Lee County Living 2016

lee county

Living

2016-17 edition

$5

Alexander Lecorchick and Sarahi Mendoza at Kiwanis Park

grads earn more than a diploma here are some burgers you should not miss

area farms are not all the same any more

salvation army marches in a new direction

building robots has its rewards

H

A Herald Community Publication with the Sanford Area Growth Alliance

enjoy four seasons of fun! lee county Living 2016-17 1

2 lee county Living 2016-17

Sanford WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO RETIRE FEARLESSLY? It means having confidence that your financial bases are covered. And, that you’ve prepared for many of retirement’s uncertainties—and opportunities—so you can live life to the fullest.

Let Thrivent Financial help you retire fearlessly. Contact us today!

Lisa M Whalen MBA, FIC, CLTCÂŽ Financial Associate 310 N Horner Blvd Sanford, NC 27330 919-708-5031 Facebook.com/lisa.whalen.thrivent Linkedin.com/in/lisawhalenthrivent Insurance products issued or offered by Thrivent Financial, the marketing name for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Appleton, WI. Not all products are available in all states.

Thrivent Financial representatives are licensed insurance agents/producers of Thrivent.

For additional important information, visit Thrivent.com/disclosures.

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lee county Living 2016-17 3

lee county

Living

A COMMUNITY PUBLICATION OF

The Sanford Herald

MAGAZINE WRITER AND DESIGNER

Chip Pate PUBLISHER

Bill Horner III CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

Hannah Hunsinger CONTRIBUTORS

R.V. Hight Hannah Hunsinger PHOTO CONTRIBUTORS

Chip Pate Lee County Schools The Salvation Army

WELCOME TO OUR COMMUNITY!

We’re a vibrant, culturally rich community where businesses thrive and residents enjoy small-town life at its best. Located in the heart of North Carolina, with a population about 60,000, Lee County is a bustling center of commerce and employment. Yet, we enjoy a family-friendly, close-knit atmosphere. One visit to our schools or churches, our community college or one of our small businesses will convince you that Lee County is a place you can call home. With our state’s beautiful mountains and beaches a short afternoon’s drive away, Lee offers an unmatched quality of life.

The Sanford Herald and Sanford Area Growth Alliance are proud to present Lee County Living Magazine 2016-17. In these pages you’ll find listings and advertisements for our best merchants and businesses. Whether you’re looking for a place to shop, an area to start a new business or a neighborhood to call home, we think you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for in Lee County.

The Sanford Herald. 208 St. Clair Court, Sanford, NC, 27330, 919.708.9000 (phone); 919.708.9001 (fax); sanfordherald.com.

Sanford Area Growth Alliance. 115 Chatham Street, Sanford, NC, 27330; 919.774.8439 (phone); growsanford.com.

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Copyright © 2016 by The Sanford Herald.

All rights reserved.

4 lee county Living 2016-17

Lee County Sheriff ’s Office

“Stronger communities are safer communities”

All of our Premier Communities offer an easy commute to Raleigh, Chapel Hill, RTP, Fayetteville & Fort Bragg.

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Office • (919)775-5531 Tip Line • (919)718-4577

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lee county Living 2016-17 5

our students graduate with

more than a diploma

It’s true! In such a competitive environment for jobs and college admission, it’s more important than ever to find an edge. That’s why Lee County Schools helps students graduate with more than a diploma.

Over 84% of last year’s senior class graduated with college credit, professional certification or some other distinction That includes 43 associate degrees, 87 North Carolina Academic Scholars, 227 students with at least one college credit and 232 students with one or more career or technical certification—from last year’s class!

6 lee county Living 2016-17

Number of graduates’ career and technical certifications ranked sixth in the state

One of just 32 prestigious International Baccalaureate high school programs in North Carolina

With that advantage, students are

Learn more about Lee County

graduating at a growing rate and finding the success they seek in life.

Schools at LCSinspired.com.

Help your students get ahead in life.

89.1% graduation rate well above state average But we’re not standing still!

Lee County Schools is expanding opportunity with new initiatives like the International Baccalaureate, a program respected worldwide for its rigorous curriculum and high teaching standards.

lee county

Living

L E E C O U N T Y L I V I N G F E AT U R E S

more than a diploma

burgers you really can’t miss

a new army for new times

changing landscapes

building robots

With so many options, local students get a jump start on life. } 8

We now bring you portable goodness on a bun. } 14

The Salvation Army marches ahead but in a new direction. } 20

Local farms look a lot different than they did before. } 34

Such complex and collaborative work has its rewards. } 40

picking in the new year

playing with purpose

s-p-e-l-l-i-n-g b-e-e

it’s not all business

four seasons of fun

World-class bluegrass musicians ring in the new year. } 13

Upward Basketball is about more than just the game. } 25

This annual bee is nothing like you see on TV. } 39

Swag, dancing and more draw crowds to the civic center. } 45

Winter, spring, summer or fall, kids are having a ball. } 28

SNAPSHOTS OF LIFE

P H O T O E S S AY

lee county Living 2016-17 7

Dip

than a

more

with associate degrees, college credit and industry certifications already in hand, local graduates are getting a jump start on college and careers

8 lee county Living 2016-17

When Jestyne Martin walked across the stage for her high school graduation five years ago, it wasn’t the typical occasion. True, the 18-year-old was receiving a diploma, like so many of her friends the same age. But this graduate was entering her future with a college degree as well.

Jestyne attended Lee Early College, a public high school offering a five-year curriculum that includes courses at Central Carolina Community College, and even managed to finish it all just three and a half years — both the traditional high school curriculum and her Associate in Arts, a two-year degree designed for students planning to continue their education at a four-year college or university.

It was the perfect option for Jestyne, who was on a mission to reach law school and work in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, essentially a court system staffed with attorneys who represent the Army and its soldiers in military legal matters. So, graduating from high school with two years of college already accomplished pushed her that much closer to her destiny. “I knew if I went to the early college, that would provide an opportunity to get to that goal even quicker,” says Jestyne, who received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from UNC Greensboro and now attends the UNC School of Law. “I always knew what I wanted to do: I wanted to study the law. And I wasn’t studying the law in high school.”

She graciously takes time talking about her

experience at Lee Early College and the opportunities open for anyone who leaves high school with more than a diploma. She describes the positive mind-set it creates for having greater expectations and meeting higher standards. But this interview needs to be short, because the clock is ticking. Tomorrow morning, Jestyne leaves for Germany and a legal internship with the U.S. Army JAG Corps. Her mission is on track.

But one final question: What would she tell people about pursuing a college degree in high school?

She replies quickly: “It was the best choice I ever could have made.”

Graduating With More

A remarkable number of local students are now graduating with more than a high school diploma, thanks to an initiative introduced almost three years ago, when Dr. Andy Bryan became superintendent of Lee County Schools. It’s not as if students never graduated before with career certificates or college credit earned through Advanced Placement courses. After all, professional credentials have long been a part of career and technical education in high schools nationwide and the College Board, a nonprofit educational organization best known for administering the SAT college admission test, began offering Advanced Placement exams way back in 1955, though their popularity didn’t really explode until the last three decades.

But the focus on having all students earn something beyond the high school diploma was not very common when Dr. Bryan and the Lee County Board of Education decided the idea could transform the future for students and the entire community.

“The question was how to make a real difference in the lives of our students and, at the same time, do something that would improve our community and

loma photo.

Jerry Liang, from left, Rebecca Gijon, Michael

Keister and Antonio Binns work on a robot at Southern Lee High School’s NAF Academy of Engineering, one of three academies at each traditional high school that allow students to graduate with a recognized certification beyond the diploma.

lee county Living 2016-17 9

Kenzie Oldham, left, and Alisha Miranda Hill learn about blood pressure cuffs with Ms. Marsh in Health Science 2 at Lee County High School.

its potential for economic development,” recalls Dr. Bryan. “Sure, we were doing some of these things before, but we wanted to make it a priority. We wanted our students to have an advantage when it came time to apply for college or begin their careers, and we wanted employers to know that they could find qualified people here right out of high school. This was the best way we could accomplish that: with credentials and credits that were universally accepted and widely respected.”

From all accounts, the initiative has been a rousing success. Over 84 percent of last year’s senior class graduated with something more than a diploma — whether it’s college credit, a professional certification or some other academic distinction. Dr. Bryan says 43 students like Jestyne graduated from high school with a two-year college degree. But that’s just the beginning: 227 students earned at least one college 10 lee county Living 2016-17

credit, 232 graduated with at least one technical certification and 87 students were honored as North Carolina Academic Scholars, a designation from the State Board of Education for students who have completed a balanced and academically rigorous high school program preparing them for post-secondary education.

Many students earned college credit through Central Carolina Works, a dualenrollment program that awards both high school and college credit to students completing approved college courses, and Dr. Bryan says the number of graduates’ career and technical credentials ranked sixth highest in the state.

Jump-starting Careers

It’s not just about getting ahead in college. For as long as she can remember, Hunter Riggins wanted to be a nurse.

It may have started when she was little, taking care of her cousins over summer vacation — there were a lot of

cousins, she says — but Hunter vividly recalls one life changing event that set her future in motion. It was when her great-grandmother was in her final days and Hunter was at her side, providing love, support and plenty of practical help. Listening to Hunter reflect on that situation, it’s clear that the experience made a lasting impression. “By me being able to take care of her,” Hunter says, “I realized that I want everyone to be treated the way she was being treated.”

Hunter graduated from Southern Lee High School two years ago with a high school diploma and her CNA, an acronym for Certified Nursing Assistant, the entry-level nursing credential that allows someone to provide basic patient care under professional supervision. Nursing assistants also help patients with daily activities that they can’t do on their own, requiring the kind of compassion Hunter exhibited toward her great-grandmother.

There are many paths to the credential — from online classes to community college continuing education courses that can last months. But Hunter earned hers in high school. Jacqueline Watson, who taught Hunter at Southern Lee, says the certification requires classroom instruction and clinical hours working in a healthcare setting (Hunter did her clinical hours at Liberty Commons in Sanford). Then, there are written and skills tests.

There are at least 16 career certifications and credentials offered

by Lee County Schools that recognize expertise in computer software, early childhood education, engineering, finance, food service safety and hospitality and tourism. There are even more industrial credentials earned by high school students selected for the Caterpillar Youth Apprenticeship, an innovative partnership among Lee County Schools, Caterpillar and Central Carolina Community College that allows students to train in welding at one of the world’s most respected companies, earn income for work and graduate from high school with a high

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Luke Dickens, left, and D.J. Collins work on a house being constructed by Lee County High School carpentry classes.

school diploma and college welding certificate. The apprenticeship has a locally developed curriculum so successful that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation once praised the program for sparking interest in the idea nationwide and called it “a partnership worth repeating.”

Ms. Watson, Hunter’s teacher, says there are huge benefits in working toward certification in high school. One of them, of course, is money. If Hunter had pursued her certification outside of high school, the cost of class, uniforms, books and more would have added up to somewhere between $400 and $600. At Southern Lee, it was free. But money isn’t everything. Ms. Watson also says having an established relationship with their teacher makes the whole process easier for students. “The teacher helps them through the registration process for taking the state test and can follow up with retesting if they did not pass,” she explains. “Because she has a history with them, she can help them make the best plans for their individual needs.”

And those advantages aren’t lost on Hunter, who is now working toward her 12 lee county Living 2016-17

associate degree in nursing at Central Carolina Community College. When she finishes in about a year, she will leave as a Registered Nurse, holding the essential professional license in her field, and then plans to attend university for her bachelor’s degree. How helpful was it to start her career so early? “Honestly, it was the best thing,” Hunter says. “I guess you could say I was one step ahead of other people, because if I was not able to go to college, I was still able to work and make some fairly good money. You need to take as many opportunities as you can to get these certifications in high school.”

Ahead of the Curve

Back when Lee County Schools adopted its emphasis on graduating with “more than a diploma,” it was happening in some career and technical education programs, but was not yet a broader priority for students angling for universities. Some of that is changing.

Dr. June Atkinson, North Carolina’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, says there is now a growing trend statewide to help high school students earn college credit and certifications recognized by

business and industry. Across North Carolina, about 35 percent earned college credit through Advanced Placement testing or actual college courses, and students qualified for 135,000 career and technical certifications, more than five times the number earned just four years ago.

She commends the approach taken by Lee County Schools as one way of crafting a meaningful educational experience that helps students build on their own interests and talents.

“Lee County Schools’ approach is to ensure that students graduate with more than a diploma by giving students an opportunity to personalize their learning,” Dr. Atkinson says. “Opportunities for dual enrollment in community colleges and achievement of certifications are approaches to keep students interested in school and to have students engage in purposeful learning. When students recognize that their efforts will have a positive outcome, rather than just a grade, they rarely ask the question, ‘Why am I learning this stuff?’”

Not every student completes something as significant as Jestyne’s associate degree or Hunter’s credential as a Certified Nursing Assistant. For many, it could be credit for one college class through an Advanced Placement exam or graduation with an International Baccalaureate diploma, a distinction awarded worldwide to particularly rigorous academic programs authorized by an international foundation based in Geneva, Switzerland. Lee County Schools established an International Baccalaureate last year at Lee County High School, one of just 32 in the state.

“We’re part of an increasingly competitive world, whether it’s competition for jobs or competition for college admission,” says Dr. Bryan.

