Please help our family this year!

Please join us to help give our adopted family a beautiful Christmas! 

As most of you know each year the ContraVest FAMILY, Friends, Vendors, Residents, and Contractors all come together to adopt Bernadette Hanlon our BEAUTIFUL FRIEND and CO-WORKER to give her 6 daughters a Christmas they will never forget! 

For those of you who have not heard of Bernadette’s story, she is a single mom with 3 girls of her own and a less than 5 years ago her oldest daughter had a regular babysitting job to watch 3 little girls. Her daughter had an unexpected school event on the same night she had committed to babysitting. The girl’s mother’s name was Amy, that night Bernie offered to cover for her daughter by watching Amy’s girls in her home. Amy’s oldest daughter 13 at the time decided to stay home alone while the other girls stayed with Bernie. That night a turn of events drastically changed all of their lives forever. Amy’s ex-husband broke into Amy’s home tied up her daughter and waited with a knife for Amy to return. When Amy walked into their home she was brutally attacked and murdered in front of her 13 year old daughter. Luckily Amy’s boyfriend who was parking the car walked in just in time to save Amy’s daughter, he too was stabbed in the struggle and fortunately survived. Amy’s daughter’s had only one living relative a grandmother who was elderly and unable to care for the girls… Bernie took these distraught little girls into her home because they had no one. Their father was arrested and charged with their mother’s murder. Fast forward nearly 5 years, Bernie has spent countless hours fighting the system to protect these children. She spent numerous hours at trial to see that their father paid for his crime and numerous hours at doctor’s appointments for child counseling, she is proud to tell everyone that she was able to officially ADOPT the girls! 

As you can imagine it’s a difficult job being a single mother of 6 girls! Bernie’s 3 girls have sacrificed so much by welcoming their new sister’s into their very small home. Amy’s daughtershave suffered an unforgettable loss in the murder of their mom. No matter how difficult things have been Bernie has been the one constant in their life! Bernie is an “ANGEL” in every since of the word! 

It is our honor each year to give this beautiful and certainly deserving family a wonderful Christmas one that they will remember and cherish for years to come! Christin, Wendy and Darla will head up the fundraiser this year! We ask that you donate whatever you can--no amount is too small! We are asking for donations in the form of gift cards (Visa, American Express, Wal-Mart or Target), cash or personal checks. Please make personal checks payable to Christin Tenpenny so she can cash them to make the actual purchases from the girls Christmas lists. 

***Please bring in or mail donations to: C/O Christin Tenpenny, ContraVest Management Company, 237 South Westmonte Drive, Suite 140, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714. We appreciate any donation you can make to help this family. If possible would love to receive the donations into us by December 10th to give us time to shop for the gifts! 

From our family to yours, thank you!

ContraVest/Courtney Bend Staff

Keep a little Jingle in your pocket this holiday season!

Refer a friend and receive $200 off your rent!! Make sure you tell your friends to mention your name when they come in!

Cyber Monday!

Did you skip the lines on Black Friday? There's still Cyber Monday

Almost every major retailer plans on taking advantage of the hottest day to shop online. 

Black Friday Safety Tips

Here are some tips from leading experts on how best to minimize the chances of becoming a crime victim during the Thanksgiving Holiday Shopping Weekend.

•Shop during daylight hours whenever possible. If you must shop at night, go with a friend or family member.

•Dress casually and comfortably.

•Avoid wearing expensive jewelry.

•Do not carry a purse or wallet, if possible.

•Always carry your California Driver License or Identification Card along with necessary cash, checks and/or a credit card you expect to use.

•Even though you are rushed and thinking about a thousand things, stay alert to your surroundings.

•Avoid carrying large amounts of cash.

•Pay for purchases with a check or credit card when possible.

•Keep cash in your front pocket.

•Notify the credit card issuer immediately if your credit card is lost, stolen or misused.

•Keep a record of all of your credit card numbers in a safe place at home.

