Category Archives: North Carolina

LOWELL SIMON – CANDIDATE FOR N.C. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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Website: www.simonfornchouse.com

Facebook: Simon for House

Twenty-three years ago, Lowell and his wife, Amy chose to make Moore County the home for their young family. He had just accepted a job in Montgomery County but fell in love with the beauty of Seven Lakes and the schools in Moore County.

Lowell has started, built and operated several small companies in the course of a 30 year career in business. He’s hired hundreds of people, made payroll and made some profit along the way. Lowell was also an educator in Moore County Schools for more than a decade. He taught math and entrepreneurship at Union Pines High School. As an experienced businessman, he saw how important a quality public education is to developing a quality work force. As a teacher, he saw how our students are often denied that education, squeezed into under-funded classrooms and subjected to meaningless standards.

Lowell has served on one of First Health’s Boards for 15 years. As a result, he has a unique perspective on health care. Expanding Medicaid and providing affordable health insurance are two of his top priorities.

Lowell is running to bring a more balanced and data-driven approach to solving the problems we face. The current leadership in the Raleigh
legislature has proven to be self-serving and has failed to represent the people of Moore County. He believes we can do better. He believes that if we put the needs of working people above the needs of lobbyists and millionaires we can bring fairness and prosperity back to all North Carolinians.

Lowell covers many topics in this informal discussion that includes many of the following subjects:

  • Constitutional Amendments; Budget process
  • Government by the few for the many
  • Separation of branches – checks and balances
  • No discussion or debate

Amendments

  • Tax Cap (7% up from 5.5%) Currently at 11%
  • NCGA control of appointments, powers, duties and terms of
    all boards and commissions
  • NCGA control of nominations for judge vacancies
  • Photo ID: no details as to how to obtain, type required
  • A bill which says it helps crime victims but actually makes
    things more difficult
  • The right to hunt and fish
  • (nothing about education, school safety, health care or jobs)

Education funding

  • Teacher raises: still almost 10% less than in 2009-adjusted
    for inflation
  • Per pupil spending
  • Mental Health care in schools
  • Expand early childhood programs
  • End voucher programs
  • Sales tax/ Property Tax in Moore County

Health care

  • Premium escalation/benefit decreases
  • Pre-existing conditions
  • Medicaid expansion: 600,000 in the gap
  • Federal funds at 90% of coverage, 40,000
    good paying jobs
  • Opioid crisis; white crime, decriminalize marijuana

Small Business development

  • Entrepreneurship
  • Veterans businesses (benefit exemption from income tax)
  • Business education
  • Improve Broadband access in rural parts of the County

And

  • People over Party
  • Increase minimum wage
  • Protect the right to vote
  • End gerrymandering
  • Reduce incarceration for non-violent crimes
  • Ratify the ERA

Penick Village

PENICK VILLAGE – Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

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CEO Jeff Hutchens, COO Carolyn Hendricks & CDO Hunter Wortham talk all about Penick Village, located behind the Weymouth House in Southern Pines.  www.penickvillage.org, https://www.facebook.com/PenickVillage/

From the founding of Penick Village to the challenges and rewards of today, these three committed individuals, with a combined 55 years of experience, cover the premise and philosophy of this iconic Independent & Assisted living Family based center.

From their website:

Penick Village has a distinct, multi-dimensional approach to keeping our residents healthy and happy. Our vision is based on an uncompromising commitment to deinstitutionalizing the aging experience. What does this mean? In its simplest terms, we strive daily to provide a welcoming home to our residents and promote a healthy lifestyle.

Mission Statement: “We are a family creating a loving community by making each day great for one another.”

 

 

As a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, this mission along with our vision of deinstitutionalization, is of great importance to the organization and influences each and every decision made. Both our vision and mission include our residents, their families, and our co-workers while also encompassing all elders in our community.

