August/September 2016 by Sand & Pine

The Education Issue

August/September 2016

SAND & PINE Culture Shock Grimesey's Drive for Change

Food for Thought The Backpack Program

Extra Extra Lessons Beyond the Classroom

Helping to build

a Brighter Future! Realty World would like to thank our educators for all the work they do with our children.

In the months of August and September we will buy a home warranty when purchasing or selling your home through us, as a thank you to you!

Jessica

Jodie

Nikki

Geraghty

Roybal

Bowman

910.585.5438

910.315.2826

910.528.4902

Broker

Broker/Owner

780 NW Broad Street â&#x20AC;˘ Southern Pines

realtyworldofmoore.com

ULTRASOUND IS A THING OF

Beauty

JUST LIKE ME.

Ultrasound is a valuable diagnostic imaging tool that we can use to assess many conditions in our pets. At Vanguard Veterinary Hospital, we utilize our ultrasound to view the intra-abdominal structures, to perform echocardiography and to look for muscular and tendon injuries. We are able to perform ultrasound guided aspirate and biopsies, increasing the likelihood that we will obtain an accurate sample with fewer risks.

Open Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:30pm 1995 Juniper Lake Road, West End VanguardVetHospital.com

910-420-2902

DON’T LET THEM MISS A

Moment

Schedule a visit of our Garden Apartment Homes!

Call 910-295-2294 or visit www.QuailHavenOfPinehurst.com

A PART OF THE LIBERTY FAMILY OF SERVICES

Life is full of special moments and what better way to celebrate those moments than with family. Quail Haven Village residents never miss a moment in their grandchildrens’ lives. Our central location within Pinehurst, wealth of activities, amenities, spacious apartment homes, access to a full continuum of care as well as close proximity to family are just a few reasons so many choose to call Quail Haven home. Life is full of moments, don’t let your parents miss out on them. Schedule a visit today to see how they can redefine the way you live.

Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm 155 Blake Boulevard, Pinehurst, NC 28374 www.SandandPineMag.com | 3

contents 12

Culture Shock

SAND & PINE

Two years into the job and one year removed from a career defining moment, Superintent Dr. Bob Grimesey is solely focused on the future of our schools.

Garden Variety

Extra Extra

School gardens have taken root in the Sandhills! So don’t be surprised if your child comes home with a sudden craving for kale this school year.

Publishers Greg Girard, Amanda Jakl

2016

SA N D & P IN E August/September

The Education Issue

Editor Greg Girard

Students who participate in extracurricular activities become more well-balanced individuals later in life. It’s really that simple.

Culture Shock

greg@sandandpinemag.com

for Change Grimesey's Drive

Food for Thought

Creative Director Amanda Jakl

The Backpack Program

amanda@sandandpinemag.com

Word Geek Katie Schanze

Extra Extra Lessons Beyond the Classroom

On the Cover Photo: Vintage lunchboxes courtesy of Willie Dean from Willie’s Lunchbox. Photo by Amanda Jakl

Ad Peddler Vince Girard vince@sandandpinemag.com

Contributing Scribblers Darcy Connor, Anthony Parks, Rollie Sampson, Dana Spicer Shutter Shooter Jeffrey McCullough Visual Alchemist Carter Beck

4 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE August/September 2016

P.O. Box 892 Southern Pines, NC 28388 Tel. 910.315.0467 info@sandandpinemag.com www.sandandpinemag.com facebook: SandandPineMag

Good Reads ....... 6 Quicksand ....... 8 To Your Health ....... 16 Puzzles ....... 17

26 At the Table

If your child is brown bagging it this year (or should we say insulated carry case with no lead, phthalates or PVC’ing it), then we have some lunch ideas for you.

30 Food for Thought

Thirty-six percent of children in the Sandhills are food insecure, many with no access to healthy food at home. The Backpack Program intends to rectify that.

Music ....... 24 Motor ....... 32 Last Word ....... 34

editor note by Greg Girard

irst, let me debunk something. That notion of the dog days of summer is a myth. There’s no easing into fall. There is summer and then there is not summer. The year doesn’t start on Jan. 1 in our household. The official start to the year begins sometime in August (it’s never a precise date but you can feel it in the air). This new ritual happened some years ago. In fact, I know the exact date: June 30, 2001. Coincidentally, that is my wedding date and, unbeknownst to me, the same date that I stopped adhering to the Gregorian calendar and started adhering to some unnamed calendar that gets velcroed to a wall and references cloudy and sunny days. No, I didn’t enter some strange cult. Well, I take that back – perhaps I am in one and I’m just in denial. I married a teacher after all, so there has to be something slightly wrong with me. There are a few things that occur in every teacher household come the first or second week of August. And even though you know it’s coming, there’s still a sense of surprise

when it actually starts (cue the single tear). I only have room for a few here: - My kitchen table is no longer used for dining purposes. It’s used for chaotic stacks of paper with its own secret form of organization. - Laminating machines seem to pop up everywhere, even though I’m pretty sure we only have one. Want to know the most popular baby names from six years ago? Ask the spouse of a first grade teacher who has to push name tags out of the way so they can eat breakfast. - Mysterious expenses appear on our bank statements from strange locations called Lakeshore and Staples. I’ve supplied colored paper to a generation worth of children out there. - Lists seem to rain down like confetti at a ticker tape parade. Colored markers and slashing lines indicate some sort of progress even as more and more lists materialize. I could go on and on, but I’d rather you enjoy our inaugural education issue. www.SandandPineMag.com | 5

Good Reads by Darcy Connor

Preschool/Toddler Babylit (Classiclit) Series Written by Jennifer Adams Illustrated by Alison Oliver

Goo Picture Book The Thank You Book Written and Illustrated by Mo Willems If your young reader has yet to discover this fantastic series by Mo Willems, run to the nearest library. If you’re an adoring fan like me and so many others, get ready for some tears. The Thank You Book is the 25th and final book in the series about Gerald the Elephant and his best friend Piggie. On its own, The Thank You Book is classic Mo Willems and wonderful, but in the context of being the final book in such an endearing series it becomes a true gift for his readers.

Using classic literature as their starting point, the team of Jennifer Adams and Alison Oliver have created a series of primer books, with a classic spin, that teach colors, shapes, counting and much more. So in Babylit’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the focus is on camping, while The Secret Garden is a primer on flowers. There are a few inside jokes for parents as well (Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice wearing “I love Darcy” on her dress is one that still makes me laugh). With more than 20 books in the series, there are plenty of classics to choose for your little one.

6 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE August/September 2016

Elementary Nancy Clancy Seeks a Fortune Written by Jane O’Connor Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser Nancy Clancy learns all about starting a business and making her fortune (or at least that’s the plan). When things don’t go the way she had hoped, Nancy learns an even bigger lesson. Author Jane O’Connor continues what we love about the Fancy Nancy books (the spirited Nancy and all of those marvelous “fancy” words!) but with more of a story for her now older and more advanced readers.

