Treasure Magazine Fall/Winter 2016

Flowers Plantation FlowersPlantation.com

FALL/WINTER 2015

A Visionary’s Journey Christmas At Flowers Plantation Our Neighborhoods The Man Who Loved Hounds Mountains to Sea Trails Design Inspiration

Retire North Carolina Clayton Visual Arts

PARAGON BUILDING GROUP, INC.

Flowers Plantation Directory INFORMATION & SALES/MARKETING 919-553-1984 Ext. 206

DEVELOPMENT 919-553-1984 Ext. 9

Call for information about any of our new home neighborhoods or general questions about Flowers Plantation.

Call for information regarding building opportunities within Flowers Plantation and development within the community.

RENTALS 919-320-7223

HOA MANAGEMENT 919-553-1984 Ext. 225

Call for information about current or upcoming available rental properties.

Contact the accounting department for questions regarding HOA matters and/or concerns, Village gate issues, and for architectural submittals.

THE CLUB AT FLOWERS PLANTATION 919-553-1984 Ext. 201

FLOWERS CROSSROADS 919-645-2765

*Membership Open to the Public*

Call John Koonce at York Properties for information regarding commercial space or leasing opportunities.

Call the Club Concierge for information regarding club membership, general questions, spa appointments and to learn about the many Parks & Recreation programs.

OPPORTUNITY

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Flowers Plantation

CONTENT FALL/WINTER 2015

A Visionary’s Journey

4

Christmas at Flowers Plantation 8 Flowers Crossroads

Welcome to the Fall/Winter TREASURE Magazine!

Treasure Magazine captures the vision and lifestyle of Flowers Plantation. Treasure also incorporates our history and amazing amenities found at Flowers Plantation. We offer you a look into the rich history of this vast destination, as well as provide information on our events!

As you flip through our pages you will find more information about our commercial and mixed use retailers. They have so much to offer, along with our residential neighborhood builders and many new home communities. We have two new active adult neighborhoods along with young professionals homes and of course, our homes include luxurious details, spacious enough for even the largest family and award winning amenities.

Our new Petco will open before the end of this year. Harris Teeter remains open 24 hours per day. Our CVS and more new retail shops continue to wow our residents with quality and convenience typically found only in municipalities.

This Fall/Winter 2015 season we celebrate the holidays in our typical fashion. Ladies’ Night is November 21 and our Annual Christmas Tree Lighting is December 5th. The entire community comes together to celebrate the holidays each year. Our “Race Series” brings offers impressive professionally timed racing and those just for fun and the organizational efforts rival all! Our “55 plus” residents share many happy moments traveling to museums, hotels and resorts, socials…and …plans are underway for their wine club!

In this issue take an inside look into what makes North Carolina special, including our Mountains to the Sea Trail and other new features which are changing our state into a sought after destination. Our destination is not only for young professionals but large families and retired empty nesters!

Our WELCOME CENTER is open daily for any questions. Please call us at any time with your questions. Our number is 919 553 1984 and you will want extension 206 for the staff at the welcome center. Our address is 120 Flowers Parkway, Clayton, N.C. 27527 Look for our next issue in Spring of 2016. Let us hear from you in regard to what you would like to learn about Flowers Plantation by sending your comments to: Info@FlowersPlantation.com. Your support, interest and communication make us very special! Thank you and my best regards for an enjoyable fall and winter 2015!

Award-Winning Community

13

fitness, fun & philanthropy

14

School Profiles

16

3,000 Acres Of Living Space

20

Our Neighborhoods

22

The Man Who Loved Hounds 28 Design Inspiration

31

Mountains to Sea Trail

34

Retire North Carolina

36

Clayton Visual Arts

39

The Concerts Rock

42

PUBLISHER Rebecca D. Flowers EDITOR & ADVERTISING SALES Rachel Kennedy CONTRIBUTING EDITOR & ADVERTISING SALES Reid Stephenson MAGAZINE DESIGN Littleton Advertising

Rebecca D. Flowers Publisher

Flowers Plantation

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120 Flowers Parkway Clayton, NC 27527 Phone 919.553.1984 FlowersPlantation.com

REPRINTED COURTESY OF IDEAL LIVING MAGAZINE

A Visionary Journey Turns a Farm Into a Community Rebecca Flowers Transforms a Family Legacy

N

ear Raleigh, NC, you’ll find a most unusual award-winning community that spans five generations of history. The largest planned community in the Research Triangle, Flow ers Plantation has received acclaim as North Carolina’s Community of the Year in 2013 and 2014 awarded by the North Carolina Home Builders Association.

For three decades, the Flowers family has been creating this 3,000-acre property with beautiful homes and top-quality amenities. But to truly know the commu nity, we invite you to get to know its developer, Rebecca Flowers.

Born in 1950, “Ms. Flowers” (as she is lovingly called by her staff), believes she has a special purpose in her life. Her life’s experiences prove her life was more than coincidence. Rebecca’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Percy Flowers owned a large tobacco and cotton farm just 23 minutes east of Raleigh.

It all began in 1905 when her grandfather Joshua Washington Flowers and his wife purchased 265 acres in Johnston County. Dr. Josiah Ogden Watson’s family moved from Charleston in the mid-1700s and aquired thousands of acres. The Watson home was constructed in the mid-1700s and included the farm that later became the Flowers’ home place in 1905.

Joshua Percy Flowers was born in 1903 and was only two years of age when his family moved into the Watson home place. He accumulated more than 3,000 acres over 40 years from the late 1920s to the early 1960s.

In 1982 the Flowers’ farm lost its patriarch, Joshua Percy Flowers. It was then the responsibility of his wife, Dell Whitley and his only daughter, Rebecca Dell, to continue the family tradition. But, gradually that meant changing the farm’s path to the vibrant community that it is today.