“We’re living in a world where you can be successful; it’s in your control. But success requires a good education beyond high school and recognized credentials to demonstrate what you know. Our goal is to help all of our students get on that path.

We want them be competitive, and we want to help them realize that they really can achieve their dreams.” ❙❚

SNAPSHOTS of life in lee county

picking in the new year

J

oining the band for a couple of numbers, singer Peggy Taphorn helps open “New Year’s Eve With Tommy Edwards and The Bluegrass Experience,” an annual celebration at the Temple Theatre.

As she finishes “Walkin’ After Midnight,” fiddler Matt Hooper steps a few feet off stage.

“I scared off the fiddle player!” she shrieks with mock horror.

“Someone told him we were playing for free,” replies one of the other musicians.

“People get paid for this?”

As the evening progresses, that actually seems like a fair question. Everyone is having so much fun that you can almost believe professionals might do this for free.

There’s no shortage of humor, like when the band leader tells everyone, “We like the old songs … because they’re the ones we know.” And he even drops some knowledge along the way. When the group finishes playing “Salty Dog,” Tommy notes that there’s been conjecture about what “salty dog” means in the refrain: Let me be your salty dog Or I won’t be your man at all Honey let me be your salty dog The musician who first recorded it was from around China Grove, Tommy explains, where there was once a locally produced soft drink called the “salty dog.”

Who knew?

But mainly the evening is three hours of world-class music performed by a stage full of world-class musicians. Tommy Edwards and The Bluegrass Experience move effortlessly from one number to another, bridging the gaps with interesting facts, tales from his storied career and plenty of one-liners. After one song, Tommy turns to the audience with a look

of deep sincerity. “I hope you liked that one,” he says before pausing. “If you didn’t, it didn’t last long.”

As they roll through two sets, musicians take turns in the spotlight, and each time the audience roars its approval.

Tonight is the 17th annual New Year’s Eve show. The band keeps coming back for many reasons; most of all, it’s the audience that comes to share the occasion.

“As a group, they’re warm, welcoming, in very good spirits and very appreciative of our efforts,” Tommy says. “It’s an extremely enjoyable evening for us.”

It may not be the ball drop in Times Square, but there is a rousing finale of Auld Lang Syne and the concert has become a local tradition ringing in the new year. And judging from the crowded, enthusiastic theater, it’s one that will be with us for many years to come.

Tommy Edwards and guest artist LaNelle Davis help ring in the new year.

lee county Living 2016-17 13

lee county Living 2016-17 13

Jeff and Lisa Kopp Jeff and Lisa’s Brickhouse Grill

burgers you really can’t miss

14 lee county Living 2016-17

W

ho doesn’t love a good burger?

Okay, okay. Before anyone starts sending email or making calls, we hereby and officially acknowledge there are vegetarians and vegans out there. Really nice ones. Even some who love great food. But in this particular case, you have both our respect and our deepest sympathy. Because for everyone else, what could possibly be better than hearty cuts of prime beef, served on a tasty bun, with all of your favorite things piled on top?

Fortunately, it’s not so rare to find an exceptional option on menus all over the area.

Some of them stand apart because they do the basics particularly well. Others put their own special variation on a typical theme. And a few just throw caution to the wind and go all nuts.

Packer Burger

That’s what makes Jeff and Lisa’s Brickhouse Grill a top choice for burger aficionados.

Don’t get us wrong: Restaurant owners Jeff and Lisa Kopp are sticklers for quality.

All of their burgers begin with a half pound of fresh ground beef, an 80/20 blend (80 percent lean, 20 percent fat) that’s brought in every morning and never frozen. Kaiser rolls are baked locally. And most of their creative toppings are made in house.

But what they do with them … well, that’s where things go beautifully off the rails.

Packer Burger Take the Packer Burger.

Jeff’s homage to his native Wisconsin and beloved Green Bay Packers is their featured burger on days throughout the year, but it’s always served on Wednesday after a win — and even comes with a discount for anyone showing up in Packer gear.

The taste is unmistakably Wisconsin: a burger topped with grilled bratwurst, cheddar cheese, mustard and grilled onions. In less skilled hands, the bratwurst could come off as a gimmick. But it doesn’t. It’s mildly spicy, not overwhelming, and thinly sliced, just enough to enhance the flavor of the beef, not compete with it.

Maui Waui Jeff and Lisa’s takes a similar approach with its Maui Waui, this one playing off on Hawaiian tastes. Just like he did with the Packer Burger, Jeff tops the beef with cheese — in this case, pepper jack — and a slice of meat. But this time, it’s Spam.

We can hear the astonishment, even from confirmed meat lovers: Spam? Yes, thinly

Maui Waui

Green Chili Cheeseburger

sliced, chargrilled Spam. And don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. After all, Hawaii has loved Spam ever since World War II and now consumes more per capita than anywhere else in the world. So, it actually makes perfect sense.

It also makes sense to add pineapple, and Jeff does this with a housemade relish combining fresh pineapple, fresh jalapeño, tomato and onion. The relish adds a tiny bit of zing — nothing blazing hot by any means, though some bites have more kick than others — and makes what could be a heavy burger feel light and vibrant.

Green Chili Cheeseburger If you’re not all in on the “meat on meat” theme, then you might want to go for the Green Chili Cheeseburger, a simple and tasty option that seems designed to strike a balance between warm and cool, spicy and mild.

In this dish, the burger is topped with provolone, tomato, Romaine, fresh green chile and a housemade green chile mayo, something Lisa also uses as a condiment for fries. There’s no doubt that the green chiles bring some heat, but because they’re thinly sliced, it’s not overwhelming. Cool lettuce and tomato help balance the dish as well.

Jeff and Lisa’s Brickhouse Grill rotates its featured burger, so others pop up on the menu from time to time — don’t miss the Oink and Moo! — so check their Facebook page before you go to see what’s on the menu that day.

(Or, you can always build your own burger from a selection of less exotic ingredients.)

But if you love burgers, these fresh, creative and local variations are sure to keep you happy all year long.

1401 Colon Road, Sanford, 919.777.0427 facebook.com/jeff.lisa.brickhousegrill

tips for making great burgers at home } insight

from our featured chefs “When handling and selecting beef, use quality ingredients and a little natural fat!

Combining different cuts of beef — chuck, brisket and sirloin make a great combination — allows for this natural fat and flavor.” Gregg Hamm, Café 121 “Grill over high heat to sear all those flavors in to around 145 to 155 degrees for a slight pink center. You will have a delicious, juicy burger!” Chris Whitt, Ole Heritage Family Restaurant “The most important thing is not to play with the meat.

Leave it alone on the grill to get a nice sear.” Jeff Kopp, Jeff and Lisa’s Brickhouse Grill “Don’t try to get the burger right on the grill. Get it right at the table! The beef continues to cook after it comes off the grill, so make sure when everyone is ready to eat, the burger is still nice and juicy.” Mike Davison, Davison’s Steaks “If you’re making a cheeseburger, the cheese is a star of the sandwich, too.

So use a good cheese, put it on your burger while it’s still on the grill and let it rest after cooking so the cheese will adhere to the meat. That will make it 10 times better.”

Aaron Gaines, Fat Juniors Grill lee county Living 2016-17 15

Jala Burger }

Café 121

Plenty of locals flock to Café 121 for their homemade jalapeño pimento cheese, a staple on the lunch menu, while others gravitate toward their burgers made with fresh ground chuck. So, it’s no shock that Chef Gregg Hamm has created a mashup to combine the two popular tastes into one of the area’s truly memorable burgers.

The Jala Burger is served on a multigrain oat bun and topped with local salad greens, vine-ripened tomatoes and that legendary pimento cheese which, in less-artistic hands, could become overwhelming. But it’s not. A thin schmear packs just enough heat to give the sandwich a creamy-spicy flair while allowing the ground beef to shine. The crunchy, cool toppings add some balance, making this one of the restaurant’s most popular selections.

And if that’s not enough to make the Jala Burger a personal favorite, remember that it’s served with one of Café 121’s terrific side dishes. Chef Hamm says that sweet potato fries is the most popular, but you can’t go wrong with their acclaimed broccoli salad, fried green beans or even fresh fruit, which makes the whole dish just a bit lighter.

121 Chatham Street, Sanford, 919.774.1888 chefhamm.com. Served at lunch only.

Mushroom Swiss Steak Burger }

Davison’s Steaks

As you might expect for a burger created by one of the area’s top steakhouses, at Davison’s it’s all about the beef.

In fact, restauranteur Mike Davison literally grinds his own blend in house using only Omaha grain-fed Angus. It all begins with tender, whole loins that are first sliced into the ribeye and New York Strip steaks featured on the dinner menu and available at lunch as well.

Ends and trimmings are then combined into Davison’s signature steak burger blend, about 75 percent lean, 25 percent fat. Because the restaurant uses almost 40 large beef loins each week, chefs can maintain a high-quality and consistent blend.

“The best way to use the trimmings is in burgers,” Mike says. “And we call them steak burgers for a reason.”

For their popular Mushroom Swiss Steak Burger, a half-pound patty cooks on the chargrill before being topped with Swiss cheese and finished on the flattop, allowing the cheese to melt. It’s topped with fresh sautéed mushrooms and served on a kaiser roll that retains the juices and helps make this one of the area’s distinctive burger tastes.

16 lee county Living 2016-17

1724 Westover Drive, Sanford, 919.718.1103 davisonssteaks.com. Served at lunch only.

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lee county Living 2016-17 17

Fatso Burger }

Fat Juniors Grill

The line beginning under place your order can get awfully long around noon at Fat Juniors Grill, and you might be tempted to write that off as its location across the street from GKN Driveline and next door to Caterpillar, two of Lee County’s largest employers.

There’s no doubt that helps. But Fat Juniors attracts burger devotees as much for its quality as convenience, and you can taste that quality in their signature Fatso Burger.

Grill owner Aaron Gaines begins with 9.5 ounces of fresh ground beef, steam-grills it with Velveeta cheese to fuse the two flavors and serves it on a wide, flat bun more than five inches across.

After that, it’s all up to you. Top it off with chili, slaw, ketchup, mustard, mayo, lettuce, tomato, onions, jalapeños or pickles. Bacon will add just a bit to the menu price. And so will more burgers. Gaines says some customers order doubles, triples or even quads — creating a two-pound burger that could be intimidating, awesome or both.

If there are too many options to sort out while you’re waiting in line, stick with the single and add chili, slaw, mustard and onions, turning

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Jamie’s Hoop Cheese Burger }

Ole Heritage Family Restaurant

It makes perfect sense that one of the signature burgers at a spot called Ole Heritage Family Restaurant relies on a remarkably oldschool ingredient: hoop cheese. The traditional variety prepared only with milk — not cream or salt — was commonplace back in the day.

It can be hard to find now, though you can still run across it at the occasional country store, some specialty markets and on one really good burger in Broadway.

Named after Jamie Whitt, who owns the restaurant with husband Chris, Jamie’s Hoop Cheese Burger is nothing flashy. The menu describes it as a 6.5-ounce, ground chuck burger, char-grilled and topped with a thick slice of hoop cheese, sautéed onions and your choice of four toppings. What the menu doesn’t say is that everything is fresh and local — including the sharp, cheddary cheese often brought back from the State Farmers Market in Raleigh.

Jamie says the burger recalls her childhood, buying hoop cheese with her grandmother. Pair this burger with one of their homemade milkshakes and the experience may also transport you back in time.

18 lee county Living 2016-17

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A NEW

ARMY FOR NEW

TIMES It’s Christmas. Well, almost Christmas, but the telltale signs have

been appearing for weeks. Trees and lights are up. Carols are playing.

And folks are getting bundled up for shopping trips in search of gifts.

As they find those elusive parking spots and maneuver through the hubbub, there’s a familiar, high-pitched tingling of bells. Moving closer, two neighbors are huddled next to a bright red kettle, greeting shoppers coming and going, but especially anyone who pauses for a moment to push a bill or drop some change into the pot.

Now, it’s really Christmas. The Salvation Army is here.

20 lee county Living 2016-17

Bell ringer Ted Lanier accepts contributions during The Salvation Army’s red kettle campaign.

Few things are quite as iconic as The Salvation Army’s red kettle. They’re out in cities everywhere collecting money to feed the hungry and help others who find themselves down on their luck or facing an unexpected crisis. Christmas has always been a special time for The Salvation Army. Not just because it’s when their most visible campaign takes place, but also because the ministry formed in London more than 150 years ago also is busy behind the scenes with its Christmas Joy outreach — yet another tradition, this one to collect holiday toys and clothing for children in low-income families.

It’s all been happening in Lee County for the last two decades, when community leaders established a local Army to meet basic needs and share the Christian faith. And it’s been as successful here as it has been worldwide. Chris Kelley, who directs The Salvation Army’s service center in Sanford, says more than 200 volunteers rang bells in the red kettle campaign last year. And when it came time to collect those Christmas clothes and toys, generous people around the area gave enough to share the joy with 720 children in 296 families who might not have had any gifts at all — an impressive number by any standard.

For the longest time, not much seemed to change in The Salvation Army, which has a distinctive culture illustrated by what the Army calls its “quasi-military command structure,” complete with uniforms and flags, a metaphor reflecting the notion that Christians are engaged in spiritual warfare.

