October/November 2015
SAND &MAGAZINE PINE
Alternative Medicine Snake Oil Not Included
In the Scrum
Southern Pines Rugby Club
The Interview FirstHealth CEO David Kilarski
www.SandandPineMag.com | 1
5k
12k
Kids Egg Nog Jog
Now Mother, Now Father, Now Sister & Brother, On sneakers, on antlers, On race bib with number, No matter which distance, To the finish have fun, Now dash away, dash away, Dash away RUN!
Saturday, December 5, 2015| Aberdeen, NC
register online @ reindeerfunrun.com 2 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE October/November 2015
COME ON IN, THE WATER’S
Fine! At Vanguard Veterinary Hospital, we offer state of the art sports medicine and rehabilitation options for your four-legged companions. Our underwater treadmill and hydrotherapy pool can help keep your pooch in fighting shape. Whether you have a sporting dog with an injury or an old faithful with hip issues, we can help your beloved pet get on the road to recovery. Call today for more information.
Open Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:30pm 1995 Juniper Lake Road, West End VanguardVetHospital.com
910-420-2902
DON’T LET THEM MISS A
Moment
Schedule a visit of our Garden Apartment Homes!
Call 910-295-2294 or visit www.QuailHavenOfPinehurst.com
A PART OF THE LIBERTY FAMILY OF SERVICES
Life is full of special moments and what better way to celebrate those moments than with family. Quail Haven Village residents never miss a moment in their grandchildrens’ lives. Our central location within Pinehurst, wealth of activities, amenities, spacious apartment homes, access to a full continuum of care as well as close proximity to family are just a few reasons so many choose to call Quail Haven home. Life is full of moments, don’t let your parents miss out on them. Schedule a visit today to see how they can redefine the way you live.
Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm 155 Blake Boulevard, Pinehurst, NC 28374 www.SandandPineMag.com | 3
contents 12
18
Alternative Medicine
SAND & PINE
What is it? Is it legit? Does it replace Western medicine? There’s still a lot of questions about alternative medicine in Western society. We take a look.
20
Garden Variety
Rugby
Goodnight moon. Goodnight spoon. Goodnight garden, we’ll see you soon. It’s time to tuck your gardens into bed. Goodnight garden, until next spring.
Craving a scrum or ruck this fall? Southern Pines Rugby Club has you covered. And if you’re really interested, they may just recruit you.
Publishers Greg Girard, Amanda Jakl 2015 October/November
Editor Greg Girard
E SA N D &MPAGIN AZ IN E
greg@sandandpinemag.com
Creative Director Amanda Jakl amanda@sandandpinemag.com
Word Geek Katie Schanze Ad Peddlers Tiffany Abbey
On the Cover Southern Pines Rugby Club play home games at the Sandhills Community College Athletic Field on Saturdays throughout the fall and spring.
Alternative Medicineed Snake Oil Not Includ
um In the Scr Rugby Club Southern Pines
iew The Interv CEO FirstHealth David Kilarski
Photo: Amanda Jakl
Mag.com | 1
www.SandandPine
tiffany@sandandpinemag.com
Vince Girard vince@sandandpinemag.com
Contributing Scribblers Darcy Connor, Anthony Parks, David Petsolt, Dana Spicer Visual Alchemist Carter Beck
4 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE October/November 2015
P.O. Box 892 Southern Pines, NC 28388 Tel. 910.315.0467 info@sandandpinemag.com www.sandandpinemag.com facebook: SandandPineMag
SP
© Copyright 2015. Sand & Pine Magazine is published six times annually by Sand & Pine, LLC. Reproduction in whole or in part without written consent is prohibited.
What’s on the Web ....... 6 Good Reads ....... 7 Quicksand ....... 8 To Your Health ....... 17
26 At the Table
OK, so we know it’s not planting season, but that’s not going to stop us from talking seeds.That’s right, seeds. The edible kind, of course.
Music ....... 24
30
Shutter ....... 25
The Interview
Puzzles ....... 33
David Kilarski has led FirstHealth since 2011. We sit down with the chief executive officer and talk about the future of healthcare in the Sandhills.
Last Word ....... 34
editor note by Greg Girard
O
ne year. It’s still hard to believe. As I write this in mid-September, I can’t help but laugh at the state Amanda and I were in this time last year. It wasn’t the prettiest of pictures, but it was cool to be buzzing with so much creative energy. Yeah, cool, and exhausting. It’s one thing to have an idea, a very different thing to actually create it. We’d done some interviews, we had some thoughts, but suddenly it was Friday night and the magazine was due at the printer Monday. And, of course, not one page of the magazine was designed. That’s when Carter came on board, like Han Solo and the Millenium Falcon swooping in to cover Luke’s backside while attacking the Death Star. OK, kind of a nerdy analogy, but I don’t know how else to describe her hero status. While Amanda and I wrote, tweaked and wrote some more, Carter made our words come to life on the page, her Southern twang filling our ears with
“It’ll be awlright” and “No worries, boys and girls, we’ll get it done.” It’s still all a blur, really. I remember Amanda lying on my kitchen floor begging for Advil and more caffeine. I remember waking up after two hours sleep with sudden inspiration to write my column. I remember a bottle of wine or two (nectar of the gods). And when we emerged from our creative stupor, the first issue glowed before us on the screen. So much has happened since. The people we’ve met and interviewed, the advertising partners we’ve collaborated with, the readers we’ve befriended — all of it affirmed our initial notion that this community is unique because of the people within it. We simply want to continue to tell stories worth telling. In many ways, we’re still not entirely sure where this is going, but I think that’s part of the fun. Life shouldn’t be predictable, and neither should Sand & Pine. www.SandandPineMag.com | 5
What’s on the Web ...
Good Reads by Darcy Connor
It seems fitting, considering our focus on health this issue, that we ask a local yoga instructor to share her hot yoga playlist with us. Angela Martin’s selections are filled with soulful beats and inspiring messages — Amazing Grace is our favorite — that will help you get the most out of your yoga practice.
Picture Book Giraffes Can’t Dance Written by Giles Andreae / Illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees You may not have known this, but giraffes can’t dance. Well, at least Gerald the giraffe can’t, and he’s having a tough time of it, especially during the annual Jungle Dance where the other animals laugh and tease him. But, with the help from an insightful cricket and his fiddle, Gerald and the reader learn about being yourself and following your dreams. It isn’t long before Gerald proclaims, “We all can dance, when we find the music that we love.” Not a bad philosophy of life. And don’t forget to search for the cricket hidden on each page!
Scan to listen to Angela’s playlist (left) or check out her schedule at Hot Asana in Southern Pines!
Fall... a time for pumpkin spice lattes, bonfires, sweatshirts and, most importantly, comfort food. Break out your slow cooker (Crockpot is a proprietary term, folks) and make something that’ll make you feel good. Check out our slow-cooker recipes on our Pinterest page for ideas. /sandandpinemag
6 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE October/November 2015
A good book should leave you ... slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading it . ~ W I L L I AM STYRO N
Preschool/Toddler Little Blue Truck Written by Alice Schertle / Illustrated by Jill McElmurry Little Blue Truck is a friendly truck that gives a “beep” to everyone he meets. When he gets stuck after helping the not so friendly dump truck, the friends he has made along the way come to lend a hand or a hoof or a claw. The rhythm and rhyme of the story as well as the fun animal sounds make this a great book to read aloud.
