August Pinestraw 2025

take yourseat

Erin Foley

Monday, September 22 7:00 PM Reggie Rice The Magic of Laughter

COMEDY SERIES

Yesterday & Today

Beatles Tribute (return)

Friday, January 16 7:00 PM

TRIBUTE SERIES

Saturday, October 4 5:00 PM

FAMILY FUN SERIES

COMEDY SERIES Thursday, October 16 7:00 PM

Doktor Kaboom Under Pressure! (return)

Saturday, January 17 5:00 PM

Sheena Easton MAINSTAGE SERIES Friday, March 20 7:00 PM

Erikson Herz

Friday, January 30 7:00 PM

FAMILY FUN SERIES FAMILY FUN SERIES

COMEDY SERIES

Puppy Pals Live! (return)

Nicole Henry Sings Whitney Houston

TRIBUTE SERIES Friday, February 20 7:00 PM

The Glenn Miller Orchestra MAINSTAGE SERIES

June 1 7:00 PM Are You Ready For It? A Taylor Experience TRIBUTE SERIES Saturday, November 1 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM

Where Community and Active Living Meet

Introducing Penick Village’s Newest Expansion, designed to elevate your way of living.

Comfortable Living Spaces: Step into comfort with our beautifully designed Independent Living residences, each thoughtfully crafted to provide you with a home that’s as comfortable as it is stylish.

Village Pavilion: In our state-of-the-art wellness building, you can engage in various activities, including Pickleball, personal training, and an overall focus on your health and wellness.

Comprehensive Healthcare: The Terrace, our health services building, enhanced and renovated, providing exceptional personalized care tailored to your needs.

Welcoming Community: Enter through our updated Welcome House, a space designed to safely welcome you, and your guests, into our community.

Penick Village invites you to join our community, where we’re not just redefining retirement living, we’re elevating it to new heights.

Learn more about our community , where you have the freedom to focus on your wellness and relationships while living life to its fullest . Contact us today. Call (910) 692-0300 , email info@penickvillage1964.org , or scan the QR code to learn more.

I AM OSTEOSTRONG

After hearing doctors report a cancer diagnosis to my healthy body, I was very prayerful about the course of treatment that would be right for me, knowing the many negative side effects that seemed so common. Being an active person who was also very mindful of what I put in my body, chemotherapy and radiation caused a great deal of damage. But now, to be able to partner with my body in methods of natural healing and recovery is an answer to prayer.

After hearing doctors report a cancer diagnosis to my healthy body, I was very prayerful about the course of treatment that would be right for me, knowing the many negative side effects that seemed so common. Being an active person who was also very mindful of what I put in my body, chemotherapy and radiation caused a great deal of damage. But now, to be able to partner with my body in methods of natural healing and recovery is an answer to prayer.

The OsteoStrong process is not only organic, but it is designed with simplicity, so anyone can do it, beginning at their baseline and building strength, week after week. The consistency over time … yields compounding benefits. Within just a few months, I am stronger, have less joint pain, and increased energy.

The OsteoStrong process is not only organic, but it is designed with simplicity, so anyone can do it, beginning at their baseline and building strength, week after week. The consistency over time … yields compounding benefits. Within just a few months, I am stronger, have less joint pain, and increased energy.

Thank you Kathy and your wonderful team for your steady hand, so full of kindness and patience to help me, and many others.

Thank you Kathy and your wonderful team for your steady hand, so full of kindness and patience to help me, and many others.

After a long treatment process, outweighed by many miracles and answered prayers, I am cancer free, and am recovering ALL that was lost. What a gift!

After a long treatment process, outweighed by many miracles and answered prayers, I am cancer free, and am recovering ALL that was lost. What a gift!

I’m Brenda Esteves and I am OSTEOSTRONG!

Anyone resistant to pharmaceutical treatment

Deconditioned patients needing strength and balance training

Anyone with balance and fall risk

Individuals experiencing poor posture

Anyone in need of post-physical therapy strengthening

August 2025

Thanks to your support, we have won: Best of The Pines 2024 #1 Dealership Service Department. Schedule your appointment today to experience #1 Service

Volume 21, No. 8

David Woronoff, Publisher david@thepilot.com

Andie Stuart Rose, Creative Director andiesouthernpines@gmail.com

Jim Moriarty, Editor jjmpinestraw@gmail.com

Keith Borshak, Senior Designer

Alyssa Kennedy, Digital Art Director alyssamagazines@gmail.com

Emilee Phillips, Digital Content emilee@pinestrawmag.com

Campbell Pringle, Design Intern

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Jim Dodson, Stephen E. Smith

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

John Gessner, Laura L. Gingerich, Diane McKay, Tim Sayer CONTRIBUTORS

Jenna Biter, Anne Blythe, Tom Bryant, Susan Campbell, Bill Case, Tony Cross, Brianna Rolfe Cunningham, Mart Dickerson, Bill Fields, Tom Maxwell, Mary Novitsky, Lee Pace, Todd Pusser, Joyce Reehling, Deborah Salomon, Scott Sheffield, Rose Shewey, Angie Tally, Kimberly Daniels Taws, Daniel Wallace, Ashley Walshe, Claudia Watson, Amberly Glitz Weber

ADVERTISING SALES

Samantha Cunningham, Advertising Director 910.693.2505

Kathy Desmond, 910.693.2515

Terry Hartsell, 910.693.2513

Erika Leap, 910.693.2514

Christy Phillips, 910.693.2498

Ginny Trigg, 910.693.2481

ADVERTISING GRAPHIC DESIGN

Mechelle Butler, Scott Yancy PS

Henry Hogan, Finance Director 910.693.2497

Darlene Stark, Circulation Director 910.693.2488

Tonnie Nester, Distribution Specialist SUBSCRIPTIONS 910.693.2488

OWNERS

Jack Andrews, Frank Daniels III, David Woronoff In memoriam Frank Daniels Jr.

145 W. Pennsylvania Avenue, Southern Pines, NC 28387 www.pinestrawmag.com

ABERDEEN • $305,000 307 LAFORET COURT

Nice 2 BR / 2 BA townhome located just off Linden Road. Location is convenient to shopping, dining and golf. This would be an ideal home or golf getaway!

PINEHURST • $285,000

9265 US 15-501 HWY (PINEHURST MANOR, UNIT 13-B)

Great 2 BR / 2 BA condo offering a blend of comfort and style! Layout is open with cozy wood burning fireplace, primary bedroom on main level and upper level with a nice loft area and additional bedroom!

PINEHURST • $340,000 251 NATIONAL DRIVE

Live the Pinehurst lifestyle overlooking the 5th hole of this Jack Nicklaus Signature design. Nicely wooded lot - over half acre. Close proximity to the front security gate.

SEVEN LAKES NORTH • $470,000 154 OVERLOOK DRIVE

Unique 4 BR / 2 BA WATERFRONT property on Lake Echo in Seven Lakes North! Home offers generous living space throughout and stunning water views that can be enjoyed from your own private dock!

PINEHURST • $459,000 70 SAWMILL ROAD E.

Wonderful 4 BR / 2.5 BA new construction in Village Acres! Home is incredibly light and open on the main level while bedrooms and laundry room are hosted on the upper level.

PINEHURST • $168,000 41 GLASGOW DRIVE

Premium golf front lot on the Challenge Practice Course in the prestigious Pinewild CC. This lot offers privacy and scenic beauty in a gated, amenity-rich community just minutes from the Village of Pinehurst.

SOUTHERN PINES • $499,000

46 HIGHLAND VIEW DRIVE

Charming 3 BR / 2 BA brick patio home on the first green at Talamore Golf Resort. Hardwood flooring in main living area, beautiful double-sided gas log fireplace and fantastic lower-level workshop!

PINEHURST • $350,000

250 SUGAR GUM LANE, #156

Nice 3 BR / 2 BA ground level condo with splitbedroom floorplan, spacious primary suite and great covered deck. This would be perfect for an investment opportunity, a golf getaway or your next home!

SOUTHERN PINES • $160,000 535 VINTAGE LANE

Tucked away in a quiet cul-de-sac, this 0.40-acre lot offers the perfect setting to build your dream home. With ample space for a custom residence, you can enjoy privacy and community in this neighborhood setting.

IN MOORE COUNTY REAL ESTATE FOR OVER 20 YEARS!

PINEHURST • $1,043,250 4 INTERLACHON LANE

Stunning 4 BR / 3.5 BA WATERFRONT home situated on an expansive lot in Pinehurst No. 6 community! Offering panoramic golf and water views from nearly every room. Transferable PCC membership!

PINEHURST • $967,000 24 MCMICHAEL DRIVE

Delightful 3 BR / 3.5 BA GOLF FRONT home in desirable Pinewild community. Situated along the first fairway of the Holly course, enjoy sweeping golf views from almost every room. Transferable Pinewild membership!

SEVEN LAKES WEST • $710,000 113 DUBOSE DRIVE

Thoughtfully designed 4 BR / 4.5 BA Pat McPharlin home with a combination of space, privacy and flexibility for a growing family. The lower level boasts a walkout basement, perfectly suited for an in-law suite or junior master suite.

JACKSON SPRINGS • $559,000 45 RICHMOND ROAD

Meticulously maintained 3 BR / 2.5 BA GOLF FRONT home with beautiful light-filled layout and exceptional outdoor space. The living and dining rooms are open to a spectacular kitchen while the upper level has two additional bedrooms and full bath.

RECENTLYREDUCED

SOUTHERN PINES • $1,050,000 1655 FT. BRAGG ROAD S.

Beautifully maintained 6 BR / 4 BA home on a private 2.5-acre lot. Home has lots of space with Oak flooring throughout. Outside there is a large backyard, a covered porch and a patio perfect for entertaining or just relaxing.

RECENTLYREDUCED

PINEHURST • $925,000 18 HOBKIRK COURT

Attractive 3 BR / 3.5 BA GOLF FRONT home situated on the 4th tee of the Holly course in Pinewild CC. The meticulously designed living space is all on one level and offers breathtaking golf and pond views along the back.

PINEHURST • $896,000 11 EDINBURGH LANE

Attractive 4 BR / 3 BA home located on the 15th green of the Magnolia Course! This home offers luxury, comfort, and privacy within the prestigious gated community of Pinewild CC.

PINEHURST • $775,000 84 DEERWOOD LANE

Amazing 4 BR / 3.5 BA GOLF FRONT home overlooking the 2nd fairway of Pinehurst No. 6 course. The beautiful two-story foyer is filled with lots of natural light. This home has fine finishes throughout on two levels. A must see!

SEVEN LAKES NORTH • $525,000 161 SHENANDOAH ROAD E.

Nice 3 BR / 2 BA lakefront home on Lake Sequoia in 7LN! Enjoy beautiful water views from the bright Carolina room that opens to a generous two-tier back deck. Needs some TLC, but this is a great opportunity to own a lakefront home!

The Light in August

Catch it before it fades

By Jim DoDsoN

Most mornings before I begin writing (often in the dark before sunrise), I light a candle that sits on my desk.

Somehow, this small daily act of creating a wee flame gives me a sense of setting the day in motion and being “away” from the madding world before it wakes. I sometimes feel like a monk scribbling in a cave.

It could also be a divine hangover from early years spent serving as an acolyte at church, where I relished lighting the tapers amid the mingling scents of candle wax, furniture polish and old hymnals, a smell that I associated with people of faith in a world that forever hovered above the abyss.

According to one credible source, the word “light” is used more than 500 times in the Bible, throughout both Old and New Testaments. On day one of creation, according to Genesis, God “let there be light” and followed up His artistry on day four by introducing darkness, giving light even greater meaning. The Book of Isaiah talks about a savior being a “light unto the gentiles to bring salvation to the ends of the world.” Throughout the New Testament, Jesus is called the “Light of the world.”

But spiritual light is not exclusive to Christianity. In the Torah, light is the first thing God creates, meant to symbolize knowledge, enlightenment and God’s presence in the world. Surah 24 of the Quran, meanwhile, a lyrical stanza known as the “Verse of Light,” declares that God is the light of the heavens and the Earth, revealed like a glass lamp shining in the darkness, “illuminating the moon and stars.”

Religious symbolism aside, light is something most of us probably take for granted until we are stopped in our tracks, captivated by the stunning light show of a magnificent sunrise or sunset, a brief and ephemeral painting that vanishes before our eyes.

Sunlight makes sight possible, produces an endless supply of solar energy and can even kill a range of bacteria, including those that cause tetanus, anthrax and tuberculosis. A study from 2018 indicated rooms where sunlight enters throughout the day are significantly freer of germs than rooms kept in darkness.

The intense midday light of summer, on the other hand, is

something I’ve never quite come to terms with. Many decades ago, during my first trip to Europe, I was fascinated (and quite pleased, to be honest) to discover that, in most Mediterranean countries, the blazing noonday sun brings life to a near standstill. Shops close and folks retreat to cooler quarters in order to rest, nap or pause for a midday meal of cheese and chilled fruit. I remember stepping into a zinc bar in Seville around noon and finding half the city’s cab drivers hunkered along the bar. The other half, I was informed, were catching z’s in their cabs in shaded alleyways. The city was at a complete, sun-mused halt.

The Spanish ritual of afternoon siesta seems entirely sensible to me (a confirmed post-lunch nap-taker) and is proof of Noel Coward’s timely admonition that “only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.” Spend a late summer week along the Costa del Sol and you can’t avoid running into partying Brits on holiday, most as red as boiled lobsters from too much sun.

In his raw and gothic 1932 novel, Light in August, a study of lost souls and violent individuals in a Depression-era Southern town, William Faulkner employs the imagery of light to illuminate marginalized people struggling to find both meaning and acceptance in the rigid fundamentalism of the Jim Crow South.

For years, critics have debated the title of the book, with most assuming it is a direct reference to a house fire at the story’s center.

The author begged to differ, however, finally clearing up the mystery: “In August in Mississippi,” he wrote, “there’s a few days somewhere about the middle of the month when suddenly there’s a foretaste of fall, it’s cool, there’s a lambence, a soft, a luminous quality to the light, as though it came not from just today but from back in the old classic times. It might have fauns and satyrs and the gods and — from Greece, from Olympus in it somewhere. It lasts just for a day or two, then it’s gone . . . the title reminded me of that time, of a luminosity older than our Christian civilization.”

I read Light in August in college and, frankly, didn’t much care for it, probably because, when it comes to Southern “lit” (a word that means illumination of a different sort), I’m far

more attuned to the works of Reynolds Price and Walker Percy than those of the Sage of Yoknapatawpha County. By contrast, a wonderful book of recent vintage, Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See, tells the moving story of a blind, French girl and young, German soldier whose starstruck paths cross in the brutality of World War II’s final days, a poignant tale shot through with images of metaphorical light in a world consumed by darkness.

But I think I understand what Faulkner was getting at. Somewhere about middle-way through August, as the long, hot hours of summer begin to slowly wane, sunlight takes a gentler slant on the landscape and thins out a bit, presaging summer’s end.

I witnessed this phenomenon powerfully during the two decades we lived on a forested coastal hill in Maine, where summers are generally brief and cool affairs, but also prone to punishing mid-season droughts. Many was the July day that I stood watering my parched garden, shaking my cosmic gardener’s fist at the stingy gods of the heavens, having given up simple prayers for rain.

On the plus side, almost overnight come mid-August, the temperatures turned noticeably cooler, often preceding a rainstorm that broke the drought.

When summer invariably turns off the spigot here in our neck of the Carolina woods, sometime around late June or early July, I still perform a mental tribal rain dance, hoping to conjure afternoon thunderstorms that boil up out of nowhere and dump enough rain to leave the ground briefly refreshed.

I’ve been fascinated by summer thunderstorms since I was a kid living in several small towns during my dad’s newspaper odyssey through the deep South. Under a dome of intense summer heat and sunlight, where “men’s collars wilted before nine in the morning” and “ladies bathed before noon,” to borrow Harper Lee’s famous description of mythical Maycomb, I learned to keep a sharp eye and ear out for darkening skies and the rumble of distant thunder.

I still gravitate to the porch whenever a thunderstorm looms, marveling at the power of nature to remind us of man’s puny place on this great, big, blue planet.

Such storms often leave glorious rainbows in their wake, supposedly a sign (as I long-ago learned in summer Bible School) of God’s promise to never again destroy the world with floods.

Science, meanwhile, explains that rainbows are produced when sunlight strikes raindrops at a precise angle, refracting a spectrum of primary colors.

Whichever reasoning you prefer, rainbows are pretty darn magical.

As the thinning light of August and the candle flame on my desk serve to remind me, the passing days of summer and its rainbows are ephemeral gifts that should awaken us to beauty and gratitude before they disappear. PS

Jim Dodson’s 17th book, The Road That Made America: A Modern Pilgrim Travels the Great Wagon Road, is available at The Country Bookshop.

45 CHESTERTOWN DRIVE - FOREST CREEK

Prestigious gated community. Top of the line throughout, wine cellar and much more.

$2,950,000 - GOLF FRONT

127 SAKONNET TRAIL – PINEHURST NO 6

Stunning one level home with private gardens. Pinehurst CC membership available for transfer.

$750,000

535 DONALD ROSS DRIVE - PINEHURST

Custom brick home, large open sun filled rooms, hardwood floors, deck, pond, private. $979,000

5 OXTON CIRCLE - PINEWILD

MOVE-IN-READY in the gated community. Over 3000 sq. ft. includes main living area, Carolina Room and semi-finished Bonus Room. Home has many special features including Generator and encapsulated crawlspace.

$729,000 - SOLD

5 VINSON LANE – VILLAGE ACRES

Move-in ready! Seller added new HVAC in 2021, new Farm style stainless kitchen sink, attractive ‘’shed’’ for Club Cadet and yard equipment and more. Peaceful sanctuary on the deck created in the private back yard. Lots of natural light. $439,000

1335 MIDLAND ROAD – KNOLLWOOD HEIGHTS

Large lot with private pool, and extensive garden. Numerous renovations and upgrades. $1,595,000

30 MEDLIN ROAD - OLD TOWN

New Construction in OLD TOWN Pinehurst. High end, open floor plan, game room, first floor Master Suite. Walk to Pinehurst Elementary School, ball fields and playground. Fenced yard.