Whether it was through evangelism or ministries like homeless

shelters and food pantries, the Army always held firm to its unique mission and style.

But as the social battleground has shifted, so has The Salvation Army. Perhaps the most significant transformation is the local Army’s new mission focusing on education and employment. Chris says it’s not an about-face, but a new front to combat the cycle of poverty and help families become stable and self-sufficient. “Based on what’s happening in the community, we feel like this is the best approach and focus for helping residents here in Lee County,” Chris says, citing an unemployment rate that’s higher here than in many nearby communities. “We’re in a state of transformation. We want to help people move from dependency to self-sufficiency, where they’re a productive member of this community, active and working. The Bible talks about work and that it’s good. We can honor God through work.”

In short: Ministry leaders are shaping a new Army for new times.

Jobs for Life While others waited for the food pantry to open across the hall, Tiffany Cameron and her classmates were sitting down with mentors for mock job interviews at Jobs for Life, one of those new ministries. Jobs for Life is a 16-hour course offered over an eight-week period to provide essential information and skills needed to find work and build a successful career.

Volunteer mentors — or “champions” as they’re called in lee county Living 2016-17 21

Tiffany Cameron, a participant in Jobs for Life, speaks at the graduation ceremony in the top photo, while mentor Sylvia Churchwell (left) and Annette Rhoades discuss course material before mock interviews begin.

22 lee county Living 2016-17

the program vernacular — meet with participants to provide insight and build a supportive relationship. Along the way, participants also explore a biblical perspective of employment.

As the Jobs for Life website describes it: “Without meaningful work, there is a loss of purpose and dignity. This creates a vicious cycle of poverty — economically, spiritually and emotionally.”

Tiffany takes her seat across from Charlie Balles, a job coach with the NCWorks Career Center in Sanford, and not far from Sylvia Churchwell, her champion. After some typical questions, Charlie learns that Tiffany once worked as a hotel reservationist.

“So, how many reservations did you make in a day?” he asks.

“It varied, but I took about 1,500 calls a day and made between 300 and 500 reservations,” Tiffany replies.

Charlie’s jaw drops and he shoots a quick glance over to Sylvia, who seems astonished as well. Later, when the interview is done and the three are huddled for a critique, it’s clear that both the interviewer and mentor are not only impressed by the number of calls Tiffany handled, but the fact that she was so prepared for that question.

“I like how you gave detailed information about the number of reservations you took a day,” says Sylvia, glancing at some notes she jotted down during the interview.

Charlie nods. “That will knock them out.”

Mock interviews are just one part of the day’s lesson.

Earlier, human resources professionals from several local

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HOW TO ENLIST Interested in getting involved in The Salvation Army? We asked Chris Kelley what people can do and here are his suggestions: ▶ Become

a mentor in Jobs for

Life or help start a new class.

▶ Help

start a financial literacy

▶ Ring

a bell at Christmas or

class. “adopt angels” through the Christmas Joy outreach.

▶ Volunteer

in the food pantry or

Family Store.

▶ Donate

items to the Family

Store at 305 S. Steele Street.

▶ Connect

at facebook.com/

leecountyarmy or on Twitter @leecountyarmy

For more information. Contact The Salvation Army at the Lee County Arts and Community Center, 507 North Steele Street, Sanford, 919.718.1717 or leearmy.org.

24 lee county Living 2016-17

companies offered detailed tips on how to apply for a job and prepare for an effective interview. Each took turns talking about how important it is to show a good attitude, have a flexible set of skills, be willing to learn new things and build a resume that gives enough details and specific examples to get your application into the “interview” pile.

Tiffany, who left the workforce to have a child, was drawn to Jobs for Life because of its Christian perspective and focus on a long-term career. Throughout the journey, she was able to explore options she might never have considered before. “Maybe you know you can type really well on a computer, but you may also be able to help create that computer, too,” its how she explains it. “But you don’t know that if you stop with the first thing you see.” Most importantly, Jobs for Life gave Tiffany the poise and determination to launch into a new phase of life. “Now I have regained my confidence,” she said soon after the eight-week class concluded. “Sometimes the corporate world can be intimidating for a person like me. But now I feel like I can fit in and I have the confidence to get involved.”

Marching Ahead While Jobs for Life appears to be the centerpiece of The Salvation Army’s new direction, it’s certainly not the only new initiative. This spring, the Army held its first-ever career and resource fair, a project sponsored with the NCWorks Career Center to help many more than the 30 people who have graduated so far from Jobs for Life. The fair was designed to help job seekers all around the area meet with local employers and find the help they need for a successful career — whether it’s job training, personal counseling, educational credentials or even help taking care of personal complications that can make it difficult to hold down a full-time job.

Chris had no idea what to expect when he started planning the inaugural event. Would any employers even be interested? And, if they were, how many

job seekers would come out on a Tuesday to find help? As it turned out, he didn’t have anything to worry about. Nearly 40 organizations signed on to participate in the fair and more than 100 job seekers came through the doors, a response that exceeded his expectations.

Exactly how The Salvation Army’s new mission will unfold is still up for debate. Chris says Jobs for Life is part of the plan, but there are other ideas on the table as well. Maybe financial literacy classes to help low-income workers get the most out of their money. Or vouchers to help adults pay for their GED and qualify for more lucrative employment.

There’s even a more ambitious idea to match savings for some workers who are trying to purchase a home or pay for education or job training.

Nobody’s sure quite yet. After all, when you’re maneuvering in brand-new territory, things can change. Whatever the specifics, the Army’s overall goal remains the same, and that’s helping local families overcome obstacles to enjoy a selfsufficient life.

“One of the things we’re focusing on with our programming is breaking the cycle of poverty here in Lee County,” says Bill Horner III, publisher and editor of The Sanford Herald who also serves as chairman of The Salvation Army of Lee County advisory council. “There are a lot of wonderful nonprofits doing great work here, but our new programming is designed to help lift people out of the patterns that put them where they are. We seek to help everyone who needs help — without prejudice, in the name of Christ — and we want to do it in a way that they’ll no longer need our help.”

So, don’t worry about those iconic red kettles disappearing or children waking up on Christmas morning without toys and clothes to unwrap. Chris says there’s no intention of turning away from those successful traditions that have defined The Salvation Army for so many decades.

On the other hand, if the local Army does find success with its new employment outreach, soon those holiday donations may not have to stretch quite so far. ❙❚

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T

he first clue that this wasn’t your typical youth basketball league came early on, during pregame introductions.

Once cheerleaders and players were announced to the crowd, everyone — including referees, league officials and even a few of their children — gathered at center court in one huge circle.

Then, a voice over the public address system began: “Let’s pray!” After the voice expressed appreciation for the opportunity to play and cheer this morning, there was a loud “amen” from everyone inside the First Baptist Church Family Life Center, and players bolted toward their benches — old church pews pushed against one wall painted with the Biblical admonition, “... enter His courts with praise.” A little punny, to be sure, but it did make the point.

This is Upward Basketball, a national sports outreach that bills itself as “more than an ordinary youth sports program.”

It combines competition with personal development — mentally, athletically, spiritually and socially.

Attributes like honesty and self-respect are essential for success, says Cindy Hall, who helps organize the 500 children and 115 coaches participating each season.

That’s why character training is an essential part of the league: It helps young people mature into good citizens.

Most of the time, the scene is fairly conventional. This Saturday morning on Court One, it’s Broncos vs. Buffaloes and things are as frenetic as you’d expect for third- and fourth-grade boys escaping the house on a cold winter morning. They push the ball up and down the court until the buzzer sounds for a timeout. Then, they’re replaced by a dozen tiny girls streaming onto the court with yellow megaphones and parents whipping out

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their iPhones to record the cheer.

When halftime comes, attention shifts to the spectators with a pop quiz on the next day’s Super Bowl.

“Who is the winningest coach in Carolina history?” is one of the questions.

A parent stands up and shouts out the correct answer: “John Fox!” “On Sunday night, we’ll all be happy or we’ll all be sad,” the announcer says.

“But in the game of life, everyone can win.” After a short summary of the gospel, halftime also ends in prayer as players get ready to run back onto the court.

“OK, let’s welcome them back!”

The crowd cheers and play continues.

Just for the record, the Broncos prevailed on the scoreboard, 31-20. But, as the announcer suggested, everyone left this court feeling like a winner.

Anthony Sandidge, left, defends Austin Ragan during an Upward Basketball game.

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Four seasons of fun photos by hannah hunsinger

Declan Hoffman, 14 months at left, with his mom Megan Hoffman; and Maxwell Wonder, 13 months, with his mom Kaitlin Wonder, check out Raven Rock State Park during the second First Day hike on January 1, 2016.

28 lee county Living 2016-17

above.

Julian Best, 9, might

have been the only person excited by the persistent rain on December 30, 2015. He took the opportunity to plunge his bike time and again into the large mud puddle in his back yard, soaking himself until even his boots were full of water. “I just wanted to get in the mud,” Julian said, “Any time I can go in the mud, I go.” left.

Liberty Daniels, 11, takes

a ride down the water slide at the 2015 Lillington Fourth of July Celebration. lee county Living 2016-17 29

A young patron of the 2015 Lee Regional Fair rides the carousel on September 19, 2015.

Baylor Jones, 7, of Broadway, casts his fishing line at San-Lee Park on March 31, 2016. Jones’ mom, Jenna Johnston, who was also there fishing, said they were at San-Lee to “enjoy the beautiful weather” and “practice fishing.”

Anthony Emmert, 6, rides on the merry-go-round with his sister and other kids at the Children’s Kiwanis Park on August 19, 2015.

30 lee county Living 2016-17

Kaitlynn Wiltshire of the Lee County High School Color Guard sweeps her flags overhead during marching band practice on October 7, 2015.

lee county Living 2016-17 31

left.

One young angel ballerina from the

Sanford School of Classical Ballet pretends to blow out her candle while she and her friends wait backstage to have their photo taken prior to rehearsal for the 16th annual production of “The Nutcracker� on November 18, 2015, at the Lee County Arts and Community Center. below.

A young ballerina dances with a ribbon

during the Lee County Parks and Recreation dance class at the Ingram Center on December 15, 2015.

32 lee county Living 2016-17

right.

Mackenzie Brown, 7

from left; Madison Roberts, 8; and Breanna Jones, 12, took advantage of the snowy conditions on January 23, 2016, to sled down the hill at St. Luke United Methodist Church with Freddie Jones, with whom they collided on the way down. below.

Lucas Nelson, 9 at

left, and Jack Santana, 6, goof around on the Blackbelt Leadership Academy float before the start of the Christmas parade on December 7, 2015.

lee county Living 2016-17 33

CHANGING L Anthony Gabriel picks strawberries at Gross Farms, a century-old farm that has found success emphasizing agritourism.

34 lee county Living 2016-17

LANDSCAPES T

he rural landscape is changing.

You may not be able to see it all unfold, but who owned this land and how it was being used even one generation ago has little in common with what’s taking place in the same soil today. Lee County has more than 39,000 acres of farmland, according to the most recent agricultural census, and they’re being transformed.

Back in the day, there really was a typical local farm. It was small, some of them no more than 10 to 20 acres. It was family owned. And tobacco was king, though farmers protected their cash crop by rotating it with soybeans and grains, a strategy that reduces the potential for crop disease and restores some vital nutrients to the soil.

Zachary Taylor, a Lee County agricultural extension agent with North Carolina Cooperative Extension, says a good way to visualize the changing landscape is to look at the numbers.

Just two decades ago, there were 104 farms in Lee County planting almost 3,500 acres of tobacco. But that started changing 12 years ago, when the federal government launched what’s commonly referred to as the “tobacco buyout,” a complicated program that ended Depression-era growing quotas and compensated farmers no longer growing tobacco because of changes in how the market operated.

Today, there are just 20 farms growing tobacco and they’re much larger. When there were 104 farms, they planted an average of 34 acres each. Now, the few tobacco farms that

remain are averaging over 124 acres.

The typical local farm no longer exists.

Instead, there are themes and variations, with each one looking for a way to find success.

Carrying On Tradition Steve Thomas Farms

Those vintage, family farms haven’t disappeared, but they have grown in size. Down in Lemon Springs, Steve Thomas Farms owns 550 acres, give or take, and tobacco remains their cash crop.

It’s easy to see why. Steve told The Sanford Herald last fall that his operation can produce anywhere from 2,600 to 2,800 pounds per acre. If they planted the entire farm in tobacco (they actually planted about 520 acres last year) and the weather cooperated, they could harvest well over 1.5 million pounds. You can do the math. If they got $1.99 per pound, the average price statewide over the last three years, tobacco could bring in about $3 million before expenses.

Nearly all local tobacco is grown under contract, meaning companies like R.J. Reynolds have already purchased a set amount before plants are even set in the ground. Tim Thomas, Steve’s brother who also works with the farm, said about 1.2 million pounds were under contract last fall. That means they need to grow at least that much to honor the contract, and the number of acres they decide to use for tobacco in April depends on how technologically lee county Living 2016-17 35

advanced and efficient the farm can be.

While it is still a family farm, with a fourth generation now involved in the operation, it doesn’t always seem that way. “It’s all about time and money,” says Tim. “It’s just like any business operating out there. It is your family farm, but it’s not your family farm any more.”