Elementary Encyclopedia Brown by Donald J. Sobol OK, I’ll admit I’ve been known to sneak a peek at the solutions in the back of the book to see how on earth Leroy “Encyclopedia” Brown does it! There are close to 30 different Encyclopedia Brown books, each with 10 different mysteries. Encyclopedia uses his smarts and keen sense of observation to solve the mysteries. You may have to explain what an encyclopedia is to a young, modern reader but the mysteries and trying to solve them are timeless. Middle School Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty Set not far from here in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Serafina and the Black Cloak is a mix of historical fiction and spooky mystery. Serafina is the unusual girl who secretly lives in the basement of the grand Biltmore Estate. When children at the estate begin disappearing, Serafina discovers the culprit is a man in a black cloak that wanders the halls at night. Together with her new friend, Braeden Vanderbilt, Serafina must discover the true identity of the Man in the Black Cloak to help save the children. Their search leads them to discover mysteries about Serafina and her own identity as they explore the dark forest they have been warned never to enter.
Nonfiction Running with the Mind of Meditation by Sakyong Mipham Everyone needs a little motivation to help with a running routine. Sakyong Mipham is no different. As a Tibetan lama and leader of Shambhala, which is a network of meditation centers throughout the world, Mipham shares how he combines his love of running with his spiritual practices. He finds numerous parallels between physical movement and the act of running and the discipline of meditation, and he brings it down to a level that makes sense. While reading it, you’ll find yourself thinking about his words on your next run, and you may just feel a balancing of your body and soul. www.SandandPineMag.com | 7
Quicksand
Candy Corn
9B
Average number of candy corn produced each year (about 35 million pounds).
1880
end. Really, this happens.
Sometime in the 1880s candy corn was first made. The Goelitz Candy Company (now the Jelly Belly Candy Company) began mass producing the gritty treat in 1898, also the first year the candy became tri-colored. The original name for candy corn was Chicken Feed.
30
100
43
ercent of people who don’t P eat candy corn in one bite, but instead start by biting the white
Day in October designated as National Candy Corn Day.
5
umber of alternative candy corn color N combinations sold throughout the year: “Freedom corn” (red, white and blue) for July 4; “Indian corn” (with a brown end instead of yellow) for Thanksgiving; “Reindeer corn” (red and green) for Christmas; “Cupid corn” (red and pink) for Valentine’s Day; and “Bunny corn” (white and various bright colors) for Easter.
ercent of the Sand & Pine staff that believe candy corn is close to being the nastiest P edible thing on the planet.
8 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE October/November 2015
APT APPS...
and other tech marvels Haunted Halloween Escape App For those that like to solve puzzles and might be slightly addicted to escape games, this Halloween-themed version seems more than appropriate for this time of year. Tools, clues and a little logic are all you need to escape the haunted house. Free on the iPhone. TheGreatestCourses.com Celebrating 25 years, The Greatest Courses brings the best in education to your computer. Some of the world’s greatest teachers and experts on history, science, arts and religion, to name a few, offer the most engaging and fascinating learning experience on the Internet. We know, that sounds a lot like a marketing schtick, but trust us, these courses are incredible. Fair warning, some of the courses are expensive (up to $400), but the site consistently has sales for as low as $20. State of Re:Union Podcast This podcast, created by Al Letson, explores how cities and towns across the U.S. create community. The show, now in its fifth season, visits places that offer the diversity of America, like Salt Lake City, New Orleans, Washington, D.C., Utica, New York, and Birmingham, Alabama. They also seek out communities beyond borders, finding out what it’s like to work on an ocean cargo carrier and frontier life in Alaska. Taking inspiration from Charles Kuralt’s “On the Road,” SOTRU seeks to chronicle American life.
QUOTABLES I’ll bet living in a nudist colony takes all the fun out of Halloween. - Charles Swartz
A Look Ahead Road trip! Here are some events within a few hours drive worth checking out. For those events with more of a local flavor, check out our Facebook page, updated daily. OCTOBER 3 - NOVEMBER 22 Carolina Renaissance Festival Huntersville | Carolina.RenFestInfo.com
WHY: S ome people take it seriously, those mutant turkey legs and watching the people that take it very seriously.
OCTOBER 17-18 North Carolina Oyster Festival Ocean Isle Beach | NCOysterFestival.com
WHY: I sn’t there something about oysters … mmm, what is that effect they have on us?
NOVEMBER 20-21 Seagrove Pottery Festival Seagrove | DiscoverSeagrove.com
WHY: W orld-renowned pottery in our own backyard.
I am greatly obliged to you, and to all who have come forward at the call of their country. - Abraham Lincoln Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner. - James Bovard www.SandandPineMag.com | 9
Quicksand DID YOU
KNOW? Fort Bragg is named after General Braxton Bragg, a confederate general during the Civil War, who was defeated by General Ulysses Grant at Chattanooga. Camp Bragg was established in September 1918 and completed in February 1919. It was designated Fort Bragg in 1922. Today, Fort Bragg is home to 57,000 military personnel, 11,000 civilian employees and 23,000 family members.
QUICK TIP Stretch now, or later?
Ah, the age old running question: When to stretch and when not to stretch? Experts have been contradicting each other for what seems like decades, but it would seem there is a consensus starting to build within the running world. The theory: Avoid static stretching before a run because there’s a greater risk of straining or pulling cold muscles. Instead, try mobility stretching to start your run. “Start out by walking and trotting: swing your arms; shrug your shoulders and slowly elevate your heart rate for about 10 minutes before you pick up your pace,” says Michele Olson, Ph.D., professor of exercise science at Auburn University Montgomery in a recent Shape Magazine article. The focus before a run should be on getting oxygen to your muscles to warm them up. Then, Olson says, make sure to static stretch after your run, concentrating on your leg, hips and lower-back muscles. If you feel the need to static stretch before your run, however, just be careful not to overextend. Don’t feel like you need to make yourself yoga flexible before that 5K. 10 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE October/November 2015
OCTOBER 3 AUTUMNFEST Southern Pines 5K, 1-Mile Fun Run, Kids Race | Register: MooreArt.org OCTOBER 24-25 DIA DE LOS MUERTOS Lillington 24-hour Endurance Run | Register: UltraSignUp.com OCTOBER 24 UWHARRIE 100-MILE TRAIL RUN Troy 100M, 100K | Register: Uwharrie100.com
NOVEMBER 7 VETERANS DAY FREEDOM 5K AND CHILI COOK-OFF Southern Pines 5K, Kids’ Silly Chili Relay | Register: EventBrite.com NOVEMBER 14 OLD GLORY ULTRA Aberdeen 10M, 50M, 50K, 50M Relay | Register: SPUltraRun.org NOVEMBER 21 TURKEY TROT Pinehurst Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, 1 Mile Fun Run
Register: SetUpEvents.com
DECEMBER 5 REINDEER FUN RUN Aberdeen 12K, 5K, Egg Nog Jog | Register: ReindeerFunRun.com
Join us for a
Spaytakular Benefit Saturday, October 31, 2015 at 7 p.m. Youngs & Goodwill Roads, So. Pines Black Tie in a White Tent (black tie optional) Celebrating 10 years & 50,000 spay/neuter surgeries
A Mozart Concert Dinner, Silent & Live Auctions Fine Paintings, Phenomenal Trips & Jewelry Honoring founders Dr. Joe Currie, Dr. Tom Daniel, Dr. Kelli Ferris & Mrs. Deborah Wilson for their steadfast dedication to this mission. To purchase tickets, call 910-639-1942 or visit companionanimalclinic.org. $100 per ticket, tables of 8 may be reserved. info@companionanimalclinic.org 501(c)(3): 20-2886984
Sout hern Part ners IN MOORE
in moore
“We work hard for our clients, strive to build lifelong relationships, and we love living in the Sandhills.�
Debbie Bowman and Samantha Cole www.southernpartnersinmoore.com
910-695-5196
Specializing in Military and First-Time Home Buyers Multi-Million Dollar Producer
www.SandandPineMag.com | 11
IMAGE
12 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE October/November 2015
e v i t na
r e e t n l A id c i Me
he term alternative medicine can conjure some bad imagery: anti-vaxxers allowing their children to die of polio, people chanting away cancer, fly-by-night operations selling the latest snake oil. There’s no denying there are charlatans in our midst, but if you’ve ever taken a yoga or Pilates class or tried a vegetarian diet, you’ve practiced alternative medicine. Alternative medicine falls under the umbrella term Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), which means any therapy that conventional medicine does not offer. If your doctor, nurse or dentist doesn’t practice it, it’s probably considered CAM (see side bar on the numerous therapies under CAM). Acupuncture, Reiki, biofeedback, hypnosis, massage and chiropractic manipulation are just a few practices under the CAM umbrella.