$1,395,000

14 DUNGARVAN LANE – NATIONAL

Immediate Golf Membership. Perfectly situated on the 8th fairway, overlooking both the 7th and 8th fairways with panoramic views. $899,000

12 SHENECOSSETT LANE – PINEHURST NO 6

Golf and water views from all main areas plus lower level. Deck, covered porch and patio all overlook the 14th green and pond views. Walls of glass on the inside provide lots of natural light and breathtaking views. Pinehurst CC Membership for transfer with buyer to pay reduced fees. $724,000

180 PINE VISTA DIVE – PINEHURST

Great weekend golf home or year-round residence. Seller added wall of bookshelves in the large living area plus floor to ceiling stone fireplace flanked by floor to ceiling windows offering lots of natural light. PCC membership for transfer.

$415,000

THE CAROLINA PHILHARMONIC

invites you to its 2025/2026

Season

Experience the Joy of Exceptional Music

OPENING NIGHT: MASTERWORKS - Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, 7:30pm

Join Maestro Wolff and the Philharmonic and guest soloists for an evening of Classical Masterworks

HOLIDAY POPS - Friday, Dec. 5, 7:30pm & Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, 3pm Matinee Ring in the Holidays with beloved holiday favorites played by The Carolina Philharmonic and Broadway star Michael Campayno

THE WIZARD OF OZ - Saturday, January 24, 2026, 3:00pm & 7:30pm

See the seminal Hollywood classic come to life with the incredible score powered by our very own Carolina Philharmonic in not one, but two powerful performances.

MASTERWORKS - Saturday, February 28, 2026, 7:30pm

Join Maestro Wolff and the Philharmonic and guest soloists for an evening of Classical Masterworks.

SIDE BY SIDE - Saturday, March 28, 2026, 7:30pm

Join us for an inspiring evening as Maestro David Michael Wolff leads the Philharmonic alongside the prodigious talents of The Carolina Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and Chorus, featuring young guest artists.

MASTERWORKS - Saturday, April 18, 2026, 7:30pm

Join Maestro Wolff and the Philharmonic and guest soloists for an evening of Classical Masterworks.

BROADWAY LIGHTS - Saturday, May 16, 2026, 7:30pm

Be enchanted by the timeless allure of Broadway hits performed by two captivating stars.

All concerts are at our home venue, Owens Auditorium, BPAC, Sandhills Community College.

3rd,

AT LISI MARKET

Photograph by Matthew Gibson

PinePitch

What’s All the Buzz?

It’s time for the Great Southeast Pollinator Count on Friday, Aug. 22, and Saturday, Aug. 23, from 9 to 11 a.m., at the Ball Garden Visitor’s Center, 3245 Airport Road, Pinehurst. Be a citizen scientist, select a plant, observe pollinator activity for 15 minutes, then submit your findings. The project collects data, promotes conservation and encourages the creation of pollinator gardens. To sign up go to www.sandhills.edu/gardenevents.

Sounds Phishy to Us

Runaway Gin, the best Phish tribute band in all the land, never plays the same show or jams the same way twice. Just like Phish. Hear them on Saturday, Aug. 30, at the Sunrise Theater, 250 N.W. Broad St., Southern Pines. Tickets start at $25. The premium seating with the VIP drinks and dinner package tops the chart at $89. For information go to www.sunrisetheater.com.

Love Letters

The Judson Theatre Company’s summer festival concludes with 10 performances of Ken Ludwig’s homage to his parents’ courtship, Dear Jack, Dear Louise, from Aug. 1 – 10, in BPAC’s intimate McPherson Theater, 3395 Airport Road, Pinehurst. It’s the love story of two strangers — a military doctor in Oregon and an aspiring actress in New York City — who meet by letter during World War II. They dream of being together someday, but the war keeps them apart. For information and tickets go to www.ticketmesandhills.com.

The Jonathan Robinson Band, a staple of the local music scene, turns up the heat from 5 to 9 p.m. in the Aug. 1 edition of First Friday on the First Bank Stage at the greenspace next to the Sunrise Theater, 250 N.W. Broad St., Southern Pines. Once a sideman in Nashville, Robinson returned to his native North Carolina bringing his Southern rock, blues and country sound with him. There will be cool beverages for purchase. Leave all the collared animals at home. It’s too late for further information. Just park the car and wander over.

Two for One

Poets Pat Riviere-Seel and Malaika King Albrecht will be in conversation about Riviere-Seel’s new book, Because I Did Not Drown, a hybrid collection of personal essays and poems, on Wednesday, Aug. 20, at 5:30 p.m., in the Great Room at the Weymouth Center for the Arts & Humanities, 555 E. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines. These past and present members of the Weymouth board of directors will read selections from the book while discussing the writing process and blending genres. A signing with books available from The Country Bookshop will follow. For more information go to www.weymouthcenter.org.

Groovy, Baby, Yeah!

The Irresistible Groove, a critically acclaimed party band from Raleigh, will help you dance the night away — well, at least until 9 p.m. — at Live After 5 on Friday, Aug. 8, at the Village Arboretum, 375 Magnolia Road, Pinehurst. Festivities begin at 5:15 p.m. with food trucks, beer, wine and softer offerings for sale. Picnic baskets are allowed, but outside alcohol is not. The music is free. Don’t pull a hammy trying to lindy hop. Need more info? Go to www.vopnc.org.

Creatures of the Night

Bring a flashlight and discover the sights and sounds of nature after dark walking the trails of the Weymouth Woods Nature Preserve, 1024 Fort Bragg Road, Southern Pines, beginning at 8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 8. All ages are welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult. For more information call Southern Pines Parks and Recreation at (910) 692-7376.

Book It

The Country Bookshop’s August events include Retired Lt. Col. Ted Mataxis Jr. discussing his book Ride to the Sound of the Guns: The Life of a Cold War Warrior, Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Theodore C. Mataxis, at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 14. Then, on Aug. 25 at 5 p.m. Stephanie Griest will talk about her book Art Above Everything: One Woman’s Global Quest to Understand the Sacrifices and Glories of a Creative Life. Both events are free and will be at The Country Bookshop, 140 N.W. Broad St., Southern Pines. For additional information go to www.ticketmesandhills.com.

Mee Meh Mah Moh Moo

Warm up to the Met Opera’s summer encore performance of Lucia di Lammermoor, a tragic opera in three acts by Gaetano Donizetti, at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 6, at the Sunrise Theater, 250 N.W. Broad Street, Southern Pines. Feuding families? What’s a girl to do? For more info go to www.sunrisetheater.com.

Party Like It’s Fall

Southern Pines Parks and Recreation will hold its second annual “farewell to summer” party on Friday, Aug. 15, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the Downtown Park, 145 S.E. Broad St., Southern Pines. There will be food trucks, tattoos, bounce houses, yard games, water slides and music. Then, grab a blanket or a folding chair and stick around for the 8 p.m. outdoor showing of Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie For further information call (910) 692-7376.

CoolSweats owner Barbara Bishop’s daughter and granddaughter in 2009

( July 23-August 22)

Outfit, moisturizer or relationship: If it doesn’t shimmer, glitter or downright sparkle, let it go. And while you’re at it, release the urge to draft another birthday reminder text. Don’t you deserve to be celebrated? Of course! But here’s the thing: Nobody can shower you with royalty-level opulence better than you can. When Venus enters your sign on Aug. 25, put on your flashiest threads, crank up some Bruno Mars and treat yourself to some over-the-top ME time.

Tea leaf “fortunes” for the rest of you:

Virgo (August 23 – September 22)

A certain houseplant requires your attention.

Libra (September 23 – October 22)

Explore a new color palette.

Scorpio (October 23 – November 21)

You’re going to want some reinforcement.

Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)

Something smells like trouble.

Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)

Trust your instincts.

Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)

Drink more water.

Pisces (February 19 – March 20)

Best to cut the rope.

Aries (March 21 – April 19)

It’s time to delete the app.

Taurus (April 20 – May 20)

You gotta know when to fold ’em.

Gemini (May 21 – June 20)

Butter the popcorn, sweetheart.

Cancer (June 21 – July 22)

Dare you to go all out. PS

Zora Stellanova has been divining with tea leaves since Game of Thrones’ Starbucks cup mishap of 2019. While she’s not exactly a medium, she’s far from average. She lives in the N.C. foothills with her Sphynx cat, Lyla.

When You are Not Here, I Am

•Letmesafeguardyourhome.

•Ensuringyourpropertylooksitsbest, notvacantorvulnerable.

•Customizedservicetomeetyourneeds.

•Prepareyourhomeforyourarrival.

• Iamyoureyes,earsandhelpfulhands lookingafteryourproperty.

The Untethering of Time

Finding the truths in historical fiction

By A nne Blythe

These days, as social media platforms and conflicting political rhetoric abound, it can be difficult to discern fact from fiction. It’s tempting to reflect on the past to try to understand what might be prologue.

Sometimes, though, the history that has been fed to us over time turns out to be pure fiction — or at least some version of it. Other times fiction is better able to get to the nitty-gritty truth. Historical fiction with its modern lens on days gone by can release the anchors of time and enhance a reader’s experience and understanding of the past in ways that non-fiction does not

Three North Carolina writers from this genre, to name a few, have taken a stab at blurring the lines between the invented and the real with new historical fiction that spans many decades, and

Charlotte-based author Joy Callaway transports readers of The Star of Camp Greene: A Novel of WWI, far beyond the Queen City’s modern financial district and tree-lined neighborhoods back to 1918, when the U.S. Army had a training facility about a mile west of what is now Uptown.

Nell Joslin, a Raleigh lawyer turned writer, takes readers of Measure of Devotion, back to the Civil War era as she chronicles a mother’s harrowing journey from South Carolina, where she was a Union supporter, to the battleground regions of southeastern Tennessee to tend to her critically wounded son, who enlisted with Confederate troops in

And Reidsville-based Valerie Nieman, a former newspaper reporter and editor turned prolific author, takes readers on a journey to ancient Upon the Corner of the Moon in her imagined version of Macbeth’s childhood before he

shift Liberty Theatre tent at the North Carolina training camp. The soldiers gathered were all smiles until a pall was cast over her act by the news of deaths in the Flanders battlefields near Brussels.

Despite the push of men moving to the back of the tent to absorb the unwelcome announcement, Calla thought it was important to continue the entertainment, providing a crucial diversion during somber times. But her head hurt. Sweat soaked through her costume as heat flushed through her body before an icy cold set in. The Spanish flu was circulating around the world, claiming more lives than the overseas conflict for which Camp Greene was training soldiers.

Calla was bent on impressing the men enough that word would spread to Gen. John J. Pershing. In her mind, he would make the final decision whether or not she could join the team of performers who traveled overseas to entertain the troops — and thus honor the memory of the fiancé she had lost to the war there. But she couldn’t stop the spinning as she tried desperately to belt out lines from George M. Cohan’s “Over There.”

Stricken with the deadly influenza, Calla ends up in the hospital. While recuperating, she overhears a piece of classified military intelligence resulting in her confinement at the Charlotte camp, where she’s assigned a chaperone until further notice. While prevented from traveling to the front, it opens her to the possibility of new love and gives Callaway an opportunity to explore themes of patriotism and injustice.

Though the books are very different, each was born from digging through historical documents, archives and histories of the time, as well as a bit of on-the-ground research.

Callaway’s main character, Calla Connelly, is based on the real-life vaudeville star Elsie Janis, a so-called “doughgirl” who sang, spun stories and cartwheeled across the stage for American

The Star of Camp Greene opens with Calla toughing her way through a performance in the make-

Measure of Devotion also tells the story of a war era through a strong, compelling female character. Through vivid and immersive writing, Joslin uses the 36-year-old Susannah Shelburne to bring life to the story of mothers nursing wounded sons near Civil War battlefields.

Susannah, who grew up in Madison County, North Carolina, and her husband, Jacob, live in South Carolina, where they are opposed to slavery in the very land that is fighting to preserve it. Jacob’s family had owned slaves, but the thought of another person being nothing more than property appalled him. After inheriting Hawk, Jacob granted him his freedom and paid him to work for him. They also employed Letty, a character whose homespun wisdom, optimism and love adds a welcome layer to a tender and complicated story.

The Shelburnes’ son, Francis, joined the 6th South Carolina Volunteers in the early years of the war, and on Oct. 29, 1863, his parents receive a telegram letting them know that their son had

August at Weymouth Center

31:

22,

Come Sunday Jazz 2025-2026

Season Tickets are now available!

Save 20% by subscribing to our Come Sunday Jazz Series! This ticket will grant you access to all 6 of our Jazz events.

This month at Weymouth Center:

August 1: Weymouth Lecture Series: Dante Poole

August 19: James Boyd Book Club

August 20: Book Launch: Because I Did Not Drown with author Pat Riviere-Seel

August 26: Song Circle

August 31: Come Sunday Jazz: Sidecar Social Club

OMNIVOROUS

been severely wounded by shrapnel near his hip joint. Susannah leaves her ailing husband and travels by rail to Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, with hopes of sparing Francis’ leg from amputation while nursing the 21-year-old back to health. He’s in a fevered state when she arrives.

Joslin adroitly and compassionately explores heady themes that divided the country more than 150 years ago, and the hardships and ravages of a nation at war with itself.

Nieman’s Upon the Corner of the Moon is book one of two that explores some of those same issues in 11th-century medieval Scotland. Rather than relying on William Shakespeare’s depiction of Macbeth, Nieman alternates her deeply researched tale of the budding powers of the Macbethian royal court through three voices — Macbeth, Gruach, who becomes his queen, and Lapwing, a fictional poet.

Separately, Macbeth and Gruach are spirited away from their parents to be fostered into adulthood during an era of constant warfare and the unending struggle for power. Nieman ladles up a dense, deeply reported version of these two well-known characters before they meet. We see Macbeth as an adolescent warrior in the making, and Gruach being groomed in Christian and pagan ways to be given away in marriage. Ultimately, what unfolds is a tale of legacy, power and fate.

These three books of historical fiction bring factual bits of the past to the present, leaving much to ponder about their truth. PS

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Anne Blythe has been a reporter in North Carolina for more than three decades covering city halls, higher education, the courts, crime, hurricanes, ice storms, droughts, floods, college sports, health care and many wonderful characters who make this state such an interesting place.

August

Sidecar Social Club

March

2026: Joshua Espinoza

September 28: Virginia MacDonald Quartet

April 26, 2026: Butler Knowles Quartet

October 26: Brandon Mitchell

May 31, 2026: Vanisha Gould

FICTION

People Like Us, by Jason Mott

August Books

NONFICTION

Two Black writers are trying to find peace and belonging in a world that is rife with gun violence. One is on a global book tour after a big prize win; the other is set to give a speech at a school that has suffered a shooting. As their two storylines merge, truths and antics abound in equal measure: Characters drink booze out of an award trophy; menaces lurk in the shadows; tiny French cars putter around the countryside; handguns seem to hover in the air; and dreams endure against all odds. Mott, the 2021 National Book Award winner, delivers an electric new novel that is wickedly funny and achingly sad all at once. It is an utter triumph bursting with larger-than-life characters who deliver a very real take on our world.

Sheepdogs, by Elliot Ackerman

Two misfits. One mission. Zero back-up. When a highstakes heist goes wrong, an ex-CIA operative and a special operations pilot find themselves in the middle of a game of espionage and survival as they navigate a treacherous web of deception and shifting loyalties in a globe-spanning thriller. Skwerl, once an elite member of the CIA’s paramilitary unit, was cast out after a raid gone wrong in Afghanistan. Big Cheese Aziz, a former Afghan pilot of legendary skill, now works the graveyard shift at a gas station. Recruited into a shadowy network of “sheepdogs,” they embark on a mission to repossess a multi-million-dollar private jet stranded on a remote African airfield. As they wind through a labyrinth of lies and hidden agendas, they discover that nothing is as it seems. With the stakes skyrocketing and the women in their lives drawn into the fray, this unlikely spy duo will need to be as cunning as they are bold to survive in a game where the line between the hunters and the hunted is razor-thin.

Are You Mad at Me?, by Meg Josephson Josephson, a psychotherapist and clinical social worker, is here to show you that people-pleasing is not a personality trait. It’s a common survival mechanism known as “fawning” — an instinct often learned in childhood to become more appealing to a perceived threat in order to feel safe. Yet many people are stuck in this way of being for their whole lives. Are You Mad at Me? weaves Josephson’s own moving story with that of fascinating client stories and thought-provoking exercises to help you shed the behaviors that are keeping you stuck in the past so that you can live in your most authentic present.

This Happened to Me: A Reckoning, by Kate Price Price grew up in northern Appalachia in a small mill town in central Pennsylvania with her sister and parents. At the insistence of her mother, and through her academic accomplishments, she escaped the unbroken cycles of poverty, violence, addiction, mental illness and abuse that had plagued her family for generations to start a new life in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Having left this dark world behind, it still kept a firm grip on her. Overcome with unexplainable grief and sadness, and having sustained a series of hazy flashbacks, Price sought out Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, a trauma specialist, to help heal her constant emotional pain. With van der Kolk as her guide, Price discovered what that darkness that lay within her was — her father had abused and trafficked her as a child. Price grappled with what had been revealed. Did this really happen to her? A dedicated researcher and academic, she knew she needed confirmation, proof that what she had remembered had happened. And so began a 10-year quest alongside a journalist, to prove what Price knew to be her truth. In this exquisitely rendered, transformative memoir, Price describes how she broke free of what had defined her childhood, and went on to create a purpose-driven life and family, on her own terms.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

This Is Me: Getting to know yourself and others better, by Helena Haraštová

This engaging book uses delightful stories to explore important feelings and traits, helping young readers better understand themselves and others. From Olivia’s courage to Tina’s thoughtfulness and Daniel’s carefulness, you’ll see how everyone’s different qualities make the world a richer place. The stories of 10 amazing kids spark important conversations about being yourself, understanding your emotions, and celebrating what makes everyone special. (Ages 6-9.)

The Slightly Spooky Tale of Fox and Mole, by Cecilia Heikkila Fox and Mole live alone on a headland, in two houses, side by side. Mole is carefree and selfcentered. Fox is responsible and self-sacrificing. As autumn draws in, the friends read a spooky story together (which Mole keeps interrupting) about a raccoon who transforms into a scuffling monster (a slightly spooky bit) while Mole eats Fox’s cookies (all of them). The Wind in the Willows meets the Brontës in this unique picture book, a cozy, wry, gothic tale for curling up with on long, dark evenings. (Ages 4-7.)