“The most difficult aspect of planning and executing what was to become ‘Flowers Plantation’ was the fact that even though the farm was rich in history, it was poor in cash,” said Rebecca Flowers. When Rebecca was 26 years of age (and teaching third grade in the Wake County public educational system in Raleigh, NC), the expenses associated with the 3,000-acre farm and the income to maintain the farming operation were not sufficient. Tobacco farming was undergoing a U.S. govern mental ‘Buy Out’ program.

Rebecca’s mother began to work with her to devise an estate plan that spanned over 13 years prior to her mother’s death. This plan, though not all encompass ing, allowed Rebecca to create a way to save the family farm.

“The reward has not been the money. The money has been constantly reinvested to create the next vision. The reward is seeing the dream become a reality,” says Rebecca Flowers.

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Top: Dr. Watson Inn, a centerpiece of Flowers Plantation Middle: Top Level of the Club; Ms. Rebecca Flowers, Flowers Parkway Bottom: The Flowers Family--Joshua Flowers Finch, David Howard Creech, Ashley Herring Finch, Jordan White Finch, Rebecca Flowers and John H. Bullock, Jr. The Concert Series at Flowers Crossroads

Ms. Flowers, married to John H. Bullock, Jr., does not believe it was a coincidence she was born with a creative, determined, visionary talent.

She began in 1982, with the assistance of her mother, employing professionals (including well-known North Carolina land planner Mr. Lewis Clarke), to convert the farm into a destination where residents would enjoy living in a community of mixed-use and conveniences typically not found outside of the immediate Research Triangle.

The personal challenge for Rebecca Flowers was just how to make the farm take a new appearance and acquire a new history that made it not only historical as a southern plantation, but appealing and worthy of destination living. This challenge, coupled with the lack of cash flow from the farming operation to finance such a large land plan, has taken over 30 years to become a full reality.

Joshua Flowers Finch and Jordan White Finch, Rebecca Flowers’ twin sons, were born in 1982, just two weeks prior to her father’s death. Bringing up her sons while saving the family farm and making it a place of pride for the fourth generation was very difficult. Rebecca said, “Many events took place during the following years that almost resulted in giving up. Yet, it never happened! Each time I thought I could not continue, a miracle appeared to help me make it.

Our sons graduated from The Savannah College of Art and Design and decided on their own to become the next generation to take Flowers Plantation forward, even to possibly a fifth generation.” They each actively engage in their own businesses, however, their businesses are within the Flowers Plantation. Their talents have already taken their mother’s vision to the next level.

Though the evolution of Flowers Plantation occurred slowly from 1982 to 2006, a long awaited goal of Rebecca Flowers became a reality. The Flowers Crossroads, once the location of a country corner store and the Percy Flowers homeplace, is now a mixed-use site with vibrant activity. Residents walk or drive golf carts to shop and visit. In 2014, this mixed-use site received the TCREW (Triangle Commerical Real Estate Women) award as ‘Best Development Project.’ Concerts at the Crossroads began in the Spring of 2014 with monthly bands from all over the East Coast.

The Club at Flowers Plantation offers many amenities for every stage of life. The 20,000-sq.-ft. club facility and 10,000-sq.-ft. fitness center are the centerpiece of the community. The 55-plus communities are quickly becoming the talk of North Carolina and the Southeast. Plans now include a health clinic and a continuing care retirement community on one of the four lakes. The parks and recreation programs are open to the community at large, including a 5K run series that helps local non-profit organizations. They even offer personal training sessions for those who have never participated in such events.

Be sure to make reservations at the historic Dr. Watson Inn when you visit. This Watson-Flowers home place, which dates back to the 1700s was carefully disassembled to preserve any materials that could be recycled or refurbished.

In 2006, Jordan White Finch reconstructed it to what it is now known as the Dr. Watson Inn. This Inn represents all that is Flowers Plantation... a historical treasure.

When asked what has been the most rewarding aspect of creating a community from scratch, Rebecca answered, “The reward has not been the money. The money has been constantly reinvested to create the next vision.

The reward is seeing the dream become a reality. My family, the staff and residents constantly inspire me. It is seeing beauty in the places and buildings.

It is touching what was only a dream for years.”

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Saturday, December 5th 9th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Join us

for this favorite Flowers Plantation tradition. We have photos with Santa, a Gingerbread House competition, yummy Christmas desserts and a walk to the " traffic circle" to watch Santa light the tree and read "Twas the Night Before Christmas".

MEET OUR RETAILERS Harris Teeter CVS Pharmacy PETCO Ken Jones CPA Fantastic Sams Wine and Design Flowers Crossroads is a Harris Teeter anchored retail village located adjacent to the largest planned community in the Research Triangle, Flowers Plantation. The village has large commercial chains, professional services firms and locally owned restaurants, salons and more! Petco will join the village in early 2016.

Interested in future commercial space, contact John Koonce of York Properties at 919.645.2765 or johnkoonce@yorkproperties.com.

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Edward Jones Asia CafĂŠ Coldwell Banker HPW State Farm Insurance La Vie Nails La Cucina Italiana

Experience Our Historic Treasure.

Special Discovery Package A special offer for those interested in making Flowers Plantation their home. This is a great opportunity to discover why we were voted 2013 and 2014 North Carolina Community Of The Year!

For reservations and more details Visit FlowersPlantation.com and click on Dr. Watson Inn, Email us at drwatsoninn@flowersplantation.com or call us at 919.631.0985 from 9am-6pm

PACKAGE INCLUDES: Luxury accommodations at the Dr. Watson Inn for 3 Days/2 Nights and is $299 per couple including continental breakfast each morning.