“It’s like running a corporation,” he explains. “You have to be efficient. Everybody know the patterns we move in — they don’t run into each other — everybody knows their job. We try to make it as efficient as possible. It’s the only way you’re going to stay in business, it’s such tight profit margins now.”

Diversifying For Success Gary Thomas Farms

Tobacco has been so lucrative that local farmers grew as much as they could under quotas regulating the marketplace.

But with the dramatic shift in tobacco and fresh cash available under the buyout, many farmers looked for new ways to generate revenue. Gary Thomas, who farms about 2,000 acres just east of Sanford, chose to diversify his operation — growing more crops, but in smaller quantities. He still plants 600 acres of tobacco, but he’s added 500 acres of corn, 200 acres of sunflowers and 25 acres of sweet potatoes.

And there’s more. Greenhouse tomatoes. Asparagus. Onions.

Greenhouse cucumbers. Potatoes. Squash. Greenhouse peppers.

Blackberries. Broccoli. Hatching eggs (believe it or not, 60,000 eggs every day). Cabbage. And many local shoppers know him best for strawberries, which he actually started growing in the early ’80s and sells at his stand on Thomas Road.

With so many different crops, each with its own, distinctive growing season, Gary Thomas Farms is now a busy — and expensive — year-round operation that requires strategic

36 lee county Living 2016-17

planning and an existential tolerance for risk. With so much money invested in the business at any given time, farming isn’t for the faint of heart. As Gary explains it: “It takes a different mentality to owe $2 million when you’re depending on the weather and everything coming together to get it back.”

Over more than four decades in farming, Gary has seen plenty of change . Not only in rules and regulations, but how local land is used and where his products are sold — which now includes farmers’ markets, a couple of grocery stores, corporate hatcheries and that roadside produce stand, where he tries to entice customers to drop some cash for fresh produce grown right there on site.

“It’s not as much fun as it was,” Gary says after describing some of the more onerous regulations now on the books. Then he pauses and reconsiders. “But I still love it. If I didn’t, I couldn’t do it.”

Building Community Support Steve McNeill Farms

Not all local farmers manage thousands of acres. Drive south on Lemon Springs Road, not far from Steve Thomas’ tobacco farm, and you’ll spot a strawberry stand off to the right where you can get a quick bucket, in season, or pass some time wandering through the rows, picking your own.

That’s part of Steve McNeill Farms, a more modest operation made up of two family farms and four smaller, leased parcels; he’s actively farming about 125 acres in all. Steve, the owner, still grows a little bit of tobacco, though he’s not sure how long that will remain a part of his operation. Instead, he specializes in strawberries, strawberry plants and a variety of vegetables, including his popular greenhouse tomatoes.

“Depending on your definition, I’m either a small farmer

or a large farmer,” Steve says, taking a short break from the field. “I run a fairly intensive operation. Things like my produce and strawberries, they’re done on small acreages, but there’s a whole lot of labor requirements and management.”

That’s worked for Steve because of Sandhills Farm to Table Cooperative, an organization based in Carthage that brings fresh, locally grown food to households throughout the region. Sandhills Farm to Table is part of the community-supported agriculture model that operates like a food subscription service. Every week or two, members receive boxes containing selections from local farms that change with the seasons.

Farmers receive 70 percent of the income; the balance is used to operate the co-op.

Steve, who represents food producers on the board of directors, says it’s been a good option for farmers, a niche market that provides another outlet for their produce and a reasonably predictable source of income.

Being creative seems to be the secret for success among small- and medium-sized farms, and Steve believes that could be how local agriculture evolves. “Several years ago, they told us we were either going to have to be really big in our own operations to be efficient, or we are going to have to combine with a very large company and work on razorthin margins, or we’re going to have to find a niche market,” Steve says. “I think we’re going to see more niche-market farming in this area.”

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Drawing In Tourists Gross Farms

If creativity is the key to success, then Gross Farms certainly has some good times ahead.

Located in southern Lee County, not far below Carolina Trace, Gross Farms is a paradox of sorts. On one hand, it’s the kind of quintessential family farm that’s been disappearing. Based on acreage, their primary crops remain soybeans, tobacco, small grains and rye — a mix that once defined local farming — and that isn’t surprising when you realize that Gross Farms has been around for a very long time. The farm owned by John and Tina Gross was established in 1903 and Gary Thomas, in the left photo, consults with one of the workers planting asparagus at his diversified farm. But tobacco is still king at Steve Thomas Farms in Lemon Springs. lee county Living 2016-17 37

Steve McNeill checks the progress of his greenhouse tomatoes, sold through the Sandhills Farm to Table cooperative.

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has been recognized by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture as a Century Farm, a historical designation for farms that have been continually owned by one family for 100 years or more.

On the other hand, Gross Farms has long since diversified and moved in a decisively innovative direction. Agritourism flips the traditional idea of farming; instead of taking the farm to people, the idea is to bring people to the farm. It’s fairly common for local farms to draw visitors with pick-your-own strawberries, and that’s a prime attraction at Gross Farms every spring. But on a typical weekend in October, the scene can look a lot like the county fair.

About 14 years ago, John and Tina added their Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch to the mix.

Now, thousands of visitors pay admission to explore five miles of winding paths through a cornfield, even solving puzzles along the way.

There are hayrides, a pumpkin patch and even a playground with slides and something called the “pumpkin jump,” where children bounce around and see how high they can leap.

Tina, who is president of the North Carolina Agritourism Networking Association, points out that agritourism also has an educational mission.

“Agritourism provides an opportunity for consumers to become aware of the importance of farms and the role farmers play in their daily lives,” she explains. “With that said, Gross Farms strives to provide a unique way to show the public many positive aspects of farm life and offer a healthy source of fun and entertainment for the entire family.”

Clearly, local landscapes are a lot different than they were just a couple of decades ago, and who knows what they’ll look like in decades to come. Zachary says some people are dabbling in homesteading, trying to make just a few acres profitable by staying at home and making their land work for them by producing pasture-raised pork, backyard eggs and anything they can sell at the local farmers’ market. It may not be a full-time job, but can offer a different kind of lifestyle and some supplemental income.

And even a tobacco revival is not completely out of the question. While the leaf always been used in cigarette production, Zachary points to research using tobacco proteins in vaccines and even a breast cancer drug that could be grown in a tobacco plant. With so much pharmaceutical research and production taking place at N.C. State University and the Research Triangle Park, it could happen. It’s not a prediction, just a reminder that life is always changing, as are our agricultural landscapes. ❙❚

SNAPSHOTS of life in lee county

s-p-e-l-l-i-n-g b-e-e

Y

ou’ve probably seen the Scripps National Spelling Bee on television and been pulled into its vortex. Under blistering lights and intense pressure, young contestants step one-by-one to a lonely microphone, hear a single word and spell. Get it right and they sit down to do it all over again. Get it wrong and they begin the long trip home.

Tonight in a packed civic center it’s The 17th-Annual Beginning Life With Books Spelling Bee. And this ... ain’t that.

The bees do have things in common. Well, sort of; words are announced in a similar pattern and they’re drawn from guides published by the national bee. But that’s pretty much where any comparison ends.

It’s not just that big snack buffet near the door. It’s also the 32 colorful tables, each with a judge and four-member team.

(The Jonesboro United Methodist Men are decked out in bedazzled Mardi Gras jester hats.) On top of each table are four helium-filled balloons anchored with a copy of the book, “Goodnight Moon.”

Tonight’s bee starts off easy enough.

“Mascot,” says Bee Master Jimmy Randolph. “Mascot.”

He uses the word in a sentence and then pauses for 30 seconds while team members consult and record their answer.

After a ding, he spells the word for everyone and the judge determines if that team’s answer is right or wrong.

When everyone gets it right, you hear nothing but oohs, aahs and cheers. But when anyone misses, there’s at least one loud staccato pop when the judge at that table pricks one of the four balloons. They may look like decorations, but they’re really low-tech scoreboards.

After “hyphen,” the bee master realizes

there have not been a lot of explosions.

“You all look bored!” Randolph says, and contestants erupt in a nervous laughter that doesn’t last long. After “spinet,” the room sounds like the inside of a hot-air popper.

The local chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, a professional honor society of women educators, organizes the spelling bee as a fundraiser. Contributions are used to buy “Goodnight Moon” for every child born at Central Carolina Hospital and help teachers conduct projects in local schools.

But for most, this bee is a spectacle that draws in admirers with its unique, playful appeal. Two women sitting in the largest of three spectator sections were already starting to bounce with anticipation before the bee even began when one turned to the other. “This,” she said, “is my favorite event of the year!”

Members of the Jonesboro United Methodist Men Jerry’s Jesters consult during the bee.

lee county Living 2016-17 39

Cody Abernethy wires valves on a robot that will be used in a manufacturing plant to package products.

40 lee county Living 2016-17

BUILDING Things may be quiet on the production floor right now, but that’s not always the case — and it certainly won’t be when Cody Abernethy and his colleagues at Mertek Solutions finish building their latest robot.

This morning, Cody is tinkering with the robot’s electrical system, essentially the nerves sending impulses through a dense network of brightly colored wires into a yellow, steel arm.

When it finally comes to life, the four-foot arm will bend, lift and turn at dizzying speed, arranging and moving 30 plastic cases at a time as part of a manufacturing process somewhere in the United States.

This robot isn’t the only one getting some attention. A little deeper onto the floor, back near the painting room, three technicians are working on another that’s much larger. So large, in fact, that they’re using a forklift to elevate a heavy assembly so it can be locked into place. This robot will be used in an automotive plant to drill holes in truck doors. It all sounds pretty simple;

but, like everything else in the robot world, it’s surprisingly complicated.

As large trucks pass slowly down the assembly line, robot operators will load a pair of doors into the machine and scan a barcode on the vehicle that tells the robot where holes are needed to attach mirrors on this particular truck model. Then, the robot does its thing, darting a heavy-duty drill over each door, leaving holes in precisely the right spots. Once the robot is done, operators remove the doors from the machine and attach them to the truck as it eases down to the next station.

Jerry Pedley, who created and owns Mertek, is watching everything unfold with a huge smile on his face. If there’s anyone alive who loves designing and building robots more than Jerry, you’d be hard pressed to find him. “What could be better than building machines like this and having the best guys in the world doing it?” he says without breaking his trance.

“Man, it’s fun to come to work.”

lee county Living 2016-17 41

David Thompson machines parts for an assembly machine at Mertek Solutions in Sanford. The company is known for designing and building robots, but also is heavily involved in promoting education.

Just this spring, Mertek received the Business and Industry Award in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, which recognizes a North Carolina industry whose support has strengthened education. Presented by the North Carolina Science, Mathematics and Technology Education Center, the accolade has been awarded in the past to several large corporations, including Cisco, SAS and GlaxoSmithKline.

42 lee county Living 2016-17

What Is a Robot?

When anyone mentions robots, undoubtedly some pop culture image comes to mind. Maybe it’s R2-D2 from the Star Wars saga, the rolling trash can that hung out with C-3PO, his tall robot buddy that looked like an Oscar statue come to life. Or maybe it’s RoboCop from the sci-fi movie classic — though, to be accurate, RoboCop was a hybrid, part robot, part man. But whatever came to mind, chances are your robot image looked a little bit human. In the real world, that’s often not the case.

Not all experts agree on exactly what defines a robot — which attributes set robotic machines apart from other kinds of machines. But broadly speaking, robots are electromechanical machines that use a computer program to create some kind of motion that mimics human behavior. Mertek builds a lot of machines used by industry to perform repetitive tasks that could be

dangerous for people, and some of the machines they produce are not truly robots at all. But when they include arms moving around to drill holes in truck doors or lift plastic cases, then that’s exactly what they are.

“When people ask me what I do, I say I build robots — but not like RoboCop,” Cody says. “When most people think about robots, they think about a robot as something with two arms, two legs and a head. I guess that could be true, but that’s not what robots really are.”

Bringing Robots to Life It’s not easy to bring a robot to life. In fact, when most clients show up at Mertek Solutions, they have no idea what their new robot will even look like. They arrive with some task that needs to be done — holes drilled, cases moved — but it’s up to the experts on Hawkins Avenue to figure out

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Building robots is a collaborative process. Michael Hejny, left, wires a PLC electrical panel. Owner Jerry Pedley, above, points to a diagram he’s reviewing with Jeff Spivey. And William McBurnett, below, designs another machine using Solidworks software.

how to make it happen in what turns out to be a highly complex and collaborative process.

At Mertek, it usually begins with a blank slate. There are designers who break down the task to figure out what kind of motion and processes are needed — and how to move work in and out of the robot. There are computer aided design technicians who turn those ideas into drawings and plans. There are machinists, computer programmers and technicians who create parts and put them all together. And there are even more people behind the scenes who figure out how much the machine will cost and work with the client to get the best result.

How much do industrial robots cost?

Well, it all depends on the project: how complex it is to design and build — and how expensive all of the components and raw materials are to acquire. But Jerry says that his team has built some robots in excess of $1 million each.

44 lee county Living 2016-17

Most are a fraction of that, but at any given time they’re working on about 20 different machines.

The Joy of Robots Building robots must have its own intrinsic reward. You can hear the enthusiasm from small groups debating projects on the shop floor and you can see the intensity as Cody examines wiring running into a robotic arm from the programmable logic controller (think of it as the robot’s brain).

