Pinehurst Magazine

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features 12 CARS & COURAGE Inaugural auto show embraces Nor th Carolina militar y 20 THREE-WAY RIVALRY March Madness, it’s a per fect name for the excitement 26 THE BIG RACE Annual Stoneybrook Steeplechase at Carolina Horse Park 28 OURDOOR ENTERTAINING Fun and festive outdoor spring enter taining decorating ideas

march/april 2013 contents 46 f ashion Flir ty spring dresses and sandals 52 CYBER PATIENTS Inter net users search for what ails them 56 GETTING IN THE GAME Readying for the U.S. Open 2014 60 REAL SCOOP ON REAL ESTATE There are signs that better days are already in sight

in every issue 18 chef’s corner 38 calendar 45 professional spotlight 50 wine review 51 golfer’s corner 63 book review 64 firsthealth spotlight 70 sandhills sightings

32 STANDING O Ron Francis Spor ts Hall of Fame

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Bob Ingram, one of North Carolina’s most influential business leaders and himself a collector of vintage automobiles, has been named honorary chairman of the inaugural Pinehurst Concours d’Elegance.

“As a car enthusiast myself and entrant of past Concours competitions, I was thrilled and flattered when approached to be honorary chairman of the inaugural Pinehurst Concours,” said Ingram, who was named 2011 Business Leader of the Year in the Triangle. “There couldn’t be a more appropriate setting for this historic event than Pinehurst Resort, a true industry leader and trend setter in Southern hospitality.

Fans can expect a real treat.”

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thestandingo

BY DAVID DROSHAK

Photo © Carolina Hurricanes

Ron Francis scores the gamewinning goal in Game 1 of the 2002 Stanley Cup Finals.

Ronnie Franchise Breaks the Ice in North Carolina

Sports HALL OF FAME Ron Francis made a living passing the puck, setting up teammates for highlight reel goals; he trails only Wayne Gretzky on the National Hockey League’s all-time assist list.

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So I guess it’s only natural for the guy that hockey fans in the Triangle affectionately call Ronnie Franchise to deflect a lion’s share of the credit for his upcoming induction into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame to others in the Carolina Hurricanes’ organization.

After 15 years in the market following the team’s move from Hartford, Connecticut, Francis will become the first hockey player elected to our state’s sports hall.

“I’m the first one to benefit from all the hard work of owner Peter Karmanos and general manager Jim Rutherford, from players like Rod Brind’Amour and Eric Staal, and so many more people in our organization,” Francis said. “I will go in to the Hall on behalf of those guys. I don’t think it will be very long before the next one or two guys come marching in behind me.”

In 1998, Rutherford targeted Francis as the free agent hockey star he wanted to bring to a warm weather market that was more accustomed to golf, college basketball and NASCAR than high-sticking or hip checks to help the franchise win and carry the torch for hockey across the state.

Francis accomplished both, leading the Canes to their first-ever Stanley Cup finals in 2002, meanwhile he was working with such organizations as the Special Olympics in a Triangle community he immediately embraced – and after his playing days decided to make his permanent home.

Sure, Francis played in 1,186 games for the organization; holds the record for most career scores and his No. 10 jersey is hanging from the rafters at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, but Rutherford never measured his star in stats.

“We had some good players when we moved here, but we didn’t have the name that had the impact of a Ron Francis,” Rutherford said. “Even at 35, we felt he had a lot of good years left, and he did – but more importantly, he played a huge role in the growth of hockey in North Carolina.

It’s a real special honor for Ron, especially since [the NC Sports Hall of Fame] really hasn’t looked at hockey over the years. And the fact that he has decided to live here speaks highly of the Triangle. More and more of our players have stayed after their careers. In some ways Ron has kind of led the charge in that.”

Francis laughs when recalling his first neighborhood cookout – a pig pickin’ of course – that included a mini introduction to hockey. Francis was prepared, he thought, bringing a video and equipment from the rink.

He started talking about a defensive strategy when one of his neighbors stood up and yelled out that it was a “box-in-one,” a basketball term in which the game’s best player is shadowed by one single opponent while others play a zone.

“What’s a box-in-one?” Francis asked. “And my neighbor said, ‘That’s a basketball defense.’ And I said, ‘OK, then that’s a box-in-one.’ It was just fun going through all that kind of stuff and seeing the fan support evolve over the years. Watching clogging one time was fun, being down at the beach, boating and fishing, and all kinds of different things have been a treat. This state really has a lot to offer, but the people are what make it so special.”

Since his retirement, the Canes have won a Stanley Cup in 2006 and hosted an NHL All-Star Game, accomplishments that may have seemed far-fetched 15 years ago.

While Francis didn’t play in either, his role as hockey ambassador helped pave the way to hockey’s ultimate prize.

“It was an interesting challenge for me at that point in my career to come into a market that was a so-called “non-hockey” market and sell our game. And I strongly believe in our game,” Francis said. “Sometimes you do your homework and you go in and the test isn’t what you’re hoping for, and then sometimes you nail it.