T
The Terms Let’s break it down. “Complementary” is a treatment that’s done in association with conventional medicine while “alternative” takes the place of conventional treatment. Massage therapy after shoulder surgery would be complementary, while meditating, instead of taking a Xanax, would be considered alternative. So many therapies can be considered both alternative and complementary depending on how the patient employs them. To throw
kl
by
a ja d n a m a
another phrase into the mix, there’s also “integrative medicine,” which simply means using both traditional Western and complementary therapies together. So what makes them so alternative? Perspective, mostly. Complementary and alternative medicine is preventative. Most CAM philosophies focus on overall balance in life as the key to health. Regular therapy is aimed at preventing problems from occurring. It shouldn’t be a surprise that exercise is literally considered medicine in these models. A CAM practitioner will look at the patient as a whole, taking into account physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. Traditional Western medicine tends to be reactionary. The focus tends to be on one part of the body, whether it’s an illness or injury, and treating it in the most efficient way possible — great for a broken arm, not so great for chronic tension and pain in the back or neck. It tends to employ a philosophy of “there’s a pill for everything” (the tide seems to be turning on this, but that’s another story). The two worlds, conventional and unconventional medicine, can and should co-exist. Western medicine has its limits, and so does CAM. “Acute is what Western medicine treats really well,” says Lance Allen, owner and licensed acupuncturist of the Acupuncture Center of the Sandhills in Southern Pines. www.SandandPineMag.com | 13
“Acute injuries, acute infections. Not so good with the chronic.” Typically, it’s only when Western medicine possibilities have been exhausted that the average person considers a treatment outside their comfort zone, often starting with unrealistic expectations after hearing about amazing results from a friend. Jennifer Williams deals with these types of patients often during the walk-in acupuncture sessions she offers at Wood Element in Southern Pines every Wednesday. “A lot of people come in expecting acupuncture for their condition when herbs would work better,” she explains. “People come in with preconceptions. I give them what they need based on the Chinese medical diagnosis and where they are.” The Trend Nationwide, complementary and alternative medicine has exploded in the last two decades. One national study reported more than $35 billion dollars are spent annually on CAM and that almost 40 percent of Americans had used one form of CAM in the last year. Even the government is giving CAM its due diligence. The National Institute of Health established the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. What’s caused this shift? Dissatisfaction with the conventional medicine model could explain some of it, or it could be the desire to take control of one’s own healthcare using CAM. In the Sandhills, the number of CAM practitioners has increased too. There is no shortage of chiropractors and massage therapists. All the yoga studios seem to be doing well. Allen and his wife Samantha opened their acupuncture clinic 15 years ago and have watched the tides turn.
“I’ve had a 200-300 percent increase in patients since when we first started,” he says. And what caused that increase? “It was on Oprah,” says Allen with a chuckle. “I don’t know what year that was, probably eight years ago. From there, it hit the media. It’s just out there more now. I spend a lot of time on the phone answering questions like ‘do you use sterile needles, is it safe, are you licensed.’” Which are questions all legitimate practitioners welcome (see the side bar about how to spot a quack). Smaller, lesser-recognized therapies have been making their presence known as well. Reiki masters, acupuncturists and herbalists have all set up shop in the last ten years. Carley Sutton is one of those. As a Reiki Master who owns Raven’s Wing Healing Center, Carley offers Reiki sessions in addition to massage therapy, cranial-sacral therapy and healing baths. Reiki is a healing technique based on the principle that the therapist can channel energy into the patient by means of touch. “[Alternative medicine is] becoming more widely accepted and Reiki specifically is getting more traction because there’s more research going into it now,” she says. “It actually is dealing with the exact same body systems as acupuncture or acupressure or shiatsu.” Not ready to give CAM a try on your own? Don’t worry, the Western model seems to be slowly shifting to the CAM perspective. And it’s happening in our own backyard. At FirstHealth Fitness, Director John Caliri describes the fitness center as “healthcare” and the hospital across the street as “sick care.” Hopefully changing the way we describe being fit can help change the way people think about their health and healthcare choices.
A
SP
s r e d i v o r P l a c Lo cupuncture Center of the Sandhills A Drs. Lance and Samantha Allen 233 W. Pennsylvania Avenue Southern Pines | (910) 692-8049
aven’s Wing Healing Center R Carley Sutton 345 N. Page Street, Southern Pines (910) 603-3403 | rwnaturalhealing.com
Traditional Chinese Medicine Dr. Drake Criswell 1150 Old US Highway 1 South, Southern Pines (910) 693-7905 | drakecriswell.com
14 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE October/November 2015
Wood Element Dr. Jennifer Willams 1110 N. May Street, Southern Pines (910) 725-0727 | woodelement.com
Susan McKibben 130 N. Ashe Street, Southern Pines (910) 724-3455 | susanmckibben.com
e v i t na
r e e t n l i A dic Me
How to Spot a
Charlatan
A quack will: Claim to cure. Using the “c” word is serious business. If they’re claiming they can cure cancer, run in the other direction. Lack credentials. Ask where they studied, then go look it up. You research your regular docs, do the same for CAM practitioners. Think about it, yogis have hundreds of hours of instruction to become instructors, so should your acupuncturist. Discredit all Western medicine. All the practitioners we spoke with said Western medicine has its place, especially with acute infections. Keep you as a patient forever. They’ll suggest treatments that aren’t clear, when in reality, there should be a treatment plan that’s discussed and explained. Give over-the-top treatments. If they suggest drinking nothing but water for days on end, or detox diets that severely limit nutrients, do some research and find another practitioner. Diagnose the same problem or disorder in every patient. If you find out that all their previous patients had parasites and suddenly you have them too, be wary. Quacks aren't just for ducks, Lorraine.
