Browns Backers

The Cleveland Browns Backers of the Sandhills, a club made up of loyal Cleveland Browns football fans living in the Sandhills area, meet every time the Browns play a game. This is a worldwide organization, the largest organized fan club in professional sports, of 278 clubs with 48,089 dedicated members cheering and showing support for the Cleveland Browns. The local chapter meets Sunday, Oct. 1, at 4:15 p.m., at Brook's Club, 155 N.E. Broad Street in Southern Pines, when the Browns play the Oakland Raiders.

For information, call Fred at 295-6480.

Foxfire Book Club

Members of the Foxfire Book Club concluded their two-part discussion of David McCullough's "1776" at their September meeting. A lighter book, Joshilyn Jackson's "Gods in Alabama," will be discussed in October. At that meeting members will bring their suggestions for books they particularly recommend for the coming months.

The book club meets the third Monday of each month at 3 p.m. in the Members' Room. All Foxfire men and women, particularly new residents, are invited to attend these informal discussions. Books reviewed are selected by the club members.

Further information may be obtained by telephoning 673-5812 or 281-4905.

Foxfire Garden Club

The Foxfire Garden Club's trip to the N.C. State University's J. C. Raulston Arboretum, announced for Monday, Oct. 9, has been postponed until next spring. The club will meet at their usual time, 2:30 p.m., in the Town Hall. Foxfire's talented artist and craftswoman, Claire Bryant, will present a demonstration of Ikebana, the ancient art of Japanese flower arranging.

Born and raised in Illinois, Bryant, at the age of eight, had her first meeting with her California grandmother, who was accomplished in the art of Ikebana.

As an employee of the U.S. Air Force in Japan, she had the opportunity further to refine her knowledge. She has assembled many of her grandmother's notes and sketches into a booklet, copies of which she will bring to the meeting.

Ladies Special Events

SCORE organizations are increasing in number, and with good reason! See for yourself on Oct. 4 at the Pinehurst Member's Club at the Ladies Special Events.

Complimentary wine and juice will be served at noon in the main lobby, and luncheon at 12:30 upstairs in the main dining room. (There is an elevator to the second floor.) Members and their guests are welcome. Call the club at 235-8100, and hit the No. 1 when you hear a voice, to make a reservation.

The program following the luncheon will feature about 30 children who have been guided in musical activities by two very talented and dedicated ladies. The goal is to develop well-rounded singers and instrumentalists of children from age 8 to age 12 in an ensemble setting.

Karen Lewis has taught orchestra in many Moore County schools, and currently teaches at Pinehurst Elementary and West Pine Middle School. She performs with many local artists as well as with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra.

Marci Houseman is a former Moore County Teacher of the Year. She taught music at Pinehurst Elementary for four years, and has created a children's television show airing on Sandhills TV-3. She has four children, who also keep her busy.

Moore County's SCORE is the fifth SCORE organization in the country, and the only one that is tuition-free.

For information, call Cynthia Strecker at 295-8828.

Civic Club

Eileen Malan, president, announces the first meeting of the Southern Pines Civic Club on Monday, Oct. 2, with a 10:30 a.m. board meeting followed by a luncheon at noon.

Norris Hodgkins, assisted by Sue Pockmire, will present a program on the early history of Southern Pines featuring early photos and information related to the development of the town.

The Civic Club is located at 105 South Ashe St.

For questions, call Eileen Malan at 692-3719 or Vi Arhart, membership chair at 692-3433.

Kennel Club

The Moore County Kennel Club's monthly meeting will be held on the second Monday of this month, on Oct. 2, at the LobSteer Restaurant, located on U.S. 1 in Southern Pines. Members may arrive at 6 p.m. to eat and visit; the business meeting starts at 7 p.m.

This month the club is focused on their upcoming Agility Matches. They will be held in Sanford on Oct. 28 and Oct. 29, at the Bon Clyde Facility.

Those with questions about the matches should contact Bob Forsyth, Match Chair, at 295-2515.

The kennel club welcomes and encourages anyone interested in dogs and their welfare to join them and find out what they're all about. If you have any questions about the club, call club president Steve Watson at 919-776-4688 or publicity chair Nona Burrell at 910-295-3909.

Republican Women

Moore Republican Women (MRW) will hold its monthly luncheon meeting on Monday, Oct. 2, at the Pinehurst Member's Club. Social time will begin at 11:30 a.m. followed by lunch at noon.

The guest speaker for this month will be Theresa H. Esposito of North Carolina, member-at-large director for the National Federation of Republican Women Region 5.

Esposito was elected National Federation of Republican Women member-at-large at the 33rd Biennial Convention in Nashville and assumed the position in January.

She has been a member of the NFRW Board of Directors for several years, serving as chair of the Membership and Public Relations Committees and vice chair of the Bylaws Committee. She also served as NFRW political director in 2003.

At the state level, she has served as North Carolina Federation of Republican Women protocol chair, and as president and parliamentarian of Forsyth County Republican Women. She was honored in 2003 by the NCFRW at the biennial, "Tribute to Women."

Esposito retired in 2002 after 18 years in the North Carolina House of Representatives. She is chairperson of North Carolina's 5th congressional district, and a member of the North Carolina GOP central committee and executive committee. She served as coalitions director for U.S. Senator Richard Burr's 2004 campaign and as a member of the 2004 Electoral College.

She is a strong advocate for those suffering with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Esposito is married to Brigadier General Alfred L Esposito, USAF (ret). They live in Winston-Salem, and have three adult daughters and seven grandchildren.

Cost for the luncheon is $15. To make a reservation, call Donna Bartrip at 215-5922 no later than Thursday, Sept. 28.

"If you would like to attend and need transportation, let Donna know and she will arrange transportation for you," says a spokesman. "Those interested in joining should call Linda Jarrett at 295-8837."

Pointing Breeds

The Sandhills Pointing Breeds Club will hold its monthly club meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m. on the club grounds. The club's meeting house is located at 3280 Jackson Springs Road, Jackson Springs.

The SPBC is open to anyone interested in the pointing dog breeds. Dog ownership is not required. The club meets the first Tuesday of every month from September through May.

For more information about the club, contact Donna Boyce at dboyce@nc.rr.com or at 910-246-0190.

Good Sam Club

The Sandhills Good Sam Club welcomes those who like camping to join them at their Oct. 13-15 campout at the Wade KOA in Wade, just north of Fayetteville.

The camping club is comprised of 11 family units from around the Sandhills with the common interest of camping and fellowship. Campouts are held on the second weekend of every month at a campground no farther away from the Sandhills than 150 miles.

The November Good Sam campout will also be held at the Wade KOA, and the December rally will be at Sleepy Bear in Lumberton. Anyone who is interested in more information about the camping club should contact President Lee Gibbs at 910-904-0956 or VP Jack Sensintaffar at 910-499-9207.

Home and Garden

The Aberdeen Home and Garden Club met Tuesday, Sept. 19, at Aberdeen's historic Postmaster's House. President Fay Honeycutt called the meeting to order, followed by the Club Collect.

Frances Marks introduced the speaker, Bill Zell, Aberdeen's town manager. Zell presented an interesting program on planned development for Aberdeen, stating that many new homesites and businesses are on the way.

Refreshments were served by hostess Carol Wright, assisted by Frances Marks.

Honeycutt welcomed new member Carolyn Warlick into the club and thanked all committees for their summer work and stated plans for the fall season.