Wonderfully Wild, by Justine de Lagausie

Nature is full of naughty animals — from chimpanzees who pick their noses to pigs who play in mud. Children and mischievous adults alike will laugh out loud while learning some basic animal facts and realizing that, compared to the species depicted, they’re very well behaved! This celebration of cheeky critters is perfect for fans of Butt or Face? (Ages 4-8.) PS

Compiled by Kimberly Daniels Taws, manager of The Country Bookshop, a division of The Pilot.

By Bill Fields

WhenSweet, Sweet Summer

The days of sand and frozen dessert

categorizing good times growing up by the calendar, I settle on summer as the best season.

Sure, the other parts of the year had some positives. In winter, there were the occasional opposite delights of enough snow to cancel school, along with days mild enough to play outside without a jacket. Fall meant the county fair and football, Halloween and Thanksgiving. Even a sports-obsessed child with his head buried in box scores couldn’t fail to notice the splendor of the Sandhills in springtime, when the azaleas and dogwoods show off, relegating pine green to backup-singer status for just a bit.

For me, though, summer wins.

The longer days were a gift that seemed a thank-you from the universe for December’s dwindling daylight, when even a go-getting kid could get the blues from early sunsets that sent everyone inside. In summer, there was time to play, to read, to loll. I didn’t mind that it was rerun season on television, because I was on a porch with a transistor radio, fiddling the dial like a safecracker, trying my darndest to hear what they were saying in Nashville or New York or some other city I’d seen in the encyclopedia.

I remember a lightness in my parents, even when the air was heavy. There was one notable exception for Dad, in the years when he was a police officer in Aberdeen. The Fourth of July festivities at Aberdeen Lake meant that he had to direct traffic on U.S. 1, an assignment that caused him to loathe fireworks as much as did the county’s canines. Once he was home and out of uniform, his first beer went down quickly.

Summer meant a well-earned vacation, usually at the beach, where, for a week, my parents’ worries of mortgage payments and utility bills receded like an outgoing tide. Dad fished, but it didn’t matter too much whether a baited hook on the bottom ever attracted a spot, croaker or whiting; the pleasure was that he didn’t have to be elsewhere doing anything. My mother read

magazines or closed her eyes under dime-store sunglasses and napped in the sun.

On these annual getaways, they didn’t have to check their wristwatches. Time was told by Krispy Kreme in the morning, corn dogs on the strand come noon, flounder at Hoskins Restaurant at night.

At home, Dad loved to cook out anytime, but the charcoal grill saw more action during the hot months: hamburgers, hot dogs, barbecued chicken, steak if it was on special. My father loved these evenings, even if, half the time, he was commanded to trudge back to the grill to give my mother’s entrée more time above the glowing briquets to suit her well-done preference after she had scrutinized the plated beef under the kitchen’s fluorescent fixture.

We ate plenty of vegetables year-round, but the can opener largely rested in summer. Sourced from our small garden, the overflow bounty from friends’ larger plots, or purchased from the back of someone’s pickup at an intersection, fresh produce highlighted our menus for a couple of months. I loved corn on the cob and fried okra in equal measure, but each pleasure came up short to tomato sandwiches, garnished with salt and pepper and a little mayonnaise, the red fruit ripe enough to require multiple napkins.

For a few years, before it broke, we had an ice cream maker that Dad occasionally used during peach season, but the path to a perfect homemade frozen dessert proved elusive. We were mostly a bargain carton of Neapolitan clan — the remnants of the strawberry third always the last to be consumed — but during a hot spell I had limited success slipping a package of Popsicles or Fudgsicles into our grocery cart.

We cooled off on steamy evenings with watermelon eaten in the backyard — but not too close to bedtime, per Mom’s marching orders — followed by a game of horseshoes at dusk. Ringers were rare but lightning bugs weren’t, their presence a sign that another long, lovely summer day was drawing to a close. PS

Southern Pines native Bill Fields, who writes about golf and other things, moved north in 1986 but hasn’t lost his accent.

Savory Lunch Sandwiches

Photograph by Matthew Gibson

ART OF THE STATE

By liz A RoBeRts

Warp & Weft

The paintings of Barbara Campbell Thomas are often warped, subtly but unmistakably. Their geometry, the linear shapes and pieces and colors that comprise them, have a slightly distorted quality. Rectangles implied, but some appear to have had a bounce or inhaled a lungful of air. Others seem to have been shaken up or spun around. That’s partly due to the kinetic energy they capture, which seems to indicate recent — even ongoing — movement.

It’s also because they are surprising. Campbell Thomas calls these works paintings, but a careful look makes it clear they are made mostly of pieced fabric. They’re quiltlike, hand-sewn, dimensional. Stretched in unexpected ways. And then painted.

“The pulling and the tension is still an important part of it,” she says. “It’s become even more magical. I spend all of this time in this initial phase, and I kind of have an idea of what it’s going to look like when I finish. Then I put it up, and it’s interesting to see what has been pulled and how the image has come to life in a different way.”

Campbell Thomas is the director of the School of Art at the University of North Carolina Greensboro and has taught there for more than two decades. Her resume is filled with solo and group exhibitions at museums and galleries around the country. Last year alone, her work was shown in solo and two-person exhibitions in Chicago, Illinois; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Charlottesville, Virginia; and Columbus, Ohio. She has been awarded a number of prestigious residencies including at the Virginia Center for Creative Arts, and has been a recipient of a North Carolina Arts Council fellowship.

When she takes on a new body of work (like the 10 paintings she’s currently preparing for a November exhibition at Charlotte’s Hidell Brooks Gallery), she approaches it with the businesslike, step-by-step planning of a senior academic administrator — but she

The color-jangled painting of Barbara Campbell Thomas

executes that work with daring and intuition. Campbell Thomas has learned to navigate this duality effectively with time, even as her art has become increasingly complex and her process more fully immersive.

“The piecing and sewing portion has become more complicated and elaborate, involving a lot more small pieces of fabric,” she says. “I’m understanding that layer of the process in a deeper way, so I’m spending more time in that part of the process.”

The stretching of the pieced fabric, which creates its cantilevered quality, comes next.

Once this “ground” of her paintings is set, Campbell Thomas hangs them all around her in her studio. In that way, her physical space can better reflect her “headspace,” she says, “and then the imagery: I understand better what it wants to be.” She can visualize how paint and collage will eventually come together upon these sewn surfaces: “The visual movement of the pieces feels like the big strokes,” she says, “and the collage will be how I refine them, add nuances or cover things that need to be pushed back down. The paintings become more refined. I begin to understand how to contend with the edges.”

Inside and Out

The studio where she does this work, next to her house in rural Climax, North Carolina, is about 14 miles south of Greensboro. It is a color-jangled, layered collage of a space,

overflowing with textiles, history, tradition, mysticism, books, paints and threads and fabrics of every imaginable color, pattern, size and shape.

What’s outside — the fields and trees and open expanse of nature — is just as important. “I live out in the country and walking has been very important to me for my whole life. Walking on country roads, being in a beautiful landscape, has always been a touchstone,” she says.

Lately, Campbell Thomas has been trying to create “landscapes” of a different sort. “What would it be to create landscapes that are suggestive of our interior landscape? How do we create spaciousness for ourselves internally? I’ve been thinking about inhabiting a body, and what it means to inhibit a body that feels somehow spacious internally.”

Barbara Campbell Thomas

The ones who outperform

Scarlett

Christine

Maureen

Joy

Tracy Gibson

Keith Harris

Rachel

Laurie Kornegay

Ross Laton

Christian McCarthy

Melody Bell McClelland

Meredith Morski

Lesley Dacko Pacos

Caitlin Richardson

Brenda Sharpe

Kate Shinkwin

Elizabeth Webster

The fractalized nature of her paintings, and the way they often begin in the center and move out to the edges, is her way of representing that phenomenon: “That’s me grappling with that question: how do we inhibit interior spaciousness?’

Fabric as Paint

Navigating dichotomies fuels other types of her work, too. The line where quilting ends and painting begins is one more puzzle to ponder, as is the difference between a painting (or, her version of a painting) and a quilt (a distinct form of art which she also makes).

It’s something she’s often asked about, and something she thinks about a lot. But even as piecing and sewing has be-

come a more comprehensive part of her painting process, she has no doubt that what she makes are paintings. “My orientation as an artist is born in paint, absolutely, and the framework I still operate within has matured and evolved from an understanding of paint as a material,” she says. “That continues to inform everything.”

That dialogue began many years ago with her mother. She’s the one who taught her daughter how to quilt. But it extends through her family tree, to her grandmother and great-grandmothers, makers and stitchers and quilters all. Campbell Thomas has their names listed on her studio wall as inspiration and as a reminder of her heritage. The art journals she carefully keeps are bound with cloth covers made by her mother, who sends her a regular supply.

In these journals, she examines her process and her purpose. Abstraction, she says, allows her to say things she can’t with more literal or figurative types of work. “I’m really fascinated with my sense that there is more to the world than what we can see, and of course that starts to tap into realms of the spirit,” she says. “On the one hand, I’m engaging in this intensely material endeavor, through paint; through fabric. But there’s also this way that this engagement, which is now well over 20 years for me, is a way into spirit.” PS

Liza Roberts is the author of Art of the State; Celebrating the Art of North Carolina.

Central Medallion, 2024

CARLOS MIGUEL PRIETO | MUSIC DIRECTOR

OWENS AUDITORIUM, BRADSHAW

PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, PINEHURST

DVOŘÁK: NEW WORLD SYMPHONY

THU, SEPT 25, 2025 | 7:30PM

Carlos Miguel Prieto, conductor

Samuel Almaguer, clarinet

Barber: Essay No. 2

Copland: Clarinet Concerto

Dvořák: Symphony No. 9, “From the New World”

HOLIDAY POPS

WED, DEC 10, 2025 | 7:30PM

Sophie Mok, conductor

Join us for the Symphony’s most cherished holiday tradition as we bring seasonal classics to life, from timeless carols to spirited renditions of festive favorites. This joyful celebration is sure to delight audiences of all ages!

Concert Sponsor: Penick Village

A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC

THU, JAN 29, 2026 | 7:30PM

Sophie Mok, conductor

Dvořák: Serenade for Strings

Mozart: Eine kleine Nachtmusik

CLASSICAL FAVORITES

THU, APR 23, 2026 | 7:30PM

Sophie Mok, conductor

Enjoy an evening of familiar melodies and timeless classics featuring beloved orchestral works with your North Carolina Symphony.

CARLOS MIGUEL PRIETO

SOPHIE MOK

SAMUEL ALMAGUER

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The Southside

stoRy A nd P hotogRAPh By tony CRoss

Like many classic cocktails, The Southside’s origins are a bit murky. Some say the drink was created on Chicago’s South Side and was a favorite of mobster Al Capone — the “bathtub gin” his mob smuggled in was harsh, so the addition of mint, sugar and lemon juice made the alcohol more palatable. Others claim it was created at the 21 Club in New York. Yet another says its invention was at the Southside Sportsmen’s Club on Long Island.

Cocktail historian David Wondrich found what he believed to be its earliest recipe in Life magazine in 1913. Dubbed the “Gordon’s South Side” (as in Gordon’s Gin), the drink was more like a frappe and included a picture that resembles a mojito.

Now comes the other mystery of the cocktail — the ingredients. Yes, there is gin, mint, sugar and citrus, but many recipes include the addition of soda water. A splash or served in a highball? And what about the citrus? Some recipes have lemon while another has lemon and lime. When I was behind the bar, I used lemon juice and a splash of sparkling water in a coupe glass. As time has gone by, I prefer a little more sparkling water, served over ice. I’ve even gone as far as making Reverie’s version as a carbonated cocktail soda (pictured). The recipe below is how I’d whip these up when I was behind the stick. PS

Tony Cross owns and operates Reverie Cocktails, a cocktail delivery service that delivers kegged cocktails for businesses to pour on tap — but once a bartender, always a bartender.

Specifications

2 ounces Sutler’s Spirit Co. gin

3/4 ounce lemon juice

1/4 ounce rich simple syrup

5 mint leaves

1 ounce soda or sparkling water

Thinly sliced lemon wheel

Execution

In a cocktail shaker, combine all ingredients, sans soda water, and add ice. Shake hard for 10 seconds. Add soda water inside shaker and double strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with lemon wheel.

Percolate This!

stoRy A nd P hotogRAPh By Rose shewey

Latte macchiato-style ice pops

If it takes more than a splash of milk and a spoonful of sugar to enjoy your coffee, I’m afraid you may be among those who like coffee-flavored drinks rather than actual coffee. A little bit of cream and sweetener in your brew is what I call an embellishment. Adding a quart of frothy milk, whipped cream and flavored syrups to your beverage conjures up images of county fair treats but has nothing to do with the ancient art of enjoying a good roast. If you can’t relish the dark, bold taste of an espresso or a simple pourover brew au naturel, you may not be loving coffee as much as you might think.

Why does it matter? Once I started to cut down on the milk in my coffee, I began noticing how downright terrible a lot of coffees taste. One can hide the stalest, most acidic-tasting beans underneath cascades of cream, sugar and flavored additives that completely conceal the fact you were served an inferior roast. I suspect that many a coffee drinker would quit their habit if they knew how bitter and sour their drink truly tastes underneath fluff y add-ons.

So, many years back, I started taking my coffee black, with the occasional “dry” cappuccino (more foam, less milk) thrown into the mix, and it completely changed the way I approach coffee. For one, I no longer frivolously drink coffee wherever it’s served. I’m not afraid to ask for the origin and roasting style of the beans. If I don’t care for the answer, I pass on coffee in favor of tea or, simply, water.

As particular as I may be with how I drink my coffee, I love tinkering about with coffee-flavored desserts where any amount of milk, cream, yogurt or mascarpone can make its way into the mix. Since we avoid turning on the oven in the heat of the summer, I am resorting to ice pops. In memory of my first ever coffee drink, I like making latte macchiato-style pops. When the “latte” is served the traditional way — in glass tumblers — you are rewarded with beautiful layers of milk and coffee, creating a stunning ombre effect.

Latte macchiato — most definitely a gateway drink into a lifelong coffee habit — is not just visually pleasing as a coffee drink, it makes for some extraordinary ice pops, both in how it tastes and looks. PS

German native Rose Shewey is a food stylist and food photographer. To see more of her work visit her website at suessholz.com.

Latte Macchiato Ice Pops

(Serves 6)

10 ounces coffee, such as espresso or filter coffee, freshly brewed and chilled 12 ounces plain yogurt (see notes)

Sweetener, such as honey, maple syrup or granulated sugar, to taste 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Add sweetener to your coffee — start with a tablespoon and work your way up to a sweetness level of your liking. Note that once frozen, it will taste less sweet so consider adding a little extra sugar. Sweeten the yogurt in the same manner and stir in vanilla extract. To achieve a layered look, add about 1 1/2 tablespoons of yogurt to the base of your ice mold and freeze for 30 minutes. Add more yogurt to each mold until they’re a little more than half full, then slowly pour in the coffee. Inserting sticks will give it a nice stir but for more visual drama, do a figure 8 with your stick in each mold before affi xing them properly. Freeze for about 3 hours before serving. (Notes: Using whole milk or plant milk instead of yogurt will result in a less pronounced layered effect but will also taste delicious.)

TO EXPERIENCE YOUR FAVORITE MENU ITEMS FROM

Beach Days

Turning down the volume

By deBoRA h sA lomon

About this time of year I long for the beach. Not the honky-tonk kind, its teeming boardwalks lined with high-rise hotels. When my children were small, we caravanned with three other families to Cape Cod for two weeks, sometimes longer. We rented simple cottages several miles from a quiet crescent beach in Dennis, on the bay side of the Cape. A few houses sat high on the bluff near a tiny snack stand. Nothing commercial within sight — not even the parking lot, where you needed a sticker issued by the town.

Just fine white sand, calm water.

I rose at dawn to pack the cooler with lunch, sometimes creative given seafood possibilities and leftovers from the nightly charcoal grill.

Does anything taste better than a wedge of drippy-ripe watermelon by the sea? Or a soggy sandwich filled with garden-ripe tomatoes?

But mostly I loved settling in a low folding chair while water lapped my feet as the tide crept in. Heaven.

My parents weren’t big on vacations. We spent most summers at my grandparents’ house, in Greensboro. Fear of polio prevented excursions. I remember one jaunt to Jones Beach, a long subway ride from Manhattan, where we lived. I made up for it as an adult, when my husband and I found off-season package deals to St. Thomas, Jamaica, Barbados, Puerto Rico, Antigua — homes to blinding white sand and impossibly turquoise water.

For me, staring out across the sea has a hypnotic effect. The diorama of that Cape Cod cove was enough to wash away — or at least put on hold — fatigue, problems. The children needed nothing more than pails, shovels and beach balls to keep them occupied, while the daddies played touch football and the mommies traded ideas for communal suppers.

Despite ideas, supper was almost always burgers, drumsticks, a big bowl of salad, fruit and Popsicles. One rainy evening I made a splash with spaghetti, a welcome change. S’mores hadn’t been invented but toasted marshmallows worked, as did frozen chocolate-dipped bananas.

By sunset the little ones had faded into bed and the grown-ups opened a bottle of wine.

This was the early ’70s. TVs were black and white. Central AC? Mobile phones? Please, except in James Bond flicks.

I miss the simplicity of those days, on that beach. I miss the soft, steady breeze and warm, rarely hot sun that produced a glorious tan to set off pastel dresses. The beach owned an elemental feel, rightly so, since this cove had probably existed for eons.

When the children were older we spent time at another beach, in Maine, where the expanse of sand was packed hard as concrete and the water, even in August, was cold enough to anesthetize toes. Here, not many people braved the waves. Walking or riding bikes was the primary exercise. Lobster at Barnacle Billy’s, an annual treat. A few locally-owned motels faced the beach, no neon, nothing glamorous. Their decks — perfect for watching the sunrise with coffee and fresh doughnuts from a nearby take-out.