For Jerry, it’s all about making things. If you don’t believe that, check out a banner hanging over the break room that boils it all down to five words: “Mertek Solutions: We Make Stuff!”

Jerry likes making stuff so much that Mertek has become an advocate for manufacturing statewide. For the last few years, the company has hosted Manufacturing Day in the fall, an open house complete with facility tours and robot demonstrations. And just two

days from now, another set of guests will arrive for a two-hour workshop on collaborative robots, a special kind of machine designed to assist workers completing their own tasks and operate safely around people without the need for protective cages.

Ask others why building robots is so rewarding and they’ll tell you they like to make stuff, too. But that’s just one reason. You’ll also hear about stepping back to watch the finished robot in action — moving with precision at high speed without making an error. About having a job where no day and no robot is the same as before. And then, there’s working in an environment that requires a strong sense of teamwork to move from that blank slate to a fully functional machine.

Building robots takes about 26 weeks, give or take, but that’s only after the design actually begins. Long before that, Jeremy Pedley, Jerry’s son and the company’s vice president, has

been analyzing production costs and writing a proposal. And that means working with members of Mertek’s team to make sure the project will be successful. Jeremy says it’s absolutely essential to make sure everyone is on the same track at every stage of the project.

“Teamwork’s definitely important,” says Jerry, who created the company in 1990 as Electro-Mechanical Specialties. “The mechanical designer can’t design it without the electrical designer. And none of them can do it unless the guy who wrote the quote did it right.

They’ve got to get it right on all of the prints, so the guys who build the machine can do their jobs. And the guys building it have to be able to communicate with everybody.”

Even once the robot finally gets started, the creativity doesn’t end. From constructing a base to mounting the large robotic arms to placing additional elements to wiring its nervous system to testing everything, building robots is a complex process that always presents a challenge.

“It’s kind of like a puzzle,” Cody says.

“Most people start with the outside of the puzzle, but we start with the inside and work our way out. Even though the robot is drawn out on paper, you’ve got to map it out in your head to decide what will be best to do first.

“Things can always change while you’re working hands on with a project. But you get to see it transform from raw materials to something that’s actually going to perform. I really like that.” ❙❚

Cody Abernethy

SNAPSHOTS of life in lee county

it’s not all business

T

hough it’s just a few minutes past 11 a.m., there’s already a steady stream of folks leaving the civic center, schlepping plastic bags bulging with stuff.

Walking through a parking lot so packed that some drivers have jumped the curb and abandoned their cars in the grass, one of them stops when her phone rings.

She recognizes the voice.

“No!” she says, dropping her bags with a look that registers either astonishment or despair. “I did not see the highlighters. But I sure got some ink pens!”

The Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center hosts all kinds of events during the year, including the occasional business expo.

This morning, it happens to be the Boomer, Senior and Caregiver Expo, a showcase for businesses and agencies serving older adults. But that’s not the only one that has set up here. For many years, there was a small business version as well, a similar event designed to raise the profile of local restaurants, services and retail stores.

No matter what the expo happens to be, they all have two things in common.

One, they’re about business. And, two, they’re not all about business. Swag hunting seems to be one particularly popular sideline, with folks picking up pens, sticky notes — oh, yes, and highlighters — ­ as they meander rows of vendors pitching their services.

Everybody, it seems, is carrying one of those yellow, plastic swag bags, but some of them have temporarily parked themselves outside of the main entrance, where there’s a lot more going on. Sitting under a white tent, in front of a few microphones, is a solo vocalist and one guy with an electric guitar, playing a free concert for two dozen people sitting in six rows of green chairs.

Most are snacking on free ice cream

from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, snow cones from Liberty HomeCare and Hospice and some chicken biscuits from McDonald’s, being distributed by the expo staff. Call it food swag, and it’s becoming a very popular option as lunchtime quickly approaches.

Just inside the glass doors are more people who have dropped their swag bags, this time for a free, five-minute massage.

(Apparently, you need a good massage after carrying so much stuff.) And if your condition somehow declines further, you can stop by for some health screenings without dropping a dime.

Everyone seems to be having a spectacular time. But here’s a tip: If you drop by for an expo, it pays to plan a strategy. Because after enjoying all of the free food, it might not be the best time for one of those free health tests.

Jessica and Gilroy Buller, from Sanford Latin Dance, dance at the 2015 Boomer Expo.

lee county Living 2016-17 45

2016-17

Membership Directory all addresses are Sanford, North Carolina, unless another city is listed Accountants and Accounting Services Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP 2501 Blue Ridge Road, Suite 500, Raleigh............................919-301-6740 DMJ and Co. PLLC 509 W. Main St...........................................................................................................919-774-4534 John H. Kelley CPA 103 Wicker St...............................................................................................................919-777-0761 MacAdell and Associates Inc. 121 Wicker St...............................................................................................................919-776-4100 Richard Carlson CPA 107 Gordon St..............................................................................................................919-776-4636 TRP CPAs PLLC 503 Carthage St.........................................................................................................919-718-5007 Ward and Foust CPAs PA 1512 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-774-9452 Davenport and Company LLC 503 Carthage St., Suite 300........................................................................919-777-9823 Advertising Specialties J&E Uniforms Inc. 300 Independent Dr..............................................................................................919-776-8826 US Logoworks 4200 Morganton Road, Fayetteville................................................910-307-0312 Relocation Guide 2435 Lynn Road, Suite 106, Raleigh..............................................919-518-0755 Air Cleaning and Purifying Equipment Air Cleaning Equipment Inc. 303 N. Main, Broadway..................................................................................919-258-3330 Cooper Mechanical Contractors 3041 Beechtree Dr.................................................................................................919-776-7537 Trion 101 McNeill Road..................................................................................................919-777-6244 Airport Raleigh Exec: The Raleigh Executive Jetport 701 Rod Sullivan Road....................................................................................919-776-2939 Amusements Fun Rides and Events Inc. 2616 Lemon Springs Road..........................................................................919-775-3828 Animal Rescue Carolina Animal Rescue and Adoption (CARA) 42 Deep River Road.............................................................................................919-774-9433 Apartments Autumn Oaks Apartments 250 Willow Oak Dr...............................................................................................919-718-1552 Courtland Village Apartments 1025 Courtland Village Dr...........................................................................919-774-1171 Firetower Crossing Apts.

119 Lightwood Lane............................................................................................919-719-6579 Sandhill Manor Apts.

801 Harkey Road.....................................................................................................919-719-6579 Simpson and Simpson Inc. 503 Carthage St.........................................................................................................919-774-6511 South Park Village Apts.

1600 Colon Road.....................................................................................................919-776-4641 The Oaks Apartments 160 Peaceful Lane..................................................................................................919-776-2604 Architects Hazen and Sawyer 4011 Westchase Blvd., Suite 500.........................................................919-833-7152 Sherman Architecture PLLC 2411 Lemon Springs Road..........................................................................919-775-2355 Arts Lee County Arts Council 144 S. Steele St..........................................................................................................919-774-6139

46 lee county Living 2016-17

Sanford Brush and Palette Club Inc. PO Box 4886.................................................................................................................919-721-0300 Attorneys April E. Stephenson PA 1518 Elm St., Suite B.........................................................................................919-774-6182 Doster, Post, Foushee, Post and Patton PA 205 Courtland Dr.....................................................................................................919-775-5616 Fred Webb Jr., Attorney at Law 349 Carthage St.........................................................................................................919-775-1212 Harrington, Gilleland, Winstead, Feindel and Lucas LLP 1410 Elm St....................................................................................................................919-776-4131 Jimmy Love, Attorney 315 McIntosh St........................................................................................................919-775-7119 The Phair Firm 1508 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-718-0078 W.W. Seymour Jr., Attorney At Law 133-135 N. Moore St..........................................................................................919-775-2137 Wilson and Reives PLLC 1502 Woodland Ave.............................................................................................919-775-5653 Automobile — Dealers Crossroads Ford Lincoln of Sanford 3251 NC Highway 87 South.....................................................................919-775-2221 Sanford Auto Brokers LLC 1803 Keller Andrews Road.........................................................................919-708-5443 Sanford Honda 3130 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-774-8864 Toyota of Sanford 3321 NC Highway 87 South.....................................................................919-708-5000 US 1 Chrysler Dodge Jeep 2624 Hawkins Ave.................................................................................................919-775-5588 Wilkinson Automotive Inc. 1301 Douglas Dr......................................................................................................919-775-3421 Automobile — Rentals and Lease Mobile Storage Company PO Box 777....................................................................................................................919-774-8033 Automobile — Repairs and Service R&N Motor Co. 811 Woodland Ave.................................................................................................919-775-5822 Taylor Automotive 1007 Hawkins Ave.................................................................................................919-774-4037 Walker Auto and Truck Parts 705 E. Six Forks Road, Raleigh, 27609......................................919-833-8955 Banks and Banking Associations BB&T Bank 200 N. Horner Blvd..............................................................................................919-777-7220 106 S. Main St.............................................................................................................919-258-3821 2940 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-775-1300 1135 Spring Lane....................................................................................................919-775-6047 Carter Bank and Trust 1001 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-777-0334 Fidelity Bank 1002 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-777-0162 First Bank 1333 Plaza Blvd........................................................................................................919-777-2926 299 N. Main St...........................................................................................................919-258-5230 2630 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-775-1992 First Citizens Bank and Trust Company 206 Carthage St.........................................................................................................919-775-3501 2108 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-774-3661 PNC Bank 338 Carthage St.........................................................................................................919-708-4911 2000 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-708-4940

State Employees’ Credit Union 1002 Spring Lane....................................................................................................919-774-8851 Wells Fargo 200 Green St., Fayetteville..........................................................................919-881-6179 Woodforest National Bank 3310 NC Highway 87 South.....................................................................919-708-7078 Yadkin Bank 870 Spring Lane........................................................................................................919-708-7055 Barbers Headen Barber Shop 112 W. Main St...........................................................................................................919-776-9621 Beauty Salon Head to Toe Salon, Spa and Tanning 1903 Keller Andrews Road.........................................................................919-774-8081 HOC Image Consulting LLC (House of CHYNADOLL) 314 Wicker St...............................................................................................................919-986-8153 Boarding Facility Rae-Zor Grooming 100 Animal Ave.........................................................................................................919-776-0076 Boat Dealers and Marine Supplies Chatlee Boat and Marine 2615 Jefferson Davis Highway..............................................................919-775-7259 Book Stores The Carpenter’s Shop 2431 S. Jefferson Davis Highway......................................................919-776-7527 Bottlers Sanford Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Inc. 1605 Hawkins Ave................................................................................................. 919-774-4111 Building Materials Service Building Supply 1490 Comfort Lane...............................................................................................919-776-1500 Wake Stone Corp.

9725 Stone Quarry Road, Moncure, 27559............................919-266-1100 Business and Management Consultants Contract Solutions Inc. 9315 Rustic Breeze Court, Bristow, VA.....................................703-203-9694 Business Training and Communications Lighthouse Documentation and Training 108 Cricket Hearth Road...............................................................................919-721-8433 Caterer Kona Ice of the Sandhills Inc. 83 Lakeview Dr., Whispering Pines................................................910-395-3177 Cell Phone Equipment and Services Sprint by Fast Wireless 2900 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-353-5413 US Cellular 3274 NC Highway 87 South.....................................................................910-540-0146 Child Care Grace Christian Child Development Center 2605 Jefferson Davis Highway..............................................................919-776-2576 Ken-Le Child Care Center Inc. 3009 Cameron Dr....................................................................................................919-292-2400 Children Activities Kindermusik with Real Great Music LLC 922 Fitts St.......................................................................................................................919-721-6738 Chiropractors Ammons Chiropractic Clinic 1401 Greenway Court........................................................................................919-770-4295 Churches Christian Provision Ministries 1100 W. Garden St.................................................................................................919-774-9462 First Baptist Church 202 Summit Dr...........................................................................................................919-774-4220