Guests will also have use of ‘The Club’ which includes three indoor /outdoor pools, spa, bar and café, fitness center, playground, tennis and basketball courts and nature trails.

REQUIREMENT: Guests must schedule a time to meet with our staff to get an overview of Flowers Plantation and schedule a time for a tour of the community. Your stay is FREE if you purchase a home in a Flowers Plantation neighborhood within one year of your stay.

An Award-Winning COMMUNITY

STARS Awards The STARS Awards are a centerpiece of the 21st Century Building Expo and Conference—the premier building expo and conference in the Southeast. Each year, the gala salutes the outstanding professional performance of HBA members throughout the region with the presentation of the prestigious STARS Awards.

Flowers Plantation was named the 2013 and 2014 Community of the Year for the second year in a row at the Stars Awards by the North Carolina Home Builders Association.

STARS Awards

TCREW Awards Flowers Crossroads received the Best Development Project award at the Triangle CREW Champion Awards. Triangle Commercial Real Estate Women (“Triangle CREW”) was formed in 1996 to provide a forum for meeting and building relationships in the Triangle market through effective member networking, committee work and mentoring.

MAME Awards MAME, which is Major Achievements in Marketing Excellence, was hosted by the Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County. Flowers Plantation received the following awards:

MAME Awards

2014 and 2015 Development Company of the Year 2014 Best Landscape Design 2014 Best Recreational Facility, Public or Private 2015 Best Website and Best Newsletter Page13

&

fitness, fun Upcoming Events

8th Annual Turkey Trot

philanthropy

November 14, 2015 Benefits the Food Bank of Eastern North Carolina

Holiday Ladies Night November 21, 2015

9th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting December 5, 2016

Health and Fitness Expo January 16, 2016

I Love to 5K

February 6, 2016 Benefits Harbor House

10-30-20 Indoor Triathlon March 5, 2016 Benefits local Multiple Sclerosis

Bike to Build a House Ride April 16, 2016 Benefits Habit for Humanity

Concerts at the Crossroads April 17, 2016 Featuring The Embers

A Sampling of Programs T-Ball • Races Basketball, Soccer and Baseball Clinics Adult Softball League Pickleball Tournaments Swim Teams Group and Private Swim Lessons Personal Training Tennis Lessons Page 14

Parks & Recreation Parks and Recreation provides quality diverse programming, intentionally creating an environment that fosters leadership and social development, healthy active lifestyles and lifelong wellness for the members, residents, and guests of Flowers Plantation. Come join the fun!

3 Fantastic Pools Dive in or slide in via a thrilling ride on the waterslide to our huge outdoor pool. Or you can relax and enjoy the sun or read a book.

Inside the club there is a lap pool and a relaxation pool. The Club offers an aqua experience for everyone including an outstanding swim club for ages 5 to 17.

Fitness Center Our 10,000 sq. ft. fitness center features state-of-the-art equipment including treadmills, elliptical trainers and stationary bikes, stretch stations, agility equipment, weight stations, free weights and flat panel TVs with Cardiod-Theater. Focusing on personalized attention that delivers results.

Spa Services Take a deep breath and relax your mind body and soul at our 20,000-square-foot facility. Let your stress melt away as you escape with one of our spa services from massage to full body treatments. The Flowers Plantation Spa is focused on providing you with the personal attention you deserve.

Club CafĂŠ Bar Stop by the Club CafĂŠ to relax and enjoy a drink! During the summer months, a menu of tasty wraps and sandwiches are available or you can chill with a delicious smoothie on those warm southern days.

Registration information online at FlowersPlantation.com/Amenities

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River Dell Elementary School AEDs donated to three Johnston County schools Three Johnston County schools were given generous, life-saving donations on Tuesday, March 10.

Carla Swecker Freeman, mother of late Archer Lodge firefighter Ethan Swecker, presented plaques to three local principals in honor of her son. The fire department used the donations that came in after Ethan’s death to buy automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, for three local schools. Last month, the department donated the devices, which are used to treat sudden cardiac arrest, to River Dell Elementary, East Clayton Elementary, and Archer Lodge Middle.

JCS Principals hold plaques that accompany the AEDs donated in Ethan Swecker's memory. From left are SRO from CHHS Mike Medlin, River Dell principal Ben Williams, Archer Lodge Fire Fighter Phillip Driver, Carla Freeman (Ethan Swecker's mother), Lynn Freeman (Ethan Swecker's step-father), Archer Lodge Middle School principal Dr. Betsy Huddleston, and East Clayton Elementary principal Brayton Leonhardt.

None of the schools previously owned the lifesaving equipment. “Certainly if it can help another child’s family in an emergency situation, I think that Ethan would have liked that,” Freeman said. Ethan was visiting a friend last July in Oklahoma when he drowned while swimming at a lake. He was 17 and a rising senior at Corinth Holders High School. Archer Lodge Fire Chief Phillip Driver said the department wanted to give the money donated in Ethan’s memory to the community. Mike Medlin, the assistant fire chief and school resource officer at Corinth Holders High, had the idea of buying defibrillators for schools that did not have them.

“This is another tool that we have to be able to serve and assist our students if the need ever arises,” said River Dell Elementary Principal Ben Williams. Several River Dell teachers and staff members are already trained on how to use a defibrillator. Williams said he hopes front office staff and administrators will also receive training in how to use the device. Ethan attended two of the schools that received defibrillators, River Dell Elementary and Archer Lodge Middle. His mother presented to all three schools a plaque that makes note of the donation in Ethan’s name. While many schools have AEDs, the devices aren’t cheap. Most cost between $1,000 and $1,500. Freeman said, “Hopefully one person’s tragedy will help prevent another.”