Ahhh . . .

These beach experiences differ from crowded, scorching Southern seashores. They satisfy a need: to turn down the volume, create distance from worrisome headlines.

They allow for naps under the umbrella, for staring at the horizon, for burying toes in the sand and enjoying the sun. For fried clams at a roadside stand. For feeding the gulls, whose raucous rhetoric reminds me of political conventions.

My daughter Wendy felt the same. While at Duke, she and friends would run away to the Outer Banks or Ocracoke. They camped out around a bonfire, probably illegal, but nobody bothered them in November.

Yes, the seashore conveys something basic, timeless, affirming, poetic.

I want to go back. PS

Deborah Salomon is a contributing writer for PineStraw and The Pilot. She may be reached at debsalomon@nc.rr.com.

Brilliant and Blue

The

By susA n CA mPBell

The blue jay is one of those species most of us instantly recognize: a common bird of woodland and backyard. But how well do we really know it?

This medium-sized, raucous bird can be found at feeders or flying around in treetops at any time of the year, but it hardly seems remarkable at first glance. It turns out that they are more complex and unique creatures than you might think.

Jays are closely related to crows, which are a highly evolved species. As a result, jays, too, exhibit a relatively advanced degree of intelligence. They have complex social systems. Blue jays remain together as a family for a relatively long period and also mate for life. These birds have dingy gray under parts and upper parts that are various shades of blue with gray and black markings as well as a blue crest.

Not only do they communicate with their voices, but also with body language. Changes in the jay’s crest are one of the most obvious ways they express themselves. Not surprisingly, it is raised when an individual is alarmed or is trying to be intimidating.

The unique black lines, or brindle pattern, on individuals is no doubt recognized by conspecifics. Interestingly, the pigment found in jay feathers is produced by melanin, which is actually brown. It is the structures on the barbs of the bird’s feathers that cause light to reflect in the blue wavelength.

In addition to their bright coloration, jays attract attention with their loud calls. They make a variety of squawks and screams, usually from a perch high in the canopy. Furthermore, they are known to mimic other birds’ calls, especially hawks. Whether this is an alarm tactic or whether they are trying to fool other species is not clear. The great early ornithologist John Audubon interpreted this as a tactic that allowed blue jays to rob nests of smaller birds such as warblers and vireos that were scattered by the hawk sounds. Modern studies of blue jay diets, however, have not found that eggs or nestlings are common foods. In fact, in feeding trials, this species is often outcompeted by other jay species, woodpeckers and blackbirds.

Another mystery is why, in some years, these birds migrate and some years they do not. Blue jays are particularly fond of acorns. So it may be that, in years when oaks are not very prolific, jays move southward in search of their favorite food. How many blue jays will remain in the Piedmont and Sandhills this winter will depend on the mast crop — especially the abundance of white oak acorns. These birds are very capable of gathering seeds in a specialized pouch in their throat and carrying them to nearby holes or crevices where individuals will stash them.

Blue jays have very definite nesting duties. Males collect most of the materials: live twigs, grasses and rootlets. The females create the large cup, incubate and brood the young birds. All the while the male feeds her and then forages for the tiny nestlings. Once the young have developed a good layer of down, the female will join the search for food for the rapidly growing family. It is not unusual for young jays to wander away from the nest before actual fledging occurs, though the parents are not likely to feed the begging youngster unless they return to the nest. It is during this period that people may “rescue” the wayward youngsters.

Finally, reports of “bald” blue jays are not uncommon. Do not be surprised if you see an odd-looking individual at a feeder or bird bath with virtually no feathers on its head, just dark skin. At first this was thought to be caused by feather mites that can be found on all birds to varying degrees. Now it seems there are simply individuals that lose all of their head feathers at once instead of in the normal, staggered fashion. This is more likely in adolescents who are undergoing their very first molt.

The next time you notice one of these noisy, crested blue birds, take a closer look. Blue jays are fascinating — and full of surprises.

PS

Susan Campbell would love to receive your wildlife sightings and photos. Her email is susan@ncaves.com.

surprisingly complex blue jay

Reflections

Tier 3 Winners

The Sandhills Photography Club was started in 1983 to provide a means of improving members’ photographic skills and technical knowledge, for the exchange of information, and, by club activity, to develop membership potential and public interest in the art of photography. For meetings and information visit www.

sandhillsphotoclub.org.

Tier 3, 3rd Place: Architect's Mirrored Mausoleum by Dale Jennings

Tier 3, 1st Place: Self Reflection by Shari Dutton

Tier 3, 2nd Place: Rise Up by Donna Ford

Beautifully

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Reflections

Tier 2 Winners

Tier 2, 2nd Place: A Bridge of Gold by Jacques Wood

Tier 2, 3rd Place: Rippling Reflection by Pam Jensen

Tier 2, 1st Place: A Dark Reflection by Joshua Simpson

Reflections

Tier 1, 1st Place: A Seniors Reflection by Hillary Koch

Tier 1, 2nd Place: Mirror Mirror on the Wall

by Kim Butler

Tier 1, 3rd Place: Faith Hope and Love by Steve Bonsall

Beautifully Common

Being exceptionally ordinary

When I was 11 years old, my parents gave me a book titled The World’s Whales. Published by the Smithsonian Institution, it was the first coffee table book to illustrate all the world’s cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) in a single volume. The spectacular photos and life-like paintings nestled within the high-gloss pages instantly captured my imagination. Throughout my high school and college years, I frequently thumbed through its pages, dreaming of one day becoming a marine biologist and making a list of all the whales and dolphins I most wanted to see in the wild.

stoRy A nd P hotogRAPhs By todd P usseR

Like many nature-obsessed kids who grew up reading about dinosaurs or watching Jacques Cousteau, I was fascinated by the strangest, most colorful, most dangerous, and the largest members of the animal kingdom. My list of whales and dolphins that I most wanted to see reflected those superlatives. The immense blue whale, the largest animal ever to inhabit Earth, was near the top of the list. The oddly shaped sperm whale, of Moby Dick fame, with its box-shaped head housing the largest brain in the animal kingdom, was on there, too. As was the aptly named hourglass dolphin of subAntarctic waters. The Southern right whale dolphin, a striking black and white animal that completely lacks a dorsal fin, so unlike any other oceanic dolphin, also caught my attention.

THE NATURALIST

LIFE’S TOO SHORT TO SIT OUT ON THE BACK NINE

But the absolute pinnacle of my list was the killer whale, a supremely intelligent apex predator that eats everything from seals to great white sharks.

Fast forward 40 years, and that book still occupies prime real estate in my library. Recently, I pulled it down and flipped through its pages, reflecting on nearly three decades of work on the ocean. In that time, I have been fortunate enough to check off each and every whale and dolphin from my list. It has

As I have aged, I have learned to appreciate the everyday nature that surrounds me, especially the common things, like the grey squirrel in the front yard or the bluebird perched on the powerline.

been a remarkable run that has produced many amazing memories.

I found those blue whales off the coast of California, rolling on their sides and throwing open their cavernous mouths as they swallowed thousands of gallons of water and krill with a single gulp. Due south of Louisiana, in a deep-sea trench known as the Mississippi Canyon, I saw my first sperm whales. Off the rugged coast of Kaikoura, New Zealand, I observed a huge group of 500 Southern right whale dolphins, leaping from tall ocean swells within sight of snow-capped mountains. In Antarctica, I watched enthralled as hourglass dolphins played at the bow of our research vessel. And as for killer whales, I have seen them in oceans around the world, including spotting a small group off my home state of North Carolina in 2014.

Looking back through the book, I

paused at the account about common dolphins. For the life of me, I can’t understand why those dolphins failed to capture my childhood imagination. Common dolphins feature prominently in Greek and Roman societies, even appearing on their coins. Aristotle and Pliny the Elder were enthralled by common dolphins and wrote about them frequently in ancient texts. The common dolphin was, in fact, the first species of dolphin to be scientifically described. I think that my youthful lack of enthusiasm for the species stemmed from their name, common dolphin. It wasn’t superlative enough, not like the killer whale.

So many of us tend to ignore the common. It’s human nature to place value on the biggest, strongest, prettiest, weirdest, and especially, the rarest. As a budding naturalist, I ignored the animals and plants that I routinely saw day after day. But as is so often the case, time and experience have a way of changing one’s perspective. As I have aged, I have learned to appreciate the everyday nature that surrounds me, especially the common things, like the grey squirrel in the front yard or the bluebird perched on the powerline.

Common dolphins are aptly named. Scientists estimate their global population to be over 6 million, making them the most abundant dolphin swimming in the world’s oceans. Recently, off the coast of California, I encountered a group of common dolphins that stretched as far as the eye could see. The sea frothed white as thousands of dolphins leapt from the water all at once. It was a truly breathtaking experience. Marveling at the bright yellow hourglassshaped patterns on their sides, I realized how wrong I was to overlook these animals in my youth. They are uncommonly beautiful. PS

Naturalist and photographer Todd Pusser grew up in Eagle Springs. He works to document the extraordinary diversity of life both near and far. His images can be found at www.ToddPusser.com.

History and Hospitality

A perfect partner for Mid Pines and Pine Needles

By lee PACe

The golf

courses at Mid Pines and Pine Needles were the 1920s offspring of a group of moneyed businessmen and regular visitors to Pinehurst who believed that the four courses at the resort weren’t enough for America’s most noted golf destination, and that they were so popular that an alternative that operated at a more relaxed pace would be attractive.

“There is the desire of a number of old Pinehurst guests who want to have comfortable quarters where they can be away from the activities of the hotels,” said Leonard Tufts, son of resort founder James Walker Tufts and the resort chief from 1902 through the mid-1930s.

Mid Pines opened in 1921 with a Donald Ross-designed course and a three-story, Georgian-style hotel; it was strictly a private club. Pine Needles followed seven years later just across the road, with Ross laying out the course through residential framed corridors and with an English Tudor-style hotel open to the public.

Both resorts have ridden the crests and valleys of wars (the U.S. Air Force used Mid Pines as a base during World War II) and economic calamity (Pine Needles went bankrupt in the mid1930s). But they have endured because of the quality of the golf laid out by Ross, the Scotsman who came to America in 1900

and found the Sandhills’ sandy soils a mirror to what he knew from home.

The resorts have been further joined at the hip not only from their Roaring ’20s conception but having a shared ownership structure since the late 1900s, when the family of longtime Pine Needles proprietors Warren and Peggy Bell bought Mid Pines.

Now with Mid Pines four years into its second century and Pine Needles on the cusp of its own centennial, the resorts are transitioning into an initiative that one member of the ownership group says “will reposition them for the next hundred years.”

Mid Pines and Pine Needles are entering a partnership with Marine & Lawn, a hotelier with extensive experience renovating and managing historic golf-centric hotels in the United Kingdom. Among the early priorities for the new venture is Marine & Lawn taking over a total reconstruction of the hotel at Mid Pines. Renovation work will begin immediately, and the hotel will be shut down for six to eight months.

“What’s exciting to me is Marine & Lawn specializes in restoring old properties,” says Kelly Miller, president and CEO of the company that owns Mid Pines and Pine Needles as well as Southern Pines Golf Club. “They know how to refurbish a 100-year-old hotel.”

Indeed, there are cases in point across Scotland and Ireland:

At Rusacks St. Andrews, discerning travelers can sip a dram of Macallan Scotch beside a fireplace and gaze up at paintings of Old Tom Morris and the Swilcan Bridge in an iconic 1800s building to the right of the Old Course’s 18th hole.

At Dornoch Station in the Scottish Highlands, you’re just a short stroll from the homeplace of a young Donald Ross. You fall out of bed, devour a full Scottish breakfast and skip out to the ancient links swallowed up on spring days by a sea of golden gorse.

And at the Slieve Donard Hotel on the edge of the Irish Sea in Newcastle, you sleep in Victorian splendor and look out the windows at the majestic Mourne Mountains, then amble up the lane to Royal County Down.

Miller has talked with hotel consultants and potential partners in recent years about what to do with Mid Pines, a historically significant structure designed by the noted architect Aymar Embury II. The owners have refurbished some rooms in recent years to the standards of modern golf travelers, but other rooms hearken to the last century. How much money do you spend to revitalize the property? And what does the next iteration look like?

“In talking with various potential partners over the last 10 years, almost all of them said, ‘We’re going to tear Mid Pines down and build it back up, and you’ll never know,’” Miller says. “That hotel was not going to be torn down on my watch. Marine & Lawn has the experience to do the job right. They have the vision and operational experience. And, most importantly, they have enhanced the culture at every one of their properties while

maintaining the heritage of each one.”

This will be Marine & Lawn’s first hotel venture in the United States, although its parent company, AJ Capital Partners, has extensive presence in the hotel industry through its collection of Graduate Hotels in college towns across America. The total investment in the two properties is estimated at $47 million over the next 12 to 16 months.

“This is an exciting initiative for our resorts,” says Miller. “We’ve needed for some time to upgrade our lodging facilities, and Marine & Lawn is the ideal partner for us.”

“We love the state of North Carolina and the Sandhills,” adds Haresh Tharani, a partner in the Mid Pines ownership group since 2018. “And we believe very strongly in the area. This is a way to enhance our portfolio while at the same time looking at other opportunities to bolster our presence in the golf capital of the United States.”

Warren Bell and his wife Peggy Kirk Bell, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, began operating Pine Needles in 1953, bought it in 1959, and it has remained in the family ever since. The Bells took on partners in 1994 to purchase Mid Pines. Today the enterprise is owned and operated by Miller, Tharani, Pat McGowan and their families, who will retain total ownership of the golf courses.

Miller said the family has had numerous conversations with

Every Summer Feels Like a Staycation A

potential partners and hotel owners and operators over many years, and had three criteria for a potential new venture.

“One, make sure that we respect and honor what Mr. and Mrs. Bell started here in 1953 and continue the history and tradition of the properties,” Miller said.

“Two, we wanted to reposition these resorts for the next 100 years. We think we’ve done a pretty good job with the golf courses and bringing them up to much higher standards. Now, it’s time to do that on the hospitality side.

“And three, we wanted to keep the family involved. Both Mid Pines and Pine Needles have been strong family operations for many decades, and we want the younger generation to have an opportunity to stay involved if they’d like.”

AJ Capital, founded in 2008 by Ben Weprin, manages over $5.4 billion in real estate investments in markets throughout the U.S. and U.K. The “AJ” stands for “adventurous journeys” and was launched as a platform for Weprin to pursue his passions of history, architecture and elite travel destinations. He had purchased and renovated rundown hotels in cities like New York, Chicago and New Orleans when his golf trips to the U.K. prompted the idea to purchase and restore historical hotels adjacent to iconic golf courses, thus creating Marine & Lawn.

“For us, it’s always been about preserving the heart and soul of golf through thoughtful hospitality,” says Phillip Allen, president of Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts. “What started with Rusacks St. Andrews has grown to six iconic properties across Scotland and Northern Ireland, each selected for its deep connection to the game of golf and sense of place. We couldn’t be more excited to now bring that ethos stateside — and we couldn’t imagine a more fitting destination, or better partners to do it with.” PS

Lee Pace has written about the Pinehurst experience for more than three decades from his home in Chapel Hill. Write him at leepace7@gmail.com and follow him @ LeePaceTweet.

What We Talk About When We Talk About the Moon

In myths and poems, it keeps company with the rose. Cold scythe of winter. Hammock of summer. There’s no eclipsing its power over the sea. In the game of hearts, we “shoot the moon,” while each new phase of darkness smolders with anticipation. Our yard trees may fence us from it, but waxed full, it offers delivery with argent bath of light.  Mystics’ elixir. Astrologers’ purlieu. The moon harvests our dreams.

— Elizabeth W. Jackson

Elizabeth W. Jackson is a practicing psychologist and writer whose work has been published in journals, anthologies and a chapbook.

The Discovery Channel’s Shark Week began on a napkin in a bar. Stephen King jotted down his notes for Misery on airplane napkins on a flight to London. The design for the first MRI scanner was drawn on a napkin in a Pittsburgh hamburger joint. Aaron Sorkin wrote A Few Good Men on cocktail napkins during the first act of La Cage aux Folles when he was working as a bartender at the Palace Theatre in New York. The scout for the Barcelona football club was so worried a young Lionel Messi might get away that he drew up their first contract on a cocktail napkin. Because good things do come in small packages, we asked seven of our favorite authors to invent a napkin-worthy story to help us through another hot August. Relax and enjoy.

A writer of both fiction and nonfiction, Dana Sachs teaches at UNC Wilmington and is the author of If You Lived Here and The Secret of the Nightingale Palace.

Clyde Edgerton

A member of the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame and the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, Clyde Edgerton is the author of The Bible Salesman and Walking Across Egypt.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JOHN GESSNER

Recipient of the Harper Lee Award, Daniel Wallace is the author of Big Fish. His most recent book of short stories is Beneath the Moon and Long Dead Stars

Joy Callaway

An international bestselling writer, Joy Callaway is the author of The Star of Camp Greene and Sing Me Home to Carolina.

Sharyn McCrumb

The winner of both an Agatha Award and an Edgar Award, Sharyn McCrumb is the author of The Unquiet Grave and Prayers the Devil Answers.

Naima

BY

Nominated for a Pushcart Prize, Naima Coster is the author of Halsey Street and What’s Mine and Yours.

PHOTOGRAPH

JOHN GESSNER

the Southern

in

Winner of

Book Prize

2025, Taylor Brown is the author of Rednecks and Wolvers.

One For All — By All

The complicated birth of the Moore County Hospital

By

Bill Case • P hotogra Phs from the tufts a rChives

Last year, U.S. News and World Report ranked Pinehurst’s FirstHealth of the Carolinas Moore Regional Hospital sixth best in North Carolina. Money magazine placed it 65th in the country. With 402 beds, it serves as a primary care referring facility for the surrounding 15-county area. It employs more than 3,000 people, by far the most of any private Moore County employer. The spacious cancer clinic, opened in 2023, is the latest jewel in the crown.

Exactly a century ago, the residents of Moore County weren’t so lucky. In May 1925, the county’s lone acute care facility, James McConnell Hospital (named for Carthage’s heroic World War I flier) was teetering on its last legs. Located in rural Eureka, 4 miles from Carthage, the facility offered four private rooms and two wards, totaling 20 beds. During the influenza epidemic of 1918, McConnell treated 35 additional patients by putting beds on the porch.