First Calvary Baptist Church 240 Fields Dr................................................................................................................919-775-2912 First Presbyterian Church 203 Hawkins Ave.....................................................................................................919-775-5216 Grace Chapel Ministries 2605 Jefferson Davis Highway..............................................................919-774-4553 Jonesboro United Methodist Church 407 W. Main St...........................................................................................................919-775-7023 New Life Fellowship Church 4714 Olivia Road.....................................................................................................919-499-5136 Spring Lane Assembly of God 1715 Spring Lane....................................................................................................919-774-6616 Trinity Lutheran Church 525 Carthage St.........................................................................................................919-776-1723 Works for Christ Christian Center 1395 Firetower Road..........................................................................................919-776-0072 Cleaning Services Ace Building Services Inc. DBA Jani-King 1619 Phillips Dr........................................................................................................919-774-8059 Premium Express Cleaning Services Inc. 302 Crestview St......................................................................................................919-888-0436 Service Master of Central Carolina 921 Woodland Ave.................................................................................................919-776-2262 Simple Solutions 172 Crown Point.......................................................................................................919-498-9397 Clubs, Country and Tennis Carolina Trace Country Club Inc. 2100 Country Club Dr.......................................................................................919-499-5121 Coffee Shops Kathy’s Java Express 120 S. Moore St.........................................................................................................919-777-5282 Roasted and Toasted Coffee and Waffles Drive-Thru 3078 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................910-528-2053 Communications, Phone, Broadband and Digital TV Spectrum Business 301 E. Cornelius Harnett Blvd., Lillington.............................919-695-2110 Windstream Communications 1720 Galleria Blvd., Charlotte................................................................704-849-5304 Computer Services, Networking and Information Technology Absolute Computers Inc. 810 Woodland Ave.................................................................................................919-777-9125 Harnett Computer Services 1184 N. Main St., Lillington.....................................................................910-514-9460 Concrete Heritage Concrete 140 Deep River Road.........................................................................................919-774-4986 Rusco Concrete Contractors Inc. 3004 Currituck Dr...................................................................................................919-776-5687 Consignment Shop DBR Ministries Thrift Store 200 S. Steele St..........................................................................................................919-708-5643 Construction — Homebuilders and General Contractors American South General Contractors Inc. 1378 McNeil Road.................................................................................................919-774-4000 Carbonton Cove 613 Carthage St.........................................................................................................919-774-8714 Cole Construction Company of Sanford 3225 Jefferson Davis Highway..............................................................919-774-6811 Crawford Design Company Inc. 116 N. Cool Spring St., Fayetteville................................................910-221-0033 Custom Overhead Doors 250 Tolar St., Fayetteville.............................................................................919-237-8626 David H. Simpson Construction Co. 513 Wicker St., #A................................................................................................919-774-6217 Industrial Construction Experts Inc. 160 Moore St................................................................................................................919-774-4423 Install Inc. 209 Sycamore St.......................................................................................................919-774-0506 J. Brent Smith Construction Inc. 455 Charles Riddle Road...............................................................................919-775-9714 Johnson Masonry Inc. 7267 NC Highway 87 South.....................................................................919-842-6879 Multitech Mechanical Support Inc. 204 Independent Dr..............................................................................................919-747-3031 Myrick Construction Inc. 101 Shady Oaks Dr., Biscoe......................................................................910-428-2106 Preservation Homes 111 Streamside Dr..................................................................................................919-815-9992 Progressive Contracting Company 143 Charlotte Ave., Suite 201..................................................................919-718-5454

Sanford Contractors 628 Rocky Fork Church Road.................................................................919-775-7882 T.L. Stewart Builders 613 Carthage St.........................................................................................................919-774-8714 Construction — Supplies A&D Construction Services 1473 Henley Road..................................................................................................919-410-5429 Jarco Supply 30 Jarco Dr., Fuquay-Varina......................................................................919-586-0123 Consultant Business Resource Management 245 Person St., Fayetteville........................................................................910-527-1103 James K. Womack Jr. 1615 Boone Trail Road....................................................................................919-770-4783 Leadership and Performance 608 Valley Road........................................................................................................704-236-0727 Reap NC LLC 151 Chatham St.........................................................................................................919-292-2200 Contractors, Electrical and Plumbing ABC Restoration and Concrete LLC PO Box 688, Broadway...................................................................................919-478-7622 Insulating Inc. 1827 Jefferson Davis Highway..............................................................919-776-4138 MR Stoner Electric Inc. 3216 Hawkins Ave.................................................................................................919-774-8877 N.C. Beal and Sons Inc. 993 N. Horner Blvd..............................................................................................919-775-7316 PR Faulk Electric Co. 3013 Hal Siler Dr....................................................................................................919-775-1990 Shaw Painting Contractor Inc. 3718 Henley Road..................................................................................................919-776-4053 Convention Center Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center 1801 Nash St.................................................................................................................919-776-0345 Cosmetics Mary Kay Cosmetics Kathie Delp.....................................................................................................................910-723-2183 Dance Studio Sanford Latin Dance 93 Starboard Bay.....................................................................................................704-458-6208 Dentist, Dental Labs and Dental Care Dr. Chad Stinson DMD PLLC 207 Gordon St..............................................................................................................919-776-3332 Fisher Jr., David DDS 1808 Doctors Dr.......................................................................................................919-776-0741 Hattaway, Michael C. DDS 1317 Central Dr.........................................................................................................919-775-2522 Hincks, Thomas DDS 304 Hawkins Ave.....................................................................................................919-774-4324 Lane and Associates DDS PA 407 Tiffany Dr.............................................................................................................919-774-6311 Moretz, Dawn A. DDS PA 703 Carthage St.........................................................................................................919-775-5549 Sandhills Orthodontics 1129 Carthage St......................................................................................................919-718-9188 Sanford Pediatric Dentistry 1013 Spring Lane....................................................................................................919-718-5561 Smith and Smith Orthodontics 1800 Doctors Dr.......................................................................................................919-774-4744 The Happy Tooth Orthodontics, Cosmetic and Family Dentistry 1919 Bragg St., Suite 7....................................................................................919-718-0335 Department Stores Belk 1065 Spring Lane....................................................................................................919-774-4428 Walmart 1774 3310 NC Highway 87 South.....................................................................919-776-9388 Designer, Industrial Mertek Solutions Inc. 3913 Hawkins Ave.................................................................................................919-774-7827 Direct Mail Services The UPS Store 1923 Bragg St..............................................................................................................919-774-3555 Distributors Harris Wholesale Inc. 420 Civic Blvd., Raleigh................................................................................919-833-3609 Rodeco Company 5811 Elwin Buchanan Dr..............................................................................919-775-7149 Document Management Software Imaging Systems and Supplies Co. 804 Woodland Ave.................................................................................................919-776-1152

Dog Trainers Bon-Clyde Learning Center 3030 Lee Ave................................................................................................................919-774-8861 Electricians Clay Moretz Electrical Corp.

209 S. Gulf St...............................................................................................................919-774-4045 J.S. Howard Electrical Co. Inc. 2514 Dogwood St...................................................................................................919-774-1650 Employment Agency Belflex Staffing Network 115 S. Horner Blvd................................................................................................919-718-0403 Express Employment Professionals 307 N. Horner Blvd..............................................................................................919-775-1292 Mega Force Staffing Services 2511 Fayetteville St..............................................................................................919-774-8500 ResourceMFG 339 Wilson Road......................................................................................................919-774-1377 Engineer Alba Power 410 Gunter St................................................................................................................919-478-2677 Event Planning The Hawkins House 112 Hawkins Ave.....................................................................................................919-356-7570 Vision Events 235 Brookfield Circle.........................................................................................919-292-0012 Farms Gross Farms 1606 Pickett Road...................................................................................................919-499-4522 Carolina Town and Country 710 E. Main St............................................................................................................919-776-2790 Finance and Financial Advisors Consolidated Planning Inc. of Sanford 503 Carthage St., Suite 205........................................................................919-776-8500 Digital Benefit Advisors Inc. 2917 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-774-4141 DMJ Wealth Advisors LLC 509 W. Main St...........................................................................................................919-774-4535 Edward Jones, Howard Bokhoven 1500 Elm St....................................................................................................................919-774-4826 National Finance Co. 1500 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-775-2207 Perkins Investments 306 McIntosh St., Suite C.............................................................................919-935-0178 The Normann Financial Group 1094 Wilkins Dr........................................................................................................919-774-4711 Thrivent Financial, Lisa Whalen, CLTC 900 S. Vance St., Suite 250.........................................................................919-708-5031 Flooring Hometown Flooring LLC 1416 Tramway Road...........................................................................................919-777-5134 Florists Floral Designs by Eddie 138 S. Steele St..........................................................................................................919-775-1400 Ted’s Flower Basket 111 S. Vance St...........................................................................................................919-775-7144 Funeral Homes Bridges-Cameron Funeral Home Inc. 600 W. Main St........................................................................................................... 919-774-1111 Miller-Boles Funeral Home 1150 Fire Tower Road.......................................................................................919-775-3434 Rogers-Pickard Funeral Home Inc. 509 Carthage St.........................................................................................................919-775-3535 Smith Funeral Home 201 First St., Broadway...................................................................................919-258-6711 Furniture Dossenbach’s Finer Furniture Inc. and Mattress Center 215 Wicker St...............................................................................................................919-775-7237 Gifts and Decorative Accessories A Few Nice Things 121 S. Steele St..........................................................................................................919-776-1446 Fifth Avenue Designs 300 S. Franklin Dr..................................................................................................919-718-5108 Kathryn’s Hallmark 1051 Spring Lane....................................................................................................919-774-8921 Glass Hope Mills Glass of Sanford 2955 Lee Ave................................................................................................................910-485-8539 Golf Courses Carolina Lakes Golf Course 53 Carolina Lakes Road..................................................................................919-499-5421

lee county Living 2016-17 47

Sanford Golf Club 600 Golf Course Lane.......................................................................................919-775-8230 Government ­­— Federal and State Lee County Government PO Box 1960.................................................................................................................919-718-4605 US Army Recruiting 2639 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-774-6535 US Postal Service 1200 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-774-4926 Government ­— Municipal City of Sanford 225 E. Weatherspoon St..................................................................................919-775-8240 City of Sanford Board of Alcoholic Beverage Control 2116 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-776-2520 Lee County Board of Education 106 Gordon St..............................................................................................................919-774-6226 NC Cooperative Extension, Lee County 2420 Tramway Road...........................................................................................919-775-5624 NC Works Career Center 1909 Lee Ave................................................................................................................919-775-2241 Town of Broadway 117 S. Main St.............................................................................................................919-258-9922 Grocery Food Lion 1349 2244 Jefferson Davis Highway..............................................................919-776-5765 Piggly Wiggly 2412 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-774-8742 300 N. Main St...........................................................................................................919-258-3521 Sanford Save-A-Lot 1946 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-465-8675 Hardware Stanley’s Home Center 232 Wicker St...............................................................................................................919-775-5412 Health Clubs Anytime Fitness 2563 Hawkins Ave.................................................................................................919-300-6310 Carolina Women’s Fitness 999 Center Church Road................................................................................919-775-5811 Lee County YMCA 860 Spring Lane........................................................................................................919-777-9622 Phalanx CrossFit 3509 Cameron Dr....................................................................................................919-352-6608 Sanford Nautilus and Racquetball Club Inc. 1907 KM Wicker Dr............................................................................................919-774-4532 Hearing and Speech Centers Advanced Hearing Care 207-A Gordon St......................................................................................................919-775-2200 Bright Audiology 1620 S. Third St........................................................................................................919-774-3277 Dymond Speech and Rehab PA 113 Hillcrest Dr.........................................................................................................919-777-0240 Theraplay LLC 135 Chatham St.........................................................................................................919-774-1281 Heating and Air Conditioning Distributors Comfort First Heating and Cooling Inc. 1430 Tramway Road...........................................................................................919-777-1777 Joyner and Dickens Heating and Air Conditioning 2218 Lee Ave................................................................................................................919-774-6841 Suretemp Mechanical 3105 Hal Siler Dr....................................................................................................919-777-0668 Home Care and Hospice Community Home Care and Hospice 1836 Doctors Dr.......................................................................................................919-718-5417 First Choice Home Care Inc. 506 Carthage St.........................................................................................................919-775-3306 Liberty Commons Nursing and Rehab 310 Commerce Dr..................................................................................................919-499-2206 Liberty Home Care and Hospice 1005 Carthage St......................................................................................................919-774-9522 Home Improvements Hall Fence Company 3121 Industrial Dr...................................................................................................919-774-6855 Sanford Kitchen and Bath 1062 Hickory House Road .........................................................................919-708-9080 Home Inspections Meridian Builders of NC 131 Charlotte Avenue, Suite 101..........................................................919-343-8888 Hospitals Central Carolina Hospital 1135 Carthage St......................................................................................................919-774-2103

48 lee county Living 2016-17

First Health-Moore Regional Hospital 155 Memorial Dr., Pinehurst.....................................................................910-715-1000 Hotels and Motels Econo Lodge (Quality Inn) 1403 N. Horner Blvd..........................................................................................919-774-6411 Hampton Inn 1904 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-775-2000 Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites 2110 Dalrymple St.................................................................................................919-776-6600 Housing and Homes Clayton Homes 1921 Keller Andrews Road.........................................................................919-774-1125 Human Resources and Benefit Consultants Automatic Data Processing 4101 Doie Cope Road, Suite 110, Raleigh..............................919-789-2051 Carolina Human Resources Inc. 310 N. Horner Blvd..............................................................................................919-708-7000 Individuals Brad Salmon, Lillington.................................................................................919-499-8070 Charles M. Oldham, Sanford....................................................................919-775-5031 Hubert Garner, Sanford....................................................................................919-774-8003 Janice Davis, Sanford.........................................................................................919-332-4400 Martha C. Oldham, Sanford.......................................................................919-775-5031 Tamara Brogan, Sanford.................................................................................919-776-9605 Industrial Supplies Cruco Mill and Industrial Supply LLC 111 McNeill Road...................................................................................................919-777-9807 Davis Sales Co. Inc. 1829 Jefferson Davis Highway..............................................................919-775-7000 Loading Dock Systems 4900 Thornton Dr., Suite 103, Raleigh........................................919-876-3663 Industries and Manufacturing Alotech Inc. 751 S. Church St., Goldston......................................................................919-774-1297 Cargo Control USA 911 Fields Dr.................................................................................................................919-775-5059 Carolina Specialty Cutting Tools Inc. 1410 Hawkins Ave.................................................................................................919-774-3812 Caterpillar Inc. 5000 Womack Road.............................................................................................919-777-2374 Cloverleaf Cold Storage 111 Imperial Dr..........................................................................................................919-775-4474 Conveyor Technologies Inc. 5313 Womack Road.............................................................................................919-776-7227 Coty US LLC 1400 Broadway Road.........................................................................................919-895-5000 Electro-Mechanical Specialties 3913 Hawkins Ave.................................................................................................919-774-7827 Federal Selling Group LLC 203 Lakeview Dr.....................................................................................................919-935-4450 Frontier Spinning Mills 1823 Boone Trail Road....................................................................................919-777-2684 GKN Driveline 4901 Womack Road.............................................................................................919-708-4560 H.J. Baker and Brothers Inc. 115 McNeill Road..................................................................................................919-774-5046 Hydro Tube Enterprises 2645 Mt. Pisgah Church Road................................................................919-258-3070 Industrial Finishing Specialists 1124 Hawkins Ave.................................................................................................919-777-0243 Lee Brick and Tile Co. Inc. 3704 Hawkins Ave.................................................................................................919-774-4800 Lee County Industries 2711 Tramway Road............................................................................................919-775-3439 Lee Iron and Metal Co. Inc. 2219 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-775-7951 Magneti Marelli Powertrain USA LLC 2101 Nash St................................................................................................................. 919-776-4111 Moen Inc. 2609 Cox Mill Road............................................................................................919-258-3341 Olivia Machine and Tool Inc. 815 State Road 1207...........................................................................................919-499-6021 Pentair Aquatic Systems 1620 Hawkins Ave.................................................................................................919-566-8216 Pfizer 4300 Oak Park Road...........................................................................................919-566-4272 Pilgrims 484 Zimmerman Road......................................................................................919-774-7333 Red Wolf Company LLC 1824 Boone Trail.....................................................................................................919-777-2907

Sanford Steel Corp.