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Corinth Holders High School Corinth Holders art club designs Archer Lodge Veterans Memorial The Corinth Holders High School Art Patron's Club submitted the winning design for the Archer Lodge Veterans Memorial.

The memorial consists of black marble pillars with the insignia of the branches of service. Veterans or families can purchase pavers to honor the veteran's service. The walkway will be constructed of the named pavers. The grounds will be landscaped with indigenous plants from our region. It will be constructed in stages but future plans have the site containing recreation buildings and town hall facilities. It will be a park where future generations can enjoy and pay respects to the brave members of our nations military.

All branches of service, Coast Guard, National Guard, and POW/MIA will be honored. All veterans in the surrounding area are welcome to be a part of this wonderful memorial.

The selection committee stated that the design was well thought out and designed to highlight all aspects of a Veteran's Memorial. The committee said it was also touched that the younger generation took the time and passion to honor our veterans. All the art patrons say that the honor is truly theirs. There will be a ribbon cutting and ground breaking ceremony for the memorial on April 11 at 3 p.m. next to Archer Lodge Town Hall.

The CHHS Art Patron's Club shows off their design on March 27.

On the front row (from left) are Jarred Taylor, Kara Shoup, and Randi Baines. On the back row are Emily Ann Marsh, Bree Texiera, Duane Brown, Cheyanne Werner, Mayor Mike Gordon, and Principal Chase Ferrell.

East Clayton Elementary School East Clayton fifth graders celebrate Free Enterprise Project The fifth grade at East Clayton recently celebrated their Free Enterprise project. This is a team project involving the design and manufacture of a product by students and for students. Each team must create a prototype of their product for approval by teachers. A prototype must be approved before students begin making their products. Production takes place outside of school, with the exception of a few in-school “work days” as scheduled by the teacher. In addition to making their product, teams learned about advertising and created posters and advertisements for their products in class.

East Clayton fifth graders (from left) Olivia Sanchez and Erika Solom enjoy Free Enterprise Day.

The fifth graders have two Free Enterprise days during the year. Students have the opportunity to rent a booth and market a product that they have made. The fifth grade uses a behavior plan that not only encourages appropriate behavior, but also instills the concept of economy and the free enterprise system. Each day, students have the opportunity to earn 20 Star Bucks for appropriate behavior. Additional Bonus Star Bucks are given when students do things exceeding fifth grade expectations. At the Free Enterprise Day, students have the opportunity to spend the Star Bucks that they have earned in order to purchase products. “The day was a great success as students celebrated the benefits of their hard work and positive behavior during the first quarter of the year,” said Principal Brayton Leonhardt.

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Archer Lodge Middle School Archer Lodge Middle School 8th Graders to the Old West Prior to the end of the 2014 - 2015 school year 8th grade students completed a project in their Social Studies class involving a web quest where students read about the Oregon Trail and found answers to questions about the trial and difficulties the settlers faced early on. This project was tied into the upcoming field trip to the IMAX Exhibit of Lewis & Clark located in Raleigh, NC! Students learned about the settlers, harsh weather conditions, food and survival. This web quest allowed them to get all of their questions answered about the time period so that they could enjoy the field trip and all of the activities planned.

Julia Lownds, Maddie Kennedy, Deshaun Kubat, Caitlyn Bagwell, Bethany Barber, Jermaine Best, Bailey Bingman, Stephanie Cortez, Landen Chavez

A Message From Dr. Croom Superintendent of Johnston County Schools

Progress continues for Johnston County, and we are determined to meet the needs of our students through continued plans for growth and development. Johnston County Schools is the 7th largest and the 2nd fastest growing school district in the state. This past year Johnston County Schools served 34,660 students, and we are expected to grow by approximately 650 students this year.

As Johnston County continues to grow and prosper, the school system continues to grow and prosper as well. With the money from the last bond referendum, we spent the last year building a new middle school in the North Johnston area and added 12 new classrooms to River Dell Elementary School. Currently, a new middle school is in process in the Cleveland area. We look forward to continuing to meet the facility needs of our students and community.

Johnston County Schools has experienced many moments of celebration this past year. By working to educate the entire child, maintaining high expectations, and offering opportunities for each child to succeed, our graduation rates rose by 3.3 percent, dropout rates fell by more than 50 percent, and our 2,196 graduating seniors were offered a combined $30 million in scholarships.

The teachers and staff of Johnston County appreciate the honor that is bestowed on them to educate students and the opportunity to affect the future. As educators, we are given precious moments with the children of Johnston County. Each child deserves to have the best we can give every day, and we make a difference every minute of the day with each and every student.

In order to accomplish this task, we now more than ever, need your feedback to make our schools even better. EdChat is one tool that is available for our community members to share ideas, concerns, comments and offer feedback. It has allowed us to better hear the needs of the community and help us address concerns quickly and efficiently. A link to our EdChat page is currently available on the Johnston County Schools’ website and each of the school websites. We want to hear from you!

We are proud of our students, parents, staff and community. All of us working together is the reason our schools are successful, and why we are graduating more career and college ready students than ever before.

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Nearly 3,000 Acres Of Living Space.

Whether it’s your first, move-up or retirment home, Flowers Plantation offers an array of opportunities with a diversity of neighborhoods to select the perfect family retreat. Our renowned builder team crafts homes from the $150s to a million plus. If you’re interested in a 55+ age restricted neighborhood, we have that also.

They’re all a stroll or a bike ride away from our unbelievable amenities and shopping centers.

Visit our Welcome Center or FlowersPlantation.com to discover more.

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Welcome Center

Our Neighborhoods

New Home Neighborhoods at Flowers Plantation Why do families across the Triangle area come to Flowers Plantation in hopes of finding the perfect neighborhood? Not only does our Clayton new home community feature no city taxes and 15 different neighborhoods with a variety of house styles and prices, but our location is hard to beat.