Middle School The Brooklyn Nine Written by Alan Gratz

The Brooklyn Nine spans nine generations of one family and their connection with baseball. Weaving sports with historical fiction, the story begins with Felix Schneider in 1845 and spans to present day. Each “inning” or chapter tells the story of a different family member and the historical events of their day. If you missed North Carolina author Alan Gratz’ visit to the Sandhills last fall, this book is a great introduction.The Brooklyn Nine is part of this year’s N.C. Middle School Battle of the Books reading list.

Adult Delicious! Written by Ruth Reichl Billy Breslin is a long way from home when she drops out of college in California and moves to New York to work as an assistant at the famous Delicious! magazine. But there’s a reason for her dramatic change in life. She has a perfect palate, and just by tasting something she can identify the ingredients. But it’s when Billie discovers long hidden letters between a spunky 12-year-old named Lulu Swan and famous chef James Beard that her life begins to take shape. Through the letters, Billy finds a connection with Lulu and is inspired to find the courage to face her own challenges. Author Ruth Reichl, the long time food critic and Gourmet magazine editor-in-chief, doesn’t disappoint in her descriptions of food, in fact you’ll probably find yourself stocking up on some fresh mozzarella and Italian meats while reading.

Good Reads

od Reads

www.SandandPineMag.com | 7

Quicksand

Words

823 Number of words in the longest sentence ever

printed in a book, from Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables.

1750 The year (B.C.) of the first cookbook. Etched in

clay, the tablet was created by the Babylonians.

30.8M

Amount, in dollars, of the most expensive book ever purchased. The book, Leonardo Da Vinci’s Codex Leicester, was purchased by Bill Gates in 1994.

1455 The year the Gutenberg Bible was printed, the first on a movable-type printing press, dawning the age of mass-produced publications. The first book printed in America was the Bay Psalm Book in 1640 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

6.5 Number of hours in a week, on average around the

world, that people read.

70K Number of words in Noah Webster’s original

American dictionary. Printed in 1818, it took Webster 25 years to complete.

2 The number of fingers J.R.R. Tolkien used to type the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

1021 About the year of the first known novel was

written, The Tale of Genji, by Japanese author Murasaki Shikibu.

8 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE August/September 2016

A Look Ahead

APT APPS...

and other tech marvels Analogies For Kids Elementary level This neat app available through iTunes ($.99) is a great way to help beginning learners think outside the box, and it will help develop and challenge your child’s cognitive skills. Analogy questions and puzzles can help with analytical thinking, problem solving, perception, spatial skills, memory and creativity. Available on iOS.

Road trip! Here are some local events (and some within a few hours drive) worth checking out. For even more events with local flavor, check out our Facebook page, updated regularly. AUGUST 12-13 Oriental Dragon Boat Festival Oriental | OrientalDragonBoat.com

Stop, Breathe, Think Middle School & High School level Stop, Breathe & Think is a meditation app and website that encourages kids to learn three skills: Stop and take stock of their thoughts and feelings; breathe through guided meditations; and think with increased kindness and compassion. It's a great tool to help reinforce the positive attitudes parents encourage at home. Free on iOS and Android.

WHY: Teams of all ages race elaborately designed dragon boats.

SEPTEMBER 10 Pours in the Pines Southern Pines | Eventbrite.com

Evernote Middle School, High School, College level Staying organized is half the battle for most tweens and teens (and adults) and this highlyrated app will put its users on the path to modern-day efficiency. Classroom notes, images, to-do lists, project lists, reminders-- Evernote will keep it organized and let users access it from any device when needed. Free on iOS and Android.

WHY: P artial proceeds go to Duskin and Stephens Foundation and the Southern Pines Rugby Club… and we haven’t highlighted a beer festival for months! .

OCTOBER (several dates; check website) Ghost Train Halloween Festival Blowing Rock | Tweetsie.com

Bonus! Upper Elementary level The Seamus Heaney: Five Fables app is Scottish poet Robert Henryson's adaptations of five Aesop fables. Users can compare Aesop's version to Henryson’s version and learn more about how different cultures and time can influence storytelling.

QUOTABLES

WHY: S cary stuff in the mountains, everyone’s dream adventure.

In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you.

True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country.

- Kurt Vonnegut

- Mortimer J. Adler The only liberty an inferior man really cherishes is the liberty to quit work, stretch out in the sun, and scratch himself.

- H.L. Mencken www.SandandPineMag.com | 9

Quicksand QUICK TIP Good intentions will never help you get that record time in a 5K. All runners (well, most

runners), have faced that crucial moment: Everything in the world is telling you to take the day or week off. Just a brief “break” in my running schedule. The in-laws are visiting, so there just isn’t time. It’s a little too humid out there, anyway. The house needs cleaning. I’ve had a long week. The danger, of course, is you’ve just taken your first step toward the slippery slope that leads to failed goals and missed personal achievements. So how do you stick with your running program, especially when the mental side becomes the real challenge? Here are a few tips: Pull back on the reins: Your schedule says today’s run is eight miles but the last thing you want to do is run eight miles. Sometimes it’s OK to alter the schedule. Do three miles instead. No one’s looking. What’s important is that you ran and you kept to your schedule even if the distance changed. And three miles is better than none. Be prepared: Depending on the weather, have an appropriate running outfit ready to go the day before your run, so the “my favorite running shorts are in the wash” excuse is no longer an excuse. It also takes one more step out of your preparation.

SEPTEMBER 10 1 IN 8K MOORE FOR THE CURE Pinehurst 5K | SandhillsRaceSeries.com OCTOBER 29-30 DIA DE LOS MUERTOS Lillington 24-hour endurance run | RoamUltras.com DECEMBER 3 REINDEER FUN RUN Aberdeen 12K, 5K, Kid’s Egg Nog Jog | ReindeerFunRun.com

Get competitive: Competition is a great motivator. Download one of the many runner apps, track your progress and tell friends and family about your goals. For many, it’s a worse feeling to disappoint others than it is to disappoint ourselves. Baby steps: While there is usually a long-term goal for anyone who starts a running program, don’t forget the short-term goals. Achieving is another great motivator to further goals. So if you’re training for a marathon, finishing a sub-30 5K is a great way to start.

What's on the Web? 10 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE August/September 2016

Sand & Pine Magazine is now partnering with Moore Choices, our community’s go-to website for all things Moore County. Weekly events calendar, where to shop (with coupons), where to eat and much more. A great extension to Look Ahead section of Quicksand, Moore Choices has all the local events covered. Check it out at MooreChoices.net.

DR. A. Anthony Haro III, FACFAS

DR. Amie L. Haracz, AACFAS Specializing in:

Office Locations: Pinehurst Clinic 200 Westgate Drive Suite A West End, NC 27376

Raeford Clinic 313 Teal Drive Raeford, NC

Phone: 910-295-7400

Troy Clinic 522 Allen St. Medical Arts Building Troy, NC

Sanford Clinic 1139 Carthage St. Sanford, NC

Fax: 877-295-0079

Ankle and foot disorders Diabetic foot care Bunions and Hammertoes Joint replacement Ankle arthroscopy Sports injuries / fractures Heel Pain

Keeping the Sandhills on its feet!