We’ve recently adapted the philosophy of “Making Today Great,” a mission to encourage our residents and staff everyday to enhance the health and wellbeing of every member of the Penick family through stewardship and service.  Around campus you will see employees wearing green buttons as a daily reminder of our heartfelt pledge to our community.

WEYMOUTH CENTER’S BIG SEASON

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The story of Weymouth began in the early 1900s when James Boyd, Sr. of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, purchased over 1200 acres at the request of his daughter Helen Boyd Dull to save the longleaf pine forest from the destruction of the turpentine industry.

The Georgian mansion that we know today was built in 1922 by his grandson, author James Boyd and his wife Katharine. Here they hosted literary greats, founded the Moore County Hounds, and influenced the design of a community.

Today the story continues with a writers in residency program, literary programming, musical concerts and a dedication to conserving the gardens and longleaf pine forests.

You become part of the story each time you visit Weymouth, write about Weymouth, tell a friend about Weymouth or become a supporter of Weymouth.

Today, the Weymouth Center in Southern Pines, is the cultural & arts center of Moore County.

In 2017 the legacy of the Weymouth House is alive, vibrant, well and open to the public. http://weymouthcenter.org/

Executive Director Robin Smith, President of Friends of Weymouth & Publicity Chair and Board Director Kathryn Talton lead a conversation about events at Weymouth this Fall & Holiday season.
They are joined by Katrina Denza, Secretary of Friends of Weymouth and the Writer in Residence Program Committee Chair and Angie Tally, who heads the Authors in Moore Schools Committee Chair (AIMS).

Topics discussed include the following upcoming events:
-Writer in Residence Readers Series and Cos Barnes Scholarship
-Brinkley Boyd of Weymouth (Special Book launch and fundraiser)
-The Native – Live Performance
-Weekend of Murder, Mystery and Spirits
-Chamber Music Concert Series
-AIMS – Authors in Moore County Schools
-100th Anniversary of James & Kathryn Boyd’s wedding
-Christmas Events
-Membership Opportunities

THE ROAD TO PINEHURST – NEW BEGINNINGS

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Tom & Felicita Stone started their journey to Pinehurst almost 3 years ago.

As a retired police officer in the Miami area and an avid golfer, Tom scratched an itch and came to Pinehurst to see

what all the fanfare was about in 2014. Felicita works remotely in the telecommunications industry and travels abroad extensively.

With their two children grown and out on their own the timing seemed right.

This loving couple talk about their sojourn; the bumps in the road and their experiences in finding their final landing area for a 2nd home in Pinehurst. Their observations about Pinehurst are valuable reminders to many of us who live here and call this area home.

Real Estate broker, Christian McCarthy, who assisted the Stone’s on their journey, and who lent her heart and soul to their effort, joins us to share her impressions about the Stone’s and to lend her unique take and perspective.

 

CALLI BRIELLE McINTYRE

CALLI BRIELLE McINTYRE – MISS MOORE COUNTY’S OUTSTANDING TEEN

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Calli Brielle McIntyre is a high school honor student at Pinecrest High School and the reigning Miss Moore County’s Outstanding Teen in the Miss North Carolina Scholarship program.

She is an accomplished dancer, actress, singer and community activist. Calli leads with her heart and her ‘old soul’.

Her Platform for this coming year is Food Allergies. She has written a book, The Anteater that Couldn’t Eat Ants, to drive her point home. Her own peanut allergy, discovered early on, gave her the impetus to write this book as an 8th grader!

Currently she is working with State Representative Jamie Boles to help pass House Bill 520 to require restaurants to more properly prepare for occurrences of food allergies in their established place of business.

Her resume of theatrical accomplishments, spanning 11 years, and her leadership role as Founder/Director of Crowning Purpose, Inc. www.crowningpurpose.org speaks to her passion, her grit and her heart.

As you’ll hear, Calli is fearless, confident, gracious, articulate, loving, disciplined and focused. In 9 years of hosting All Things Moore County, I am hard pressed to recall anyone of her age more impressive or endearing.