Lacking an endowment, McConnell struggled to stay afloat, financially and literally. The wells serving the hospital totally dried up in periods of drought. Nurses and other employees hauled buckets of water from a spring half a mile away. As the Sandhill Citizen put it, McConnell was constantly “working against the task of too little money for too big a job.” The hospital closed its doors on June 1, 1925.

Following the shutdown, the nearest hospitals to Moore County were now located in Fayetteville and Hamlet. Southern Pines’ celebrated author James Boyd believed the status quo was unacceptable. “If a man gets seriously sick in this section of North Carolina, what can he do?” Boyd wrote in The Pilot newspaper. “That means a trip to Raleigh, or Charlotte, or Hamlet, or Fayetteville . . . if it is a case of accident, or other emergency, the two or three hours necessary to make the trip may cost the patient his life.”

Community-minded members of the Kiwanis Club of Aberdeen (later Kiwanis Club of the Sandhills) began considering the feasibility of building a modern hospital located close to Moore County’s population centers — Aberdeen, Southern Pines and Pinehurst. A Kiwanis committee met several times in late 1925 and early 1926 to discuss the parameters for a new hospital. At a February 3, 1926, Kiwanis meeting in Pinebluff, club president Talbot Johnson announced that there was a “chance to get a half-million-dollar hospital for the neighborhood of the most modern type.” He also announced that a newcomer to the campaign, Simeon B. Chapin, “and others of the moving spirits will be on hand to discuss this situation.” Johnson urged his fellow Kiwanians to pack the house for their meeting.

Proponents floated the concept of building a 70-bed hospital costing $500,000 plus an additional $250,000 endowment. Other public forums were scheduled in Aberdeen and Pinehurst. An overflow crowd at Pinehurst’s Carolina Theatre turned the presentation into a pep rally for the hospital, giving the project an enthusiastic (and nearly unanimous) thumbs up. “The pledge of support expressed by the audience would seem to indicate the county can be counted on for the maximum amount of support,” The Pilot reported.

Simeon B. Chapin at the groundbreaking of Moore Memorial Hopital.

However, it is one thing for citizens to stand up in a meeting and collectively voice their “huzzahs” and quite another to reach into their pockets to support it. It became clear that fundraising for a hospital would likely flounder unless people of substantial wealth stepped up. Six such men (two of whom were Kiwanians) banded together for the purpose of making the hospital a reality. The men who referred to themselves as the Hospital Committee were Leonard Tufts, whose family owned almost everything in Pinehurst; Jackson Boyd, a Pennsylvania coal magnate and, with brother James, co-master of the Moore County Hounds; Eldridge R. Johnson, founder of the Victor Talking Machine Company, which revolutionized the phonograph industry; Henry A. Page, Jr., president of two North Carolina railroads and owner of a

Construction begins on the hospital

chain of Ford auto agencies; John D. Chapman, a Wall Street broker and member of the New York Stock Exchange; and Simeon B. Chapin, owner of S.B. Chapin and Co., a stock and grain brokerage firm with offices in Chicago and New York City. After making Pinehurst his winter retreat circa 1910, he built several houses and acquired thousands of acres of Sandhills real estate. His Chapin Orchards made him the area’s foremost peach farmer.

But Chapin’s most profitable venture came in 1912 when, in partnership with the Burroughs family, he acquired 64,000 acres of South Carolina pine forested real estate, together with 9 miles of ostensibly “worthless” beachfront. Chapin and Burroughs developed the property into an unparalleled resort community — Myrtle Beach.

Chapin and the other members of the Hospital Committee, recognizing they were not qualified to evaluate the scope and size of the proposed hospital, retained the New York firm of Wright and O’Hanlon that specialized in such matters. In 1927, that firm’s lead partner, Henry C. Wright, conducted a survey of the area and concluded it was feasible to build a 35-bed hospital at a cost ranging from $80,000 to $140,000. The Hospital Committee’s members were ready to pool their money to fund the bulk of that price tag, but they considered it important to have citizens from the county at large also contribute.

Soon, a source of charitable funding emerged. It was learned that North Carolinian tobacco heir-investor-philanthropist James B. Duke had established the Duke Endowment, a trust fund totaling $400 million in assets. Among its missions was support for rural hospitals in North and South Carolina.

In March of 1927 committee members greeted Dr. Watson S. Rankin, the director of the Duke Endowment’s Hospital and Orphans section. Rankin advised those assembled that once the hospital was built, the Duke Endowment would be willing to contribute $1 per day per bed toward the care of patients unable to pay their bills. This was significant, because Moore County had its share of impoverished individuals, including many in its Black population (who were to be treated in a segregated wing).

While wrestling with financing, the committee also dealt with the thorny issue of the hospital’s location. Since Pinehurst was in the central section of Moore County, several properties on the outskirts of the village were considered. The members were unable to reach a consensus regarding the best site, so it was decided to have the consultant, Wright, make the choice. He picked property near the intersection of N.C. 211 and Page Road — the southern reaches of the current campus — citing as tiebreakers the fact that it was well situated to catch breezes (a must pre-airconditioning), and that a sewer line was already in place. That site, like virtually all the land in and around Pinehurst, was controlled by the Tufts family. Leonard Tufts deeded the land over without compensation.

The task of raising money beyond its own membership continued to frustrate the Hospital Committee throughout the summer and fall of 1927. This included the securing of charitable funding. A Nov. 16, 1927, newspaper article in the Greensboro News caught Leonard Tufts’ attention, eventually breaking the logjam.

The story indicated that the Duke Endowment was planning to build six or seven hospitals a year in North and South Carolina.

The following day, Leonard Tufts wrote Rankin, expressing his “hope one of these will be located in this section.” Rankin promptly responded: “I am glad to convey to you the encouraging information

that we will probably be able to help you materially in the building and equipment of your new hospital.” He promised to send Tufts an application and did so on Dec. 27.

When the Duke Endowment’s trustees reviewed the information set forth in the application regarding contributed pledges, they were dismayed. Outside of “a few wealthy people from Pinehurst and Southern Pines,” there were few pledges. The Duke Endowment was disinclined to contribute anything unless the “people of Moore County” proved their interest with cash contributions in the amount of $25,000.

Why were people reluctant? “It has so happened that during the period when funds were being solicited, the farmers and businessmen in rural communities throughout the country were undergoing business readjustment through a period of deflation, which has made it very hard for them to get hold of any spare cash,” The Pilot reported.

But resistance went beyond that. Some scoffed that “a hospital is the last thing the county needs.” Decades later, Leonard’s son, Richard Tufts, wrote “Today it is difficult to believe that the establishment of our hospital was not a popular decision with all the people of this county. Many thought of a hospital as a place where you went to die and not to get well.”

Some local residents were peeved that wealthy winter residents from the North were running the show. “They have the money; they can afford it; let them pay for it,” was the sentiment. Naysayers also voiced the view that the hospital was being built to benefit Pinehurst resort guests, not permanent residents.

Based on the committee’s assurance that it would raise the requested $25,000, the Duke Endowment trustees conditionally approved a $25,000 grant on March 27, 1928. Rankin hinted more money might be forthcoming once the committee raised $25,000 from small, local donors.

Dr. Watson S. Rankin

The hospital committee shifted into overdrive, pushing for donations in Aberdeen, Southern Pines, Vass, West End, Lakeview, Pinebluff and Jackson Springs. In a meeting on April 24, 1928, the committee advised that “sufficient funds are definitely in sight for the construction of an A-1 hospital.” In sight perhaps, but not yet in the bank.

At the meeting, it was determined that building of the hospital would move forward even though the conditions of the Duke Endowment’s grant had yet to be satisfied. The prospect that the endowment could still pull the plug on its sizable contribution was deemed a risk worth running. Contracts for the hospital’s design and construction would be required, so the committee formed a corporation to execute them. The board included representatives from throughout the county, including the mayors of Carthage, Southern Pines and Aberdeen. Simeon Chapin was named board president. The board immediately created a building committee composed of Leonard Tufts, Aberdeen’s Robert Page, Pete Pender, West End engineer George Maurice, Aberdeen Mayor G.C. Seymour and James Boyd. Cincinnati architect Samuel Hannaford was hired to design the building.

estimated the cost to build at $167,000. Groundbreaking took place that same month.

Meanwhile, hospital boosters resorted to new measures to eliminate the fundraising gap. On Sunday, Nov. 24, 1928, pitches for subscriptions were made at the services of every Moore County church. The new owner of The Pilot, Nelson Hyde, implored readers to contribute, “in any sums, big or little as it is desired.” In his Nov. 30 editorial, Hyde offered a rallying cry for this effort. “One for all — by all.” Subscription forms were printed in the paper.

Meanwhile, contributions trickled in, but far too slowly. Hopeful that favorable press might sway hesitant donors, Leonard Tufts wrote The Pilot’s Bion Butler on May 5, 1928, seeking the paper’s assistance in clearing up “misconceptions” about the hospital. Butler printed Tufts’ correspondence verbatim on the front page. Tufts maintained the wealthy winter residents who were contributing the bulk of the money were doing so “not for selfish reasons, but giving of their riches to aid the health conditions in this county.”

The Pilot offered words of editorial support. “Men who do as much as the visiting strangers must not be looked on as the open pocket for everything that is wanted here, for it would soon destroy their regard for the community that would permit such mendacity, and it would also ruin the community’s regard for itself.”

Though not having obtained the necessary subscriptions from “outside Pinehurst” as required by the Duke Endowment, the Moore County Hospital Association boldly plunged into deeper waters on Nov. 13, 1928, hiring Sanford contractor Jewell-Riddle Company to construct the hospital. The company

The fundraising campaign was still short of its goal when the cornerstone for the building was laid on March 19, 1929. Conditional funding from the Duke Endowment remained up in the air. Chapin briefly addressed those assembled at the cornerstone ceremony: “This hospital is built by all the people of Moore County to serve all the people of Moore County, and is here and now dedicated to the county and its citizens for ever and ever.“ He closed with, “We wish it Godspeed on its errand of mercy into the future.”

To those still skeptical regarding the county’s need for a hospital, events the following day in Southern Pines served as a grim wake-up call. The town’s police chief, Joseph Kelly, was ambushed and shot four times while searching an automobile. The motorist who fired the gun was wanted by law enforcement for an assortment of holdups and burglaries.

The chief was in a bad way but managed to stagger to his patrol car and drive to the residence of Dr. W.C. Mudgett before collapsing to the ground. Mudgett summoned an ambulance, which transported the gravely wounded chief to Highsmith Hospital, in Fayetteville. He died the following morning. It cannot be said with any certainty that Chief Kelly would have survived had the hospital been nearby, but that thought undoubtedly crossed peoples’ minds.

Nurse supervisor Ellen Bruton, Dr. Clement R. Monroe

Perhaps the murder loosened strings on some pocketbooks. Or maybe the eye-catching sight of the new three-story brick and columned hospital did. In any event, it was announced in the Sept. 20, 1929 Pilot that “the necessary donations to make available the conditional subscription of $50,000 by the Duke Endowment have all been paid in.” Construction was finished two months later. The final cost of the building plus needed equipment turned out higher than projected. The Duke Endowment upped its building contribution to $75,000.

Moore County Hospital’s 33 beds and two operating rooms opened to patients on Nov. 25, 1929. Chapin continued in his role as board president. Dr. Clement R. Monroe became the institution’s first doctor and administrator. The omnipresent Dr. Mudgett was named chief of surgery. Ellen Bruton supervised the nurses. To the surprise of the staff, the hospital was filled to capacity almost from the start.

While all the members of the Hospital Committee deserved credit for their steadfastness, Simeon Chapin came to be regarded as its guiding spirit. In 1930, the Sandhills Kiwanis Club awarded Simeon the Builder’s Cup. The Pilot noted that “Mr. Chapin’s faith and optimism through the long campaign for funds, plus his untiring efforts in soliciting contributions, and in overseeing the proper expenditure thereof, which has given to this section of the state one of the finest institutions to be found anywhere in the United States.”

However, the struggles continued. With the onset of the Great Depression, nearly two-thirds of the patients during the hospital’s first year could not afford to pay for treatment. In his role as administrator, Dr. Monroe scrambled to keep the operation above water, describing himself as the “all around water boy.”

Alarmed by the shortfalls, several organizations pitched in to

assist. The women who comprised the Moore County Hospital Auxiliary contributed money, towels, curtains and bedclothes. The 400 members of the Birthday Club made it their practice to donate funds, canned goods and linens on their respective birthdays. An old fashioned “pounding” was held in the early years, in which local farmers donated vegetables, fruits, jellies and jams. The hospital even purchased a cow to supplement its dairy requirements.

Despite the hardships, Moore County Hospital prospered and grew, and soon needed to expand. By 1939, housing for nurses and a new wing featuring 26 additional beds had been added to the campus. The hospital’s endowment and footprint would eventually grow far beyond the dreams of the founders.

Five of the stalwarts responsible for the birth of Moore County Hospital died in 1944: Leonard Tufts, James Boyd, Eldridge Johnson, Pete Pender and the hospital’s honorary president, Chapin. On the day of his passing, the latter visited the hospital to make a donation for the purpose of ensuring the presence of Bibles in every room.

It was the sort of thing Chapin had been doing his whole life. He liberally supported churches of all types, including Pinehurst’s Village Chapel, serving on that church’s building committee during its erection in 1924 and ’25. In Chapin’s 1929 hospital dedication speech, he opened with this anecdote: “About five years ago, when the new church was being built in Pinehurst, a certain person who had had sickness in the family said to me, ‘We need a new hospital more than we need a new church.’ My answer was, ‘We need both.’”

He got both. PS

Pinehurst resident Bill Case is PineStraw’s history man. He can be reached at Bill.Case@thompsonhine.com.

The hospital today

Doctors’ Orders

Breathing

life into a contemporary villa

By DeBorah Salomon • Photogra PhS By John geSSner

Embarking on a second career in retirement is nothing new: Lawyers become clergyman; bank tellers resurface as hairstylists; farmers write novels. But a retired Army physician renovating high-end residences? Well, why not?

Retired Lt. Col. Teresa Pearce, M.D., a public health specialist with a master’s degree in epidemiology, and her husband, Dr. Tony Freiler, M.D., a retired Lt. Col. Army radiologist practicing locally, found Pinehurst perfect for work and family. With two sons, 8 and 12, Teresa thought about renovating a house large enough for several generations to live communally. “I’m very big on family,” she says. She found a candidate in an estimated 7,200-square-foot manse built in 2001, with detached garage/ apartment and pool on 5 acres overlooking a Country Club of North Carolina golf course. The multi-generational living plan didn’t materialize but, oh, what a venue for honing interior design skills and showcasing good taste.

Although the property does not conform to any off-the-shelf architectural mode — try contemporary Italianate villa — its wings spread over a section of CCNC where land parcels are of similar size. Teresa’s method was simple: Find something to make your own and get to work. Upgrades took about a year.

“This one . . . it was very well-built but the layout, the flow,

didn’t work,” she says. But, given the imagination, the means and the neighborhood, it was a diamond in the rough.

The interior spreads out along hallways on either side of the foyer, where a large painting of a golden orb mounted on grasscloth hangs. Could it be the moon? Teresa’s father was part of the space program, in Florida. His NASA helmet contributes to the décor.

To the right, near the kitchen entrance, was a small formal dining room Teresa commandeered for her office, with a narrow glass-topped table — an unlikely but decorative desk — and a spectacular set of double doors she found in Maryland.

Beginning in the office, a trail of wallpaper and fabrics continues throughout the house — ferns, fruits, flowers, crea-

tures and dense European mini-prints so vivid they jump off the background.

“Wallpaper, it’s my thing,” Teresa says, often in unusual color gradations. Navy, with a touch of teal, becomes Prussian blue; red has deep rather than bright overtones; and green imitates frogs, not limes.

The core of Teresa’s renovation is the living room, whose back wall, paneled to the ceiling, rises 20-plus feet over a formal gathering space with a library section and, at the far end, a dining table seating 12 to 14 “in a pinch.”

Here, Teresa is not shy about expressing her taste. Against one living room wall stands a lamp table lacquered red with gold curlicues, stripped down to pale wood at the top. “All that red and gold . . . just too much,” she decided.

The kitchen escaped significant reconfiguration, although wood cabinets became white and the island more user-friendly. Notable are the side-by-side Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer. Beyond is a kid-friendly family room where the giant circle motif is repeated in wall mirrors. And beyond that is a screened porch and pool.

Teresa haunts auctions and estate sales. “I’m an accumulator,” she admits. At one time, she owned an antique business. Now, she and a partner, Jennifer Beranek, operate Elliott

Rowell, an interior design firm in Aberdeen.

Living space continues in an above-ground lower level, encompassing a game room with pool table, a lounging area for watching movies, several guest bedrooms, 2 ½ bathrooms, a kitchenette and gym with weight-training equipment, an arts and crafts area, and Tony’s office. The walls are mostly done in Teresa’s signature navy blue, also the favored color (along with white) in the main floor master suite.

I love renovation, I feel like the house has a new life, like it’s relevant again.

The totality allows for overstuffed sofas, large fireplaces and multi-era furnishings with a surprise around every corner: A campaign throne/chair stands in a hallway. Children’s furniture creates a village, with ceiling shelves for stuffed animals. A combination laundry/dog parlor has an elevated tub for bathing twin Springer spaniels. Teresa’s classic butler’s pan-

try is a rarity in contemporary construction, but oh, so convenient when serving those 14 guests. A canopyfree four-poster bed dominates the master suite, also home to a giant Boston fern and a bay window. Next up: a rose garden.

“I love renovation,” Teresa says. “I feel like the house has a new life, like it’s relevant again.” PS

Year-Round

Pest Protection Plan+

Christ Church Anglican

ALMANAC August

By a Shley Wal She

August is a dog’s wildest dream.

Beneath the swaying hammocks where the summer-weary rest, the sleeping pup paddles his oversized paws, snout and whiskers gently twitching.

Mute the color palette. Attune to ultrasonic frequencies. Press your nose to the warm earth and breathe.