Complementary & Alternative Medicine Therapies Acupuncture* Ayurveda* Biofeedback* Chelation therapy* Chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation* Deep breathing exercises Diet-based therapies Atkins diet Macrobiotic diet Ornish diet Pritikin diet South Beach diet Vegetarian diet Zone diet Energy healing therapy/Reiki* Guided imagery Homeopathic treatment Hypnosis* Massage* Meditation Movement Therapies Alexander technique Feldenkrais Pilates Trager psychophysical integration Naturopathy* Progressive relaxation Qi gong Tai chi Traditional healers* Botanica Curandero Espiritista Hierbero or Yerbera Native American healer/Medicine man Shaman Sobador Yoga *practitioner based therapies www.SandandPineMag.com | 15
SANDWICHES WRAPS BURGERS SALADS SOUPS FLOATS COFFEE ICE CREAM
l
nnua
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4th A
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For more info email lancebullockmemorial@gmail.com Sponsored by
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16 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE October/November 2015
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For more information or to make an appointment, call (910) 715-1811. Visit us online at www.firsthealth.org/fitness
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“Good health is not something we can buy. However, it can be an extremely valuable savings account.” - Anne Wilson Schaef
H • TO YO UR ALT HE
Eatin’ Season/Eat in Season
When eating local-style this fall, try something you’ve never served before. Here are a few bite-size tips to chew on from Jan Leitschuh, producer and crop coordinator for the Sandhills Farm 2 Table Cooperative. Winter squashes Acorns, butternut, Delicatas and more – these make a simple and fast side dish. Simply cut in half, scoop out seeds, dab with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon and brown sugar (for sweet) or curry, paprika or cumin (for savory). Microwave or roast until fork-tender.
Apples Wash, core, place in a microwaveable dish and stuff center with raisins, pecans or chopped peanuts, and butter. Drizzle with maple syrup, then microwave until soft. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream.
Fitness Fodder Don’t Diet.
For the vast majority of people, diets fail. As soon as you deny yourself certain foods, your craving for it increases. Instead, start slow and begin partially replacing unhealthy foods with healthy foods. Slow and steady wins the race!
Workout on Monday.
Studies show that if you work out on Monday you’re up to 80 percent more likely to workout the rest of the week.
Add Variety.
Over time the routine of working out can become boring. Change things up by moving weights outside, switching to a different class or taking up a new sport.
Cauliflower Treat this nutritious “white” vegetable like its cancer-fighting cousin, broccoli. Steamed and mashed, cauliflower makes a terrific, low-carb mashed potato substitute.
Swiss Chard Rinse, strip stalks from leaf and chop stalks like celery. Steam while you roll and slice chard leaves. Stir both into an Italianherb white bean soup for a hearty and complete meal.
Pumpkin • Sweet Potatoes • Broccoli • Collards
For more of Jan’s cooking suggestions with these seasonal veggies, check out our website!
- Dan Kennedy, owner of Southern Pines CrossFit on Connecticut Ave.
Turn It Up!
Research has shown that music is most beneficial to those just starting to exercise, probably because music arouses positive feelings which can lead to motivation. So listen up couch potatoes, throw on a good mix and get out there! www.SandandPineMag.com | 17
N TI
R GARD
BED
q
EN
TO
PUT
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U YO
Garden Variety BY MAST E R GARD EN ER DAN A SPICER 18 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE October/November 2015
Autumn is about as great as spring in the Sandhills, and maybe even better since there is no pollen fog coating everything in sight. With cooler temperatures and shorter days, the growing season is winding down, but your garden still needs love. Putting your garden to bed properly this fall will make it easier to awaken in the spring. Here are some simple yet helpful ways to set yourself up for planting success next year.
THE EFFO RT YO U P U T I N TO YO U R GA RDE N T HI S FA LL WI LL PAY O F F WH E N T H E G R OWI N G S E A S O N R E T U RN S . Clean up
Clean your garden tools
Remove dead plants and old leaves to prevent the
Apply a light coat of oil to metal tools to avoid
build-up of disease and harmful insects. The debris
rust. Consider where you will store chemicals or
that you clean out this fall becomes a valuable
pesticides — some have a limited shelf life and
addition to your compost.
can be affected by the cold. Disconnect irrigation systems and garden hoses to prevent frost damage.
Test your soil Testing your soil is one of the most important things
Plant garlic
that you can do. By measuring both the pH level
Fall is the best time to plant garlic. Plant a single
and pinpointing nutrient deficiencies, a soil test can
garlic clove three inches deep and space six to eight
provide the information necessary for a successful
inches apart, and cover with mulch. Each clove will
spring garden. Visit http://goo.gl/uQn3wt for more
grow into a full head of garlic by next summer!
information on how to submit a soil sample for testing.
/NCMGMooreCnty Add compost and other organic amendments Now is a great time to add sources of organic matter to your garden. A fall application of one to two inches of compost or manure on top of your beds will resupply the soil with nutrients for the next season.
Fall
is the
best
to plant
time
garl
ic
www.SandandPineMag.com | 19
RUGBY BY GREG GIRARD | PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMANDA JAKL
Southern Pines Rugby Club started as most good things do, between friends over a pint. This particular idea came out of O’Donnell’s
Pub on East New Hampshire in Southern Pines in 2002. They put the word out to anyone interested and about seven guys showed up. They played their first sevens tournament (rugby can be played both with seven to a side and 15 to a side) the following summer and the club has just grown from there. Now, nearly 15 years later, Southern Pines competes in the D3 league, finishing in the top five in their region for the past several years. They have a D4 developmental team, a high school club and they have future plans to create clubs for middle school, elementary school and women. The club has around 50 players, with ages ranging from 19 to 45, and with a full range of experience levels. They have beginners playing alongside 20-year veterans. “We have new guys coming out all the time,” says Dave Rathfon, coach and former captain of the team. “It’s interesting to have a guy who has played for 15 years at a high level practicing alongside the guy who can’t throw the ball and doesn’t know the rules. It’s very interesting dynamics, but thankfully we have a bunch of coaches to help us out with that.” “There’s a lot of athletes in Moore County that should be out here playing that could be very good rugby players,” adds Robert Bortins, president of the club. Bortins is one of those experienced guys on the rugby pitch. He’s been playing since 2001, when he started at Clemson University. “Just because you haven’t played before doesn’t mean you can’t. We’re always looking for new recruits.” If interested, contact Dan Kennedy at 910.783.4315 or visit southernpinesrugby.org. Information Southern Pines Rugby Club SouthernPinesRugby.org Practice: Tues. & Thurs. 6-8, Bethesda Cemetery, Aberdeen Home Games: Sandhills Community College Athletic Field
20 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE October/November 2015
Come play a game. Recruitment Anytime, just come out. I usually tell (guys), come to two practices, play in a game, we’ll put you in a situation to be successful. If you like it, great. If you don’t like it, that’s fine too, but give it a try, come play a game. — Robert Bortins, president of Southern Pines Rugby Club Competition If you don’t wake up the next day hurting, then you didn’t play the game right. — Dave Rathfon, coach, former captain In a game you typically run 3-5 miles in an 80-minute session. So it’s basically trying to do a 5K with 15 people trying to stop you from doing a 5K. — Bortins Brotherhood For me, it’s the brotherhood. We all share similar goals and we all enjoy the physicality of the sport. You make such good friends. It will be something that I carry through for the rest of my life. Wherever life may take me, I know that I can always find a rugby team and I can always make friends out of that. — Rathfon
RUGBY Culture That’s the other thing unique about rugby, it’s not just a brotherhood among teammates, it’s a brotherhood with the team your playing against. Rugby’s a physical sport, but after, you go and eat together, you have some drinks together if you’re of an appropriate age, you might sing some songs together. — Bortins
www.SandandPineMag.com | 21
History of Rugby In the early part of the 19th century, there were no defined rules of football (not American football, the other kind). Players were allowed to do almost anything bar impaling an opponent with a rapier or, apparently, running with the ball. They could catch the ball but it was thought “good sport” if they then immediately kicked it. According to rugby lore, a teenager named William Webb Ellis was playing in a game at the Rugby School in England in 1823 when he decided to run with the ball toward the opponent’s goal line rather than immediately kick it. Rebellious lad. Thus the game of rugby was born. The novel idea of running with the ball did not immediately catch on, although the boys at the Rugby School seemed entranced by it and continued to allow it during games. Debate over the rules of football persisted for decades until 1863, when representatives from 11 schools and clubs met at the Freemason’s Tavern in London to officially set into place the rules of football, thus the birth of “Association Football” or soccer, and a true split of the two games. Soccer went the route of no hands and no hacking the opponent (at least within the rules of play). During the same period, students at the Rugby School continued to play the modified game and upon graduating set up clubs to continue playing. Students at Cambridge University established the first known rugby club in 1839. In 1845, three Rugby School students wrote down the first official rules of the game, and then in 1870 the Rugby Football Union was created by 22 club teams in England.