Our neighborhoods are located just outside the city in Clayton, NC and a short-drive to Raleigh and the Triangle area. Flowers Plantation’s residents love the wooded areas, flowing streams and friendly neighbors that come with owning a home in one of our premier neighborhoods. More neighborhoods will be coming soon.

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Our Neighborhoods

Pineville West

Sweet Grass

Homes from the $325’s

55+ Neighborhood, Homes from the $350’s

Poplar Woods

Wilders Woods

Lennar

M/I Homes

Plantation Homes, South Hound Construction

Kirkwood Builders

Homes from the $250’s

Homes from the $250’s

South Quarter

Trillium

Homes from the $380’s

S&D Builders, Grey Heron Construction, South Construction, Plantation Homes

Homes from the $190’s Page 23

Lennar

Our Neighborhoods

North Farm

Mill Creek West

Forever Home, Capitol City Homes

Sadler Construction, Capitol City Homes

Pineville East

Flowers Crest

Logan American Builders

Eastwood Homes

Homes from the $180’s

Homes from the $220’s

Homes from the $220’s

Homes from the $180’s

Chatham

Evergreen

Homes from the $280’s

Paragon Builders, Grey Heron Construction, South Hound Construction, W Construction

Homes from the $275’s

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S&D Construction, MF Construction, Jerry Pounds Construction

Our Neighborhoods

The 9

Longleaf

Homes from the $540’s

Homes from the $215’s

River Dell Townes

Peachtree

Kirkwood Builders

M/I Homes

Homes from the $149’s

Homes from the $220’s

Dan Ryan Builders

Lennar

Visit FlowersPlantation.com & View All Available Homes!

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• Parents welcome during visit • Kind, compassionate whole-child focus oriented with progressive care • Prevention and conservative treatment • Specially selected, trained staff • Eco-dentistry Association member • Most major insurances accepted Laszlo Ledenyi, DDS Pediatric Dentist

~ Downtown Clayton ~

919.553.3232

ClaytonKidsDentist.com

CLAYTON “Ranks In The Top Ten For Most Affordable & Safest Places To Live In North Carolina�

There are already several reasons that make Clayton one of the best towns in North Carolina: excellent schools, great location, friendly residents, and the list goes on. Clayton can now claim to be one of the most affordable and safest towns in the state.

Based on recent articles by the Movoto Real Estate Blog, Clayton ranks #9 in the state for the most affordable and #7 for the safest.

AFFORDABLE They found that Clayton has a low cost of miscellaneous expenses, a low unemployment rate, and a higher than average median household income.

SAFE When looking at the safest places to live, they looked at towns with populations of 10,000 or more and collected crime data from the 2012 FBI Uniform Crime Report. Clayton had the ninth lowest violent crime rate in the state.

Building in Evergreen (55+ Neighborhood) and South Quarter at Flowers Plantation WHEN QUALITY MATTERS Jean Stevens and Kelly Mathews, Realtors FONVILLE MORISEY

Visit SDBuildersNC.com

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The Man Who Loved

Hounds

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Joshua Percy Flowers was born in Wilson County, N.C., in 1903; one of nine children.

He passed away on November 1, 1982.

His family moved from Wilson to Johnston County in 1905 and there followed years of hard work in the cotton and tobacco fields.

He was raised in what is now known as “The Dr. Watson Inn”.

Always, however, for this young man, there was the love and pastime of foxhunting. Hunting game with guns held no appeal for him.

It was the sound of “The Chase”! Many mornings of his life, he was out and loading the hounds at 4:00 am in his double decker truck, made just to hold those hounds. The family prospered through the years farming with his tenants and sharecroppers. He raised cattle, hogs, tobacco, corn, soybeans, game chickens and foxhounds. His wife, Delma Pauline Whitley, supported his love of houseguests and hunters' meals.

They were married in March 1927 and their honeymoon took them to Kenly, NC. They were happily married for fifty six years.

Their only son, Joshua Percy Flowers, Jr., was born in 1928. He grew up, went to the University of North Carolina, married and had two sons with his wife Margaret Baucom. Twenty two years later, Delma gave birth to a daughter, Rebecca. Rebecca helped fill the void of the loss of their son, in 1952, in a private plane accident.

Percy Flowers met Coy Lowry who owned Coy Flowers and was able to buy this hound from him. It took some work, but he managed to finally convince Mr. Lowry for the right price.

This favorite hound is buried on the farm with a marker and photograph of him in the marker near the family cemetery on Hwy. 42 East.

Coy Jr. won the first United States Open that was ever run. It is not recognized in records as the USO was not nationally affiliated for the first few years of its existence.

He and his wife traveled all over the United States to “Field Trials” and “Bench Shows” for over twenty five years.

Joshua Percy Flowers still holds the record for Futurity hounds, taking six of the ten awards one year. He requested that his hounds be auctioned after his death as he recognized the bloodlines would be mixed and change forever. There were over 300 foxhounds at the time of his death.

He will forever be remembered for the man whose weakness was foxhounds and the love of hearing the chase!

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Coy Flowers

Design Inspiration

5

By Lennar

decorating ideas for your bedroom

You may have heard that to ensure a good night’s rest, your bedroom should only be for sleeping. But let’s be honest. Our bedroom isn’t just where we sleep. We watch TV, check email on the laptop, nurse sick kids, or cuddle with the pets when it’s just too early (or cold) to get the day started. You spend a significant portion of your life in the bedroom.