Your biggest investment shouldn’t be your biggest worry. It’s been your dream to own a home. Sleep easier knowing it’s protected by a company you can trust. Call now for a Total Needs Evaluation from your local Farm Bureau Insurance Agent. Helping you is what we do best.

910/947-2295 www.ncfbins.com

Jason C. Burgin LUTCF Agency Manager jason.burgin@ncfbins.com

NCHMPR40953

An Authorized Agency for

*North Carolina Farm Bureau® Mutual Insurance Co. *Farm Bureau® Insurance of North Carolina, Inc. *Southern Farm Bureau® Life Insurance Co. *An independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association

THIS ARTWORK CANNOT BE ALTERED, REVISED, RESIZED OR REBUILT BEYOND CHANGING THE AGENT PHOTO OR CONTACT INFO. CONTACT MADGENIUS WITH ANY QUESTIONS AT COOP@MADGENIUSINC.COM

www.SandandPineMag.com | 11

The Education Issue

C u l t u r e

Shock

BY GREG GIRARD

Robert Grimesey is not one to dwell on the past; the Moore County superintendent is quick to point out that running a school district is about looking ahead, forging a path and creating an environment that will offer opportunities for students to grow. Still, human nature has a stubborn memory and regardless of intent, one canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help but look back.

12 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE August/September 2016

hat caused the turmoil that rocked the Moore achievement through the promotion of a quality, professional County school system and the community in culture,” Grimesey reiterates. “Those three points will help early June 2015 is still up for debate. Privacy define a lot of the behaviors you’ve seen since then as we’ve laws and other such annoyances when one attempted to lead the organization.” wants to find the truth continue to stand To show the progress made under this fundamental shift firmly in the way. It is clear, of course, what in ethos, Grimesey points to the North Carolina Teacher unfolded in front of us all when the school board shockingly Working Conditions Survey that is conducted every two years voted to dismiss Grimesey. No explanation, no due process throughout the state. The survey asks teachers whether they offered. Grimesey was out, just a year into his tenure, after a agree or disagree with numerous statements about their work 5-3 school board vote. environment. While the 2014 percentages were nothing near While in their right under the law, many felt the despair, there is marked improvements across all categories decision was an act of arrogance by the school board and it of the survey in 2016. Take for instance the statement “effort sent shockwaves throughout the county. And like poking has been made to minimize the amount of routine paperwork a hibernating bear, the response from the community teachers are required to do.” In 2014, 49.9 percent of Moore was ravenous. Within a week, as the volume and focus of County teachers agreed with the statement. In 2016, 75.1 community outrage intensified, Grimesey was rehired and percent agreed. three board members resigned. Soon after, administrative Of particular note were the improvements made under leadership was restructured and the overarching question regarding the Moore County School System teacher leadership in the school. In "The demand for transparency, the value of was experiencing a full blown 2014, for the statement “teachers are education and the expectation that you pursue culture shock. trusted to make sound professional higher student achievement through the But to ask Grimesey a year decisions about instruction,” 67.9 promotion of a quality, professional culture. later whether he felt validation percent agreed. In 2016, 87 percent Those three points will help define a lot of or justification by his subsequent agreed. And under the question the behaviors you’ve seen since then as we’ve reinstatement invokes a level “school leadership makes a sustained attempted to lead the organization." of modesty and charity that effort to address teacher concerns wouldn’t immediately come to about…,” all nine categories from - Robert Grimesey mind for most. “You really have leadership issues to community to focus on the needs of the children in the here and now,” he support to professional development showed improvement (for says. “The immediacy of all that and the emotion of it was so the complete survey results visit ncteachingconditions.org). much a part of who we were and what we were doing at that “Throughout this past year there has been a very clear time. And so much of that now is ancient history in terms of intention to focus on not only teacher culture but employee my personal feelings and personal perspective.” culture, recognizing that in this organization… you have to be So no personal vindication? “What still is enduring about the process of developing human beings and uplifting to me about June 8, not June 1, but June 8, was that the them,” Grimesey says. audience should have been more of the focus of the news than Change, of course, even when positive, can impact the guy who walked on the stage,” he responds. “What did consistency within an organization, and the effects of that the audience want? I think that’s more significant. Rather have been seen in a higher percentage of leadership turnover, than what I was feeling, that was temporal, that was in the particularly at the school level, with some students and moment, but really what was important for me was (asking) teachers dealing with three principals in three years. But what message are these people sending, not only to me, but to Grimesey assures the recent changes should be an exception to anybody who purports to lead in Moore County? And I think the norm. that message had to do with transparency in government, “That’s a standard parents need to insist upon,” Grimesey honesty and understanding that children don’t learn unless says. “My philosophy is that every principal must be in their you value the people who are teaching them. It’s actually a building at least three years, preferably five. There are factors great sense of burden. Validation carries with it responsibility, beyond our control, but I can tell you up front our intentions. and so with that I have to move on.” When a principal leaves before three years, and I would argue If you look closely, perhaps a reason for his dismissal even before five years, that means there’s some factor in there emerges. “The demand for transparency, the value of we can’t control.” education and the expectation that you pursue higher student

www.SandandPineMag.com | 13

A Legacy of Trust in Cabinetry Design

Grimesey, however, would probably be the first to note that the purpose of all of these “adult changes” has nothing to do with the adults. That this culture shift, this empowerment of school professionals is leading the county school system to achieving its ultimate goal. He offers the county’s efforts with the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) program as a clear example of empowering faculty for the betterment of students. Moore County received a grant to instruct teachers on how to integrate STEM in the classroom. The idea behind STEM is to have students “learn science like scientists would learn it” and to go beyond students sitting at desks and learning solely from a textbook. The resulting efforts have been the development of STEM community leader groups and now staff working to integrate STEM into the curriculum. “The next thing you know, diligence meets opportunity and children benefit,” Grimesey says with a smile. Another example is the growth in technology and the emergence of robotics clubs. Grimesey says none of it was mandated from the top, but came about “as the result of empowered professional teachers that have a vision for engaged learning for children.” Now there are robotics clubs in every elementary school.

American Manufactured

Green Certified Environmental Stewardship Program Affordable cabinetry

for ALL Budgets

Artistic kit c h e n s & ba ths

683 SW Broad Street Southern Pines

910 692-4000 / 910 691-1666

dwilson@Artistic-Kitchens.com www.Artistic-Kitchens.com

But what puts the exclamation point on it for Grimesey is how those inspired projects then connect back to the classroom. “Diane Pope, principal at High Falls Elementary, in her end of year self-assessment, shared that magic line on there that said ‘my 4th and 5th grade teachers report that children that have been involved in robotics are showing a much greater enthusiasm for fractions than they’ve ever seen,’” he says. “That takes me back to the early 90s when I was an elementary principal, before all this standard-based reform came in. What did we do without those tests? How did we ever motivate the children?” “Well, we believed you achieved high student learning outcomes through inspired learners, not terrified teachers,” Grimesey says. "There wasn’t anything to scare the teachers back then because we didn’t have tests. So we worked with teachers to inspire children. It has been incredibly rewarding to have stayed in this business long enough to see us being able to do some of those things in the schools again.” Grimesey admits there is still much to be done, but he can’t help but be encouraged that the culture shock is starting to show its intended results. “I anticipate as I move into the sunset of my career that I’m going to feel pretty good about what I leave behind,” he says. “I intend to be around long enough that the decisions we’ve made these last couple of years and are making this year, I’m going to be around long enough to live with the outcome. I’ll be here to either answer for it or give someone else credit for it.”