RUGBY 22 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE October/November 2015
If you don’t wake up the next day hurting, then you didn’t play the game right. — Dave Rathfon, coach, former captain
RUGBY FACTS
The rugby ball wasn’t always the unique oval shape it is today. The ball used to be plum shaped due to the shape of the pig bladder they were made from. They developed more of an oval shape when ball makers began using rubber inner tubes rather than pig bladders. The Rugby School also wanted a different shape to distinguish it from the round football. The reigning Olympic rugby champion is the United States. Of course, the last time rugby was played at the Olympics was 1924, but still. Rugby players, however, will again be battling for gold starting with the summer Olympics in Brazil next year. The first international rugby match took place between Scotland and England in 1871 in Edinburgh. Scotland won 1-0. T here have been seven Rugby World Cups. Australia and South Africa are tied in title wins with two apiece. Rugby World Cup 2015 started last month and ends with the championship game on Oct. 31. NBC Sports will broadcast nine of the tournament’s 48 matches, including the final. J ames Naismith, the inventor of basketball, was a rugby coach and created the indoor sport in order to keep his players fit during the winter. Rugby is the national sport of Madagascar, New Zealand and Wales.
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www.SandandPineMag.com | 23
Mix Tape BY ANTHONY PARKS
Some fundraisers are just cooler than others, and the last one I went to was one of the
best I’ve ever attended. It was held on a rooftop overlooking downtown Southern Pines. It was a beautiful night, the food was great, Southern Pines Brewing Company was on the taps and all the right folks were in attendance. But what made it such a special night was the music. The roof belongs to Baxter Clement, and he was thumping the bass guitar when we arrived. Baxter owns Casino Guitars and runs The Sandhills School of Performing Arts. He and some friends were the first band of the night. I first met Baxter when we were kids. I went to a basketball game and during half time this little kid gets up on stage and plays the Jimi Hendrix version of “The Star Spangled Banner” and nails it. Everyone knew the kid would be a great musician. Many years, accomplishments and accolades later, Baxter now teaches our area’s youth the ways of music, performance and rock ’n’ roll. And on this night, a very happy few were able to see and hear how he has given his gift back to the community. The second band that night was a group of Baxter’s students, ages 14-21, who, without really rehearsing, put on a show that captured the attention of everyone present. I knew all these kids, but there was one I hadn’t seen in a while, Zach Person. Zach is 19 and knows his way around a guitar. In fact, the first time I met him he walked into my shop holding one. Baxter had sent him out to try and find places he could play. Being only 14, I told him about the coffee shops in town. He asked if he could play me a song, so we sat in the back room and he played and sang Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jonny Lang. After my goosebumps subsided I told him that we had a First Friday event coming up that week and he could open the show. That particular First Friday showcased a musician that my partner Michael had tried to book for three years, Anders Osborne. Having recently won a Grammy, Anders was a guitar juggernaut from New Orleans that we were very lucky to have play our little town. Zach, with the help of Baxter and friend James Villone, put on a great set that night and Anders took notice. For the encore of an amazing show, Anders asked Zach back on stage to play Anders’ “Charlie Parker,” a song Zach had never heard before. Zach and Anders traded guitar licks and and the crowd was entranced. People who love music love moments like those — a spontaneous touch of magic. Zach cut his teeth with Baxter here in the Pines and has been chasing the music ever since. He now lives in Houston where he plays regularly with his own band. 24 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE October/November 2015
“Baxter turned me on to the blues and I just fell in love with the feeling,” Zach later told me. He cites Jimi Hendrix, John Mayer, The Black Keys and Gary Clark, Jr. as his influences, and he has his sights set on their level of success someday. He seems to be on his way. He’s been selected to play at The House of Blues in Houston and has appeared on multiple radio sessions and stages where he has met many of his favorite musicians. He just released his first EP entitled “Listen” and is ready to play his original music wherever he can. He is even a hopeful on the final season of American Idol. So keep an eye out for our wandering bluesman. We haven’t heard the last from him. Check out Zach Person (zachperson.com) and Anders Osborne (andersosborne.com) online.
Blues Playlist
Anders Osborne “Charlie Parker” Derek Trucks “Chevrolet”
Gary Clark, Jr. “Bright Lights” Gov’t Mule “32/20 Blues”
Stevie Ray Vaughan “ Riviera Paradise” Albert King
“As the Years Go Passing By” The Black Keys
“When the Lights Go Out” B.B. King “So Excited”
Jimi Hendrix “Who Knows”
Eric Clapton/Duane Allman “Mean Old World”
Shutter Inspire Us Submit your Shutter photo to shutter@sandandpinemag.com. Be creative, be inspirational, be you. Go on, make us shutter. Photos submitted must be original. By submitting a photo, you affirm the photo is your original work and you grant permission to Sand & Pine Magazine to publish the photo in any medium, under your copyright, in perpetuity. Submission does not guarantee publication. Photos must be high-resolution (at least 1MB) and submissions must include your full name, address and where the photo was taken.
Amie Foster, Whispering Pines (Lillington, NC)
“Essentially what photography is, is life lit up.”