With that in mind, we’ve brought together a collection of design ideas from Lennar bedrooms across the Triangle. We hope you’re inspired to transform your bedroom into a place that makes you comfortable, relaxed and most important, feel at home.

elegant

Want to experiment with color while keeping your bedroom elegant and serene? Add a bold wall color to play up the color in your accessories, as shown in this Henley II bedroom. Add lush pillows or a throw to keep your room feeling relaxed and cozy.

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bold Depending on where you live, forgoing a ceiling fan in the bedroom may be unthinkable.

But if you’re looking to make a bold statement, a unique fixture, can add drama and interest to your space.

eclectic From cherished family photos to the kid’s artwork, a gallery wall is a great way to fill up an empty space and keep your favorite images nearby. For an eclectic look, use frames of varying shapes and styles, or keep it tailored and simple.

relaxing Need to truly escape and relax? This peaceful and luxurious bedroom incorporates soothing neutral tones with opulent accessories to rival any 5-star hotel.

stunning This stunning master bedroom proves that peaceful doesn’t have to mean boring. Add strong pops of color, playful patterns and interesting texture to show off your style and make the bedroom uniquely yours.

Mountains To Sea The Mountains to Sea Trail, an effort to link Clingman's Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Jockey's Ridge State Park on the outer banks, is the flagship project of the North Carolina State Trails Program. Today, more than 600 miles of the 1,000 mile route are open for use. Partners across North Carolina are helping to plan and build the trail to link communities together and to serve as the backbone of a growing system of land and water trails. When completed, the route will pass through 33 counties containing about 40 percent of the state's population. The trail is used by people out for an afternoon stroll as well as those planning to hike the trail from one end of the state to the other. The trail concept was first proposed in 1977 by Howard Lee, then secretary of the N.C. Department of Natural Resources and Community Development. Recently Lee reflected in a series of stories in the Raleigh News & Observer on the promise and progress of the Mountains to Sea Trail. (Source, NC State Parks, www.ncparks.gov) Two sections are now open along the trail in Johnston County; from the Wake County line into the Town of Clayton, hikers and bikers can enjoy five miles of trails on the Sam's Branch Greenway Trail and the Clayton River Walk. In Smithfield, hikers on the trail can start at the Smithfield Community Center and walk along the 3 mile Buffalo Creek Greenway down to the Smithfield Commons area. (Source, Friends of the Mountain to Sea Trail, www.ncmst.org)

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Johnston County Areas connected to the Mountains to Sea Trail: Clayton River Walk Clayton River Walk on the Neuse is a beautiful 4-mile, 10-foot wide paved trail that begins at the Wake County/Johnston County line and parallels the Neuse River under Covered Bridge Road. It is part of the 1,000-mile Mountains to Sea Trail, which will connect Clingman's Dome in North Carolina's Great Smokey Mountains National Park to Jockey's Ridge State Park all the way at the coast. Clayton's section has also been designated as part of the 2,500-mile East Coast Greenway that will extend from Maine to Florida, linking cities in every state on the eastern seaboard.

Clayton River Walk on the Neuse connects with the recently completed Sam's Branch Greenway.

Market Street Bridge Mural Sarah Gaskins and Clar McGeough, two Girl Scouts from Smithfield, after months of planning, preparations and painting, Gaskins and McGeough have completed a vibrant, 1,300-square-foot mural that fills every inch of the space under the Market Street bridge. Broken into five panels, the painting features stops along the Mountains to Sea Trail, including Grandfather Mountain, the Biltmore House, Smithfield, the Surf City Ocean Pier and Cape Hatteras. Before the painting could begin, the girls spent almost a month of weekends scraping off graffiti and laying a base coat to prepare their canvas. After summer break started, Gaskins and McGeough worked 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to get the mural painted in just over a week. Once they got started, Gaskins and McGeough realized they could also add the progression of the seasons to their work.

Christmas trees in the mountains represent winter, and colorful leaves outside the Biltmore House indicate autumn. Springtime is depicted in Smithfield through agriculture – including a few hams and yams – and nothing says summer like the last two scenes at the beach.

“I thought it was pretty cool, honestly,” Gaskins said. “It just worked out.” Gaskins and McGeough belong to Girl Scout Troop 3424, which meets at Centenary United Methodist Church in Smithfield. The girls will begin high school in the fall, with Gaskins attending Neuse Charter School and McGeough attending West Johnston High. (Source: News and Observer, John Hamlin) http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/community/smi thfield-herald/article26565694.html#storylink=cpy

Sam’s Branch Greenway Sam's Branch Greenway is a beautiful 1.25 mile, 10-foot-wide paved pedestrian and biking trail made possible with roughly $600,000 in funding from the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The greenway leads to the winding Neuse River and now connects with the newly dedicated Clayton River Walk on the Neuse, a 4-mile section of the North Carolina Mountains to Sea Trail. These trails now allow families to enjoy 30+ miles of biking or hiking all the way from Clayton to Falls Lake Dam in Raleigh. The greenway has over a mile of public art displayed.

Buffalo Creek Greenway The Buffalo Creek Greenway trail entrance is located at the back of Smithfield Community Park and runs 3.0 miles along the Spring Branch to the Neuse River Walk at Smithfield Town Commons and is part of the Mountains to Sea Trail. The ten foot wide path accommodates hikers, runners and bikers. The Buffalo Creek Greenway is 2.94 miles in length and is part of the Mountains to Sea Trail. The trail links Historic Downtown Business District to the northern and southern historic residential neighborhoods, as well as linking four Town parks together and links two schools.

(Source: townofclayton.org and johnstoncountync.org) Page 35

From four distinct seasons to its geographic diversity and welcoming communities, North Carolina draws those seeking retirement options that feed the senses and the soul. Retiring to North Carolina is like coming home – it’s a place offering comfortable lifestyles, a low cost of living, activities galore, art and culture, natural beauty and a heritage of gracious hospitality. Whether you love our mountains, beaches or bustling urban centers, retiring to North Carolina is a wonderful choice.

