60 tons
• Installation of approximately 125 lineal feet of four-inch drainage “sock pipes” in each court, including a new drain line that drains towards Connestee Trail
• Installation of a new permeable cloth
• Installation of about four inches of new court surface, comprising about 24 tons of material
• Installation of approximately 1,200 linear feet of pressure treated wood around both courts
• Installation of cement as needed around the courts, especially for the new drainage outfall

In addition to a great facility, the Bocce Group has active leagues from spring through fall seasons and a full calendar of social events for members and residents to mix and mingle. Bocce also hosts a fund raising tournament in August to benefit the Connestee Student Scholarship program.

Learn more about bocce at Connestee Falls.

residents present another amazing batch of photos

Our resident photographers never cease to amaze with their talents for capturing the beauty and lifestyle at Connestee Falls. The latest batch of entires in our quarterly Resident Photo Contest includes 68 shots from around the community featuring a wide variety of subject matter. Each is a testimonial to what makes this such a wonderful place to live and call home.

See the winning entries below and follow the Connestee Falls Facebook or Instagram page where more of the "Honorable Mention" entries will also be featured. The Connestee Resident Photo Contests, featured three to four times annually, have been running for many years creating an impressive library of images that are used throughout the Connestee websites and social media pages. See more of this amazing collection of resident photos here on the website and by searching on #connesteefallsphotos.

Winning Entries

Lake Wanteska after the Storm
by Judy Merrifield


















Connestee is Always in Season(featuring Mary Jo Penna)
by Suzanne Gruber
























Amethyst on Ice
by Judy Patrick




















Backyard Sunrise
by Chuck Kropp


















Snow Deer
by Michael R. Farley












 

all 20 miles of trails in connestee now digital

The Connestee Hiking Club resident volunteers never stop improving on what is clearly one of the best private trails systems in Western North Carolina. Now extending some 20 miles throughout the 3,900-acre master planned community, the trails system is an amazing natural amenity that offers residents hikes from moderate to strenuous. Along the way, the trails lead to breath taking vistas of the mountains, countless waster features, and all the different natural areas of this beautiful property.

The latest feature by the Hiking Club is an extensive digital mapping of all 20 miles of trails. The trails have been divided into four digital maps: Connestee Northside Trails, Salola Trail System, Oakanoah Trails and Ecusta Trails. “Connestee Northside Trails” map includes the Amakola Trail System, Kelley Mountain Trail, and Equestrian Trail. The “Salola Trail System” map includes the Salola Trail as well as Tall Pines Trace Trail (Batson Farm Historic Site). The “Oakanoah Trail” map is limited to that trail. The “Ecusta Trail” map includes both the Ecusta Trail and Tshakanawi Trail.

The maps were created using Caltopo, which has both desktop and smartphone applications. The digital trail maps and an overview of the trails system are available on the Connestee Falls website where there is also a link to even more detailed information on the Hiking Club website.

Special thanks as always to the dedicated resident volunteer trails stewards for their tireless efforts to build and maintain our trails!

Residents rally to save hemlock trees

Connestee Falls has some 3,900 acres and most of it is heavily wooded with thousands of native trees. It's an amazing natural setting that makes the community one of the most unique in Western North Carolina.

In the spring and fall of 2021, neighbors in Connestee Falls teamed up to help save the community's hemlock trees from the threat of woolly adelgid. The Hemlock Restoration Initiative provided the initial training and guided the spring treatment process. With more than 1,000 hemlocks treated in 2021, half of which were very young trees, the effort marks the beginning of Connestee Fall's commitment to its ongoing effort to preserve its hemlocks and to care for the community's natural environment. See photos and more information below on this effort by our resident volunteers to protect the hemlock trees.

Connestee Falls' spring 2021 hemlock treatment was led by the Hemlock Restoration Initiative, who trained volunteers on safety and proper treatment applications.













A hemlock tree infected with woolly adelgid, or HWA: an invasive, aphid-like insect that attacks North American hemlocks.














Connestee Falls resident and coordinator of the effort, Lisa Smith, applies the insecticide used to treat woolly adelgid at the base of a hemlock.













Some of the "Hemlock Friends" of Connestee Falls who participated in hemlock treatments this past November.











 

Our next batch of prize winning resident photos

The Fall 2021 Resident Photo Contest had another excellent batch of entires with 70 beautiful photographs taken around the community. In fact, there were so many good ones our independent judges selected six overall winners who will each receive a gift certificate to the Overlook Clubhouse for their efforts.

See the winning entries below and follow the Connestee Falls Facebook or Instagram page where more of the "Honorable Mention" entries will also be featured. The Connestee Resident Photo Contests have been running about four times annually for many years. In fact, most of the photography on the website, blog and social media pages are from contest entires. We think of each as a little testimonial to the wonder life, lifestyle, amenities and natural beauty here that make Connestee Falls such a special place to live and call home. See more of our amazing collection of resident photos here on the website and by searching on #connesteefallsphotos.

 

Winning Entries

Go Jump in a Lake with Michael Pewther
by Michael Pewther




























Golfing with Evan
by Suzanne Gruber




























Peaceful Morning
by David Chamberlin



























Rainbow over Connestee Falls Golf Course
by Tom Reinke





















Sunset over Lake Ticoa
by Joan Kirkland





















The Valley
by Vince Tidwell

End of Summer ratatouille recipe

by Chef John Huffenberger
Our "Chef John" shares his easily prepared Vegetarian "End of Summer" Ratatouille recipe that works as a side dish or a main that will leave even meat lovers satisfied!

  Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1cup peeled, diced eggplant
• 1 cup chopped peeled, seeded tomatoes
• 1/2 cup chopped onions
• 1/2 cup diced yellow squash
• 1/2 cup diced zucchini
• 1/2 cup fresh whole kernel corn (from 1 ear of corn)
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon salt, or more to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions
1. Heat the oil in a large pan over medium high heat. Add the onions and saute for 2 minutes, then add the zucchini, squash and eggplant and saute for 2 more minutes.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and saute for 5 or 6 minutes, until all the vegetables are tender.
3. Serve this warm as a side dish or tossed with pasta.
Bell peppers or any end of summer vegetable can be added to this dish too. Serves 4 to 6 people.

CFPOA Taking Gate House team In-House

Connestee Falls POA is taking the gatehouse and security team in-house to better serve property owners, members, their guests and visitors to the community.

"This move will keep the current team in place bringing them directly under management as employees of the community," said Connestee POA General Manager and COO Jim Whitmore. "Security is a high priority for our residents and homebuyers considering purchasing in Connestee Falls so it's important to our board to have the best possible operation at the gatehouses and throughout the community."

Whitmore also noted the gatehouse team are the first point of contact for visitors and resident/member guests acting as a welcome committee in addition to keeping the community secure.

"By design, the entrances and gatehouses at Connestee Falls look a bit different than the typical gated master planned community," continued Whitmore. "The original developers went more for a low-key state park feel rather than ostentatious grand entrances. This really sets the tone for the laid back lifestyle and focus on nature and the environment that is such a big part of the attraction for the community."

That said, the POA is serious about maintaining a safe and secure community. Annual surveys of new homebuyers consistently show Gated/Secure Community as an important consideration for buying in Connestee, consistently ranking just below Natural Beauty of Connestee Falls as the most important factors in purchasing decisions.

According to Whitmore, the transition will be a seamless move under the POA with residents, guests and visitors experiencing the same professional service as they enter and travel through Connestee Falls. 

 

Best of the Best Summer Resident Photo contest

The Summer 2021 Resident Photo Contest was a dandy with 84 entries - most all easily qualifying as winners. After careful deliberation, five were selected as the "best of the best" and each winning photographer was awarded a gift certificate to the Overlook Clubhouse. See the winning photos below and follow the Connestee Falls Facebook or Instagram page where more of the "Honorable Mention" entries will also be featured.

For many years running, the photo contest has provided residents and visitors to the website, blog and social media channels an endless array of amazing views into the lifestyle, nature, amenities and beauty that makes Connestee Falls such a wonderful place to live. We know of no other community that can offer such an extensive library of photos all taken by residents and all of scenes within the community. See more of the collection here on the website or by searching #connesteephotos. Warning: Prepare to be WOWED...

Summer 2021 Contest Winners

Connestee Falls in Springtime by Caroline Scorza



































Sunset Connestee-Style by Linda Cain


















Carson Creek by John Kratt




















Shadow & Light by Carol Altman






















Oakanoah Trail Rest Stop by Joe Narsavage

Connestee Resident photo contest winners

The response to Connestee Fall's first resident photo contest of 2021 was amazing. In fact, there were so many great photos submitted that the number of winners selected was increased to 10. Each quarter residents are encouraged to submit photos they have taken from around the community. These photos add to a huge library of images that are featured in News posts for winners as well as many honorable mentions across the community websites, social media channels and online photo albums. Thanks to everyone who submitted photos for this contest and to all our resident photographers for continuing to amaze with their photographic skills that provide an ongoing view into Connestee Falls.

Here are the winning submissions that show an excellent cross section of life, lifestyle, wildlife and the environment at Connestee Falls. Each resident photographer receives a gift certificate to the Overlook Clubhouse (along with bragging rights and lasting recognition online.) Click a photo to see larger versions.

Jumping for Joy
by Bettie Edwards
































Misty View from Ugugu
by Marc Finer

























Waiting for our Buddies at the Dog Park
by Suzanne Gruber



















White Squirrel in Atagahi Park
by Thomas Hunter






























Study Break on Oakanoah
by Caroline Scorza



























Young Buck Snow Background A Sweet Encounter
by Erika Fleury





























Walking in a Winter Wonderland
by Kathy Griffin































Ticoa View Snowy Morning
by Lisa Wilson




























Layers
by Cynthia Costa


























Wanteka Winter
by Michael Pewther

pecan crusted trout recipe

by Chef John Huffenberger
Our "Chef John" shares his simple but amazing recipe for Pecan Crusted Trout...it's easy to prepare, quick to make and absolutely delicious!

  Ingredients:

• Four trout fillets
• 8 oz. crushed pecan pieces
• 1 cup flour
• 2 eggs, beaten
• Salt and pepper
• 4 oz. butter

Directions
Pat the trout fillets dry with a paper towel. Season the flesh side of the fillets with salt and pepper. Put the flour, eggs and pecans into their own bowl or deep edged plate. Gently drag the flesh side of the fillets through the flour and shake off the excess. Then, drag the flour side of the fish through the beaten eggs and let the excess drip off. Lay the egg side of the fillets flat onto the pecans and press gently to make sure even contact with the pecans.

In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium low heat. Once the butter is melted place the trout, pecan side down, into the pan and sear. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side. Remove the fillets from the pan and pour brown butter over the top of the fish.

Learn more about the dining operation Chef John runs at Connestee Falls.