U.S. Army Association

The Braxton Bragg Chapter of the Association of the U.S. Army will hold its first general membership meeting of the 2008/2009 operational year at the Fort Bragg Officers' Club at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17. The meeting is centered on the relationship between the military/civilian communities, sets the stage for the chapter's new year and recognizes many of the people and events that AUSA supported over the past year. The meeting is hosted by President Col. Don Goulet (ret.) and its main purpose is to explain "AUSA for You and Me."

CSM Tom Capel, the command sergeant major of the 82d Airborne Division, will be the guest speaker. He will amplify Goulet's report on the chapter's activities from last year and encourage young soldiers to take advantage of the support that AUSA has for them. He is going to recognize the Fort Bragg Volunteer Family of the Year, Fort Bragg's AUSA DA Civilian of the Year, Fort Bragg's NCOs and Soldiers of the Year, recipients of the chapter's 31 individual $1,000 scholarships awarded to members of AUSA and dependents of same, and the chapter's military and civilian past presidents, and kick off the annual fund raiser by introducing the winner of the 2008 car raffle.

The meeting will start at 11:30 a.m. with lunch at 11:45. The business meeting starts at 12:15. It is estimated that 250 soldiers and 100 civilian and retired individuals, to include the local mayors and other elected officials, will be in attendance.

For more information, contact Sharon Lewis at (910) 797-3001 or Sharon.Lewis@gd-itronix.com.

Foxfire Garden Club

Foxfire Garden Club meets at 2:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8, at the Village Town Hall.

Guest speaker Bruce Olin will kick off the club's first meeting of the season, discussing planting and overall care of trees. Members will receive new meeting schedules for the year, and membership dues will be collected at this meeting.

For membership information, contact Sharon at 673-3851.

Kiwanis of the Pines

Recently the Kiwanis of the Pines had four guests from the Pinehurst Kiwanis Club attend a meeting, through the Interclub Program where members visit other groups to lend support. They were Diane Hall, Kevin Linsley, Bonnie Underwood and Don Goulet.

Crystal Taylor introduced her guest, Rollie Sampson, as the co-founder of "SandhillsKids." She has two children and has been a PTA president. She moved here three years ago. Rollie found she was missing sign-ups for different sports activities, where to find things to do for her children, and generally needed more information about the area. The idea of "Sandshill Kids" is to help others coming to this area to adjust more quickly to the activities available to their children.

In the near future more military families will be arriving, therefore Sampson felt it necessary to develop a Web site as well as a book that will be distributed this year. Her target audience is women between 25 -45 years old, as well as grandparents.

This year a hands-on booklet is being sold. Included will be school calendars, maps, private school functions, as well as something for home-schooled children.

The Web site is www.sandhills kids.com, Sampson's office is on 420 S.W. Broad Street, Southern Pines, and she can be reached by e-mail at kidsinfo@sandhillskids.com.

Kennel Club

The Moore County Kennel Club's monthly meeting will be held Tuesday, Sept. 2, at Table On The Green, located at Midland Country Club on Midland Road in Pinehurst.

"All members are urged to attend this important meeting where the club will be discussing the final plans for the upcoming all-breed and obedience shows Sept. 13-14," says a spokesman. "The club welcomes the public to the shows and hopes that you are planning to attend at the Polo Grounds in Pinehurst."

There will be a microchip clinic, and rabies clinic both days, and on Saturday at noon the Camp Lejeune Marines and their military working dogs will give a demonstration.

Moore County Kennel Club welcomes all inquiries about the club, its members, its purpose and many projects. For information, call Nick Lynn at (910) 947-1748 or Nona Burrell at (910) 295-3909.

OSU Alumni

The Ohio State University Sandhills Alumni Club meets to watch OSU football on Projector HD TV at Mint Juleps in Southern Pines on all OSU Saturday football game days.

The first 2008 game is Saturday, Aug. 30, at noon, against Youngstown University. Proceeds benefit OSU scholarships, wounded warrior support, and local charities.

"All Buckeye fans are welcome," says a spokesman.

Visit www.sandhillsbuckeyes.net for schedules and club activities.

Pointing Breeds

The Sandhills Pointing Breeds Club will hold its first meeting of the new season at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2, on the club grounds, 3280 Jackson Springs Road, Jackson Springs.

The club usually meets the first Tuesday of every month from September through May.

"All members and their guests are invited to attend," says a spokesman.

The SPBC is open to anyone interested in the pointing dog breeds. Dog ownership is not required.

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

Sandhills Rotary

Twenty-four Rotarians from Area IX attended the first Sundowner meeting at the LobSteer Inn Tuesday, Aug. 12.

This optional monthly gathering serves as an alternate meeting time for Sandhills Rotary Club members as well as a makeup opportunity for Rotarians of other clubs.

Lloyd Navarro, club president, spoke on the Rotary International theme of the month -- membership.

Participants continued fellowship over an evening meal.

The next Sundowner extension meeting is Sept. 9.

Woodturning Guild

Sandhills Woodturning Guild is a newly-formed woodturning club that will be a chapter of the American Association of Woodturners. The group meets monthly in Carthage at 7720 N.C. 22 (.4 mile north of Moore County Airport on the west side of N.C. 22). The next scheduled meeting is 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9.

"Beginners and all levels of experience are welcome," says a spokesman. "We have demonstrations at each meeting, and we also offer woodturning lessons. Tools and equipment are not required."

For information, contact rick@woodcreations.biz Rick Roberts at (910) 315-3900 or Mike Girimont at (910) 690-9595.

WP Garden Club

The Whispering Pines Garden Club meets at 7:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at the Whispering Pines Rescue Squad building on Ray's Bridge Road. The next meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 2, when the program will be "Snakes in the Sandhills," featuring a Weymouth Nature Preserve ranger.

Dues for the year are only $5.

"You do not need a 'green thumb' to join," says a spokesman.

Monthly meetings provide a forum for residents interested in gardening and learning more about the local environment.

"It's also a great way to socialize with other Whispering Pines residents, as you enjoy light refreshments after the program," says the spokesman.

Future programs include:

n Oct. 7 -- Shutting Down the Garden in the Fall (Shawna Smith)

n Nov. 4 -- Recycling (Moore County Recycling Center Representative Dave Klauder)

n Jan. 6 -- Propagation of House Plants (Barbara and Larry Cohen)

n Feb. 3 -- Composting with Worms (Bonnie Klein)

n March 3 -- Fitness in the Garden (Linda DeYoung)

n April 7 -- Pruning (Shawna Smith)

n May 5 -- Pot Luck Dinner (6 p.m.)

Fall roadside cleanup will be at 8:45 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27. Participants are asked to meet at either the Rays Bridge Road Rescue Building parking lot or the True North Community (formerly Yates Thagards Church) parking lot in comfortable shoes, with gloves and pickers. The club will provide bags and vests. Spring roadside cleanup dates will be announced at a future date.

The annual plant sale is scheduled for Saturday, April 18.

Officers for the coming year are Bill Russell, president; Mary Lou Winn, vice president; Lori Motta, secretary; George Klein, treasurer; Kathy Luckhaus, hospitality; Doris Russell, publicity; Paul Nealon, park chairman; John Hopkins, park work coordinator; George Klein, plant sale coordinator; Bill and Doris Russell, adopt-a-highway coordinators.

Women of the Pines

The Women of the Pines will meet at 11 a.m. Sept. 15, at the Pinehurst Member's Club. Don Sweeting II, Pinehurst Members' Club executive vice president of golf, will be the guest speaker. Those wishing to attend should call Pat Tomasetti at (910) 255-6034 by Friday, Sept. 12.