Newcomers

Newcomers of the Pinehurst Area is an organization formed to introduce new residents to one another and the community, by providing social events and activities.

For information, call (910) 315-2471 or visit the Web site at www.pinehurstnewcomers.com.

AARP

AARP Chapter No. 2564 meets at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, at First Bank, 205 E. Broad St., Southern Pines.

The speaker is Andy Honeycutt from Progess Energy.

AARP meets the third Tuesday of the month, with the exception of July and August.

Bear Creek Hiking Club

Organized in March 2009, the Bear Creek Hiking Club has become a regional club for outdoor lovers.

Members are hiking two-to-12 mile walks, at least three times a week on local county trails, in regional state parks and along the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The scheduled hikes are published online monthly at www.bearcreekhikingclub.com.

"Tour our Web site and see photos of the places we are hiking and club details," says a spokesman. "You can join the club for $20 per year."

The club meets at 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the Robbins Rescue Squad Building, 141 Horner St., Robbins.

"We frequently have guest speakers," says the spokesman.

For more information, contact Cathy Hussey (910) 464-3679 or Linda Koonce by e-mail: linda.koonce@gmail.com.

Brown Backers

The Cleveland Browns Backers of the Sandhills will meet at 8:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, at The Bell Tree, 155 NE Broad St., Southern Pines, when the Browns meet the Baltimore Ravens.

For information, call Fred Zimmerman at (910) 295-6480.

For further information, visit www.brownsbackersofthesandhills.com

Sandhills Buckeyes

The Ohio State Buckeye Clubmeets at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at The Bell Tree, 155 NE Broad St., Southern Pines, when Ohio State takes on the Iowa Hawkeyes.

For more information, visit www.sandhillsbuckeyes.net.

Sandhills CWC

The monthly luncheon of the Sandhills Christian Women's Connection will be held Thursday, Nov. 19, at the National Golf Club in Pinehurst from 11:30 a. m. to 1:30 p.m .

This month will be the special holiday market event with a silent auction. There will also be craft items and homemade baked goods available. The organization's cookbook will be available as well.

The speaker will be Rhoda Byrd from Lancaster, S.C., who will present the topic "Perfect Organization for Life." Musical entertainment will be provided by Robey Howard.

Call Shirley at (910) 295-1577 or Anne at (910) 215-0074 to make reservations. A courtesy call by Tuesday, Nov. 17, is appreciated.

"Be sure to let us know if you will be taking advantage of our free nursery," says a spokesman.

The cost of this month's luncheon is $13, all inclusive.

League Meeting

"The Location of the Proposed Moore County Courthouse Facilities: Two Perspectives" will be the topic of the Nov. 17 luncheon meeting of the League of Women Voters.

Moore County Commissioners Tim Lea and Nick Picerno will speak on the topic after the luncheon. The meeting will be held at the Table on the Green Restaurant, 2205 Midland Drive (inside Midland Country Club). Check-in time is 11:30 a.m., with the meeting beginning at 11:45 a.m.

Lea is currently serving his second term on the Board of Commissioners.

Picerno was elected Moore County Commissioner on Nov. 4, 2008 for a four-year term and was elected chairman in December 2008.

In addition to the two speakers, League member Linda Tableman will give a short report on the pros and cons of the Fair Election New Act (FEN). League members will be invited to stay after the meeting to join in a roundtable discussion of the National League.

The public is welcome to attend this luncheon. A prior reservation is required, by calling Charlotte Gallagher at (910) 944-9611, no later than Nov. 13.

The total cost for the meal is $12. A check, written to LWVMC, is the preferred method of payment.

"As the meal is catered, 'no-shows' will be still be assessed the fee, unless they cancel ahead of time," says a spokesman.

Genealogical Society

The next meeting of the Moore County Genealogical Society will be Saturday, Nov. 21, at 10:30 a.m., at the LDS Family History Center (Mormon Church).

The church islocated just north of Pinecrest High School (on the opposite side of the road) at 9800 U.S. 15-501, between Pinehurst and Southern Pines.

Attendees will be able to access the LDS computer records, including information in Salt Lake City, and use their numerous reference books. Any names and dates that you have would be helpful in starting or expanding your search.

Martie Mullenbach, director, will explain the research options.

For more information on the Moore County Genealogical Society call (910) 947-2689 or e-mail kayla@carolina.net.

Civil War Round Table

The Rufus Barringer Civil War Round Table meets at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, at the Southern Pines Civic Club, located across from the tennis courts, at the corner of Ashe Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, Southern Pines

The guest speaker will be James S. Robbins, senior editorial writer for foreign affairs at The Washington Times and a former special assistant in the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Robbins will discuss his book, "Last in their Class: Custer, Pickett and the Goats of West Point." It is many books at once -- a social history of West Point, a combat narrative and a string of profiles of remarkable men. New members and visitors are always welcome. Refreshments are served.

For information, call (910) 315-1213.

Women of Weymouth

Todd Pusser will present the program at the Monday, Nov. 16, meeting of Women of Weymouth.

A lifelong Moore County resident, Pusser began his career working as a biologist for environmental agencies in the United States before concentrating on wildlife photography.

His projects have taken him to more than 30 countries and into every ocean basin on earth.

Pusser's photographs have appeared in hundreds of publications around the world and are regularly featured in books, calendars and popular natural history magazines such as National Geographic Kids, BBC Wildlife, National Wildlife, Ocean Realm, Geo, Outdoor Photography and Our State.

He has received international recognition in numerous wildlife photo competitions and in 2005 received an award in the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year, a competition that received more than 17,000 entries from 57 countries and is considered the most prestigious wildlife photo contest in the world.

In 2006, in another major competition, he received a first- place award in National Wildlife Photo Competition.

Closer to home, Pusser is a regular photographer for Wildlife in North Carolina magazine, published by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. He has photographed plants and animals and the biologists who work with them, from Murphy to Manteo.

His favorite subjects to photograph are the creatures found in the longleaf pine forests of Moore and surrounding counties. Currently he is producing a book documenting the extraordinary biodiversity of his home state of North Carolina. His talk will be on the biodiversity of the Sandhills.

The Nov. 16 meeting starts with coffee at 9:30 a.m. and the business meeting is at 10 a.m., followed by the program.

"Guests are welcome to attend," says President Ann Arnold.