Computer Club

The Computer Club will finish out the “back to basics” theme with a presentation by Craig Castrogiovanni at the Seven Lakes North Club House Thursday, June 8, at 3 p.m.

The subject will be about advanced system maintenance, backups and security.

“This is perhaps the most important part of the series, and you do not want to miss it,” says a spokesman.

The Computer Club will not be doing any presentations in July and August but will return in September with a presentation about Windows 7.

Seven Lakes Kiwanis

On May 11, Seven Lakes Kiwanis member Jim Ellis gave club members a financial overview of the complications involved with the estate tax laws in North Carolina.

After closing with some specific cautions and warnings for anyone who might be an executor of an estate, he answered several questions from the floor.

At its May 18 meeting, Seven Lakes Kiwanis members heard David Michael Wolff.

Wolff began playing the piano at the age of 4 and made his orchestral debut as a piano soloist at the age of 12.

He has since won several international competitions and has played extensively throughout Europe. After establishing himself as a pianist, he studied conducting in Rome, and has conducted symphonies and operas throughout Europe and the United States.

Although he has established himself on the international scene, he and his family have settled down in the Sandhills in a home in Aberdeen.

He is now devoted to creating a musical center in Moore County, with the goal of making Pinehurst and Moore County renowned in the state for something other than golf.

He is currently the musical director at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, but his efforts go far beyond that activity. He has formed, and is still building, the Carolina Philharmonic, using talent only from the Sandhills. The orchestra has been performing in Pinehurst and Fayetteville, and Wolff has also taken the group to Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Local concerts are being performed at Founders Hall at Sacred Heart and also at Sandhills Community College.

Wolff closed the meeting by playing two piano pieces by Debussy and Wagner.

He says he hopes that the people of the Sandhills will take note of his activity and support the growth of the Philharmonic and Moore County as a cultural center for the musical arts.

Seven Lakes Kiwanis Club meets every Tuesday at noon at the Seven Lakes Country Club.

Republican Women

The June luncheon of Moore Republican Women will be held Monday, June 7, at the Pinehurst Member’s Club. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m., and lunch is served at noon. Cost for the luncheon is $15, payable by cash or check. Checks should be made payable to Pinehurst Resort LLC. Call Pauli Curl at (910) 215-9796 by June 2 to make a reservation. Valet parking is available.

This month’s program will feature Dan Forest, executive director of Re:Vision America, a nonprofit committed to “making politics culturally relevant by providing real solutions, from real people, to solve the real problems of our state.”

Forest is an architect with more than 20 years of experience in solving complex design problems for nationally recognized corporations. With a deep passion for his country and a strong desire to help solve America’s most pressing challenges, he recently transitioned from his career as a senior partner with Little Diversified Architectural Consulting into starting the nonprofit civic action organization.

He is the executive director of Re:Vision America and president of Re:Vision North Carolina (a pilot program for Re:Vision America). He serves on the board of directors for Triangle Leadership Forum and lives in Raleigh.

Kiwanis of the Pines

Darlind Davis, of Drug Free Moore County, was the guest speaker at a recent meeting of the Kiwanis of the Pines.

She handed out booklets to each member for their further reference. Her priority is to get civic and faith groups on the bandwagon, since they have the most influence over the youth of this county.

Davis worked on the White House Drug Free council as a speaker for inservices for educators.

She stressed the importance of careful supervision of one’s prescription drugs.

A question-and-answer time followed the presentation.

Toastmasters

Steven King, of Pinehurst, won Best Speaker at the May 18 meeting. King delivered a motivational speech titled “Live, Love, Laugh.” King completed his 10th speech and has earned “Competent Communicator” status.

Chris Norkus, of Whispering Pines, won Best Table Topics speaker. Table Topics, which is an exercise in impromptu speaking, was conducted by John Ambrosio, of Seven Lakes. His topic was “Favorites,” and contestants selected topics from choices such as “favorite color” and “favorite pet.” Best evaluator was won by David Bowling, of Whispering Pines.

Paul Barnes, of Foxfire Village, was Toastmaster of the Evening. Barnes is also president of the club.

Toastmasters Club of the Sandhills meets the first three Tuesdays of the month at 7 p.m. at Sandhills Community College Van Dusen Hall, room 102. The public is always welcome.

For more information, visit http://tcots.freetoasthost.us.

Pinehurst Garden Club

Tucked away along the brick walkway next to Given Library rests the quiet Memorial Garden designed and landscaped by the ladies of the Pinehurst Garden Club some 21 years ago.

It has been diligently maintained, trimmed, weeded and watered over this time span with the help of the Village Parks and Recreation Department.

Because the plants have become overgrown over the years, Tess Gillespie, a garden club board member, encouraged members to update the garden by adding light and color to its appearance.

While an ongoing project, the major effort has been completed with azaleas trimmed back; nandinas, variegated gardenias, encore azaleas, ferns and knockout roses planted; and a bark mulch spread to even the surface.

With warmer weather, annual flowers will be planted to highlight the large stone placed by James Walker Tufts more than 100 years ago to mark the center location of the village and its environs within a one-mile radius.

Another marker notes appreciation to all who have donated shrubs and gardening time.

The club also maintains a beautifully illustrated memorial book which, page by page, commemorates friends and family. It is available at the Given Library.

“The Pinehurst Garden Club invites all to ‘sit a minute’ to remember and possibly reflect on nature and the beauty within this small garden in the village,” says Jean Sundstrom, a club spokesman.

Seven Lakes Garden Club

The Seven Lakes Garden Club’s 18th Annual Garden Tour will be held Saturday, June 5, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“Join us for the club’s annual home garden tour, when seven homes on the North, South and West side, with different landscapes and gardening ideas, will be available to tour,” says a spokesman. “Some of the special sights are a fabulous koi pond with a waterfall, waterfront gardens, English style garden, hot tub deck with a triangle pergola, critter-secure vegetable gardens, unique pottery, and many beautiful plants and flowers.”

The garden club is also holding a raffle of theme-filled gift baskets, which will be displayed at various homes on the tour. Participants on the garden tour will have the opportunity to win one of the six baskets available, which include garden, wine, golf, tea and coffee and others. The tickets will be sold for $1 each and will benefit the garden club’s sponsorship of guest speakers, flower plantings at the gates and other projects.

Maps to the gardens can be picked up at each of the gates on the North, South and West side during tour hours.