Can you smell the amalgam of humus and bee balm?

Honeysuckle and musk? Grass clippings and sun-dried worms?

Each inhale carries a luscious stream of scents, a delectable river of possibilities. Each inhale is ecstasy.

At once, nose and paw lift as if pulled by invisible strings. A series of quick sniffs this way. A series of quick sniffs that way. A head tilt, an ear twitch, a rabbit!

Adventure calls.

Plow past the towering Joe Pye, the gleaming goldenrod, the coneflower, milkweed and asters. Faster, faster! Follow the trail, follow your instincts, follow that fluffy white tail!

Lunge left! Lunge right! Dive straight into a — cool, clear creek?

No signs of rabbits in this next dream. You plop down, let your belly press into the silty streambed, take a long, rhythmic drink. The queenking of treefrogs fills the air. A dragonfly lights on your withers.

In the third dream, you’re back with your people, belly-up in the dappled shade, nose wiggling. There’s a picnic blanket, a watermelon, a platter of cucumber sandwiches. This is a dream, right? Sure feels like it. Wonder if they’ll notice if I just sneak one bite.

How to Eat Watermelon

Grill it. Drizzle with honey. Pickle the rinds. Make salsa, gazpacho or caprese.

There’s sorbet, smoothies, minty lemonade. Mocktails, mojitos and ice pops. Good old-fashioned juice.

Serve it sliced, scooped or cubed. Spice it up with lime, salt and chili. Or not. There’s no wrong way to eat or drink it.

Seed Spittin’, Etc.

Nothing says August like a bellyful of watermelon.

Believed to have originated in Africa’s Kalahari Desert as the white-pulped Kordofan melon, the modern beauty we know and love has come a long way, baby. As evidenced by its presence in tomb paintings, the striped fruit was sacred to the ancient Egyptians, cultivated as both a water and food source. Often buried alongside pharaohs, the fruit’s high water content was believed to aid souls on their arduous journey to the afterlife.

Today, popular varieties include crimson sweet, sugar baby, moon and stars, jubilee and Charleston gray.

Celebrate National Watermelon Day on Aug. 3 with a cold one.

The change always comes about mid-August, and it always catches me by surprise. I mean the day when I know that summer is fraying at the edges, that September isn’t far off and fall is just over the hill or up the valley.

— Hal Borland

PS PROfiles

The People & Businesses That Make The Sandhills A More Vibrant Place To Live And Work!

AUGUST 2025

SPONSORED SECTION

PHOTOGRAPHS BY LOLLY NAZARIO

LEE HOWELL OWNER

Just 30 minutes from Southern Pines, Scotland Motors in Laurinburg is a family-run dealership with nearly 60 years of history. Owner Lee Howell, a part-time Pinehurst resident, eagerly welcomes customers from Moore County with a smile and the hometown warmth you’d expect from a neighbor.

Scotland Motors was founded in 1967 by Lee’s father, Harry Howell. Lee grew up in the business, starting with washing cars and making his first sale at age 14. After years working alongside his dad, Lee took over as president in 1996. The dealership’s guiding principle has remained the same: “Sell a good car for a fair price and give better service.”

This philosophy, paired with a loyal team—many of whom have been with the business for decades—has driven the company’s long-standing success. The newest generation is now getting involved: Lee’s daughters, Sydney and Kristin, both O’Neal School alumni, are following in

his footsteps. Sydney returned to Laurinburg after earning master’s degrees in Marketing and Business Leadership from High Point University and now serves on the sales team and as an administrator. Kristin, currently studying at NC State, also hopes to join the business. They describe their father as their best friend and the biggest inspiration and influence in their lives.

Lee’s leadership and dedication to customer satisfaction has earned him significant industry recognition, including State Quality Dealer of the Year, a National Top 50 Independent Dealer award, and the Business of the Year honor in Scotland County in 2017 and from UNCP in 2018.

But he is most proud of doing business “the right way,” with integrity and strong values, and of the growing family legacy that continues to drive Scotland Motors forward.

THE REV. MORRIS THOMPSON III RECTOR

Emmanuel Episcopal Church welcomed Morris Thompson as their new rector in the fall of 2023. A native Kentuckian with deep roots in Mississippi, he is a second generation Episcopal clergyman, growing up always in the Church. Watching his dad walk alongside families through life’s ups and downs showed him that pastoring is about deep, relational presence. It’s not surprising that he felt a calling to the clergy.

Morris holds an undergraduate degree from Mississippi State University and a Masters of Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary. Prior to Emmanuel, he served as curate at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Columbus, Mississippi and as Rector of the Episcopal Church of the Mediator in Meridian, Mississippi.

Father Morris was attracted to Emmanuel because of it’s authenticity, it’s people and their desire to hire a rector who prioritizes relationships. This energized him and he knew he was the right man for this parish.

Emmanuel has a storied history—with church plants, faith-based education, community outreach, and global mission efforts— but Father Morris says they refuse to rest in the past. “We’re active Christian disciples. Emmanuel is a place where our worship is holy, traditional, and intentional, yet we understand God as revealed in scripture as incredibly relevant to our lives today.”

He’s proud to be at Emmanuel at a time of great growth. Their 95-year-old Thrift Shop on Broad Street is being renovated and will reopen this fall. Next year the church building turns 100 and they are engaged with Episcopal Day School to create a masterplan for the block to meet the needs of the next 100 years!

All this, in addition to their various ministries and a terrific music program unmatched within miles, makes Emmanuel a place with incredible energy and momentum! “Come see us, and you’ll discover it for yourself,” welcomes Father Morris.

Morris is husband to Emily and father to Mack and Liza. He enjoys cooking, golfing, hiking, and great adventures. Morris believes that stewardship, community, joy, and unconditional love are the essential tasks of our Faith that we are called to share with the world.

RITA HAIRSTON

VICE PRESIDENT OF LENDING

With Moore County expanding in all directions, many families are making big life decisions as they work to purchase real estate. From your forever home to your first commercial venture, Rita Hairston, Vice President of Lending at Hairston Team CrossCountry Mortgage, is here to help.

Rita grew up in Moore county and moved home to be near family after having children. “Before my career in the mortgage industry, I was a local wedding planner,” she says. “I guess you can say I enjoy being part of a family’s biggest decisions.”

Rita’s personalized approach to the home loan process allows her to provide superior service to clients and partners, as she welcomes new families into our community and guides them through their biggest purchase. CrossCountry Mortgage offers a fully integrated support system with in-house underwriting and dedicated processors. By keeping these services under one roof, Rita can better support clients through every step of the mortgage process.

Rita and her team specialize in all loan programs, but 90% of their business is new construction and VA loans. “I’ve recently been able to offer more unique loan programs that allow me to serve more business owners and members of our community,” she says. And she’s intimately familiar with the struggles these new business owners face. Although Rita has been in the mortgage industry since 2017, she opened the first CrossCountry mortgage in Moore County this year. “As a small business owner, it really is a family commitment, and I could not be more grateful for the love and encouragement that I receive from my husband, children and family.”

Rita pours that same sense of selfless support back into Moore County. “I love giving back to this amazing town! I sponsor many organizations and provide support to other local business owners.”

Rita’s not just building a business, she’s building community. Let her help you find yours.

THE INSURANCE CENTER

For many Americans of a certain age, the coming year will be fraught with challenges. Beyond the inevitable hardships which come with aging, significant changes are coming to Medicare in 2026. There’s never been a more important time to have a trusted agent that you can count on. When selecting an insurance agency, you’re going to want someone local, reliable – and who’s going to pick up the phone.

That’s just what you’ll get at The Insurance Center – a locally owned agency celebrating its 45th year in the Sandhills – where a human being always answers the call. Owned by President Gary McGahey and Vice President Patrick McBrayer, The Insurance Center solely utilizes local independent agents from Moore County who are well versed in Individual Health, Medicare, Group Health and more. They’re invested in this community, because they are this community.

All of the Health agents have deep roots here in the Sandhills. Patrick McBrayer, VP and agent, was born and raised in Moore County. Patrick spent 10 years in the restaurant industry before transitioning to insurance, where he is licensed in all lines, and now

PATRICK MCBRAYER

DAVE BURROWS

enjoys family time and golf. Caleb Huskins was also born and raised in Moore County, and spent time in Winston-Salem insurance before returning home. Licensed in all lines, he enjoys golf and relaxing with his two cats. Jasmine De La Sancha Vallejo, licensed in Individual Health, has been in Moore County over 20 years, and her special skill set includes fluency in English and Spanish. Agent Dave Burrows, who has lived in North Carolina for more than 20 years, recently joined the team from FirstCarolinaCare as the company prepares to exit the market by the end of 2025. He brings with him licenses in Individual and Group Health – and a passion for our community. With more experienced agents arriving to The Insurance Center soon, the future is bright for our locally focused operations.

During almost a half century in business, the team at The Insurance Center has seen it all. They’re familiar not only with the challenges facing customers today, but with the concerns of Sandhills residents specifically. Together, these local agents are prepared to help our community through the tough times, so we can celebrate the good ones together.

VICE PRESIDENT JASMINE DE LA SANCHA VALLEJO

CALEB HUSKINS

FORTH HEFFNER

LEADERSHIP COACH

Forth Heffner didn’t know from a young age what he wanted to be when he ‘grew up.’ His wasn’t a straight path and came through lots of trials and mistakes. After the sudden passing of his father in 2011, Forth and his brother found themselves tragically unprepared to run the family business, forced into leadership positions they weren’t ready for. He knew they needed help and sought out consultants and coaches. Through this journey, Forth ultimately found his true calling in coaching and guiding businesses towards their vision.

In this capacity, he is dedicated to providing clients with a top-tier experience, leveraging his expertise and passion for coaching. “I wake up every day and work with leadership teams helping them to reclaim the hope and joy that originally drove them to their business,” Forth says.

Business owners often find themselves juggling a million things — team issues, missed deadlines, cash flow stress — which stand in between them and forward movement of their business. As a Strategic Coach Forth helps leaders eliminate the chaos in their business by cutting through the noise and getting straight to the root of the problem.

He prides himself on a no-fluff approach to helping high achievers bring structure, accountability and focus to their business that will allow them to step back from day-to-day operations and create real strategies for success. “If you’re looking for another feel-good mastermind or a stepby-step checklist for mediocrity, this isn’t for you,” Heffner says. “But if you’re ready to build something bigger than yourself, take calculated risks, and turn your vision into reality — let’s talk.”

Take the first step towards balance and success by contacting Forth Heffner to see how, together, you can recognize the full potential of the business you’ve worked hard to build.

fheffner@thefacultyresource.com 828.719.5051

CHRISTI WOODS, D.O. MEDICAL DIRECTOR

Advance. Evolve. Educate. If these aren’t words you associate with cosmetic laser services, they should be. For Christi Woods, D.O., new Medical Director of The Laser Institute of Pinehurst, they’re a reflection of her own values.

Born in West Virginia, Dr. Woods grew up in Charleston before beginning her education journey at Virginia Tech. After completing medical school at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, she started her career with a Board Certification in Emergency Medicine, eventually serving as a director of Emergency Medicine and Trauma for over 10 years. Seeking a new challenge and work-life balance, Dr. Woods went on to practice in a large Dermatology office for over seven years before making the move to Pinehurst, enticed by the opportunity to gain experience and responsibility.

At Pinehurst Laser Institute Dr. Woods leads a team of nine employees, working hard creating a personalized dermatology experience for their patients. They offer a broad spectrum of advanced laser treatments including hair removal, tattoo removal, aging skin treatment, wrinkle management, sun spot removal, and acne and acne scarring, along with fillers and aesthetic skin care. Moreover, as one of the only cosmetic practices in the area with a physician on staff and present full time, Dr. Woods and her team are less limited in the scope of treatments they offer.

Coming from a family of teachers, Dr. Woods prides herself on educating her patients while working together to create personalized treatment plans; and with new techniques constantly evolving, the team at The Laser Institute keeps their own education current with industry advances. The acquisition of two new, cuttingedge lasers, the AviClear and a CO2 laser, will put the practice even further at the forefront.

With many interests ranging from gardening to travel, cuisine to scuba diving, Dr. Woods has plenty to keep her busy. But for now, she’s enjoying this new challenge and getting to know her new home here in Moore County.

DEAN KING OWNER/ARCHITECT

Dean King, Owner/Architect of Pinnacle Design Build, was born in Hamlet and raised in Rockingham. Living right here in the Sandhills, he has always loved Moore County. “Moore County was where we came for special dinners, movies, shopping and golf. I was working for an architect in Charlotte in 2005, when I was drawn to return and make this area my home. I have lived here for almost 20 years now and have built my family and business here,” Dean says.

And what a business it is. Pinnacle Design Build was founded in June 2024, but Dean has been an owner/operator of Pinnacle Development Design Build with his partner Donald Johnson since 2011. Donald’s retirement this year prompted him to set out solo.

If you’ve ever set foot in Southern Pines, you’ve seen some of Pinnacle’s fine work. From the striking brick townhomes on Broad, to Southern Pines Growler Company, Hatchet Brewery, or the Rec Room, Dean’s eye for tasteful design and sound construction is notable in every space. After 19 years with Pinnacle, he’s crafted dozens of custom homes, townhome communities and special commercial buildings, with the occasional historical renovation thrown in.

Pinnacle’s success is a family affair, as Dean’s wife Tori has spent the last decade or more helping Pinnacle with design choices, finishing touches, photography and, most recently, daily business operations.

“We always have new projects in the works!” Dean says. “We’ll have a couple of nearly 10,000 square foot homes coming up next year, as well as a commercial project we can’t quite discuss.”

While raising his two children here, Dean has poured himself into helping the Sandhills become the vibrant town it is now. “I have tried to leave my mark in Moore County through my design.” He’s honored to have been a part of our community’s journey, and is ready to be a part of yours.

DANA L. CASSON, CFRE PRESIDENT,

THE FOUNDATION OF FIRSTHEALTH

The Foundation of FirstHealth has long supported our community, tracing its philanthropic heritage back to 1928. From the smallest critical access hospital in Troy to the tertiary center in Pinehurst, their health programs continue to improve lives far beyond hospital walls. It is a mission about which the Foundation’s new president, Dana Casson, is deeply passionate.

“There is an urgency to our work, an urgency to save lives, expand access and ensure that no one in our region goes without the care they need,” she says. “The Foundation is not just about funding projects; it’s about transformational philanthropy. It’s about reimagining what’s possible.”

Dana is well equipped to lead these efforts, bringing to the position over 20 years of experience in executive fundraising within leading health care organizations. A Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE), she joined the team in October 2024, having led philanthropic efforts within health care organizations from Winston-Salem to Detroit, Ohio and D.C.

FirstFutures, the Foundation’s newest initiative, is a prime example of their groundbreaking efforts at work in the community. The Foundation hopes to educate and grow the next generation of the health care workforce through partnerships with local community colleges, empowering students with both an education and a career.

As widely traveled as she is, Dana’s past several years in Pinehurst have been some of the most rewarding. She finds Moore County to be an exceptional place to live thanks to the great people, fantastic weather and non-stop entertainment.

Beyond her many accolades, Dana is most proud to be “Mom” to her two daughters. Motherhood speaks to the root of who she is, and why the new President of The Foundation of FirstHealth is the ideal leader to continue advancing their core purpose – to care for people.

CLARKE AND CINDY EDGAR OWNERS

There’s no better feeling than the wind in your hair cruising down the interstate – except the breeze blowing by as you cruise around town running errands and hitting the links in your own golf cart. A leisurely vehicle, for a leisurely way of life.

It’s that slower pace which brought Clarke and Cindy Edgar, owners of Carolina Carriage, to Moore County in the first place.

Clarke’s parents retired to Pinehurst 25 years ago, and their family’s first relationship with the Sandhills began over holiday visits. “We loved the area so much, with its many activities, that we decided to move here as well!” Clarke says. “My career on Wall Street was coming to an end, and I thought a golf cart dealership in the area would thrive. We purchased Carolina Carriage, and moved to Pinehurst.”

First founded in 1982, Carolina Carriage is now the largest golf cart dealer in the Sandhills, selling new, refurbished and used golf carts. They also offer parts, services, and cart rentals. They offer premium brands, and they have special licensing to allow the sale of LSVs (street-legal golf carts). Talk about wind in your hair; LSVs can travel on 35 MPH streets, and areas where ordinary golf carts cannot.

But their biggest draw is the people behind the product. “Our Service Department has over 60 years of repair experience, stocking parts for

our brands. We deliver our carts to the customer, and pick-up for annual servicing. We stand-by our product.” Carolina Carriage has been awarded Club Car’s prestigious “Black and Gold” Award multiple times for sales and customer satisfaction!

After 40 years of marriage the Edgars now enjoy time visiting their three grown children (and first grandchild!) but they’re always happy to head home to Pinehurst. After all, there’s no place like home – and no ride like a golf cart.

To add an event, email us at

arts & entertainment

Although conscientious effort is made to provide accurate and up-to-date information, all events are subject to change and errors can occur! Please call to verify times, costs, status and location before planning or attending any events.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 1

SUMMERWEEN. Kids and families can celebrate “Summerween at the Library.” This all-day family event features children’s films and shows pulled from the library’s streaming service, Kanopy. Get into the spirit and wear your costumes. Stop in to beat the heat and get ready for fall. Southern Pines Public Library, 170 W. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-8235 or www.sppl.net.

EXHIBITION. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. The Dark Show explores the interplay of light and shadow through luminous, light-emitting works in glass, ceramics and more. Open to the public through Aug. 23. Starworks Cafe & Taproom, 100 Russell Drive, Star. Info: www.StarworksNC.org.

SUP TRAININGS. 10 - 11:30 a.m. Ages 16 and older can come practice stand-up paddle boarding. Reservoir Park, 300 Reservoir Park Drive, Southern Pines. Info: Southern Pines Parks & Recreation (910) 692-7376.

LUNCH BUNCH. 11:30 a.m. Adults 55 and older are invited to dine on different cuisines each month visiting restaurants in the area. Carpool with friends or meet at the restaurant. Dining locations will be chosen the week before. Info: (910) 692-7376.

OPENING RECEPTION. 5 - 7 p.m. The exhibit “More than Miniatures — Small Art” will be on display through Aug. 29. Artists League of the Sandhills, 129 Exchange St., Aberdeen. Info: www.artistleague.org.