14 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE August/September 2016

Be Part of the Solution The Companion Animal Clinic Foundation makes affordable spay and neuter available for individuals without a private veterinarian and animal welfare groups at the Spay Neuter Veterinary Clinic thanks to your support.

More than 50,000 surgeries since 2008. Spay Neuter Veterinary Clinic 5071 US Hwy. #1, Vass, NC (910) 692-3499 (FIXX) Donate at www.companionanimalclinic.org

Companion Animal Clinic Foundation PO Box 148, Southern Pines, NC 28388 www.companionanimalclinic.org â&#x20AC;˘ info@companionanimalclinic.org 1-855-439-3498 (FIXT) 501c3#20-2886984

Providing

EXCEPTIONAL CARE and STATE OF THE ART ENDODONTIC SERVICES for patients in the heart of North Carolina Pinehurst Endodontics Your local choice for professional endodontic treatment. Same day appointments for root canal emergencies

Ryan Derrick realtor/broker

Your

Moore County property & relocation specialist

Pinnock Real estate & Relocation seRvices, inc. 91 Aviemore Drive, Pinehurst, NC 28374

910-722-9501

DR. JIM CORCORAN DR. JAMES MUSSELWHITE

115 E. Pennsylvania Avenue Southern Pines, NC / 910.638.9449 SearchMooreCountyHomes.com www.SandandPineMag.com | 15

YOUR

Health !

Namaste

used to dread the “witching hour” – the time between 6 and 7 o’clock when all the kids wanted to do was eat and be held and all I wanted to do was eat without being attached to another person. The “witching hour,” unfortunately, did not depart our house along with the diapers and cribs. I can’t say that I am surprised; our kids are pushed to their limits all day long with more tests, activities and homework than my generation ever experienced. To help reduce the “witching hour” stress for my two boys, ages 4 and 8, I started incorporating nightly yoga sessions. Our 15-20 minutes of yoga has done wonders. These positive feelings led me to further research the benefits of children practicing yoga. Here are a few:

Physical benefits • Improved flexibility: Yoga challenges you to stretch out overworked muscles and work otherwise underutilized muscles.

• Increased balance and coordination: Yoga improves both gross

and fine motor coordination. My older son was a bit hesitant to spend time “stretching,” but when I explained that it would help his football skills, he was all over it. Children of all ages benefit from the focused time refining physical and mental poise.

Mental benefits • Stress Reduction: The breathing practices and visualization techniques inherent to yoga teach children (and adults) how to handle the stresses of life. It gives children the tools they need to calm down during a stressful math test and helps 16 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE August/September 2016

By Katie Christy

adults refocus before tackling the mound of laundry and sink full of dishes that seem to magically appear every night.

• Focus and Concentration: The art of practicing poses and clearing your mind during yoga helps improve performance both at work and in school. In fact, numerous studies show that children who practice yoga perform better academically and receive higher grades.

Social benefits

• Creates a no-judgment zone: In yoga, kids don’t have to worry about competing with anyone or living up to a standard. Yoga is an individual practice that focuses on improving your own flexibility, not comparing yourself against others. Nonathletic children thrive in yoga because no one is picked last or cut from the team. Yoga also provides athletic children the opportunity to push themselves and create the flexibility and coordination necessary to excel at other sports.

• Builds confidence and self-esteem: Patience and perseverance are two overarching themes of yoga. When children master a pose they were previously unable to accomplish, they get an incredible boost to their self-esteem by seeing the results of their diligent hard work (after all, no one can do the poses for them). This confidence is so necessary as they grow through life.

Katie Christy is the founder and CEO of Activate Your Talent, which seeks to be a catalyst for positive change in clients’ physical fitness, professional careers, and financial lives.

Puzzles

Short and Sweet

DIFFICULT

Place numbers into the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains each of the digits 1 to 9. No guessing is needed. EASY

Across 1. Plunge head-first 5. Regret 8. Clan 12. Lyric poems 13. Part of verb to be 14. Entrance 15. Optical device 16. Tavern 17. Abrading tool 18. Diners 20. Many times 21. Originating in the mind 24. From that time 27. Room within a harem 28. Leap on one foot 31. Woody plant 32. Two 33. Of high grade 34. Nevertheless 35. Terminal digit of the foot 36. External 37. Diacritic mark 39. Sharp-pointed plant outgrowth

43. Stay attached 47. Codlike fish 48. Evergreen tree 50. Having wings 51. Auricular 52. Fuss 53. Torn clothing 54. Unpleasant smell 55. Spanish title 56. Leg joint Down 1. Deal out sparingly 2. Notion 3. Outlet 4. Spirit 5. Elevate 6. Vase 7. Even (poet.) 8. Iron hook with handle 9. Prepare for publication 10. Egypt's river 11. Type of gun 19. Fish eggs 20. Wood sorrel 22. Absorbent cloth

23. Highest mountain in Crete 24. Pigpen 25. Wrath 26. Open mesh fabric 28. Strike 29. Single unit 30. For each 32. Male cat 33. Runic alphabet 35. Large cask 36. Musical instrument 38. Brother of Moses 39. Norse god of thunder 40. Detest 41. Migrant farm worker 42. To matter 44. Dash 45. Anger 46. Scottish Gaelic 48. Craze 49. Revised form of Esperanto

Back to School Ladderword puzzles are like crosswords but with a twist. The words in the middle column are anagrams of the words of the first column. The words in the last column are anagrams of the middle column plus one additional letter. The anchor words (the down clues) are related by a common theme. Across 1.Lair 3. Propend 5. Is inclind 6. Posed 7. Surfeit 8. Declare 9. Wager 10. Restrain 11. Beautiful

12. Part of verb to be 13. Land measure 14. Nucleus of a regiment 15. Racket 16. Monetary unit of Thailand 17. Wash 18. Worthless piece of cloth 19. Equipment

20. Wrath 21. Little drink 22. Tears 23. Divest Down 2. Instructor 4. Scholar

puzzle answers found on sandandpinemag.com www.SandandPineMag.com | 17

KI D

RDENS GA = +

Garden Variety BY MASTER GA RDE NE R DA NA S P I CE R

18 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE August/September 2016

School gardens

have taken root here in Moore County, and are teaching Over the last 10 years, 12 Moore County schools have established gardens as outdoor classrooms, where proper nutrition and physical activity is stressed. The interest and support for these gardens has been prompted by the national movements to address the childhood obesity and diabetes epidemic our country is facing. Over the last 30 years, the percentage of overweight or obese children in the United States has tripled. Approximately one in three children is overweight or at risk of being overweight, and almost 40 percent of children are considered unfit. Children who suffer from diet-related diseases score lower on tests, miss more days of school and are less likely to advance in their careers. By 2030, when the current generation of kids reaches adulthood, diet-related diseases will cost our nation more than a $1 trillion a year: $500 billion in medical costs and another $500 billion in lost productivity. An edible schoolyard movement is hard at work here in Moore County Schools to combat these epidemics. An advocate for children's health, Good Food Sandhills executive director Kathy Byron initiated the first school garden program at Aberdeen Elementary School in 2007. Byron believes that changing children's relationship with food is the first step to reducing childhood obesity. A school garden is “an outdoor classroom and living laboratory,” Byron says, and the garden “will foster academic success, promote healthy eating, and reconnect children with nature.” In 2011, Moore County Schools became an inaugural FoodCorps site, one of 50 in the nation, and one of five in North Carolina. FoodCorps, a branch of AmeriCorps, is a nationwide service organization that places leaders in limited-resource communities. Helenka Lepkowski Ostrum has served Moore County Schools for the last two years, connecting kids to real food and helping them to grow up healthy.