— Sam Abell
Alex Hart, Aberdeen (St. Lawrence Seaway, Great Lakes)
Diana Johnson, Carthage (Reservoir Park)
Leslie Habets, Southern Pines (Moore County)
www.SandandPineMag.com | 25
Seeds
At the Table
October/November2015 2015 26 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE August/September
Seeds are the latest food to receive plenty of nutritional buzz. Aside from maintaining the life cycle of plants, edible seeds also provide humans a nutrient-packed punch to meals and snacks. Edible seeds that top the nutrient charts, and the ones we’re highlighting, are chia, flax, hemp and pumpkin seeds. According to Ashley Carpenter, a registered dietitian and wellness coach at FirstHealth, questions abound as to why these seeds are the best and how to use them. “Each seed offers something different,” she says, and “all are beneficial in their own way.” Her recommendation is to incorporate seeds into your diet, not only occasionally but also consistently, and vary your choice of seed.
flaxfact
You can use flaxseed in place of an egg when baking: one tablespoon of ground flaxseed with three tablespoons hot water equates to one egg. Let sit until thickened before adding to recipe.
What do flax and chia have in common?
Both are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which fight inflammation and promote heart health. Both are also high in fiber, even though chia has almost double the fiber of flax. The fiber content – both soluble and insoluble – adds bulk and helps maintain health of the digestive tract, along with managing cholesterol and stabilizing blood glucose. Make sure to increase your fluid intake if you increase fiber.
What are the differences between flax and chia?
Flaxseeds have a hard shell and must be ground in order for their nutrients to be absorbed, while chia seeds are readily digested without grinding. Flax seed meal can be purchased, but seeds begin to degrade as soon as they are cracked. The best and most nutritious flax is freshly ground in your kitcken using a coffee grinder or mini food processor.
How does hemp compare with flax and chia?
Hemp provides more protein than flax or chia, but it has very little fiber and about half as much omega-3. Hemp is a rare vegan source (most sources are animal-based) of all essential amino acids (the protein building blocks that the body can’t make). One thing chia and hemp have in common is they are both considerably more expensive than flax.
Pumpkin Seeds: The Snacking Seed
Pumpkin seeds are a good source of magnesium, which most Americans don’t get enough of. Pumpkin seeds are also high in protein and fiber; however, they are not a good source for omega-3.
How do seeds taste?
In terms of taste and texture, all are unique. Flaxseeds are hard and rather dry, with a faint grassy, sometimes nutty taste. Chia seeds are much smaller – about the size of a poppy seed – and are rather neutral in flavor. Hemp seeds have apeaches taste and walnuts •T ree-ripened aretexture fragile,similar handletowith care.or pine nuts. Pumpkin seeds have a chewy texture and subtly sweet, nutty flavor. • Eat within 3 days. Buy only enough to use, you can always buy more!
How do you use seeds?
Pumpkin seeds (above) and flaxseeds
are rich in lignans, which are fiber-like compounds that have been shown to have anti-microbial and anti-viral properties, and also seem to provide extra protection against some types of cancer.
Any of these seeds can be added to smoothies, hot • Peaches should not be refrigerated. Temperatures between cereal, baked goods or sprinkled over salads. Add a 35F and 48F are the “kill zone” where flesh breaks down to tablespoon of flaxseed to your morning oatmeal or toss mush. a few tablespoons of hemp seeds into your smoothie
before blending. A small handful of pumpkin seeds • If makes peach is soft, snack. put in aFor fruit if peach hard,inkeep a nice safebowl; storage, placeisseeds an in a paper bag until it is soft. airtight container. To maintain freshness longer, store in the refrigerator or freezer. www.SandandPineMag.com | 27
Makes 12 standard muffins Rosy Harvest Hemp Muffins by Sueson Vess
1/4 cup organic coconut oil or butter, softened 3/4 cup coconut sugar 1 extra large egg (or flax egg replacer) 1/4 teaspoon sea salt 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 cup hemp seeds 1 cup gluten-free flour blend, like Pamela’s Artesian gluten-free flour blend 2 cups, peeled and small diced apple (2 medium apples, may substitute pears) 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice Optional: 1/4 cup dried cranberries
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line standard muffin pan with paper liners. In a large bowl, combine coconut oil, coconut sugar and egg until well mixed. In a separate bowl, whisk together salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, flour and hemp seeds. Add flour mixture to sugar and egg mixture and stir until combined. Fold in apples, vanilla and lemon juice. Batter will be very thick. Scoop batter into prepared muffin pan using a standard ice cream scoop (1/4 cup) or large spoon. Bake 25-28 minutes. Cool and enjoy. *Egg replacer: one tablespoon flax seed covered with three tablespoons hot water and mixed in a blender equals one egg.
Sueson Vess is a professional chef, author/food writer and educator helping people eat healthier, especially those with celiac disease, autism spectrum disorders and others with chronic illnesses.
Cottonwood Pumpkin
Foothills Brewing • Winston-Salem
This spice ale is crisp and dry, using cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. It’s brewed with real pumpkin and a blend of North American and British malts. It has an ABV of 5.3%, with a nice crystal clear, light amber pour and a thin off-white head. Its aroma is pumpkin pie spice with baked pumpkin. Taste has the spices taking front seat and the pumpkin in the background.
Saison de Brue
Blueprint Brewing • Apex
Pairings courtesy of Gerry Bateman, Southern Pines Growler Company SPGrowler.com
This marvelous saison pours a beautiful golden color with a clear, small head and light lacing. It has the aroma of fruit, with a touch of honey figs and spices. It weighs in at an ABV of 6.5%. This beer pairs well with a variety of seeds, as it has both a sweetness and a spice that will follow the assorted flavors.
28 || SAND& SAND&PINE PINE MAGAZINE MAGAZINE October/November October/November2015 2015 28
Tea Pairings
Darjeeling tea
Considered the champagne of tea, Darjeeling pairs perfectly with the sweetness and heartiness of the muffin. Irish Breakfast For a heartier, more robust tea, try the classic Irish Breakfast tea. IB offers a maltier flavor than its English cousin.
Coffee Pairing
The Guatemalan Antigua Los Volcanes blend from Cactus Creek Coffee Roasters in Aberdeen is a wellbalanced coffee with low acidity that also tastes great iced. If the Guatemalan blend is unavailable, try another South American blend. This region’s coffees are typically bright, tangy and refreshing. Avoid the African blends since they work better with citrus flavors.
Wine Down Wednesday $3 glasses of house wine & half-priced Catch of the Day entrees Buy one entree & get a second for half price!
Brianna with her dog, Dexter
Cared for Canine & Cat offers only the highest quality food and treats for the ones you love.
1150 US 1 South, Southern Pines 910-693-7875 • caredforcanine.com
Tuesday-Saturday noon - 9pm Closed Sunday & Monday
Follow us on Facebook to see our specials.
9671 NC Hwy.211 East, Aberdeen 910-944-0826 thehouseoffish.com
Celebrating 93 years in the Sandhills!
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Call me for help with your insurance and financial services needs. Auto. Home. Life. Bank.