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Retire

Living Here...

Playing Here...

There are plenty of facts, articles and rankings that make it clear North Carolina is a wonderful place for retirement, with a reasonable cost of living, diverse climate and geography, and sophisticated health care and transportation systems. But beyond these tangible details is the seductive sensation noted by many who retire here that life in North Carolina produces a calming state of mind, a sense of well-being and a comfort that says home. This makes our state the ideal spot not just to retire, but rejuvenate.

One of the accepted keys to a fulfilling life after retirement is staying active and engaged, on your own terms. In North Carolina, everything is in place and available to help you enjoy each day doing whatever makes you happy, whether it’s golf with friends or a long hike, creating your own art or lingering in a gallery, learning something new or imparting your wisdom through a volunteer opportunity. The simple fact is the good life in North Carolina is always ready and waiting.

North Carolina

Getting Around

“Near” and “far” take on different meanings when you retire in North Carolina, thanks to a sophisticated and well-engineered transportation system that makes travel simple. We have the largest state-maintained highway system in the nation (anchored by interstates 26, 40, 77, 85 and 95), four international airports, daily Amtrak passenger service and an unrivaled coastal ferry system. And our state’s ideal location provides easy access to surrounding cities and states, making it a perfect jumping-off spot for business and leisure travel.

Climate When you retire to North Carolina, it’s reasonably certain you’ll find yourself debating which is your favorite time of year. Our state is blessed with four distinct seasons – never too chilly or hot – with plentiful rainfall that keeps our beautiful natural settings healthy and lush. With our scenic mountains, rolling central region and more than 300 miles of coastline and barrier island beaches, retirees always find a special place that fulfills needs and desires, along with an ideal climate that’s refreshing and keeps everyone active.

Accolades There are a number of compelling reasons to choose North Carolina as your retirement destination. We can entice you with facts and figures, impress you with our scenic beauty, and point proudly to a host of awards and accolades. But absolutely nothing can replace visiting North Carolina and experiencing for yourself why this is a truly special place to retire.

Cost of Living There’s no reason to pay a premium price for the privilege of retiring and living well. If you like to work the numbers, you’ll discover the cost of living in North Carolina is below the national average, while ranking high in personal satisfaction and fulfillment. The ACCRA Cost of Living Index is an ideal place to research and compare your retirement options by city and state, based on analysis of everything from housing and utilities, to health care and transportation, to everyday living expenses. For even more information about the quality of life and cost of living in North Carolina, visit ThriveNC.com.

Health Care and Personal Safety North Carolina is a place where retirees can be assured of benefitting from affordable and expert health care. With some of the country’s finest health care facilities and four respected medical schools producing skilled professionals, the cost of care in the state ranks as the 14th lowest in the country. In addition to quality medical attention, personal safety is heightened by effective and dedicated law enforcement, supported by progressive government and an efficient legal system.

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Arts and Heritage

When you retire to North Carolina, you’ll discover you’re leaving nothing behind in terms of cultural activities and events. In fact, you’ll probably find your senses overwhelmed by the choices facing you. History is at your fingertips, from the site of the Wright brothers’ first flight in Kill Devil Hills to the traditions of the Cherokee in the Great Smoky Mountains. You're surrounded by symphony orchestras, dance companies, outdoor dramas, and performing arts centers and theaters. The visual arts thrive in North Carolina, while writers and storytellers keep words alive.

Recreation It’s impossible to describe in a few words the range of recreational activities you’ll find in North Carolina. Retire here, and then boat, bike, camp, fish, garden, golf, hike, hunt, horseback ride, raft or zip line. Cheer on one of the many college and professional sports teams, witness PGA golf, or experience the roar of NASCAR. Maybe sample the tasty wares of more than 100 wineries and 80-plus craft breweries, or just relax on the beach or next to a lulling waterfall.

It’s a pretty safe bet that if you want to do it, there’s an opportunity here.

Learn, Work and Volunteer Learning and staying active are proven keys to a healthy, happy retirement lifestyle. In North Carolina, a renowned system of community colleges and universities make continuing education a life-long adventure. And helping others is a respected part of our communities, with abundant opportunities to volunteer your time and skills. In fact, whether working or volunteering, retired individuals are one of our key assets and most valued resources here in North Carolina.

(Article Source: All information re-published from retirenc.com)

Dorothy Dembroski Patchwork

ClaytonVisual Arts Wondering where to see the best local art? Look no further than Clayton Visual Arts, Inc. Page 39

Clayton Visual Arts (CVA) is a nonprofit organization and Clayton's leading art organization. We are a group of volunteers working to support Clayton as an art community. Clayton Visual Arts has a roster of nearly 50 members and is growing. Members include artists of all paint media, photographers, graphic designers, and much more. Some members do not classify themselves as artists, but offer their time and talent toward helping the organization achieve its goals. Members benefit from the latest email updates as well as first priority in opportunities to show their artwork. CVA’s updated website, www.claytonvisualartsnc.org, provides another online portal through which artists can connect with potential buyers.

For the first time ever, Clayton’s historic downtown will be the location of the fourth annual Christmas Tour. The Christmas in Clayton Art & Home Tour began as a way to showcase local artists and their wares during the Holiday season. In the past, six to eight homes within the same subdivision have been chosen to participate in the Tour.

Homeowners decorated their lovely homes and graciously allowed ticket-holding visitors to come inside and experience the sights, smells, and sounds of the holiday.

Space was always reserved for one or more artists to set up a display of his/her artwork.