Tips

“Eat your colors!” encourages dietitian and Master Gardener Jennifer Jawanda at Southern Pines Primary. Jennifer leads weekly classes at the school where she encourages the kids to eat an array of fruits and vegetables. “Half your plate should be fruits and vegetables,” she emphasizes. And for a few more healthy home tips:

our children the importance of a healthy lifestyle.

Ostrum recently compiled a cookbook with sixth graders at Southern Middle School. She remembers when a student told her “Don't tell my parents! I never eat zucchini and tomatoes at home, but this is delicious!” Ostrum teaches students to identify, grow and cook their own healthy food, “changing minds and food habits, one spinach leaf at a time.” Good Food Sandhills and FoodCorps developed the first student farm in 2014, the Lettuce Succeed Student Farm. The farm provides after-school academic and nutritional enrichment for the students of Southern Pines and Aberdeen. Students receive farm-based education that connect classroom lessons of math and science with what is growing in the gardens. Farm tasks range from mulching fields to beekeeping to rain catchment systems. Students grow and prepare healthy foods, but they also cook meals to share with the local community. And it is the support of the community that Byron attributes the success of the school gardens. Teachers, parents, Master Gardeners and other volunteers have all put numerous hours into the care of these outdoor classrooms. This upcoming school year, Good Food Sandhills and FoodCorps hope to impact more than 11,000 Moore County students and their views of fruits and vegetables. Children are the starting point for creating healthier communities, and school gardens are essential in providing students with hands-on lessons that connect them with healthy foods.

The school gardens are always in need of extra hands. If you are interested in helping, contact Kathy Byron at kbyron@nc.rr.com. /NCMGMooreCnty

• Children can help plan and shop for groceries. • Teach kids how to cook and incorporate fruits and vegetables into every meal. • Give kids the responsibility of growing their own plant. It can be as easy as growing basil in a flower pot on the kitchen window sill. The more exposure kids have to fresh fruits and vegetables, and to where they come from, the more likely they will be to grow up healthy.

www.SandandPineMag.com | 19

Iss The Education

a r t Ex a r t Ex

All (school) work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Just typing that gives us the shivers. If you don’t want your kids mumbling “redrum” to their fingers, get them involved in some extracurricular activities. Studies show that kids involved in extracurriculars have better grades, better attitudes, higher self-esteem and are better socially adjusted. We’re not seeing the downside here. Moore County schools, public and private, offer a wide selection to keep kids of all ages, abilities and interest levels engaged. The following lists are not comprehensive, so check with your child’s school for the full list of clubs and activities offered, and if your school doesn't have a club your interested in, consider starting one. 20 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE August/September 2016

Primary/Elementary Chess Club Battle of the Books Lego Builders Club Debate Club Odyssey of the Mind Orchestra Student Council The Lego Builders Club sneaks learning into fun. Most Lego clubs are loosely structured – one week students might be given the task of creating something with wings, the next could be re-creating an item from a photo, while the next could be free play – giving kids plenty of time to let their creative juices flow. Angela Pihlgren, the Lego Builders Club facilitator at Sandhills Classical Christian, says it’s a nice break from their structured routine. “It helps them develop their hand-eye coordination and working well with others. It makes them be creative.”

"It makes them be creative." - Lego Builders Club facilitator, Angela Pihlgren

www.SandandPineMag.com | 21

Middle Band Junior Beta Society Honor Council Odyssey of the Mind MathCounts SGA Science Olympiad Orchestra Student Government Yearbook While athletics and clubs like Model UN or Chess Club are run by rules and regulations, the kids who participate in Odyssey of the Mind (OM) thrive on outside-the-box thinking. OM is the rare club that combines engineering, art, problem solving and a dash of silliness. OM teams are given five challenges to work on throughout the year that will encourage them to grow as a team as well as discover new skills as an individual. Coach of the West Pine Middle School club, Kim Paller, says it’s a great hands-on club and offers a creative outlet for kids. “In school, everything is very outlined and kids don’t have a lot of time to be creative. But in [OM], they can be as creative as they want. They learn to compromise, and listen to everybody’s idea. Odyssey kids are special kids. It’s great to watch them grow and work together as a team and as individuals.” The West Pine Middle School OM team placed 7th at the World Finals this year!

High National Honor Society Chess Club Band Key Club Model UN Mock Trial Student Union Engineering Club Spirit Club Art Club FFA - Future Farmers of America Glee Club Science Olympiad Orchestra We are lucky in Moore County, where music thrives. Talented, dedicated, disciplined and competitive are just a few words to describe both the players and leaders. Band director Rob Hill at Union Pines High School is quick to add “good sports” to that list as well. “The kids work hard, and they’re nice. In the band world here, they don’t bad mouth each other.” Interest in the Union Pines High School band is so high – it boasts 150 members – that the band performs and competes in divisions usually reserved for more populous schools.

22 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE August/September 2016

, 1933

First Perry Brothers store

Our family serving your family for over 80 years!

Tires • Brakes • Tune-ups • Alignments AC/Heating work • Oil changes • Emissions repair Steering and Suspension work All mechanical work performed by Located behind Arby’s!

Technicians

We are the Faces of FirstHealth Fitness From indoor cycling and yoga to CrossFit and Les Mills group exercise, FirstHealth Fitness offers something for everyone. Families, military, students, community - come find which Face of Fitness you might become. For more information, call (910) 715-1804 or visit us online at www.firsthealth.org/fitness

Military Discounts!

102 Pinehurst Ave., Southern Pines, NC / 910-692-7818 www.PerryBros.com

1161-101-15

design fabrication I N STA LL ATI O N

University Studies, Health Care, Technical and Trades Programs CCP Program for High School Students Continuing Education & Workforce Development Call for a Personal Campus Tour Visit our 32-Acre Horticultural Garden Library Available for Community Use Concerts, Lectures and Athletics

sandhills.edu 3395 Airport Road, Pinehurst • 910.692.6185

Custom cabinetry & furniture for the home. 707 S. Pinehurst Street • Aberdeen, NC 28315

910.944.0922

CUSTOMMADE .COM/BY/PERFECTDESIGN

www.SandandPineMag.com | 23

Music

Notes of Inspiration BY ANTHONY PARKS / PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN GESSNER

It amazes me how, with time and

patience, something that can sound like a slow moving train wreck can also produce one of the most beautiful sounds in music.