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Southern Supreme and How it Started
Tea Time in the Sandhills
Moore than Needlepoint
To reserve your spot, call 910-295-4677. Each session begins at 10:30 a.m. and costs $25, lunch included.
www.SandandPineMag.com | 29
the interview
CEO, FirstHealth of the Carolinas
David Kilarski story by greg girard
T
he impact of FirstHealth of the Carolinas is evident in nearly every aspect of life in the Sandhills. Moore county ranks 6th in the state in highest number of physicians, dentists and registered nurses per 10,000 residents. BetterDoctor.com has FirstHealth ranked the 7th best hospital in the nation for emergency heart attack care; US News & World Report ranks it the 7th best hospital in North Carolina; the hospital received a 5-star rating from Medicare for patient satisfaction; and, well, you get the point. The Sandhills is a good place to get sick. The impact, of course, is more than just in healthcare. FirstHealth is the county’s top employer, with around 4,600 employees and a hiring addiction fed by 40-50 new employees every other week. It was these factors and others that led us to David Kilarski, the wizard behind FirstHealth’s executive curtain. David has been chief executive officer for FirstHealth since October 2011. Born in Chicago, he earned a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree at the University of Illinois and a Master of Science degree at Ohio State University. Before FirstHealth, David was president and chief executive officer of two hospitals for Cleveland Clinic Regional Hospitals. We sat down in the spacious FirstHealth board room just adjacent to his office and talked about the past, present and future of FirstHealth of the Carolinas.
Big shift from the city of Cleveland to a much more rural environment. Major adjustment for you? I’ll tell you what, not really. The only complaint my wife has is there’s not a Target. But really, she’s an equestrian, she likes to golf, and I try to golf, but that’s not really the reason we came. I think the real reason was the unique opportunity that FirstHealth offered. There are very few examples of a rural community with this large of a healthcare footprint. It’s almost unheard of.
How did that footprint happen? You know, I think when you take a look at the history of the 30 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE October/November 2015
hospital, it started back in 1929. It opened on Thanksgiving Day with 33 beds, five bassinets and I think a staff of 20. And really it was the development of the medical staff that helped grow the hospital. From nearly the beginning it started out as a facility that attracted more and more specialists and that has continued. Great physicians attract additional great physicians, and so as the community grew, the medical staff grew, responding to those needs of the community. We’re doing procedures that only medical centers in certain parts of the United States are doing right now, especially in cardiology. So it’s really cutting edge technology, but we’ve maintained that patient satisfaction level. The federal government puts out a patient satisfaction survey you can see online at cms.org. In many of the categories, questions like overall quality, we consistently score in the 90th percentile. So think about that, we’re in the top 10 percent of hospitals in terms of patient satisfaction.
Patient satisfaction, you would think, would be a no brainer, but that’s not always the case. So did you bring that philosophy with you or was that already a foundation here? I think it was a foundation here and we’ve since built on that foundation. I had orientation with 63 new employees and, it starts at choosing the right type of people in the organization that have the empathy and compassion to take care of our patients and visitors when they walk through the door. I also think about it this way: It’s folks taking care of their neighbors. In a small community like this there’s a natural bond that’s already there because they are taking care of their neighbors.
Do you think about the impact that has on the community? It’s a huge impact. At the end of the day, we’re here to support and to live out our vision to care for people, so when you think about what we do, it’s not just in the walls of the hospital. If we live that vision to care for people, then we have to start to take a look at people’s health outside these four walls. It’s not just when they come here.
We’ve really taken the lead for many years on preventative services. Smoking cessation, childhood obesity and exercise as medicine (with our five fitness centers) are all integral to the services we provide. Also the three dental care clinics we have for low income folks. It was something we started 12 years ago to respond to a need in the community. We found out a lot of lower income kids were coming in to the emergency room because they didn’t have dental care. So we responded through philanthropic support in developing those centers and it really has made a difference in a lot of kids’ lives. And we’re continuing to try and figure out what are those needs in each of the counties that we serve and how do we meet those needs.
On one of your website videos, your chief medical officer, Dr. John Krahnert, defined FirstHealth as a “specialty-oriented community hospital.” What does that mean? A great example is one you probably saw on the video about orthopedics. Dr. John Moore talks about the eight specialties that we have in orthopedics, and I think out of the eight we have six people who are fellowship trained. That’s just amazing. You think about the shoulder work and the hand work that we can do. And I think, like I said before, those specialists attracted other specialists to the area and it grew upon itself.
A considerable investment, I would think. We get patients from all over the region. Doing that is not inexpensive. We just bought new equipment in the radiology area that does a lot of the beam radiation. That was a $1.2 million expenditure. We had to buy a new CT that goes along with it to map patients, but before when people had a diagnosis of cancer they had to go to Raleigh or Durham, where the cancer therapy lasts for weeks and weeks. Now, they’re able to stay in town, get the therapy done and it’s probably one of our areas that we have some of the highest patient satisfaction. So when people ask, ‘What do you do at FirstHealth?’, I actually tell them what we don’t do. We don’t do burns, we don’t have a pediatric ICU and we don’t do transplants, but other than that we pretty much do everything you could get some place else.
You just listed what you don’t do. This area is going through a bit of a demographic shift. There’s a lot of younger families coming in. We see those numbers continue to go up. Is the goal eventually to look into specifically pediatric services? Actually in the last year and a half as we started to look at the demographics changes in Moore county and those that surround us, we have started giving a lot more thought to building up our pediatric base. I don’t know if it’s in the cards for us to eventually do a pediatric hospital. I
think if you were to ask somebody 20 years ago if it was something we would ever need here in the Sandhills, they’d say no. It’s a retirement community. But as the population demographic has switched, you start asking those questions. What are some of the specialties that we may need to recruit or partner with others to bring into the Sandhills to serve that population? We still have a pediatrics unit but more complex cases go to children’s hospitals either in Raleigh or Charlotte. So at some point, do you look at either partnering with others or expanding that footprint to serve the needs of the community? We’re also partnering right now with University of North Carolina in a maternal fetal medicine program for high-risk moms that we have right here at the hospital. So the ultrasounds and genetic testing is all done at FirstHealth now in conjunction with UNC. And also the community care centers. We now have two community care centers, one at Whispering Pines and one in Rockingham, and we see a large proportion of pediatric patients, as you might imagine, in those convenient care centers. So I think more and more we’re looking at what pediatrics is going to be and what its future will be for us.
Tell me about a few of the programs or initiatives you’ve implemented in the last couple of years? One of the biggest things that we did just a few years ago was open up a new hospital in Hoke. And that was a big undertaking. People looked at us and said, “You’re really building a hospital?” Again, it was that need. We thought that we would see on a good day 30 patients. We’ve peaked some days at 109 patients a day in an eight bed emergency room. So that’s one big thing. The other was the development of a Medicare advantage program. We own our own insurance company and so we developed an insurance program for individuals over 65. It’s a government-certified program. CMS certifies it. We started out with a relatively low membership of 1,200, but last year we doubled our membership to now 5,100.
So with a program like that, is it the same idea, you sit down and say what is the need and let’s try to fill that need? You bet, we talk about access to care and then affordability of care. Right now the government is really moving us in the direction of not paying us per procedure but starting to pay us on value. So think about this, think about how hospitals and physicians at some point in the future are going to be given a fixed amount of money to care for a population of individuals, and the job of the healthcare organization is to try and provide very, very high quality of care and patient satisfaction in the most appropriate setting. www.SandandPineMag.com | 31
So what is the most appropriate setting for a child with an ear infection or sore throat? It’s probably not the emergency room, one of the most high-cost, expensive places you can receive care. So where is the appropriate setting? It might be in the primary care office so we can get a same day appointment. It might be in an urgent care center. The neat thing, though, about FirstHealth, when you think about the assets we’ve already deployed, with hospice and palliative care and the fitness centers and the urgent care centers and the partnerships we have with our physicians, we’re in a really good spot to make a big difference on the health of our community without necessarily talking about their hospitalization.