“I grew up in Canada and for me there are a lot of similarities to the people here. The pace of life is a little bit slower and I like that; people will hold the door open for you in the morning and will actually look at you and say ‘good morning’ and let you in in traffic. It is a great place to raise your family and I haven’t regretted my decision to come down here for one second.”

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RUN FOR THE RIBBONS | April 6 | Raeford | sandhillsraceseries.com

TAX FREE BURGERS | April 15 | The Sly Fox | 910.725.1621

SPRING MATINEE RACES | April 7 | 1PM | Pinehurst Harness Track | 910.281.4608

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS LUNCHEON | April 19 | 11:30AM | Table on the Green, Midland Country Club | Charlotte Gallagher 910.944.9611

SANDHILLS PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB

| April 8 | 7-9PM | Hannah Center Theater at The O’Neal School, 3300 Airport Road, Southern Pines | sandhillsphotoclub.org

SOUTHERN PINES GARDEN CLUB TOUR | April 11 | Homes and gardens in Southern Pines and Pinehurst | southernpinesgardenclub.com SANDHILLS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY SPRING PLANT SALE | April 13 | 8AM-NOON | Horticultural building area (Steed Hall) - Sandhills Community College | 910.246.4959, 910.695.3882 WOMEN OF THE PINES ANNUAL RUMMAGE SALE | April 13 | 8AM-1PM | Old West End Gym on Hwy. 211

PINEHURST GARDEN CLUB PLANT SALE | April 20 | 10AM-3PM | Parking lot at the corner of Magnolia Road and Rassie Wicker Drive (next to the Pinehurst Fire Dept.) | 910.235.0070 or 910.295.3485 LECTURE ENTITLED “PEACE FOR THE WORLD: PRAYERS THAT COUNTERACT TERRORISM” | April 20 | 2PM | Sandhills Horticultural Center, 3395 Airport Road, Pinehurst 20TH ANGELS AMONG US 5K AND FAMILY FUN WALK | April 20 | 7AMNOON | Duke Medical Center corner of Erwin and Flowers Drive, Durham | angelsamongus.org

FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT ”WRECK IT RALPH” | April 20 | 8PM | Pinehurst Arboretum | 910.295.0166 SANDHILLS WOMAN’S EXCHANGE ANNUAL FASHION SHOW AND LUNCHEON | April 22 | NOON | Carolina Hotel | 910.295.4677 ANNUAL BEDDING PLANT SALE | April 26-27 | Friday 1-5PM, Sat. 10AM2PM | Steed Hall-Landscape Gardening Building | 910.246.4959 or 910.695.3882, westmenjo@sandhills.edu HOYT KENNEDY | April 27 | Southern Pines | sandhillsraceseries.com MOORE COUNTY CHORAL 38TH ANNUAL SPRING CLASSICAL CONCERT | April 28 | 4PM | Lee Auditorium, Pinecrest High School, Southern Pines | 910.692.6979, moorecountychoralsociety.org

A complete list of events throughout the Sandhills can be found on our website

www.pinehurstmagazine.com Community events you would like considered for publication in the calendar may be emailed to jill@pinehurstmagazine.com.

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professionalspotlight

Like a

Bo l t Tommy Bolton brings civilian and military communities together

By Kate Turgeon

Talk to Tommy Bolton and it doesn’t take long to learn that you’re speaking to a true North Carolinian. Born in Rocky Mount, he was raised on a farm northeast of Nash County. As a boy he helped his uncle harvest soybeans, peanuts, cotton and tobacco (or ta-bacca as he pronounces it). By the time he was a teenager, he was living in Fayetteville with his family, but spent summers on the farm.

He has experienced much of North Carolina. But the then Campbell College graduate makes no mistake about where his heart is. “Pinehurst is home,” he declares affectionately with a deep sort of laughter that’s his trademark.

But Pinehurst, where he lives with his wife Gail, isn’t the only Sandhills spot pulling on his heartstrings. Nearby Ft. Bragg is a military base he could talk about all day, and with good reason.

Bolton is the civilian aide senior to the Secretary of the Army for the state of North Carolina. And for the last 11 years he has volunteered as a liaison between the civilian and Army communities.

Join Pinehurst Magazine for a closer look at Bolton’s upbringing, family life and work.

Pinehurst Magazine: What was it like, the childhood farm experience?

Tommy Bolton: Incredible. There’s nothing more compelling than seeing plants grow that are going to be harvested for the good of neighbors who will be using what you produced, or helped produce. Mother Nature produces ‘em.

We just propagated that cause. (laughter) PM: Do you have children? Grandchildren?

TB: Two kids ... a daughter and a son. Meredith … she got married in Pinehurst at the Village Chapel and then she and her husband moved to Charlotte and they are raising their children, my two grandsons. My son Trey is director of ESPN Radio in Bristol, Connecticut.

