Features – Moore County Edition

Dec

27

2023

North Carolina State Parks to Host First Day Hikes

Featureshikes, mountains

On January 1, 2024, North Carolina joins the nationwide tradition of First Day Hikes, an event organized by the National Association of State Park Directors. The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation announced that the state will host more than 50 staff-led hikes across its state parks. State Parks Director Brian Strong expressed excitement about the expanded First Day Hikes program for 2024. "After a few years of smaller programming, we are offering a wide variety of guided hikes and events at most of our state parks," Strong said. He encouraged visitors to bring family and friends for outdoor adventures,…

Nov

08

2023

By Ashley White

Film on Wilmington Massacre sheds light on forgotten history

Features

ASHEBORO — The John Locke Foundation held a screening of “In the Pines,” a short film about the Wilmington Massacre of 1898, at the Asheboro Public Library on November 2. Directed by Dugan Bridges, “In the Pines” is a piece of historical fiction following Scarlett Manning, played by Pandora Broadwater, as she shares her memories of the events leading up to the massacre. The younger Scarlett, portrayed by Amara Ayler, navigates the challenges of the time with her friends Ashleigh, played by Corrinne Mica, and Ashleigh’s love interest, Sam, played by John Potvin. The film provides a narrative framework for…

Jul

05

2023

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By A.P. Dillon

First ever homeschool prom in Moore County held

FeaturesEducation, high school prom, home school, Moore County, schools

WHISPERING PINES — On May 12, the first-ever Moore County Homeschool Prom was held for students in grades 9-12 in Whispering Pines, North Carolina. The prom was held at The Country Club of Whispering Pines from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tickets to attend were $75 and included a seated dinner, raffle ticket, mocktail celebration drink, and 4x6 commemorative photo. Chris and Betsy Miller, who are homeschool parents from Moore County, organized the event. “As parents who choose to homeschool, we know that our kids are missing out on certain things; that is WHY we homeschool,” the Millers said. “But…

Feb

01

2023

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By Emmie Brooks, North State Journal

New golf course seeks to honor Pinehurst’s natural beauty, rich history

FeaturesGolf, golf course, golf course architect, Pinehurst, tom doak

PINEHURST — Golf course architect Tom Doak has embarked on a new project to design and develop Pinehurst’s 10th golf course, the first in almost three decades. Doak has long had a passion for golf and, specifically, the design of courses themselves. “When I was twelve-thirteen years old, I got to see Harbour Town, Pinehurst, and Pebble Beach, and they were so different from the public course I grew up playing in Connecticut that I became fascinated with golf course design,” Doak said. Doak has since designed six courses that have been ranked among the top 100 golf courses in…

Dec

28

2022

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By Emmie Brooks, North State Journal

Ringing in a North Carolina new year

Featuresacorn drop, celebrations, New Year's, New Year's festival

RALEIGH — Across the state, towns come together to celebrate the new year every December 31st. Countdowns, ball drops, festivals, and resolutions bring individuals close for this holiday. North Carolina offers numerous ways to celebrate the new year in many different cities; a perfect opportunity for those who are looking for an enjoyable ending to a busy holiday season. On the Crystal Coast, Morehead City hosts a New Year’s festival featuring two crab pot drops, one earlier in the evening targeted for younger children and families and one at midnight for adults. “At the earlier event, which this year is…

Aug

24

2022

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By Associated Press

New space telescope shows Jupiter’s auroras, tiny moons

Featuresjupiter, moons, NASA, telescope

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The world’s newest and biggest space telescope is showing Jupiter as never before, auroras and all. Scientists released the shots Monday of the solar system’s biggest planet. The James Webb Space Telescope took the photos in July, capturing unprecedented views of Jupiter’s northern and southern lights, and swirling polar haze. Jupiter’s Great Red Spot, a storm big enough to swallow Earth, stands out brightly alongside countless smaller storms. One wide-field picture is particularly dramatic, showing the faint rings around the planet, as well as two tiny moons against a glittering background of galaxies. “We’ve never seen…

Jul

27

2022

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By Ryan Henkel, North State Journal

Moore County to see big influx with 67th Annual Robbins Farmers Day

Features, Newsagriculture, festival, Robbins, Robbins Farmers Day

ROBBINS — The Town of Robbins will host the 67th Robbins Farmers Day event starting Thursday, August 4, and it will run through Saturday, August 6 in downtown Robbins. Robbins Farmers Day is a weekend-long event that kicks off with a 5K race, and features live music, demonstrations, carnival rides, fireworks, a variety of food and craft stalls, and more, all culminating in the Robbins Farmers Day Parade on Saturday. The festival begins on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. featuring “Gospel on the Depot Stage,” with live music being provided by Pioneers and Potters Will running until 9 p.m. The Farmers Day 5km run/walk also…

Mar

25

2022

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By Randolph Record

SCC will host hands-on science event

Events, FeaturesN.C. Zoo, SCC, science, STEM

PINEHURST — A month-long celebration of science will include an event at Sandhills Community College in April. The North Carolina Science Festival presents events across the state and this year Pinehurst will host a hands-on event titled “Designer Genes.” The event will take place Wednesday, April 6, from 11am to 1pm in the Dempsey Student Center on the Pinehurst campus. “Designer Genes” is a partnership of the SCC Science Department and Student Government Association and is an official event of the 2022 North Carolina Science Festival. “Designer Genes” will include multiple hands-on activity stations to engage participants in learning about DNA,…

Jan

08

2022

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By Associated Press

For celebrations, English fizz is on the rise

Featuresbubbly, celebration, champagne, english sparkling wine, sparkling wine

LONDON — English sparkling wine has been gaining prestige in recent years, with some experts comparing it to Champagne in taste and quality. Globally, the sector is still relatively small: IWSR Drinks Market Analysis reports that sparkling wine produced in the U.K. represents about 0.2% of total global sparkling wine volume. But sales are growing: U.K.-produced sparkling wine volume rose by almost 11% from 2015-2020, the report said. ”Maybe 10 years ago, there were only two or three wines which might have been known outside of the U.K. or certainly recognized by wine critics as well,” says Jonathan White, spokesman…

Dec

30

2021

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By The Associated Press

Final goodbyes

Entertainment, Features

Among the entertainers who died this year was a children’s author whose books were enjoyed by millions around the world. Beverly Cleary, who died in March, channeled memories from her youth in Oregon to created beloved characters such as Ramona Quimby, her sister Beatrice “Beezus” Quimby and Henry Huggins. Here’s a look at some of the artists and entertainers we lost this year. Jessica Walter, 80. Her roles as a scheming matriarch in TV’s “Arrested Development” and a stalker in “Play Misty for Me” were in line with a career that drew on her astringent screen presence. March 24. Beverly…