FIRST FRIDAY. 5 - 9 p.m. Join the fun at this free concert series. The Jonathan Robinson Band will perform at the greenspace next to the Sunrise Theater, 250 N.W. Broad St., Southern Pines. Info: www.sunrisetheater.com.

OPENING RECEPTION. 6 - 8 p.m. The Arts Council of Moore County presents its annual Fine Arts Festival. Artwork will be on exhibit through Aug. 27. Arts Council of Moore County, 482 E. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-2787 or www.mooreart.org.

KARAOKE. 7 - 10 p.m. Enjoy some cosmic karaoke. Free of charge. Only ages 18 and older after 9 p.m. Starworks Cafe &

Art on Screen: Klimt & The Kiss

Saturday, August 2, 2-4 p.m. The Sunrise Theater

Taproom, 100 Russell Drive, Star. Info: www. StarworksNC.org.

THEATER. 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Imagine Youth Theater presents Hadestown Teen Edition. Owens Auditorium, 3395 Airport Road, Pinehurst. Info: www.ticketmesandhills.com.

THEATRE FESTIVAL. 7 - 9 p.m. The Judson Theatre Company concludes its summer theatre festival with Dear Jack, Dear Louise Performances continue through Aug. 10. McPherson Theater at BPAC, 3395 Airport Road, Pinehurst. Info: www.ticketmesandhills. com.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 2

KID’S SATURDAY. 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Families are invited to a monthly themed craft event to socialize and get creative. Geared toward ages 3 - 10. Given Memorial Library, 150 Cherokee Road, Pinehurst. Info: (910) 295-3642 or www. vopnc.org.

ART ON SCREEN. 2 - 4 p.m. Enjoy the film Klimt & The Kiss. Sunrise Theater, 250 N.W. Broad St., Southern Pines. Info: www.sunrisetheater.com.

LIVE MUSIC. 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Jamie Trout performs. Free of charge. Starworks Cafe & Taproom, 100 Russell Drive, Star. Info: www.StarworksNC.org.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 3

CAT VIDEO FEST. 1:30 - 3 p.m. Watch silly

cat videos for a good cause. Cameo Art House Theatre, 225 Hay St., Fayetteville. Info: www. ticketmesandhills.com.

WRITING GROUP. 3 p.m. Are you interested in creating fiction, nonfiction, poetry or comics? Come to the Sunday Afternoon Writing Group. Connect with other writers and artists, chat about your craft, and get feedback about your work. All levels welcome. Zoom only. Info: lholden@sppl.net.

MONDAY, AUGUST 4

QUILTS OF VALOR. 12 - 4 p.m. Quilts of Valor meets the first Monday of each month to create lap quilts made for veterans. If you sew, bring your machine; if you don’t sew, you can iron or cut out fabrics for new designs. This is a free program. Moore County Senior Enrichment Center, 8040 U.S. 15-501, West End.

PATCH AND STITCH. 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Drop in for a Teen Patch & Stitch to sew patches onto clothes, backpacks, jean jackets, etc. There will be basic sewing supplies and some patches for use, but bring your own items for patching. Southern Pines Public Library, 170 W. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-8235 or www.sppl.net.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 5

BRAIN FITNESS. 10 - 11 a.m. Adults 18 and

older are invited to enjoy short relaxation and brain enhancement exercises, ending with a mindfulness practice. Eve Gaskell will be the instructor. Free of charge. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

ALCOHOL INK ART. 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Adults 55 and older can enjoy this easy and beautiful alcohol ink-on-tile art class. Free of charge. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

GHOST ALMANAC. 7:30 - 9 p.m. Ghost Almanac is an 80-minute program of short horror films with live musical accompaniment and sound effects. Cameo Art House Theatre, 225 Hay St., Fayetteville. Info: www.ticketmesandhills.com.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6

PLAY TIME IN THE PARK. 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Kids ages 3 - 12, bring your parents and join other friends for two hours of giant checkers, giant Jenga, bubbles, fun and more. Who knows, you may meet some new friends. Downtown Park, Southern Pines. Info: Southern Pines Parks & Recreation (910) 692-7376.

CLASS. 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. All ages can enjoy the Lights, Camera, Action! class. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

MET OPERA. 2 - 4 p.m. Summer encore: Lucia di Lammermoor. Sunrise Theater, 250 N.W. Broad St., Southern Pines. Info: www. sunrisetheater.com.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7

NATURE CONNECTION. 10 - 11 a.m. All ages can learn and explore nature. Downtown Park, Southern Pines. Info: Southern Pines Parks & Recreation (910) 692-7376.

EDUCATIONAL TRAINING. 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Adults 55 and older can get educational training free of charge. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 8

POPSICLE POP-UP. 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Cool down this summer with free ice pops at local parks. While supplies last. Soccer complex, 100

AUGUST

Fire Lane, Southern Pines. Info: Southern Pines Parks & Recreation (910) 692-7376.

LIVE AFTER 5. 5:15 - 9 p.m. Dance the night away with the band Irresistible Groove. There will be kids’ activities and food trucks on-site. Beer, wine and additional beverages will be available for purchase. Picnic baskets are allowed, but outside alcoholic beverages are not permitted. Free event. The Village Arboretum, 375 Magnolia Road, Pinehurst. Info: www.vopnc.org.

An Introduction to Kayaking

Saturday, August 9, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Reservoir Park

MOONLIGHT HIKE. 8:30 p.m. All ages are welcome to discover nature by moonlight. Listen to the sounds of the night as you walk the trail. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Don’t forget to bring a flashlight. Free of charge. Weymouth Woods Nature Preserve, 1024 Fort Bragg Road, Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 9

SATURDAY CATCH. 9 - 10 a.m. Kids ages 5 - 16 can learn about fishing. Reservoir Park, 300 Reservoir Park Drive, Southern Pines.

Info: Southern Pines Parks & Recreation (910) 692-7376.

KAYAKING. 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Adults 18 and older can come to an introduction to kayaking. Reservoir Park, 300 Reservoir Park Drive, Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

STORYTIME. 10:15 a.m. Saturday Storytime is a once-a-month program for children from birth to age 5. There will be stories, songs, rhymes and smiles. Caregivers and young children can interact and explore the fun of language and early literacy. There are space constraints for this indoor story time. Southern Pines Public Library, 170 W. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines. Info: www.sppl.net.

HORSE EVENT. War Horse schooling event, running through Aug. 10. Carolina Horse Park, 2814 Montrose Road, Raeford. Info: www. carolinahorsepark.com.

LIVE MUSIC. 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Rusted Luck performs. Free of charge. Starworks Cafe & Taproom, 100 Russell Drive, Star. Info: www. StarworksNC.org.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 10

STEAM. 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. Elementary-aged children and their caregivers are invited to learn about topics in science, technology, engineering, art and math and to participate in STEAM projects and activities. This month make your own ice cream in a bag. Southern Pines Public Library, 170 W. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-8235 or www.sppl.net.

MONDAY, AUGUST 11

JAZZ CONCERT. 6:30 - 8 p.m. The Sandhills Community College Jazz Band continues its summer concert series with “A Swingin’ Summer: Count Basie Meets Motown!” Free and open to the public. Tickets required. Owens Auditorium, 3395 Airport Road, Pinehurst. Info: www.ticketmesandhills.com.

PHOTO CLUB. 7 p.m. The Sandhills Photo Club’s monthly meeting features a competition among members with the theme “Churches and Graveyards.” Members should be creative in capturing the spiritual, heartfelt importance of houses of worship and express the quiet solitude of those honored there and elsewhere. Guests are welcome. Sandhills Horticultural

August 1-August 10 McPherson Theatre @BPAC

Join

Pick

Dine

PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS

195 American Fusion

Aberdeen Carolina & Western

Railway Entertainment Car BHAWK

The Buggy Factory

Chef Warren’s Bistro Drum & Quill

Embers BBQ

Golden Corral Favorites

Ironwood Cafe

Jaya’s Indian Cuisine Maisonette

PL8TE, Southern Table Sante

The Seven27 Lounge

The Sly Fox Pub Table on the Green Taglios

Vito’s Pizzeria of Pinehurst

Vito’s Ristorante & Pizzeria

The Workshop Tavern …and more!

Center Ball Visitors Center, 3245 Airport Road, Southern Pines. Info: sandhillsphotoclub.org.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 12

HATHA YOGA. 10 - 11 a.m. Adults 55 and older can increase flexibility, balance, stability and muscle tone while learning the basic principles of alignment and breathing. You may gain strength, improve circulation and reduce chronic pain practicing gentle yoga postures and mindfulness. Free of charge. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

CANVAS ART AND ALCOHOL INK. 11 a.m.

- 12 p.m. Adults 55 and older can enjoy a stepby-step tutorial with canvas art or alcohol ink-on -tile. Free of charge. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

AARP TALK. 12 - 12:30 p.m. Adults 55 and older are invited to join AARP for a fraud talk. Free of charge. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13

TECH TIME. 11 a.m. Join a walk-in tech time where you can get hands-on help with tech

questions. Whether you’re new to computers, want to learn more about your smartphone, or want to learn how to use your e-Reader, library staff will guide you. Southern Pines Public Library, 170 W. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines. Info: jmilford@sppl.net.

PICNIC IN THE PARK. 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Join Southern Pines Parks & Recreation for fun games, crafts and story time for ages 3 - 12. Bring your own picnic lunch. Free of charge. Downtown Park, Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 14

MONTHLY TOUR. 10 a.m. Want to create a monarch-friendly garden? Join the docents this month to learn the secrets for setting up a garden habitat “fit for a queen,” using scientific research. See monarch habitats already active in the gardens. Free event. Limit 15 people. Sandhills Horticultural Gardens, 3245 Airport Road, Pinehurst. Info: www.sandhills.edu/ gardenevents.

CORNHOLE. 12 - 1 p.m. Adults 55 and older are invited to work on their aim and have fun with friends. Free of charge. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

TECHNOLOGY CLASS. 12 - 1 p.m. Adults 55 and older are invited to get one-on-one help with cellphones, email, Facebook, Skype and more. Free of charge. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

BOOK EVENT. 6 - 7 p.m. Retired Lt. Col. Ted Mataxis Jr. will discuss Ride to the Sound of the Guns: The Life of a Cold War Warrior, Brig. General (Ret.) Theodore C. Mataxis. The Country Bookshop, 140 N.W. Broad St., Southern Pines. Info: www.ticketmesandhills. com.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 15

HORSE EVENT. Sedgefield at the Park “C” Hunter Jumper Series. The event runs through Aug. 17. Carolina Horse Park, 2814 Montrose Road, Raeford. Info: www.carolinahorsepark.com.

SPECIAL PRESENTATION. 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Join Christian Flores from the Moore County Extension Office for a special presentation on “Venus Fly Traps and Carnivorous Plants.” Learn what makes these plants special and get information about caring for them at home. This program is geared toward adults, but the information is suitable for all ages. Southern Pines Public Library, 170 W. Connecticut Ave.,

$3,600,000

Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-8235 or www. sppl.net.

END OF SUMMER PARTY. 5:30 - 8 p.m. Join Southern Pines Parks & Recreation’s second annual summer party with food trucks, tattoos, bounce houses, yard games, water slides, music and more. For all ages. Free of charge. Downtown Park, Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

Outdoor Movie:

Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie Friday, August 15, 8 p.m. Southern Pines Downtown park

OUTDOOR MOVIE. 8 p.m. Take the whole family to a showing of Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie. Concessions will be available for purchase. Bring a blanket or chair. For all ages. Free of charge. Downtown Park, Southern Pines. Info: Southern Pines Parks & Recreation (910) 692-7376.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16

STATE PARK VISIT. 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Teens ages 13 - 16 can enjoy the outdoors in Morrow Mountain State Park, one of North Carolina’s many beautiful state parks. Cost is $12 for residents and $17 for non-residents. Buses depart from the rec center at Memorial Park, 160 Memorial Park Court, Southern Pines. Info: Southern Pines Parks & Recreation (910) 692-7376.

DISCUSSION. 10:30 a.m. Join an open group discussion about Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) designed to support families navigating special education. Community leaders and experts will be on hand to answer questions

and provide guidance. Hosted in partnership with Sandhills Friends and Southern Pines Public Library. Southern Pines Public Library, 170 W. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines. Info and RSVP: myriam@sandhillsfriends.com or kbroughey@sppl.net.

DANCE. 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Get your dancing shoes on and join the fun with Carolina Pines Dance Club to dance swing, shag, ballroom, Latin and line dances. Cost is $10 per person. Given Outpost/Roast Office, 95 Cherokee Road, Pinehurst. Info: (910) 331-9965.

TRIVIA NIGHT. 7 - 9 p.m. Compete for gift certificates and bragging rights. Free of charge. Starworks Cafe & Taproom, 100 Russell Drive, Star. Info: www.StarworksNC.org.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 19

BRAIN FITNESS. 10 - 11 a.m. Adults 18 and older are invited to enjoy short relaxation and brain enhancement exercises, ending with a mindfulness practice. Eve Gaskell will be the instructor. Free of charge. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

BINGO. 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Adults 55 and older are invited to play 10 games of bingo. Cost is $4 for residents and $6 for non-residents. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

AUGUST CALENDAR

FRIDAY, AUGUST 22

POLLINATOR CENSUS. 9 - 11 a.m. Learn about the different types of pollinators, what they look like and how they contribute to food production while making a difference in pollinator conservation. Free of charge. The event continues on Aug. 23 from 9 - 11 a.m. Sandhills Horticultural Gardens, 3245 Airport Road, Pinehurst. Info: www.sandhills.edu/ gardenevents.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 23

CRAFT DAYS. Children and their families can come to the library for drop-in craft days to work on crafts and coloring at their own pace. Southern Pines Public Library, 170 W. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-8235 or www.sppl.net.

CRAFT ACTIVITY. 9 - 11 a.m. Join Moore County 4-H Extension agent Kaley Lawing for a creative morning making homes for the bees out of everyday household items. This free, fun and educational craft activity for children will be held in collaboration with the Great Southeast Pollinator Census. Sandhills Horticultural Gardens, 3245 Airport Road, Pinehurst. Info: www.sandhills.edu/ gardenevents.

WELDING WORKSHOP. 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Join an introductory welding workshop and learn from an expert welder and metal artist. Cost is $250 per student. Starworks, 100 Russell Drive, Star. Info: www.StarworksNC.org.

MONDAY, AUGUST 25

BOOK EVENT. 5 - 6 p.m. Listen to Stephanie Griest and Kimberly Daniels Taws discuss Griest’s latest book, Art Above Everything: One Woman’s Global Quest to Understand the Sacrifices and Glories of a Creative Life. Free event. The Country Bookshop, 140 N.W. Broad St., Southern Pines. Info: www.ticketmesandhills. com.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27

JAZZ NIGHT. 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Soul Noises performs. Free of charge. Starworks Cafe & Taproom, 100 Russell Drive, Star. Info: www. StarworksNC.org.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28

WELLNESS CLASSES. 10 - 11:30 a.m. Adults 18 and older are invited to learn ways to improve the overall mind, body and spirit. Free of charge. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

MEDICAL MINUTES. 1 - 2 p.m. Adults 55 and older can join Craig Alford for monthly

topics helpful to the senior community. Free of charge. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

HORSE EVENT. Sedgefield at the Park “A” Hunter Jumper Series. The event runs through Aug. 31. Carolina Horse Park, 2814 Montrose Road, Raeford. Info: www.carolinahorsepark. com.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 29

SENIOR EXCURSION. 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Adults 55 and older can explore the North Carolina Mining Museum and take an underground tour of the historic Bon Ami Mine. Lunch at Western Sizzlin’ to follow. Cost is $55 for residents and $77 for non-residents. Info: (910) 692-7376.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 30

TRIBUTE BAND. 8 - 11 p.m. Listen to Runaway Gin, the country’s best Phish tribute band. Sunrise Theater, 250 N.W. Broad St., Southern Pines. Info: www.sunrisetheater.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13

CONCERT. 6 - 9:15 p.m. Gary Roland & The Landsharks Band perform a tribute to Jimmy Buffett. Cooper Ford, 5292 U.S. 15, Carthage. Info: www.ticketmesandhills.com.

WEEKLY EVENTS

MONDAYS

WORKSPACES. 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. The Given Tufts Bookshop has a pop-in co-workspace open on Mondays and Thursdays in the upstairs conference room. Bookshop floor and private meeting room by reservation only. Info: www. giventuftsfoundation.com.

WORKOUTS. 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Adults 55 and older are invited to get their workout on. Open Monday through Friday. Cost for

AUGUST

six months: $15/resident; $30/non-resident. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

CHAIR YOGA. 9 - 10 a.m. For adults 55 and older. Help offset body aches encountered with desk work. This is an accessible yoga class for bodies not able to easily get up from and down to the floor. Do standing or sitting in a chair. Free of charge. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

SENIOR FITNESS. 11 a.m. Adults 55 and older are invited to a TruFit gym class to improve strength, mobility and flexibility. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

RESTORATIVE YOGA. 12 p.m. For adults 55 and older. Practice gentle movements to improve well-being. Practice movements that may help alleviate pain and improve circulation. Bring your own mat. Free of charge. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

GAME ON. 1 p.m. For adults 55 and older. Come out and play various games such as corn hole, badminton, table tennis, shuffleboard, trivia, and more. Each week enjoy a different activity to keep moving and thinking. Compete with friends and make new ones all for free. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

TAI CHI. 1 - 2 p.m. For adults 55 and older. Improve your balance, mentally and physically, to help reduce the rate of falls in older adults, while improving relaxation, vitality and posture. Free of charge. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

BRIDGE. 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. For adults 55 and older. Enjoy games of bridge with friends. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

TUESDAYS

PLAYFUL LEARNING. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Come for a drop-in, open playtime for ages 0 - 3 years to interact with other children and have educational play. Given Memorial Library, 150 Cherokee Road, Pinehurst. Info: (910) 295-3642.

BABY RHYMES. 10:15 a.m. Baby Rhymes is designed for the youngest learners (birth- 2) and their caregivers. Repetition and comforting movements make this story time perfect for early development and brain growth. There will be a duplicate session at 10:45 a.m. An active library card is required. Dates this month are Aug. 5, 12, 19 and 26. Southern Pines Public Library, 170 W. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-8235 or www.sppl.net.