PM: Tell us about the work you do for the Army.

TB: I’m civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army for North Carolina. And I am a civilian aide senior. It’s a little bit different; I was just made a senior in November.

PM: Do you have a full-time career as well?

TB: I sure do. I’m a financial advisor ... first vice president for Stifel Nicolaus.

PM: How much of your time does the aide position take up?

TB: It does take considerable time, but that’s okay. It’s very rewarding to be able to do things for these soldiers and their families. I’m very proud of the things we have done here at Ft. Bragg.

PM: Can you share some of the things you’ve worked on?

TB: We have produced shows … bought the entire show, Disney on Ice, and moved it here to Fayetteville and produced it for children of deployed soldiers. And we brought those kids in and we fed them. And each of them got a specific gift from Disney.

[For the Gold Star children] we set up a private room and Disney characters spent time with boys and girls who had lost a mom or dad down range in a hostile environment.

It was quite a moment for those who were in the room watching those kids soak up that moment.

Civilian aide Tommy Bolton (right) visits Ft. Bragg soldiers in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

PM: What do you appreciate about Fort Bragg?

TB: The heart and soul of the allAmerican soldier … that magnificent individual who steps forward and places himself or herself in that position of responsibility. When you walk across any parade field at Ft. Bragg you can feel the voices and feel the echoes of so many ceremonies that have gone on, the soldiers out there and the artillery pieces going off and the bands playing and the crowd cheering.

And so many historic structures … like Iron Mike … the Special Operations Memorial Wall … [and] the chapels. You can’t be there and not appreciate it. And you go to the museums and see the history, and then you go to the cemetery and see the price that’s paid.

And Ft. Bragg is surrounded by the most incredible communities that reach out and help these soldiers and these families and extend the goodwill and good nature of the Sandhills.

PM: You mentioned a May event, the Pinehurst Concours d’Elegance, how will the military and civilian communities come together for the occasion?

TB: The Iron Mike Road Rally is going to end up on the Main Post Parade Field, right there … Ft. Bragg proper.

We’ll do a family day, and all the families at Ft. Bragg are going to be invited to come out and see these cars ... and all kinds of military equipment – helicopters, different configurations of Humvees … communications systems, medical care systems, all kinds of stuff for kids to play with and families to learn from and be a part of.

Writer’s note: Interview was edited and condensed for length.

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winereview

BY ROBYN JAMES, PROPRIETOR, THE WINE CELLAR & TASTING ROOM

hops are...

!

T HHOOT! !

T O H Craft beers have exploded in popularity across the nation! Here are some of the newest and hottest additions to the malt scene in Moore County:

DOGFISH HEAD BURTON BATON, DELAWARE When enjoying the Burton Baton, you’ll find an awesome blend of the citrus notes from Northwestern hops melding with woody, vanilla notes from the oak.

The wood also tends to mellow the 10% ABV of Burton, so tread cautiously!

AVIATOR HOG WILD INDIA PALE ALE, NORTH CAROLINA 6.7%ABV. A golden brew made with Pale Ale and Vienna malts. A veritable fest of the big “C” hops: Chinook, Columbus, Cascade. Dry hopped with Magnum, Williamette and Amarillo. A very hoppy and refreshing ale.

ABITA PECAN HARVEST ALE, LOUISIANA Pecan Harvest Ale is made with real Louisiana pecans that have been toasted to perfection. That makes it something really special, because most beers with a nutty flavor or aroma aren’t made with real nuts. The natural oils from the Louisiana pecans give the ale a light pecan finish and aroma.

AVERY INDIA PALE ALE, COLORADO In the 1700s one crafty brewer discovered that a healthy dose of hops and an increased alcohol content preserved his ales during the long voyage to India (as depicted in the label) to quench the thirst of British troops. Today, Avery tips their hat to that historic innovation by brewing Colorado’s hoppiest pale ale. Avery IPA demands to be poured into your favorite glass to truly appreciate the citrusy, floral bouquet and the rich, malty finish.

GREEN FLASH HOP HEAD RED, CALIFORNIA Resinous hop characteristics emerge from an enormous hopping with Columbus, Nugget and Amarillo overtaking the rich caramel malt base. To add luscious hop flavors and enticingly floral hop aromas, we dry-hop the brew with bucket loads of Amarillo hops. Welcome to the world of Red IPA.

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Cyber

PATIENTS

and the Doctors Who Treat Them Internet Users Search for What Ails Them

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REAL SCOOP ON REAL ESTATE

When the economic downturn hit in 2008, it took a toll on the residential real estate market – even in popular communities like Pinehurst and Southern Pines. But today there are signs that better days are already in sight.

“I believe that 2011 was the bottom of the market for us,” says Martha Gentry of Martha Gentry’s Home Selling Team at Re/Max Prime Properties. “In 2012, we saw some improvement in the number of homes sold and I’m hopeful that trend will continue in 2013.”

By Kurt Dusterberg

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