•Be extra careful if you do carry a wallet or purse. They are the prime targets of criminals in crowded shopping areas, transportation terminals, bus stops, on buses and other rapid transit.

•Avoid overloading yourself with packages. It is important to have clear visibility and freedom of motion to avoid mishaps.

•Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason. At this time of year, "con-artists" may try various methods of distracting you with the intention of taking your money or belongings.

Tanger Outlet Moonlight Madness

     

Thanksgiving Weekend Hours

Thanksgiving, Nov. 24: 10pm-12am

Friday, Nov. 25: 12am-9pm

Saturday, Nov. 26: 9am-9pm

Sunday, Nov. 27: 11am-6pm

Holiday Hours

Residents:

Our office will be CLOSING Wednesday November 23, 2011 at 1:00PM and will be CLOSED all day Thursday November 24, 2011 in observance of the holiday. We will re-open on Friday November 25, 2011 at 8:30AM.

Should you have a maintenance emergency please call 

1-800-779-1075. 

We hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday! 

Courtney Bend Management 

***There will be an attendant on duty from 1PM to 10PM Wednesday and we will be CLOSED on Thanksgiving Day*** 

Also, please remember to check community updates via our Courtney Bend Facebook.

Turkey Chase in Historic Bluffton

Before a day of second pieces of pumpkin pie and mountain-sized helpings of mashed potatoes begins, Blufftonians can run Thanksgiving Day in the Bluffton Turkey Chase 5K Run.

The run begins 8:30 a.m. at the Bluffton Oyster Co. on Wharf Street.

Historic Bluffton Turkey Chase

When: 8:30 a.m. Nov. 25. Packet pick up/last-minute registration runs from 7:15 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.

Where: Bluffton Oyster Co., Wharf Street, Bluffton

Description: Start your Thanksgiving off with a 5K race through Historic Downtown Bluffton for the inaugural Turkey Chase. A portion of proceeds will benefit the Huntington Disease Society of America (www.hdsa.org).

Cost: $20 for adults, $15 for ages 15 and under

Thursday, November 24th is Thanksgiving Day in the United States. It is a day for expressing thanks for the good things in life, especially family and friends. 

The writer O. Henry called it the one day that is purely American. For many Americans, Thanksgiving is the only time of year when all members of a family gather together. More than any other holiday, Thanksgiving is a celebration of family and home. 

On Thanksgiving, family and friends enjoy a long day of cooking, eating, and talking. The Thanksgiving meal almost always includes turkey meat with a bread mixture cooked inside. Other traditional foods are sweet potatoes, cranberries, and pumpkin pie. Stores sell more food at Thanksgiving than at any other time of the year. And many people eat more food on Thanksgiving than at any other time of the year.

Thanksgiving is celebrated every year on the 4th Thursday of November, during autumn in the United States, after crops are gathered. When the first European settlers in America gathered their crops, they celebrated. They thanked their God for the success of the harvest. Tradition says the first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 by Pilgrim settlers from England. There is evidence that settlers in other parts of America held earlier Thanksgiving celebrations. But the Pilgrims' Thanksgiving story is the most popular.

The Pilgrims were religious dissidents who fled oppression in England. They went first to the Netherlands, then they left that country to establish a colony in North America. The Pilgrims landed in 1620 in what later became known as Plymouth, Massachusetts. Their voyage across the Atlantic Ocean was difficult. Their first months in America were difficult, too. About 100 Pilgrims landed just as autumn was turning to winter. During the cold months that followed, about half of them died.

When spring came, the Pilgrims began planting crops. A Native American Indian named Squanto helped them. When summer ended, the Pilgrims had a good harvest of corn and barley. Some vegetables had grown poorly. Yet there was enough food to last through the winter.

The Pilgrims decided to hold a celebration to give thanks for their harvest. Writings from that time say Pilgrim leader William Bradford set a date late in the year. He invited members of a nearby Indian tribe to take part. That Thanksgiving celebration lasted three days.