GAME DAY. 12 p.m. Enjoy bid whist and other cool games all in the company of great friends. For adults 55 and older. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

CHESS. 1:30 - 5 p.m. Join a chess group, whether you have been playing for a while or are a beginner. This is a free program. Moore County Senior Enrichment Center, 8040 U.S. 15-501, West End.

LINE DANCE. 4:45 p.m. Put on your dancing shoes and line dance. This is for beginners and is a free program. Moore County Senior Enrichment Center, 8040 U.S. 15-501, West End.

WEDNESDAYS

CHAIR AEROBICS. 10 - 11 a.m. For adults 55 and older. Put on your boogie shoes and jam. Party up a sweat to great music through the ages. Stand and chair dance to an energizing, low-impact aerobic workout. Free of charge. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

BRAIN BOOST. 10 - 11 a.m. Test your memory while creating new brain connec-

tions. This is a free program. Moore County Senior Enrichment Center, 8040 U.S. 15-501, West End.

KNITTING. 10 - 11 a.m. Learn how to knit or enjoy knitting with other people. This is a free program. Moore County Senior Enrichment Center, 8040 U.S. 15-501, West End.

BABY STORYTIME. 10 - 11 a.m. Have fun developing the foundation for your baby’s later reading with stories, songs and play. Open to parents and caregivers of infants from newborn to 24 months. Moore County Library, 101 W. Saunders St., Carthage. Info: (910) 947-5335.

LEARN AND PLAY. 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Bring your toddler or preschooler to an open play date with developmental toys and puzzles as well as early literacy tips for parents and caregivers to incorporate into their daily activities. Dates this month are Aug. 6, 13, 20 and 27. Southern Pines Public Library, 170 W. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-8235 or www. sppl.net.

SENIOR FITNESS. 11 a.m. Adults 55 and older are invited to a TruFit gym class to improve strength, mobility and flexibility. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

PIANO. 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Join Flint Long to play piano or just listen. This is a free program. Moore County Senior Enrichment Center, 8040 U.S. 15-501, West End.

LINE DANCING. 12 - 1 p.m. Looking for a new way to get your daily exercise in and care for yourself? Try line dancing. For adults 55 and older. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

CHAIR VOLLEYBALL. 1 - 2 p.m. For adults 55 and older. Get fit while having fun. Free to participate. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

BRIDGE. 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. For adults 55 and older. Enjoy games of bridge with friends. All materials included. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

DANCE. 2 - 2:30 p.m. For adults 55 and older. Instructor Maria Amaya will introduce you to a dance fitness class designed for anyone who wants to gently and gradually increase cardio function, mobility and balance and have fun at the same time. Free of charge. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

LINE DANCING. 2 p.m. The town of Vass will host line dancing for seniors every other Wednesday. Cost is $5 per session. Vass Town Hall, 140 S. Alma St., Vass. Info: www. townofvassnc.gov.

TAI CHI. 2 - 3 p.m. For adults 55 and older. Improve balance, mentally and physically, to help reduce the rate of falls in older adults, while improving relaxation, vitality and posture. Free of charge. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

LIBRARY PROGRAM. 3:30 p.m. At The Library After School (ATLAS) is an after-school program for ages kindergarten through second grader who enjoy activities, crafts, stories and meeting new friends. Dates this month are Aug. 6, 13, 20 and 27. Southern Pines Public Library, 170 W. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-8235 or www.sppl.net.

TAI CHI. 6:30 p.m. Learn tai chi. There is no age limit and the classes are open to the public. Cost is $10 per class. Seven Lakes West Community Center, 556 Longleaf Drive, Seven Lakes. Info: (910) 400-5646.

THURSDAYS

WORKSPACES. 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. The Given

Tufts Bookshop has a pop-in co-workspace open on Mondays and Thursdays in the upstairs conference room. Bookshop floor and private meeting room by reservation only. Info: www. giventuftsfoundation.com.

MOORE COUNTY FARMERS MARKET.

9 a.m. - 1 p.m. The year-round market features “producer only” vendors within a 50-mile radius providing fresh, local and seasonal produce, fruits, pasture meats, eggs, potting plants, cut flowers and local honey. Crafts, baked goods, jams and jellies are also available. Market is located at the Armory Sports Complex, 604 W. Morganton Road, Southern Pines.

GIVEN STORY TIME. 10 a.m. Bring your preschooler to enjoy stories, songs and activities. Given Memorial Library, 150 Cherokee Road, Pinehurst. Info: (910) 295-3642.

BALANCE AND FLEXIBILITY. 10 - 11 a.m.

Adults 55 and older are invited to enjoy a class that can help reduce the risk of taking a tumble and increase their ability to recover if they do. Free of charge. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

MUSIC AND MOTION. 10:15 and 10:45 a.m.

Does your toddler like to move and groove? Join Music and Motion to get those wiggles out and work on gross and fine motor skills. For 2 - 5 year olds. An active library card is required. Dates this month are Aug. 7, 14, 21 and 28. Southern Pines Public Library, 170 W. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-8235 or www.sppl.net.

GENTLE YOGA. 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Adults 55 and older are invited to unwind, recharge and find peace in their week. Free of charge. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

CHESS AND MAHJONG. 1 p.m. For adults 55 and older. Bring a board and a friend. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

IMPROVERS LINE DANCE. 3 - 5:30 p.m. Put on your dancing shoes and line dance. This is a free program. Moore County Senior Enrichment Center, 8040 U.S. 15-501, West End.

LITTLE U. 3:30 p.m. Little U is Southern Pines Public Library’s preschool program for children ages 3 1/2 – 5 featuring stories, songs, rhymes and activities that explore the world of books,

language and literacy. Little U is a fun and interactive program designed to help preschoolers develop early literacy skills in preparation for kindergarten and beyond. Dates this month are Aug. 7, 14, 21 and 28. Southern Pines Public Library, 170 W. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-8235 or www.sppl.net.

TRIVIA NIGHT. 7 - 9 p.m. Come enjoy a beer and some trivia. Hatchet Brewing Company, 490 S.W. Broad St., Southern Pines. Info: www. hatchetbrewing.com.

FRIDAYS

AEROBIC DANCE. 9 - 10 a.m. For adults 55 and older. Enjoy a low-to-moderate impact class with energizing music for an overall cardio and strength workout. Free of charge. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

JAM SESSION. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Do you like to play an instrument, sing or just listen to music? Join a music jam session. This is a free program. Moore County Senior Enrichment Center, 8040 U.S. 15-501, West End.

TAP CLASS. 10 - 11:30 a.m. For adults 55 and older. All levels welcome. Cost per class: $15/resident; $30/non-resident. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania

More than Miniatures – Small Art

The League’s August exhibit features miniature and small works of art. The opening reception will be held on Friday, August 1, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Art work that is 10 x 10 or smaller will be on display. The exhibit and sale will continue through August 29. Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday, noon to 3:00. Studios (with hundreds of additional paintings) are open Monday through Friday, 10:30-3:00, and Saturday, noon to 3:00.

Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

SENIOR FITNESS. 11:30 a.m. Adults 55 and older are invited to a TruFit gym class to improve strength, mobility and flexibility. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

QIGONG. 1 p.m. For adults 55 and older. Classes will consist of chair and standing movements that can help soothe achy feet and tight hips while easing lower back pain and restrictions in mobility. Free of charge. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

FARMERS MARKET. 1 - 6 p.m. The Monroe Street Farmers Market offers locally grown produce, raised meats, honey, breads, pastries and more. Quida’s Food Truck Park, 310 Monroe St., Carthage. Info: monroestreetmarket310@ gmail.com.

BRIDGE. 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. For adults 55 and older. Enjoy games of bridge with friends. All materials included. Douglass Community Center, 1185 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. Info: (910) 692-7376.

SATURDAYS

MOORE COUNTY FARMERS MARKET. 8

a.m. - 12 p.m. The market features “producer only” vendors within a 50-mile radius providing fresh, local and seasonal produce, fruits, pasture meats, eggs, potting plants, cut flowers and local honey. Crafts, baked goods, jams and jellies are also available. The market runs through the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Downtown Southern Pines, 156 S.E. Broad St., Southern Pines.

SANDHILLS FARMERS MARKET. 10 a.m. –1 p.m. The Sandhills Farmers Market features many of the area’s farms, nurseries, bakeries, meat and egg providers, cheesemakers and specialty food producers. The vendors are on site at Tufts Memorial Park, 1 Village Green Road W., Pinehurst through October 5. For more information visit: www.moorefarmfresh.com.

SUNDAYS

CABIN TOURS. 2 - 4 p.m. The Moore County Historical Association’s Bryant House and McLendon Cabin can be toured with a docent on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month. Admission is free. Tours run through October. Bryant House, 3361 Mount Carmel Road, Carthage. Info: (910) 692-2051 or www.moorehistorycom. PS

910.387.9216

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Weddings - Memorials - Special Events

Weddings - Memorials - Special Events

Weddings - Memorials - Special Events

SandhillSeen

Weymouth Sunday Jazz

Al Strong Band

Weymouth Center

May 18, 2025

Photographs by Diane McKay

SandhillSeen

Fourth of July

Village of Pinehurst

July 4, 2025

Photographs by Jeanna Paine

Christina Baranoski, Nina Della Vecchia

Tommy Spunt, Violet Peters

Michele Mehler, Terry Julius

Stan Atwater, Margie Wilder

Jim Dekornfeld, Dawn Penfold, Blanca

James Walters, Caron Register

Kelly Nelson, Lauri Mucciolo, Denny Cook & Sherlock

Katrina Graham

Nathon & Ashley Kaminski Steve

Olivia King Pants Teng & Hillary Vang

Bill & Jon Ogorek

David & Mary Helen Young

Elle & Wade Daniels

Paisley, Emersyn & Daisy Falk

SandhillSeen

Juneteenth Celebration

West Southern Pines Center

June 20, 2025

Photographs by Diane McKay

James Miller, Arianone DeGarr, Christmas DeGarr-Miller

Kathy Robinson

Charlene Ross

Anthony McCauley & the MALES of Distinction

Shelia Cole, Nekettia Thompson

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority

Zaye Harris, Leo Goins, Geah Harris

Minister Tony Scott, Richard Ojeda, Mitch Capel

Tea Hines, Joshua Smith, Elise Zwatteri, Kim Wade

Nathanial & Blanchie Carter, Asya & Curt Shell

Cinnamon LeBlanc Drum Circle

Sanda Dales, Bill Ross

910.425.7000 or 910.977.5656 www.battlefieldmuseum.org www.warpathmilitaria.com

August PineNeedler

ACROSS

1. Desert bloomers

6. ___ podrida

10. Adds sound

14. Go __ __, in poker

15. Capital of Ukraine

16. And others, for short

17. I ___the bandage around my ___.

18. Harassed

19. ___ carotene

20. Asian capital

22. Brain cell

24. x, y or z

25. After ____, I’ m ___ away my club.

26. Roller derby gear

29. “Gladiator” setting

30. “Walking on Thin Ice” singer

31. Old-fashioned

33. Bracelet site

37. The___won’t let me ____ up the anchor.

39. Fraternity letter

41. I shed a ___over the ___in my shirt.

42. Prepare, as tea

44. Hike

46. “Star Trek” rank: Abbr.

47. Braid

49. Grand ___dam

51. Refrain from singing?

54. The ___ don't care what the stag ___.

55. I came in ____by a ____.

Across 1. Desert bloomers

56. Quick refreshers

59. Biology lab supply

6. ___ podrida

60. Still life prop

62. Circa

10. Adds sound

64. Pink, as a steak

14. Go __ __, in poker

65. Lady Macbeth, e.g.

15. Capitol of Ukraine

66. More sickly

16. And others, for short

67. Made it home, maybe

68. She ___her watch when the sun ___.

69. Apprehensive

17. I ___the bandage around my ___.

18. Harassed

DOWN

19. ___ carotene

1. Crow sound

20. Asian capital.

2. “Thanks ___!”

22. Brain cell

3. Hint

24. x, y or z

4. Soldier’s helmet, slangily

5. Librarian, at times

25. After ____, I'm ___ away my club.

6. Gumbo vegetables

7. Capital of Rhône

26. Roller Derby gear

8. Top

29. "Gladiator" setting

9. Park, Madison, fifth, e.g.

30. "Walking on Thin Ice" singer

10. Cotillion participant

11. Development areas in humans

31. Old-fashioned

12. Conductor’s tool

32. Leg bone

59. Biology lab supply

34. Ship part

60. Still life prop

35. Channel

8. Top

52. À la king?

53. Mites

36. Gaelic language

54. Challenges

38. Disapproved of

33. Bracelet site

13. Jargon

21. “The sun also ___”

37. The___won't let me ____ up the anchor.

23. Italian volcano

62. Circa

36. Gaelic language

9. Park, Madison, 5th, for example

38. Disapproved of

10. Cotillion participant

64. Pink, as a steak

40. English race place

65. Lady Macbeth, e.g.

25. Spot broadcast, often

39. Fraternity letter

41. I shed a ___over the ___in my shirt.

26. After he ____seeds, he feeds the ___.

27. Make a sweater

42. Prepare, as tea

28. Top of the line

44. Hike

29. Shoptalk

46. "Star Trek" rank: Abbr.

47. Braid

49. Grand ___dam

51. Refrain from singing?

43. Agenda

11. Development areas in humans

66. More sickly

45. It may be ingrown

12. Conductor's tool

67. Made it home, maybe

48. Birch trees

13. Jargon

50. Functional

68. She ___her watch when the sun ___.

51. Autocrats

21. "The sun also ___"

23. Italian volcano

69. Apprehensive

Sudoku:

25. Spot broadcast, often

Down

1. Crow sound

Fill in the grid so every row, every column and every 3x3 box contain the numbers 1-9.

2. "Thanks ___!"

3. Hint

54. The ___ don't care what the stag ___.

55. I came in ____by a ____.

56. Quick refreshers

26. After he ____seeds, he feeds the ___.

27. Make a sweater

28. Top of the line

29. Shoptalk

Puzzle answers on page 129

4. Soldier's helmet, slangily

5. Librarian, at times

6. Gumbo vegetables

7. Capital of Rhône

Mart Dickerson lives in Southern Pines and welcomes suggestions from her fellow puzzle masters. She can be reached at martaroonie@gmail.com.

32. Leg bone

34. Ship part

35. Channel

56. Boston baller, for short

40. English race place

57. Skiing tool

43. Agenda

58. Litigant

45. It may be ingrown

61. Anguish

48. Birch trees

63. “Don’t give up!”

50. Functional

51. Autocrats

52. À la king?

53. Mites

54. Challenges

56. Boston baller, for short

57. Skiing tool

58. Litigant

61. Anguish

63. "Don't give up!"

Sleeping It Off

When in doubt, hit snooze

By EmilEE P hilliPs

“What

did I miss?” I ask through a yawn and a stretch. This is a common refrain from me. I can sleep on any and every mode of transportation. From the outside it may look like sleeping just about anywhere, just about any time, is my superpower. In some ways, that isn’t untrue.

The reality is slightly more complicated. I’m prone to motion sickness. Not a little bit prone. More like projectile . . . you know what . . . prone. If I’m not in the driver’s seat or, at the very least, in the passenger’s seat — with a cautious driver — you can forget about it. Even being still and looking at something at the wrong angle can make my head spin. State fairs and Tilt-a-Whirls are sworn enemies. The very thought brings on waves of nausea.

The trouble is that I love to travel. So what’s a girl to do?

Dramamine has been a normal part of my life since long before I was able to spell it. Road trips, plane rides, boat rides, they’re brutal without it. Those tiny little pills worked wonders keeping me from losing my breakfast, lunch and dinner. The only downside is that they make me groggy.

I say downside because, to be honest, in my altered state I’m not the best traveling companion. My sister dubbed my car-induced sleeping “carcalepsy.”

The last big trip I went on was to Guatemala with my boyfriend, Nate. The country was beautiful to look at . . . absolute chaos to drive through.

So, naturally, we ditched the idea of renting a car and opted for “efficient and cost-effective” public transportation: a bus. That’s how we ended up on what I can only describe as a rollercoaster on wheels, careening through the jungles on a journey from Panajachel to Guatemala City. We were advised the trip could take anywhere from three to six hours depending on potholes, washouts, traffic and whether or not a rogue cow decided to stand in the middle of the road like a crossing guard.

I knew the only way for me to get through this was to sleep. I took an extra bit of my medicine, found a neck angle that wouldn’t paralyze me, and willed myself into a bus-induced slumber.

The roads were winding, bumpy and full of holes big enough to swallow a Volkswagen whole. Slamming on the brakes was a frequent occurrence. Passing slower vehicles, I’ve been told, was like an Indiana Jones sequel, causing even Nate to hold his breath.

During a rest stop, I barely opened one eye when I saw Nate hop off for a snack. For a moment I considered following him but realized that food might give me energy, and energy meant awareness, and awareness meant I’d have to experience the ride. No thank you.

After six hours we pulled into Guatemala City, and I woke up dazed, victorious and the opposite of nauseous, whatever that is. As we de-bussed, Nate gave a little wave to a couple that had been sitting a few rows up from us. Apparently, the three of them had bonded over our mutual survival.

After we were out of earshot from our fellow travelers and walking toward our hotel, Nate started chuckling.

“What?” I asked, rubbing my eyelids and trying to remember what continent I was on.

He scratched his head and said, “So, uh, that couple I waved to? They’re from Germany. Super cool. Thought the ride was nuts.” I nodded. Of course they did. Who wouldn’t?

“Yeah, well,” Nate continued, barely containing his laughter, “they also asked me if I drugged you.”

I blinked. “WHAT?” I had apparently slept through my own kidnapping.

“At first I thought it was a joke but they seemed serious. They couldn’t believe you slept through all of that,” he said motioning behind us. “ I had to tell them I didn’t drug my girlfriend. She drugged herself . . . with Dramamine.”

Poor Nate having to plead his innocence to complete strangers. Worst case of carcalepsy ever. PS

Emilee Phillips is PineStraw’s director of social media.