At First Bancorp's annual Service Awards Banquet, several employees were honored and presented awards for their loyalty and dedicated service to the company and the communities they serve.

The event was held recently at the James H. Garner Conference Center in Troy, where First Bank is headquartered.

First Bank Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Anna Hollers said the annual awards event was an important demonstration of First Bank's commitment to its employees.

"These awards are a way of showing our employees that we recognize their hard work and dedication," Hollers said.

Margaret Hightower and Michael McMillan, both of the Southern Pines branch, were among those recognized and presented with a retirement gift.

Teresa Cole of the Pinehurst village branch was among those receiving the Milestone Award for 30 years of service.

Hugh Bingham of the Southern Pines branch, Michelle McBride of the Vass branch and Stuart Fields of Insurance Services in Southern Pines received special awards for service to their communities.

Other employees in Moore County who received service awards were Martha Lunday, Pinecrest Plaza, 15 years; Laura Phillips, Robbins, 15 years; Christine Morris, Southern Pines, 10 years; Suzette Dom-inie, Pinebluff, 10 years; and Martha Mathews, Pinecrest Plaza, five years.

Subin Designated

Dr. Glen Subin, an orthopaedic surgeon in Pinehurst, has been designated as a senior aviation medical examiner.

Aviation medical examiners perform medical examinations for pilots. There are three different classes of medical examinations.

The third-class medical examinations are for private pilots and are valid for two years. The second-class medical examinations are required for commercial pilots who fly charter flights and/or air ambulance flights. The first-class medical examinations are required for airline pilots and are valid for six months.

Aviation medical examiners perform second- and third-class medical exams, while senior aviation medical examiners perform first-, second-, and third-class medical exams.

Subin is also a pilot with a multi-engine commercial instrument and airline transport certificate, as well as being a senior aviation medical examiner, and he has been flying for 30 years.

Pilots who are interested in obtaining a first-, second-, or third-class medical examination should contact Subin at Mid-South Orthopaedic at 295-4500.

Trident Holds Drive

Trident Marketing, a Southern Pines-based company, held its 2007 kickoff party last month at the Fair Barn in Pinehurst.

A highlight for the company's founder, Steve Baldelli, was its large contribution of food to the Food Bank of Eastern and Central North Carolina.

The roughly 200 local employees collected over 1,500 items, including canned goods, baby food and dry goods.

The company matched the contribution of its employees with a donation of an additional 1,500 cans. This was the company's first annual food drive.

The Food Bank of Eastern and Central North Carolina, with this donation, will service the Inter-faith Food Panty, Bethesda Presbyterian Church, St. Anthony's Church, Sandhills Moore Coalition, along with more than 50 local agencies. John Lenzi of the Food Bank stated that the donation was 2,653 pounds, the most from any one local organization.

Trident Marketing is a direct-response sales organization that markets a variety of subscription and membership based products.

Established in 1986 and operating several distinct businesses, Trident Marketing currently employs more than 250 people at its Southern Pines facility. Among the companies operated from this location are Travel Resorts of America and Direct Sat TV.

Travel Resorts of America markets a private network of nearly 500 campground resorts. Amongst these, two have been developed and are owned by Travel Resorts: Sycamore Lodge in Jackson Springs in Moore County and Gettysburg Battle-field Resort in Gettysburg, Pa.

Direct Sat TV markets satellite television systems nationwide, driving calls to its Southern Pines call center.

Beginning operations in 2005, Direct Sat TV has grown to the No. 4 position in DIRECTV's network of more than 5,000 dealers.

Leon Joins Weichert

Realtor Henry "Tag" Leon has joined Weichert, Realtors-Larose & Co., bringing two years of experience in residential sales and rentals.

He serves clients in Moore County as a member of the Pinehurst-Southern Pines Area Association of Realtors.

Leon, a native of Rutland, Vt., is an eight-year resident of Southern Pines. His background includes work in restaurant management.

He is a golf professional and a member of the Professional Golf Association.

Weichert, Realtors-Larose & Co. is at 190 Turner St., Suite D, ub Yadkin Park in Southern Pines. The telephone number is 693-3300.