The Pilgrims did not plan to establish a yearly Thanksgiving holiday. But as the American colonies grew, Thanksgiving or harvest celebrations were held in many towns and settlements. Finally, in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared the 4th Thursday in November as a national holiday of Thanksgiving. At that time, the United States was fighting a civil war. President Lincoln liked the idea of a Thanksgiving holiday that would also celebrate national unity. Since then, the United States has always celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday.

Over the years, some new traditions were added to America's Thanksgiving celebration. For example, a number of professional and university football games are played on Thanksgiving Day. Some of the games are broadcast on national television.

Several Thanksgiving day parades are broadcast on television. These parades are organized by big stores in several American cities. The parade organized by the Macy's store in New York is the biggest. Giant balloons 200 meters high float above the street. The balloons are in the shape of creatures from popular cartoons and television programs. People on the ground hold heavy ropes so the balloons do not fly away.

Thanksgiving also is a time when Americans share what they have with those who do not have much. Churches and other groups provide free meals for old people, the homeless, and the poor. Many Americans give turkeys or other food to these groups. Some spend part of the day helping to prepare and serve the meals.

Religious ceremonies are an important part of Thanksgiving day for many Americans. People join in prayers and songs of Thanksgiving. One of the most famous songs is called "Prayer of Thanksgiving."

The words and music tell of the traditional meaning of Thanksgiving: We gather with our family. We share what we have. And we give thanks for the good things of the past year.

Sweet Holiday Baking Tips!

1. Plan all your holiday menus at once
"Think about what events you'll be hosting, what you'd like to serve and to which office parties, birthday parties or neighborhood potlucks you will bring baked goods. Don't forget to have something extra on hand for the surprise guest or last-minute invite. Dedicate a notebook with a menu page for each event. Write it all down!"

2. Choose desserts that will save you time or that you can prepare ahead of time
"When compiling your recipes, keep it simple! Simple can be really tasty AND beautiful. Enjoy the company - don't stress yourself out.

For example, it's just not the holidays without PIE - pie shells can be premade and frozen. Whole pies can be assembled, frozen and baked when needed. Make extra - they'll keep - and keep you from being pie-less when the second string of party goers show up.

Chocolate Pecan Pie

Ingredients

• 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate
• 4 ounces butter
• 4 large eggs
• 3 tablespoons Steen's Cane Syrup (you can substitute maple syrup or corn syrup)
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup pecan halves, lightly toasted
• 1 9-inch pie shell

Cooking Directions

1. Line the pie crust with parchment or a coffee filter, add pie weights and blind bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until light golden.
2. Meanwhile, in a double boiler in a bowl over a pot of simmering water, melt together chocolate and butter. Set aside to cool.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, Steen's Cane Syrup, sugar and salt. Slowly fold in cooled chocolate mixture until thoroughly combined. Add in nuts and pour into pie shell.
4. Bake at 350 until pie is almost set, approximately 30 minutes. Filling should be soft just in the center about the size of a quarter. Remove pie from oven, cool at room temperature, and serve.

3. Use recipes that you know and love
"Experimenting under a time crunch is not only stressful but if it doesn't work out, you have to scramble to put something else together. (Good thing you have that pie in the freezer...)"

4. Make your shopping list
"Be thorough because - get this - you are only going to the grocery store ONCE! Take stock of every item needed in your recipes. Think ahead, and don't forget garnishes, sauces, parchment, boxes, gift bags, ribbon, cutters, piping bags, piping tips ... you get the idea.

Maybe you already have flour, sugar and chocolate, but do you have enough? Maybe you already have baking powder, baking soda and butter, but are they fresh? If you put a little extra time in the planning stage it will save you loads of time later. That's time you can spend with those friends you haven't seen since last holiday season!"

5. "Do it nice or do it twice" as we say in the kitchen
"The holidays are fun and frenetic and exciting - and distracting. Because of all these wonderful holiday characteristics, there's usually not much time to fix a mistake or make something again.