Flowers Plantation’s Resident & Artist

Jim Hopkins

Several residents of Flowers Plantation are active members in CVA. Jim Hopkins is a CVA member who has lived in a Flowers Plantation neighborhood with his wife, Margie, since the fall of 2011. He is a proud U.S. Navy veteran who moved to North Carolina from Rochester, NY, seeking milder winters. Jim happened upon his hobby, passion, and business—"Washtenaw Woods"—somewhat by accident.

Last year, CVA divided the earnings among local public schools so that art teachers could purchase much-needed supplies. CVA now has established a grant for which art teachers can apply to receive money for special projects.

CVA plans to dole out all of its Christmas Tour earnings to grantees once promotional and other expenses are paid.

CVA artists understand how important the arts are for children, even as such programs continue to be a target for budget cuts.

The official name of the art supplies grant is the Dorothy Demboski Art Teacher Assistance Grant.

Dorothy Demboski was an accomplished artist and who passed away in December of 2013. During her life, she worked in numerous media, was featured in galleries along the East Coast, taught several design and painting workshops. Her work can be found in numerous private and museum collections. Dorothy also started an artist’s cooperative in West Virginia, with dreams of Clayton having its own cooperative gallery for CVA artists. Very active in Clayton Visual Arts during her years living in Clayton, she even served as the organization’s president. CVA is working to make her co-op dream a reality in historic downtown Clayton. Dorothy’s family thought it fitting to honor her by naming the Teacher Assistance Grant after her.

About ten years ago, looking for something unique to give his wife for Christmas, Jim found plans for making a Bavarian style wooden wall clock. The project turned out so well that family members encouraged him to make more to sell. Now, in addition to clocks, Jim makes toy trains, toddler pull-toys, early American toy trucks, 1930s model fire trucks and other wood crafts. During his stay in New York, his work was well received by customers attending many large festivals in the western part of that state.

Jim has completed many custom orders for those looking for that special, hand-crafted item. His wife helps with the sanding and sales. Both work side by side at all the Arts and Crafts festivals they attend. This year, Jim has sold his woodworking at Cary’s Spring Daze and Clayton’s Millstock Art & Music Festival.

He will also be at the NC State Farmers Market Craft Fair in November and the December 4-H Merry Market in Smithfield.

The name “Washtenaw Woods” is very significant and important to Jim as it is the name of the ship that he served on in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam conflict. Jim is very active in The USS Washtenaw County Veterans Association and has served on the board as Associate Treasurer for the past 10 years.

Jim also serves on the CVA board. His organizational skills were essential in handling over fifty vendors for this past year’s Art & Music Festival. Jim is now committee chair for the Mondo Roots Cultural Arts & Music Festival which CVA will host in late spring of 2016.

Jim’s email address is hopkins41@nc.rr.com Page 40

AT A GLANCE Founded in 1999 by Carolyn Howard, Ramona Cash, and the late Margaret Ritchie, all artists; musician Ron Hasson; and volunteer Kathy Ragland

Flowers Plantation’s Resident & Artist

Julie Showman

501 (c) 3 organization as of 2011 Over 60 members and growing

CVA member Julie Showman has also built her creative talent into a business.

Julie is a self-taught artist who shares her skills with her “Have a Blast Art Class”. She provides the materials and step-by-step painting instructions at the location of your choice or in her home studio. She will even host your next birthday party! Julie’s artwork has been on display at two of Clayton’s restaurants: Skyline’s Café & Clayton Steakhouse. She has won awards at the annual Clayton Art Faire, hosted by Clayton Visual Arts, Inc.

Provided half the funding for mural, “Clayton Patchwork,” at The Clayton Center (by late CVA member Dorothy Demboski) Provided partial funding for the mural, “True Colors,” at Clayton’s Hocutt-Ellington Memorial Library (by Jim Brown) Clayton Chamber of Commerce member Hosts monthly art exhibits at The Clayton Center Assists the Woman’s Club of Clayton with their Student Art Show in January Sponsors a student art exhibition each May featuring Clayton schools students Hangs art in area restaurants and other businesses “Paint the Town” art competition in June, odd-numbered years

Julie is proud to have donated custom painted ceiling tiles to the Healing Ceilings project at the Rex Cancer Treatment Center. Her sophisticated goat painting, “Winston”, is among the permanent art collection displayed at Clayton’s hospital, Johnston Health.

“Capture the Town” photography competition in June, even-numbered years Mondo Roots Cultural Art & Music Festival, late Spring Art Faire, a juried 2-D competition in September, with Purchase Awards involving local businesses

Julie enjoys life as a wife and grandmother in her Flowers Plantation home. When asked about her art, she says, “It gives me great pleasure to share my gift with others through my art classes. I am grateful for the wonderful work that Clayton Visual Arts does to promote talent throughout Clayton and surrounding areas.

Christmas in Clayton Art & Home Tour, Sunday, December 6th Currently formulating a business plan for a cooperative art gallery in downtown Clayton

For more information about Julie’s art classes, you can email her at jshowman12@gmail.com or find her on Facebook under “Have A Blast Art Classes”.

Offers the Dorothy Demboski Art Teacher Assistance Grant for public school art supplies Page 41

ROCK! AT THE CROSSROADS

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Flowers Plantation introduced the “Concerts at the Crossroads” series in 2014 to showcase popular East Coast beach music bands, the Flowers Plantation community and the Flowers Crossroads retail village and its businesses.

In 2015, we welcomed The Embers, The Tams, Jim Quick and Coastline Band, and the Band of Oz. All legendary acts in the East Coast beach music scene.

Patrons of every age come from all over the area to listen to great music, enjoy delicious food and drink, and do a little dancing. It doesn’t take long for beach music fans to start line dancing or show off their “shag” moves.

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Photos courtesy of Cynthia Fauci Photography

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