375 Claude Hash Road, Goldston.......................................................919-898-4799 SpanSet Inc. 3125 Industrial Dr...................................................................................................919-774-6316 Steel and Pipe Corp.

3709 Hawkins Ave.................................................................................................919-776-0751 STI Polymer 5618 Clyde Rhyne Dr........................................................................................919-777-5995 Tramway Veneers Inc. 2603 Tramway Road...........................................................................................919-776-7606 Tyson Foods Inc. 800 E. Main St............................................................................................................919-774-7925 Wind Solutions LLC 2800 Lee Ave................................................................................................................518-813-3859 Insurance Aflac, Aaron Fogle 5070 NC Highway 902, Pittsboro, 27312.................................919-441-8787 Bankingport Inc. 603 Carthage St., Suite 200........................................................................919-774-9611 BB&T Insurance Services 140 Applecross Road, Suite B, Pinehurst.................................910-693-2612 Blue Associates LLC 150 N. Steele St.........................................................................................................919-775-2205 Bowen Insurance Agency Inc. 300 Carthage St.........................................................................................................919-718-0416 Charlotte Holt Allstate 2817 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-774-3400 Farm Bureau Insurance 2502 Dalrymple St.................................................................................................919-776-5131 1720 Westover Dr...................................................................................................919-774-4440 Harris and Company Insurance 110 S. Moore St.........................................................................................................919-774-6400 Lee-Moore Insurance Agency PO Box 839, Broadway...................................................................................919-258-6112 Lincoln Financial 4500 Cameron Valley Pkwy., Suite 220, Charlotte.......704-972-4486 McB Group Insurance Services Co. 120 Lowes Dr., Suite 103, Pittsboro................................................919-775-4163 Mutual of Omaha 14120 Ballantyne Corp. Place #210, Charlotte..................800-290-7097 Nobles Insurance Agency Inc. 557 A Pylon Dr., Raleigh...............................................................................919-833-3803 Pinnacle Benefit Resources Inc. 136 N. Steele St.........................................................................................................919-774-1133 Sanford Insurance Center Inc. 1722 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-775-7216 State Farm, Jared Spencer 131 Charlotte Ave., Suite 101..................................................................919-775-5371 Jewelers Southern Jewelers 143 S. Steele St..........................................................................................................919-774-7007 Landscape DC’s Lawn Care 8971 Old US Highway 421, Broadway.......................................919-890-3804 Prestige Landscaping 3485 Cameron Dr....................................................................................................919-718-5684 Sanford Turf and Irrigation 3280 Cox Mill Road............................................................................................919-258-6675 Southeastern Outdoor Products 714 Warsaw Road, Clinton..........................................................................888-527-7678 The Sod Man 132 Courtside Lane...............................................................................................919-286-4959 Machine Shops Atlantic Hydraulics Services LLC 5225 Womack Road.............................................................................................919-542-2985 Modern Machining Inc. 115 Brady Road.........................................................................................................919-775-7332 Marketing Triple J Publishing 115 Wicker St...............................................................................................................919-208-8736 Mattresses Mattress Store of Sanford 1803 Hawkins Ave.................................................................................................919-775-1357 Media Production and Advertising BOOM! Magazine 402 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh....................................................................919-462-0141 Life 103.1 WLHC-FM 102 S. Steele St., Suite 301.........................................................................919-775-1031 The Sanford Herald 208 St. Clair Court.................................................................................................919-708-9000

WWGP/WFJA 2201 Jefferson Davis Highway..............................................................919-775-3525 Medical Equipment and Supplies Quality Home HealthCare Inc. 106 Park Ave.................................................................................................................919-775-2001 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Heartfelt Alternatives Inc. 329 Carthage Dr........................................................................................................919-844-7770 New Beginnings Counseling Services PLLC 900 S. Vance St., Suite 900.........................................................................919-718-1597 Mobile Home Park Pine Village MHC 1168 Firethorne Lane..........................................................................................910-709-1836 Mortgage Loans Carolina Bank Residential Mortgage 143 Charlotte Ave., Suite 101..................................................................919-724-1713 Moving and Storage All American Relocation 1501 Trademark Dr., Raleigh...................................................................919-790-8809 All-Store Warehouse 907 Fields Dr................................................................................................................919-776-9721 Central Moving and Storage Inc. 1501 Douglas Dr......................................................................................................919-776-9056 Elite Storage 2205 Woodland Ave.............................................................................................919-777-0107 Elite Storage 2 1495 Douglas Dr......................................................................................................919-775-1500 Industrial Delivery and Storage 3122 Industrial Dr...................................................................................................919-774-3353 The Shed Depot of NC LLC 2700 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-776-0206 Music Freeman Productions Sanford.................................................................................................................................919-770-4899 Lee County Community Orchestra 507 N. Steele St.........................................................................................................919-776-4628 Nonprofit Organizations Boys and Girls Club of Sanford/Lee Co. 1414 Bragg St..............................................................................................................919-704-6719 Christians United Outreach Center 2885 Lee Ave. Ext..................................................................................................919-774-8485 Coalition for Families 507 N. Steele St.........................................................................................................919-774-8144 Communities in Schools PO Box 1132.................................................................................................................919-718-5426 Habitat for Humanity 964 N. Horner Blvd..............................................................................................919-774-7779 Haven in Lee County Inc. 215 Bracken St...........................................................................................................919-774-8923 JCI Youth Workforce Development Center 811 N. Horner Blvd..............................................................................................919-292-1701 Lee County Arts and Community Center 507 N. Steele St.........................................................................................................919-775-5273 Lee County Committee of 100 PO Box 1968.................................................................................................................919-774-8439 Lee County Economic Development Corp.

115 Chatham St., Suite 4................................................................................919-774-8439 Lee County Education Foundation 131 Charlotte Ave., Suite 101..................................................................919-774-1778 Lee County Partnership for Children 143 Chatham St.........................................................................................................919-774-9496 Maggie’s Outreach Community Economic Development 138 N. Steele St.........................................................................................................919-718-0070 Regional Transportation Alliance 800 S. Salisbury St., Raleigh....................................................................919-664-7065 Robert E. Lee Society PO Box 1089.................................................................................................................919-774-1677 The Salvation Army of Lee County 507 N. Steele St.........................................................................................................919-718-1717 Triangle South Workforce Development Board 1105 Kelly Dr...............................................................................................................919-777-7795 United Way of Lee County Inc. 507 N. Steele St.........................................................................................................919-776-5823 Willing Hands Inc. 107 Gordon St..............................................................................................................919-776-1248 Office Supply, Equipment and Furniture Office Value, Jim Paschal 300 Wilson Ave., Dunn....................................................................................919-775-9142 Systel Business Equipment 2604 Fort Bragg Road, Fayetteville.................................................910-978-4630

Oil and Gas Operators Blossman Propane Gas and Appliance 2221 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-775-3013 Hunter Oil and Propane Inc. 1203 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-775-5641 Noble Oil Services 5617 Clyde Rhyne Dr........................................................................................919-774-8180 Optical Carolina Eye Associates PA 2170 Midland Road, Southern Pines..............................................919-776-7549 Martin Eye Associates OD PA 2805 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-776-1012 Organizations — Business and Professional Central Carolina Society for Human Resource Management PO Box 735....................................................................................................................402-202-7609 Sanford Area Association of Realtors 131 Charlotte Ave., Suite 105..................................................................919-774-6591 Sanford Business and Professional Women PO Box 4791.................................................................................................................919-721-8433 Organizations — Civic and Charitable Central Carolina Jaycees PO Box 1532.................................................................................................................919-356-5632 Family Promise of Lee County 2302 Woodland Ave.............................................................................................919-718-1540 Lee County JobReady Partnership Council 1923 Bragg St., #134..........................................................................................919-353-1144 Lee PTO Thrift Shop 303 S. Steele St..........................................................................................................919-776-4142 Organizations — Community Downtown Sanford Inc. 226 Carthage St.........................................................................................................919-777-1400 Organizations — Community Services American Red Cross 507 N. Steele St.........................................................................................................919-774-6857 Johnston-Lee-Harnett Community Action Inc. 225 S. Steele St..........................................................................................................919-776-0746 Sanford Housing Authority 1000 Carthage St......................................................................................................919-776-7655 Stevens Center 1576 Kelly Dr..............................................................................................................919-776-4048 Paints Sherwin-Williams Paint Company 2105 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-774-4718 Paving Contractors S.T. Wooten Corp.

PO Box 459....................................................................................................................919-776-4338 Pawn Shop Kendale Pawn Shop 2715 Lee Ave. Ext..................................................................................................919-774-7495 Payroll Processing Flex Pay Payroll Services 723 Coliseum Dr., Suite 200, Winston-Salem.....................336-442-2199 Payroll Edge Inc. 1901 Keller Andrews Road.........................................................................919-718-0004 Pest Management State Pest Control Inc. 807 College St, Clinton....................................................................................877-994-2847 Pharmacies Health Innovations Pharmacy 814 Spring Lane........................................................................................................919-777-0402 Home Town Pharmacy 101 S. Vance St..........................................................................................................919-292-1423 Medicine Park Pharmacy 100 Park Ave.................................................................................................................919-776-9715 Reliance RX Pharmacy 1600 S. Third St........................................................................................................919-718-0715 Photographers Fun with Photos 3015 Carrington Lane........................................................................................919-935-6002 Jimmy Haire Photo Studio 140 W. Main St...........................................................................................................919-776-8048 Portraits by Steven 110 Carthage St..........................................................................................................919-292-1600 Physical Therapy Performance Rehabilitation 1408 Greenway Court........................................................................................919-708-7220 Sanford Health and Rehabilitation 2702 Farrell Road...................................................................................................919-776-9602