The violin, in the hands of a beginner, can be a formidable weapon against peace and sanity in a home. Over time, however, the beast can be tamed and made to sing. If you’ve heard multiple versions of “Three Blind Mice” or “Mary Had a Little Lamb” scratched out on the string and bow in your child’s hands, then you know exactly what it means to be a supportive parent. A few years ago, in keeping with the “let them try whatever they want” parenting philosophy, my daughter entered an after-school junior orchestra program. Unfortunately, it didn’t last long, with the violin going the way of the karate pads, soccer cleats and scout patches. I’m glad she gave it a shot, though. My son, a few years older than her, was in the elementary school’s orchestra program when he was her age, but the school system was forced to cut the program due to statewide budgetary issues. So it was fortunate for so many that a small group of musicians and instructors were already working on plans to provide music education and opportunity to the kids of Moore County and beyond. When I asked David Michael Wolff what made him choose this area to live and raise a family, his answer was 24 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE August/September 2016

one we are hearing more and more frequently. He was working in Fayetteville and someone suggested he visit Pinehurst. What is unusual in his case, however, is that it was not a military assignment that brought him. It was music. Wolff is the founder and principal conductor of the still new Carolina Philharmonic, and his desire to create and sustain such a symphonic organization is exactly what made him choose Moore County. Early on, Wolff, a Seattle-born pianist, seemed to bounce from home to home like a conductor's wand, from New York to study for his master’s degree, to performing in Rome, Paris and Carnegie Hall. And in between his travels, he coached opera singers, became fluent in five languages, authored a book and became a husband and father. “There is a surreal nature to this place; it's beautiful and the people are friendly, the kind of small town America that you think can’t be real, but it is,” he says, explaining his choice to settle here from New York in 2009. More specifically, he wanted to find a place where he could create a symphonic experience like those found in large cities that would also focus on music education and serve as a template that could be exported to other communities around the country. And that is exactly what he has done. The Junior Orchestra Program that helped fill the hole left by insufficient funds caught the attention of Carnegie

David michael

Mix

WOLFF's

Goldberg Variations (Glenn Gould, piano)

J. S. Bach Four Seasons Antonio Vivaldi Overture to Marriage of Figaro Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Fifth Symphony Ludwig Van Beethoven "Unfinished" Symphony Franz Schubert Fourth Symphony Johannes Brahms "Brindisi" from La Traviata Giuseppe Verdi Second Piano Concerto Sergei Rachmaninoff "New World" Symphony Antonin Dvorak An American in Paris George Gershwin Adagio for Strings Samuel Barber Anything by Art Tatum Anything by Astor Piazzolla "Gabriel's Oboe" from "The Mission" Ennio Morricone Harry Potter Theme Song John Williams

Hall, who in turn reached out to Wolff to shepherd in their youth program called “Link Up.” Wolff and company then began Encore, a third educational program that would reach even younger students. Wolff says first grade is an ideal time to bring music education to students (he began one school program dressed up as a Jedi, using a light saber as a conductor’s wand). “At that age, they still believe in magic.” A recent collaboration with the Virginia education system has gotten the group one step closer to their goal of making these youth programs link students in different communities and states through music. Currently, the programs offered in our community serve close to 4,000 students, and Wolff says most people don’t even realize their child is benefiting from the program, many still believing the school system provides the music education. In the future, Wolff seeks to increase awareness of the Encore, Junior Orchestra and Link Up programs. Volunteers and participation from Moore County’s growing population of young families is needed, and these programs are primarily funded through private donations. Support is always welcome. Moore County is just the kind of place that can have its own orchestra and have these great programs for our youth. I would suggest volunteering or donating to these great programs if you can. And take in a performance by the Carolina Philharmonic. We are so fortunate to have David Wolff and the local talent that surrounds him. For more information about these programs, visit carolinaphil.org.

www.SandandPineMag.com | 25

At the

Table

School Lunches Americans have been bringing lunch to school for more than 100 years. The school cafeteria that serves a hot lunch every day wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t introduced until the early 20th century (although factories instituted them decades earlier in order to get every minute of productivity out of their workers). Before then, kids were sent home to eat lunch. But even after the hot lunch was introduced, the idea of bringing lunch from home stuck. Today, with the emergence of allergy-issues, specialized diets and maybe a picky eater or two, brown bagging it is still very much in vogue.

26 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE August/September 2016

Chef Lunches While the “lunch hour” is now more like “lunch minutes,” it is possible to have great, healthy food fast. Local chefs from Serving SP give us their take on an ideal homemade lunch, offering three recipes that are sure to please your picky eater, the one who will try anything and one to make with your homeschooled child.

For the Picky Eater Chef Daniel, Cooking at Vito’s Ristorante

What’s in the Bag?

Chicken tenders / Ants on a log Chopped apples This is a lunch for the kid who likes to play it safe. Baked chicken tenders are a healthier option than their fried counterpart and are delicious hot or cold. Add the classic ants on a log and chopped apples for a well-rounded bagged lunch to feed even the pickiest kid. Helpful tip: Sprinkle cut apples with lemon juice to keep them fresh.

It’s more fun to talk with someone who doesn’t use long, difficult words, but rather short, easy words like, “How about lunch?” – Winnie the Pooh

Baked Chicken Tenders

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into strips 1/2 cup flour 1 egg, whisked 1 cup breadcrumbs Olive oil for drizzling Dredge chicken strips through the flour. Dip them in the egg batter. Roll in breadcrumbs and place on a cookie sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Pack with your child's favorite dipping sauce.

What contemptible scoundrel has stolen the cork to my lunch? – WC Fields

v Looking for a Lunchbox? Check out Willie’s Lunchbox located at 1930 N. Poplar St., Suite 10, Southern Pines. Not only do they have an impressive collection of vintage lunch boxes to peruse, they also have some for sale.

www.SandandPineMag.com | 27

For the Kid Who Will Try Anything Chef Ivory, cooking at Thyme & Place

What’s in the Bag?

Multiply the Greek Dressi ng recipe and keep it in the fridge for up to a week. It can be used as a dip, salad dressing or sauce for any kind of pro tein. It will taste even bet ter the second and third day s. Quinoa can be prepared in a large batch plain and kept in your fridge for a week. It’s nic e to have on hand to eas ily add protein to many dishes. It can be enjoyed cold or hot, and can replace rice in many recipes.

•

Greek Burrito / Quinoa salad

C H E N • T I T I P

Combine and set aside while you assemble your burrito.