How about some new initiatives? What are we looking at down the line?
of Medicaid and a whole bunch of uninsured patients. But we choose to be in those counties to help with the health and welfare of those individuals regardless of their ability to pay. For us, it just doesn’t make sense that there’s such a disconnect between what some of those people think that hospitals are about and what we really do. I think the other thing we struggle with is healthcare recruitment and it will continue, I think, to be a challenge in times to come. The baby boomers are aging, and I don’t care how much work we do in population health, there’s still going to be a tremendous influx of additional patients that are going to come to us, not just because they’re aging in and getting sicker as time progresses, but also because of the population trends in North Carolina.
At the end of the day, we’re here to support and to live out our vision to care for people, so when you think about what we do, it’s not just in the walls of the hospital.
And they’re living longer.
And when they live longer, they have more chronic conditions. But we have folks coming from all over North Carolina to our Transitions Care Clinic. What’s a TCC? Think about those individuals who have two Kil arski or three chronic conditions. They may have congestive heart failure. They may have COPD, diabetes, and they don’t really know how to get a handle on it. So we take some of those most difficult patients and ask them to come meet our dietitians, behavioral health consultants, pharmacists, nurse practitioners and physicians, who won’t give them a 10 minute office visit. This visit can last three hours and it gets that individual on a path of health. General readmission from somebody discharged from the hospital is about 18 percent. With What about some challenges? TCC, for those individuals we follow, we’ve dropped that It’s kind of an interesting thing going on with the state readmission rate down to 3-4 percent. legislature right now with the proposal to take the tax-exempt refund away from hospitals. That would have, in a normal capital year, about a $4.5 million impact on FirstHealth of the Obviously the military has a strong presence here. Do you have collaborative programs with the military? Carolinas. That’s a big deal. And consider that we spend $14 No, it’s not a program, we just hire them. There’s a huge million on charity care. We don’t close. We’re open 24/7. We group of folks that have come here from Fort Bragg. They’re take anybody and don’t really care about their ability to pay, and it just seems like a slap in the face to us – those who really so well trained. They just make good doctors, good PAs, so we actively look for folks that want to make that transition take care of people in rural North Carolina. Take a look at the markets we serve. It’s not a market that because they do make such great employees and physicians and associates. We’re shameless at the recruiting efforts we do has a high amount of commercially-insured patients. We’re in with the military. markets that have high amounts of Medicare, high amounts We’re going to start seeing construction trailers across the street to start on the new renovation of the second and third floor of this building. And it’s going to be about a $23 - D av i d million endeavor. It’s going to take us about three years to do. The other big thing we’ll continue to do, in our surrounding counties, is add primary care and specialty services to those areas. For instance, we’ve got orthopedics now in Hoke, so we’ll start to bring those specialty care services to the population centers around us.
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32 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE October/November 2015
Puzzles
Parts of a Whole
DIFFICULT
Place numbers into the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains each of the digits 1 to 9. No guessing is needed. 38. Owner 39. Biblical king 42. Golf mounds 43. Consumed 44. Jaguarundi 46. Greek goddess of the rainbow 50. Regret 51. Harvest 52. Commotion 53. Sesame plant 54. Sleeps briefly 55. Brings forth young
Down
1. To yield 2. Exclamation of disgust 3. Shelter 4. 35th president of the U.S. 5. Having dark skin 6. Drug-yielding plant 7. Tavern 8. Walk nonchalantly 9. Retsin 10. Spoken 11. Ethereal
To solve the puzzle, place the given letters into the vacant cells in the top section of the puzzle to reveal a snarky quote about an October holiday.
19. Wrath 21. Part of the verb “to be” 22. Bring into complete union 23. Hip bones 24. Without value 25. Arrest 27. Peer 28. Land held in fee 29. Network of nerves 30. River in central Europe 32. Lever for rowing 33. Treachery 35. Contemporary 36. Perform 38. Piles 39. Mature male European red deer 40. Sewing case 41. Spool 42. Snare 45. Affirmative reply 47. Fish eggs 48. Highest mountain in Crete 49. Male child
WO
DBR
FA
F
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Last Word Run, Sandhills, Run by David Petsolt
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all is just around the corner, and at Sandhills Race Series we’re breathing a sigh of relief as the temperature begins to cool. That’s because we’ve been hitting the pavement (and the trails) since January. Our fullest year yet, 2015 has already brought us new members, partners, volunteers and races, all helping us complete 23 races this year! Our summer series ended on a positive note with the 1 in 8k Rally for the Cure, one of our most beloved events benefitting Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and CARA: the 7th annual Run for their Lives race benefitting Carolina Animal Rescue and Adoption. This is what I love about the Sandhills Race Series: We get to partner with and support so many incredible nonprofits and local organizations. In April, it was Run for the Ribbons, sponsoring the Foundation of FirstHealth’s Cancer Care Fund. And in May, the Gamelands Ultra race benefitted the Old Glory Legacy Foundation, an organization that serves to build strong family relationships between military service members and their families. Our spring and summer races took us to Fort Bragg, Rockingham, Raven Rock State Park, Whispering Pines, Fayetteville and beyond, while the second half of the year we’ll be staying closer to home. Mostly. The fall series kicked off on September 19 in Southern Pines with the Alzheimer’s Color Your World Run. This was the first year the 5k race was included in the Sandhills Race Series, and all proceeds benefit the Western Carolina Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.
If you haven’t participated in one of our events yet, Autumnfest, on October 3 in Southern Pines, is the perfect place to start. The event lasts all day and includes a 5k, a 1-mile fun run and a kids race. It’s always a blast, and proceeds benefit the Arts Council of Moore County. Experienced runners should check out our adventure series. These grittier races pick up on October 24 with the Uwharrie 100 Mile Trail Run near Troy and Dia de Los Muertos, a 24-hour endurance run in Lillington. Your choice! We end the year with my favorite event, the Reindeer Fun Run. I co-founded this race eight years ago with my wife, Kate, and it’s grown by leaps and bounds with the support of the Sandhills Race Series. On the first Saturday of December, our community runs through downtown Aberdeen dressed like reindeer, Santa, boxes of presents, the Grinch—anything you can imagine. It’s a treat whether you’re racing, walking, volunteering or cheering along the course. Since the beginning, proceeds from the Reindeer Fun Run have benefitted the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sandhills. We couldn’t be happier or more grateful to our participants, and look forward to seeing old and new friends lacing up together before the year is over. Finally, look for some exciting announcements from the Sandhills Race Series this fall as we expand our mission to include even more events! Stay tuned….
David Petsolt is co-founder of the Sandhills Race Series. He founded and works at buyCalls, an award-winning, nationally recognized marketing agency in Southern Pines. A runner since starting the Reindeer Fun Run, David is working toward his first 50k.
34 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE October/November 2015
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