Physicians and Surgeons Advanced Care for Women 127 N. Steele St.........................................................................................................919-776-7640 Ajay Ajmani MD PA 111 Dennis Dr..............................................................................................................919-774-5911 Carolina Doctors Med Care PC 1024 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-774-3680 Carolina Women’s Health Center PA 1140 Carthage St......................................................................................................919-775-2304 Central Carolina Family Practice 409 Carthage St.........................................................................................................919-777-0303 Central Carolina Orthopedic Associates PLLC 1139 Carthage St., Suite 101.....................................................................919-774-1355 Central Dermatology Center 508 Carthage St.........................................................................................................919-401-1994 Family Chiropractic Center of Sanford 1100 Carthage St......................................................................................................919-775-2114 First Health Back and Neck Pain Center-Sanford 1227 Carthage St......................................................................................................919-774-0665 First Health Sanford Hematology Oncology 1212 Central Dr., Suite 201........................................................................919-775-8183 Kidz Care Pediatrics PC 1688 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-775-7337 Medical Weight Loss Center 717 N. Horner Blvd..............................................................................................910-585-8204 Mid Carolina Crossroads Surgical Clinic 709 Wicker St., Suite B....................................................................................919-775-3321 Mid Carolina Gastroenterology Associates PA 110 Dennis Dr..............................................................................................................919-774-4511 Mid-Carolina Primary Care PA 709-C Wicker St.......................................................................................................919-777-2742 Neurology and Pain Management Center 1212 Central Dr.........................................................................................................910-893-9700 Pine Ridge Urgent Care and Occupational Medicine Center 3072 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-775-3020 Primary Care of Sanford 1413 Greenway Court........................................................................................919-777-9871 Pinehurst Surgical, Sanford Office 1818 Doctors Dr.......................................................................................................919-895-6340 Sandhills Family Practice PA 1125 Carthage St......................................................................................................919-774-6023 Sanford Medical Group PA 555 Carthage St.........................................................................................................919-774-6518 Sanford Pediatrics PA 1801 Doctors Dr.......................................................................................................919-774-7117 William E. Hall MD Office 1911 KM Wicker Dr............................................................................................919-775-1000 Plumbing Donathan Pumping Service Inc. 292 Country Boy Lane, Cameron.......................................................919-774-1804 Ferguson Plumbing 605 Chatham St.........................................................................................................919-774-8953 Fix It Plumbing Services Inc. PO Box 2416.................................................................................................................919-776-7870 Neal and Howard Inc. 513 Wicker St., Suite D...................................................................................919-775-3811 Pipeworx Plumbing Inc. PO Box 754....................................................................................................................919-770-6452 Potters and Pottery Studios Cole’s Pottery 3410 Hawkins Ave.................................................................................................919-776-9558 Printers All Digital Printing and Document Services 356 Wilson Road......................................................................................................919-774-6324 Copy Center of Sanford 1017 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-776-0821 John-Beverly Printing Inc. 1112 Hawkins Ave..................................................................................................919-776-6022 Jones Printing Company Inc. 104 Hawkins Ave.....................................................................................................919-774-9442 Prosthetics and Orthotics Limbionics Prosthetics and Orthotics 615 Wicker St...............................................................................................................919-777-0446 Real Estate — Appraisers Brooks II Appraisers 401 Carthage St.........................................................................................................919-776-5775 Norman Keith Appraisals 409 N. Seventh St...................................................................................................919-774-1424

lee county Living 2016-17 49

Real Estate — Commercial and Residential Adcock and Associates 1101 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-775-5444 Beazer Homes 4509 Creedmoor Road, Suite 200, Raleigh............................919-277-2377 Carolina Trace Gated Properties #3 Lakeview Dr.........................................................................................................919-499-5103 Forbes Real Estate 1605 Valley Road....................................................................................................919-775-2251 Gordon and Associates Real Estate 147 Chatham St.........................................................................................................919-478-3435 Groce Companies PO Box 2825.................................................................................................................919-775-1497 Lynda Turbeville 1514 Briarcliffe Dr................................................................................................919-775-2636 NAI Carolantic Realty Inc. 5121 Kingdom Way, Suite 200, Raleigh....................................919-832-0594 Pedley Group LLC 509 Amos Bridges Road.................................................................................919-775-1454 QJH Real Estate LLC 1201 Burns Dr.............................................................................................................919-776-6587 Re/Max Real Estate Service 154 McIver St..............................................................................................................919-708-5980 Sanford Real Estate 304 N. Horner Blvd..............................................................................................919-721-2200 Smith Group Realty LLC 131 Charlotte Ave., Suite 101..................................................................919-718-9027 Treefrog Properties, LLC 131 Charlotte Ave., Suite 201..................................................................919-353-5445 Wilkins Corp.

214 S. Steele St..........................................................................................................919-775-3832 Real Estate — Developers and Investors Castle Ridge Development, LLC Carrington Subdivision 321 Mt Eden Place, Cary...............................................................................919-459-6328 Covington Family Limited Partnership 709 Croswell Court, Whitsett Lee-Moore Capital Company 603 Carthage St., Suite 120........................................................................919-895-6001 Nouveau Properties Inc./Nouveau Investments Inc. 503 Carthage St., Suite 203........................................................................919-776-7006 Recreation and Sports Black Belt Leadership Academy 1716 Westover Dr...................................................................................................919-777-6913 Endor Paddle LLC 1039 Cummock Road........................................................................................919-888-1561 Sanford Area Soccer League 160 N. Moore St.......................................................................................................919-708-6886 Recreational Vehicles RV Rental of Sanford PO Box 777....................................................................................................................919-774-8733 Recycling, Industrial Waste Industries 4261 Marracco Dr., Hope Mills............................................................910-423-4122 Rentals and Party Equipment Carolina Convention Services and Rentals 118 Ridgeway Dr., Suite 201-D, Fayetteville......................910-705-1670 Restaurants and Caterers Alpaca 813 S. Horner Blvd...............................................................................................919-777-0226 Bay Breeze Seafood Restaurant 1385 N. Horner Blvd..........................................................................................919-708-6911 Bojangles’ 149 Market Place Dr...........................................................................................919-776-6713 Buffalo Wild Wings 3098 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-718-6846 Cafe 121 121 Chatham St., Suite 101........................................................................919-774-1888 Chick-fil-A of Sanford 3224 NC Highway 87 South.....................................................................919-777-0707 Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 3212 NC Highway 87 South.....................................................................919-718-0033 Davison’s Steaks 1724 Westover Dr...................................................................................................919-718-1103 Dreams Cafe and Bar 153 S. Horner Blvd...............................................................................................919-775-1200 Dunkin’ Donuts 3108 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-842-5020 Fairview Dairy Bar PO Box 1465.................................................................................................................919-775-5721

50 lee county Living 2016-17

Fresh Choice Cafe Inc. 805 Wicker St...............................................................................................................919-775-6008 Golden Corral 2618 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-775-3295 Kentucky Fried Chicken of Sanford 704 S. Horner Blvd...............................................................................................919-775-5615 Oishii Sushi and Hibachi Restaurant 1952 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-776-0971 Quick Bites 1907 Bragg Blvd......................................................................................................919-292-1690 Sagebrush 541 2100 Dalrymple St.................................................................................................919-775-3339 Smithfield’s Chicken ’N Bar-B-Q 2640 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-272-2972 Smoke and Barrel 120 S. Steele St..........................................................................................................919-292-1374 Sonic Drive-In 2600 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-774-1918 Subway/Beaver Creek Foods 2236 Jefferson Davis Highway..............................................................910-867-1984 Taco Bell 1910 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-850-0558 The Flame Steakhouse 109-A Carbonton Road.................................................................................... 919-776-7111 The Old Place Catering and Events 491 Elmer Moore Road, Bear Creek...............................................919-837-5131 Dairy Queen 2204 Jefferson Davis Highway..............................................................919-777-7255 Yamato of Sanford 2610 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-777-5222 Yarborough’s Ice Cream 132 McIver St..............................................................................................................919-776-6266 Retail Advance Auto Parts 2240 Jefferson Davis Highway..............................................................919-888-4220 Dealsgates 1708 Bluffside Dr., Fayetteville............................................................832-257-2440 Hobby Lobby 3012 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................405-745-6167 Nutrishop 3264 NC Highway 87 South.....................................................................919-777-6553 Rayney Ray’s Boutique LLC 125 Wicker St...............................................................................................................919-499-7686 Sears of Sanford 2534 Lee Ave................................................................................................................919-776-4311 Shops of Steele Street 102 S. Steele St..........................................................................................................919-777-6959 Southern Carpet and Interiors Inc. 512 Wicker St...............................................................................................................919-775-3557 The Cute Closet 115 S. Steele St...........................................................................................................919-708-7300 Walgreens 2286 Jefferson Davis Highway..............................................................919-777-5983 Retirement and Nursing Homes Bayberry Retirement Inn 2002 Woodland Ave.............................................................................................919-774-7170 Schools, Colleges and Education Central Carolina Community College 1105 Kelly Dr...............................................................................................................919-775-5401 Grace Christian School 2601 Jefferson Davis Highway..............................................................919-774-4415 Lee Christian School 3220 Keller Andrews Road.........................................................................919-708-5115 Lee County Schools 106 Gordon St..............................................................................................................919-774-6226 North Carolina Wesleyan College 4426 S. Miami Blvd., Durham...............................................................919-465-4776 Stepping Stones Children’s Center 1550 Kelly Dr..............................................................................................................919-708-7866 Stop-N-Drop Academic Center Inc. 900 S. Vance St., Suite 100.........................................................................919-776-2241 The Griffin Academy 488 B Commerce Dr...........................................................................................919-499-1032 Security Advanced Security Solutions Inc. 1003 Short St................................................................................................................919-774-6301 Central Carolina Security Inc. 1142 N. Horner Blvd...........................................................................................919-774-8004

Senior Services Enrichment Center of Lee County Inc. 1615 S. Third St........................................................................................................919-776-0501 Septic Tank Services Bullard Septic Service 1117 Walker Road...................................................................................................919-770-0831 Signs Applied Graphics Inc. 1102 Hawkins Ave.................................................................................................919-774-7446 Skeet Shooting and Sporting Clays Deep River Sporting Clays 284 Cletus Hall...........................................................................................................919-774-7080 Tanning Salon Tan N Style LLC 1121 Spring Lane....................................................................................................919-718-0686 Tax Services B&B Computerized Tax Service 347 Wilson Road......................................................................................................919-776-0605 H&R Block Income Tax Service 325 S. Steele St..........................................................................................................919-776-8915 Telephone Books Lee County Phone Book 145 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines.............................919-777-9982 Telephone Communication Equipment Sandhills Communications Inc. 765 Tysinger Road, Lillington................................................................919-842-5971 Theater Temple Theatre 120 Carthage St.........................................................................................................919-774-4512 Tire Dealers Atlantic Auto and Tire LLC 1523 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-718-0856 Perry Brothers Tire Service 414 E. Main St............................................................................................................919-777-9499 610 Wicker St...............................................................................................................919-775-7225 Trash Hauling, Commercial Waste Management of Sanford 2720 Wilkins Dr........................................................................................................919-774-9511 Upholstery Key’s Upholstery Inc. / Awning and Canvas Work 125 W. Trade St.........................................................................................................919-775-7432 Urgent Care Facilities FastMed of Sanford 724 S. Horner Blvd...............................................................................................919-550-0821 Rapid Care Urgent Care and Family Medicine 2609 S. Horner Blvd............................................................................................919-718-0414 Utilities Central Electric Membership Corp.

128 Wilson Road......................................................................................................919-774-4900 Duke Energy 4412 Hillsborough Road, Durham.....................................................919-687-3001 PSNC of North Carolina 800 N. Horner Blvd..............................................................................................919-836-5338 Vacuum Cleaners, Sales and Services Rainbow Water Filter and Vacuums, B&G Sales 118 McIver St...............................................................................................................919-775-8007 Vending Mid South Food Services 203 W. South St, Aberdeen.........................................................................910-944-2035 Wolfpacking Industries 6500 Prestwick Place, Fuquay-Varina...........................................919-552-6199 Veterinarians All Animals Vet Hospital 101 Animal Ave.........................................................................................................919-775-4944 Myres Animal Hospital 876 Castleberry Court........................................................................................919-775-2258 Willow Creek Animal Hospital 1902 Bragg St..............................................................................................................919-776-1920 Video Production Brick Capital Video Productions 401 W. Main St...........................................................................................................919-356-6246 Web Page Design Tangram Media Inc. 100 Magnolia Road, Suite 2213, Pinehurst............................910-603-4954

YOUR RIDE AWAITS

SHOP LOW PRICES ON OUR PRE-OWNED VEHICLES IN STOCK TODAY!

GREAT

SELECTION OF CARS, TRUCKS, AND SUV’S

MEMBER SANFORD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND MEMBER CAROLINA INDEPENDENT AUTO DEALERS ASSOCIATION

1803 KELLER-ANDREWS RD SANFORD, NC 27330 (919)708-5443 OR (919)342-5545 WWW.SANFORDAUTOBROKERS.COM lee county Living 2016-17 51

Carolina Doctors Med Care Internal Medicine • Primary Care • Family & General Medicine Your Tried & Trusted Center For Medical Care

iving a n ksg h T y zine Happ maga u all. s i h t year k yo of the ant to than tage of e m i t s, I w ever oo. l shor What s your eye a nationa s felt that t o keep e t s a i catch say there ractice h in, we try akes p a r t m y r e u o ce hat e of Th g for rs and ible, t docto is one thin staff poss In the tim y time There st provider find some. en all of m nts. the be harder to I have giv - my patie y , n it eve ge of staff are for you tra ordinar e and a t r o sho rength t c shown ex pport to m rever. o e u t and s of you hav d loving s strength f rt e y t d p A lo ce, provi ecame m and sup o . b o e patien ff, which t your lov o what I d a e d t g s t r o o y f n m never could I will ut which I ou! y witho Thank forever!! MD s k n a awan Th er D h d n i r u S

Best medical help available on your call. Call for appointment for compassionate and personalized health care at a center where patient health care is the first concern of the doctors and staff.

Medical Care Available Adult and Pediatric Care ◊ Colds and Sore Throats ◊ Bronchitis Flu ◊ Eye and Ear Infections ◊ Sprains and Abrasions ◊ Insect Bites Adults Immunizations, TDAP and Hepatitis Immunizations Available Yearly Physicals ◊ Initial Fracture Care ◊ Sports Physicals Lacerations ◊ X-Ray and Lab on Site Treatment of Common Illness & Other Health Care Needs

1024 1 024 S. Horner Blvd., Sanf Sanford, NC (Near the Post Office) 919-774-3680 • MONDAY - SATURDAY 8am - 6pm

Any changes (Short term like weather related or long term) in office hours will be reflected on our website Appointments needed for primary care. Walk-in care without appointment may be provided, only as and if available.

52 lee county Living 2016-17

www.cdmchealthcare.com