Greek Burrito

Your favorite deli meat (or hummus for a vegetarian option) A couple rings of thinly sliced tomato 4 Kalamata or black olives Thinly sliced red or green onion Chopped romaine lettuce Layer all items, top with the previously prepared yogurt sauce and roll up your burrito tightly. I like to wrap my burritos in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil for safe traveling. Quinoa Salad

1/3 cup cooked and cooled quinoa 1/4 cup chopped celery hearts 1/4 cup fresh whole blueberries or sliced strawberries 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 tablespoons orange juice or lemonade Pinch of salt, cumin and dried dill. Mix and refrigerate.

pinterest.com/sandandpinemag

28 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE August/September 2016

I M

2 tablespoons Greek yogurt (or sour cream) 1 tablespoon feta cheese 2 tablespoons grated cucumber 2 teaspoons olive oil 1 teaspoon lemon juice (or lime juice) 1/2 teaspoon dried dill 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic

When you prepare the cho pped veggies for this wra p, go ahead and prep som e extras. Grab a few containers and create a mini salad bar in your fridge.

•

Greek Dressing

•

a culinary monster....

•

Never again will PB&J suffice. Beware, you may create

Y O R

tastebuds guessing and put the fun back in lunch.

rainbow of vegetables and fruits will have their

to keep your munchkin focused and energized. The

O M • C H E F R F

foods! This meal is packed with protein and fiber

A V I E - S N G

•

A packed lunch for the kid who loves a rainbow of

For the Homeschooled Kid Chef Davis, cooking at Nature’s Own

What’s in the Bag? Grilled Cheese / Tomato Basil Soup Cooking with your kids teaches them useful skills, increases their independence and lets them know you care about what they eat. This is a simple recipe that is perfect to have the kids create with you. The key to any good soup is allowing to let the flavors meld together from the eclectic mixture of ingredients. Minimal work for maximum flavor and happiness. The perfect recipe!

Tomato Basil Soup

2 28-ounce cans stewed tomatoes 1/4 pound fresh basil 8-ounce can tomato juice (Optional) Salt and pepper to taste In a reasonably sized pot combine all ingredients. Bring to a boil then cut off heat. Puree. You can add cream, coconut milk, butter or other substances at this point if you would like to cut down the acidity.

WELLNESS DECISION SUPPORT TECHNOLOGY Helping you reach optimal health using biocommunication

Schedule your

Scan Today!

Southern Pines Chiropractic, P.A. Serving the Sandhills since 1991

120 Spring Lake Road 13 Pinehurst, NC / $127,000

Immaculate 2BR/2BA end unit condo with vaulted ceiling, HW floors, gas log FP, S/S appliances, tile shower & floors, spacious deck and garage with W/D connection. Professionally painted, this condo is one level with a brick exterior and large yard w/irrigation. Master has three closets for wonderful storage. Spacious laundry = home office. Close to shopping, entertainment and medical facilities.

Carefree condo living at its best!

Dr. Joseph D. Wahl, Chiropractic Physician

361 N. Bennett Street, Southern Pines 910.692.5207 / www.NCChiro.com

Did I hear someone say ‘treat’? Sarah’s whippet puppy, Splash

Cared for Canine & Cat offers only the highest quality food and treats for the ones you love.

1150 US 1 South, Southern Pines 910-693-7875 • caredforcanine.com

Lynette Williams / 910.690.3113

SANDWICHES BURGERS SALADS SOUPS FLOATS COFFEE ICE CREAM Celebrating 40 years! www.SandandPineMag.com | 29

The Education Issue

food for thought BY GREG GIRARD

n any given Friday of the school year, most kids are looking forward to the weekend. It’s a time to relax and recharge, and it seems natural to raid the refrigerator for snacks after school and enjoy good meals throughout the weekend. Maybe the family has a Friday night pizza tradition. Maybe lunch on Saturday after the soccer game is at one of our local sandwich shops. Maybe Sunday still represents the big family meal with a roast and several sides of vegetables. But for some kids, too many kids, food on the weekend represents something entirely different. It represents a struggle to even find something nutritious to eat. It represents health and behavioral problems. It also often represents two days of hunger until Monday morning when they’re back at school. This is where Joanne Conrad and an army of community volunteers step in. Conrad is manager for the Sandhills Food Bank Backpack Program, which provides a package of food (minimum of eight items) every Friday during the school year for kids in need. The package offers the equivalent of several meals designed to get the child, and often their families, through the weekend with some nutritional sustenance. “My goal is that we can reassure these kids that they won’t go hungry and that someone cares. It’s that simple,” Conrad says. “The benefits of this program are many. When a child knows that someone cares, it gives them incentive to move forward. When a child has nutritious food, their test scores improve, their comprehension improves and there are fewer behavioral issues and attendance issues. These all contribute to less crime. It’s a win/win!”

30 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE August/September 2016

The Backpack Program was started by Linda Hubbard in 2005. There were about 25 children initially enrolled in the program, and now the Backpack Program serves 1,100 in Moore County. A shockingly high number for our small community, but Conrad readily points out there are many more children they could be reaching. “There (are) over 43,000 people within our four county area (Sandhills Food Bank supports Lee, Moore, Richmond and Scotland counties) that are ‘food insecure.’ Out of that 43,000, there’s probably at least 15,000 that are children.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food insecure as a state in which “consistent access to adequate food is limited by a lack of money and other resources at times during the year.” The weekly packages can include a variety of food items, from macaroni and cheese to raisins to peanut butter crackers to apples (which are provided fresh by Harris Teeter every week). In assembly line fashion, the volunteers are assigned stations, packing the food, coordinating the delivery boxes and delivering the packages to each school. “I have probably 150 volunteers that I work with. There are around 25-35 people that show up every Thursday morning during the school year,” Conrad says. “Many of these volunteers have been doing this for more than 10 years. And I have to tell you, in all honesty, it’s the volunteers. It’s their program. I’m just the facilitator. I try to give them whatever they need and make sure we have the funding and supplies.”

“My goal is that we can reassure these kids that they won’t go hungry and that someone cares. It’s that simple.”

To qualify for the Backpack Program, children must be referred, whether that’s from a school counselor, teacher or a family member that learns about the program. Usually the child is already receiving a free or reduced-cost meal at the school. The child’s guardian simply needs to sign the form that is sent to them and the child is enrolled. Then, each Friday, the school discreetly distributes the packages and the kids put them in their backpack for the weekend. Aside or in addition to volunteering for the program, Conrad says there is always a need for more resources. It may seem counterintuitive, but food is not their primary need. “People like to give food but in all honesty, our dollar goes so much further,” she explains. “[For the food bank], every dollar donated purchases five meals. Ninety-seven cents of every dollar goes toward our food and food services programs.” Instead, Conrad says financial contributions or in-kind donations are even more vital to the program. “We spend a huge amount of time each year trying to garner enough funds to underwrite the existing level of service. So we’re always looking for alternative methods of funding. We always have events and if people can help us sponsor those events, we really appreciate that. The more resources we have it gives us a better opportunity to accommodate program expansion, which is happening as we add schools and kids.”