Baking takes a certain amount of organization and concentration in order for all things to shine. Focus on what your recipe calls for, measure correctly, mix correctly, prepare your pans and bake at the correct temperature until it's done. Sweets are never better than when baked with a little extra love!"

Recently awarded Entertainer of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards, Taylor spent last month playing to capacity crowds in Asia, and this month she has headlined arenas throughout Europe. During the show, Taylor performs on two different stages -- playing several different acoustic and electric guitars and also the piano and the ukulele, and has earned rave reviews from critics at every SPEAK NOW tour stop.

Friday, November 18, 2011  7:00pm - 10:00pm

Location: 

Colonial Life Arena

801 Lincoln St

Columbia, SC

United States

Jasper Animal Rescue Mission (JARM) will hold an adoption event at the Fall Festival being held at AAA Storage City, 3715 Argent Blvd, Ridgeland-Cherry Point Area of Okatie, near the intersection of SC 170 and Argent Blvd.

Please stop at AAA Storage City to see our lovely adoptable cats & dogs.

Adoption fee is $100.00 which includes spay/neuter, age appropriate shots, and microchipping.

Need more info? JARM (843) 726 - 7799

Community Quiet Hours

Community Quiet Time is from 10pm-8am. Please make sure you are doing all that is possible to ensure a quiet environment for you and your neighbors in the community.  We now have a Courtesy Officer! If needed, please contact the resident hotline @ 800-779-1075.

Parking Assignment Details

1.       PARKING availability is limited.  Each unit is guaranteed two (2) spaces. Resident spots will be labeled “R”

2.       Vehicles parked on the property must be registered to the resident, have current vehicle registration tags and MUST HAVE A COURTNEY BEND RESIDENT DECAL.

3.       Car repairs are not to be done anywhere on the premises.  No car parts, broken or disabled vehicles will be stored in the parking premises or anywhere else on property.  Non-operative vehicles will be towed away at the tenant’s expense without warning.  No trailers, boats, capers, recreational vehicles, or trucks over one ton are allowed without written authorization.

4.       The parking areas and garages are not for storage. These spots are to be used by residents only and will not be labeled.  Combustible, hazardous or explosive materials or dangerous accumulations of rubbish; or accumulations of wastepaper, boxes, shavings or any highly flammable materials is not permitted.  This is a fire violation and safety hazard.

5.       Please be considerate of your neighbors.  ALL GUESTS must park in spots labeled “G.”  Any car without a Courtney Bend resident decal parked in front of a garage or in any spot marked “R” will be towed without warning.

6.       VEHICLE LICENSE NUMBERS- Residents are required to keep management informed of vehicle license numbers that will be parked on the property.

7.       RESIDENT DECALS MUST BE RETURNED AT MOVE OUT OR YOUR ACCOUNT WILL BE CHARGED A $75 FEE.  REPLACEMENT DECALS ARE ALSO $75.

ANY VEHICLE IN VIOLATION OF THIS AGREEMENT IS SUBJECT TO BEING TOWED AT VEHICLE OWNER’S EXPENSE.

Dear Residents,
 Are you looking for some holiday CASH?

Refer a friend and receive $200!!

Parking

           
The parking labeling has been completed.
Please make sure you have your decal on your car.

Parking Lot Painting for November 9th

The following areas will be painted on Wednesday, November 9th. You will receive a notice today on your door as well. :)

Parking Lot Painting

Daylight saving time ends this Sunday at 2 a.m.

Remember to set your clocks back one hour when you go to bed Saturday night.

We will begin Parking Lot Painting on Monday Nov. 7, 2011

Tastefully Simple

What does a bite, a chew, a nibble, a gobble, a sip, a slurp = Tastefully Simple! Please join us at the Courtney Bend Clubhouse on 

Sunday November 6th, from 2-5PM 

for a Tastefully Simple party!!!

Happy Wednesday!

Rent is due on the 1st of each month. You also have a grace period until the 5th each month to pay.
For your conveniance, we have set it up so that you can pay rent online! Just visit our website, log onto rent payment and pay with your debit/credit card!