- Joanne Conrad

For more information on how to assist this program and other programs at the Food Bank, go to sandhills.foodbankcenc.org. The Sandhills Food Bank is located at 195 Sandy Avenue, Southern Pines.

www.SandandPineMag.com | 31

The Education Issue The Education Issue

Get Your Motor Running

n the land of fantastic restaurants, world-class golf courses and award winning resorts, it’s not surprising that Sandhills Community College (SCC) has excellent culinary, landscaping and hospitality programs. There’s one department, however, that chugs along – well maybe purrs along – in the background at SCC. The Automotive Technology Department offers two degree programs: automotive systems technology and collision repair and refinishing technology. For a field that’s expected to grow by almost 10 percent over the next decade, skilled and certified auto technicians will not only be needed, they’ll be in demand. Students of the automotive program can expect realworld experience while enrolled, through co-operative employers in the area, and that’s the big difference between the Automotive Department and other programs, department chair Stephen Ingham says. “It cements their education,” he says. “If you take a class then nine months later go into the workforce, that first class you’ve taken is forgotten. When they come here and do brakes, they’re working in the industry at the same time.” The automotive industry is constantly evolving and SCC has kept up. Technology is making cars safer and more efficient, but it’s also making them more complicated.

32 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE August/September 2016

Collision repair, for example, isn’t just pounding out dents and sanding fenders anymore, Ingham says. Technicians will need to be able to work with “the radar and the laser detection systems that’s in the front of the car and how to put it back together,” he says. The Automotive Technology Department at SCC is certified by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), one of only 22 postsecondary schools in the state to receive the accreditation. NATEF/ASE certification is the stamp of excellence for both the school and the technician, and is the certification that dealerships and auto shops look for in new hires. Current auto technicians can benefit from the Automotive Technology Department as well. If a technician needs to earn a light duty diesel certificate, for example, they earn it at SCC. Continuing education for auto technicians can mean more skills which can translate to higher wages and even more job options. For Ingham, the programs are designed for one simple reason. “What we do is we try to get people employed.” To learn more about the degree programs and the department, contact Professor Stephen Ingham at 910-6953977 or email him at inghams@sandhills.edu.

I R E D S P

B Y

S T P A

S T I C A L T I L

& E

Farm fresh eggs Java Bean

Coffee

Homemade Tomato Pies Over 30 Local Artists

Art & Home Decor vintage & antique finds

Open

Thursday-Saturday 10 am - 4 pm

1615 Bethesda Road Aberdeen, NC

FUN THINGS

O&P

[ DISCO

September 27, 2016

910.690.9969

Stroll through beautiful downtown Southern Pines with friends and enjoy a sampling of delicious foods and beverages as you shop the boutiques!

C! Y, N

L A CE S T O

IN M O O R E C O

www.sandhillsccs.org Sandhills Classical Christian School 387 W Pennsylvania Ave Southern Pines, NC 28387

www.MooreChoices.net

(910) 695-1874 www.SandandPineMag.com | 33

Last Word Military Family Council by Rollie Sampson

hen my husband and I found ourselves returning to Fort Bragg in 2013, we were excited about coming home to Moore County. We thought it would be our easiest move as a military family. We owned a house in Aberdeen, had family in the area and our children had already attended Moore County Schools. We assumed it would be a smooth transition. What we hadn’t been prepared for were the challenges of transferring our children to new schools, especially a school system in which we were already familiar. From lost birth certificates and IEP paperwork to incorrect schedules to being turned away from extracurricular activities because they were full, each day was a battle to get our daughters enrolled. Our frustration as a military family continued throughout the school year and led us to question our decision to return to Fort Bragg. As a parent, I felt like I had failed to advocate for my children and ended the year extremely discouraged. It wasn’t until I was invited to participate in a group discussion about military students in early 2015, hosted by Dr. Robert Grimesey, superintendent of Moore County Schools, that my outlook change. It was the first time in many years that I had felt heard as a parent and hopeful for my children. Dr. Grimesey’s own experiences as the parent of a combat wounded airmen enabled him to connect with the stressors military families face on a daily basis. His empathy and genuine concern for the needs of military students led to the creation of the Military Family Council in February of this year. The Military Family Council (MFC) is comprised of volunteer military spouses and service members from each school willing to act as a point of contact for incoming and currently enrolled military connected families. The purpose of the MFC is to be a resource for military families to ask questions and find support, advocate on behalf of our military

families and collaborate with Moore County Schools to identify the needs of military students. Ultimately, our goal is to facilitate an open dialogue between military families and Moore County Schools, resulting in programs and services that allow military connected students to thrive emotionally and academically. Since its first meeting in February, MFC members have been working with Moore County School’s leadership to identify concerns specific to military students in our school system. The group sponsored an online survey for military and transitioning families in March and a Military Family Forum in April focused on an array of issues related to military students. As the group heads into the new school year, we’ve established a few priorities for the fall, including focusing on new student orientations and military groups for middle and high school students, developing welcome kits for all transitioning families, expanding our MFC representatives from each school and increasing participation in the federal impact aid survey. As one of the co-chairs for MFC and a parent of two high school students, I am optimistic about the future of military families in Moore County Schools and honored to be a part of the group. I am grateful to Dr. Grimesey, our school administrators and all our staff members for providing military families with a way to be heard, as well as an opportunity to partner in supporting our military children. Although we still have a long way to go, we are off to a great start. Military families can follow the MFC online at Facebook. com/MCSMilitaryFamilyConnection. If you would like more information, have a question or would like to be a representative for your school, please send us an email at MilitaryFamilyCouncil@gmail.com.

Rollie Sampson is a military brat, veteran and Army spouse. In addition to volunteering with the Military Family Council, she is the youth program director for the Arts Council of Moore County. Rollie resides in Southern Pines with her daughters, husband and three dogs in their “forever” home.

34 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE August/September 2016

Wedding Dresses A Fashion Show 100

When you're THIS awesome, it's hard not to leave an impact!

Years

Presented By the Sandhills Woman’s Exchange Tuesday, September 20, 2016 Cardinal Ballroom Carolina Hotel 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Watch My Wag has been awarded the 2015 “Walk the Walk” Green Facilities Management award for its commitment to environmental excellence in North Carolina.

Tickets are

WMW offers comprehensive behavior modification plans, boarding, day play and training services.

$40 per person

For reservations, please call Alice Robbins 910-949-3134 or Karen Lehto 910-295-4677

Please send checks to:

259 Commerce Avenue Southern Pines

910-725-1888

SWE

PO Box 215 Pinehurst, NC 28370

www.WatchMyWag.com

Get comfortable with us.

Make your yard

mosquito

free!

Call today to learn more about our Maintenance Contract - providing homeowners peace of mind, preferred pricing on service work, and a performance guarantee.

4 Seasons Heating & Air

132 Westgate Drive, West End, NC 27376 Phone: (910) 235-0606 Fax: (910) 215-9653 www.4SeasonsHeatnAir.com

Call 910.944.2474 ABEX TCO,

INC.

DBA

ABERDEEN

EX TERMINATING

www.SandandPineMag.com | 35

Home Ownership...

Pass It On!

Finding homes for families like yours. Mark and Karen Caulfield

The Home Team Mark: 585.233.2237 (cell)

Karen: 910.725.0220 (cell) KarenCaulfield.HomesCBA.com facebook.com/MarkAndKarenCaulfieldTheHomeTeam