Moore County Connect Newsletter Issue #071 12/8/23

Moore News More Often

In Today’s Issue…

🌤 Moore County NC Weather

❔ Carolina Curiosity Trivia

👉 Would You Like Your Business Spotlighted here?

📰 Protect Yourself from North Carolina's Top 5 Holiday Scams 

📰 Pinehurst Home Spreads Holiday Cheer with Decorated Antique Carriage

📰 Package Mailing Deadlines

📰 5 Key Laws Now in Effect Now in Effect in North Carolina

🤝 Local business Partners

🏀 Local Sports - Schedules and Live Feed Links

📅 Local Events

🎉 Celebrate! Today is…

Question: Which island in North Carolina was the location for the 1960 movie The Lost Colony?

(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.)

Protect Yourself from North Carolina's Top 5 Holiday Scams

At this time of year, it is unfortunate but true that scams of various kinds are bountiful. Please be aware. Here are the 5 most common scams of the holiday season in North Carolina:

• Fake Charities

  Scammers set up bogus charity organizations, especially during the holiday season, preying on the generosity of people. They might use names similar to legitimate charities and solicit donations through phone calls, emails, or fake websites. Always verify the legitimacy of a charity through official channels before donating.

• Online Shopping Scams

  These scams occur when consumers shop for gifts on unfamiliar websites, which may offer high-demand items at significantly lower prices. These sites often deliver counterfeit products, or in some cases, nothing at all. It's crucial to shop on reputable websites and check reviews and ratings before making a purchase.

• Gift Card Fraud

  Scammers tamper with gift cards available in retail stores, stealing the card numbers and PINs. After a consumer purchases and loads the card, the scammer drains the funds. Always inspect gift cards for any signs of tampering and consider purchasing them directly from the retailer's website.

• Social Media and Email Phishing

  During Christmas, there's an increase in phishing attempts through social media and email. Scammers send messages that appear to be from legitimate sources, offering special deals or claiming issues with delivery of purchased items. These messages often contain links that can install malware or steal personal information. Be wary of unsolicited offers and never click on suspicious links.

• Travel Scams

  With many people traveling for the holidays, scammers offer fake travel deals or holiday packages, often through unsolicited emails or too-good-to-be-true advertisements. They may require upfront payments for bookings that don’t exist. Always book travel through reputable agencies and verify the authenticity of any offers.

Remember, the best defense against scams is awareness and caution. If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Always verify the legitimacy of offers, charities, and deals, especially during the holiday season.

Pinehurst Home Spreads Holiday Cheer with Decorated Antique Carriage

In a heartwarming display of holiday spirit, a local home at 15 Pine Vista Drive (off of Linden Rd.) has become a beloved seasonal landmark in Pinehurst. Each year, as the festive season rolls in, this charming residence unveils a beautifully decorated antique Christmas carriage, transforming their front yard into a picturesque winter wonderland.

The homeowners extend an open invitation to the public to stop by and capture a few holiday moments. With a welcoming sign planted firmly in the yard, visitors are encouraged to take photos with family, friends, and even their furry family members.

The antique carriage, adorned with festive lights and seasonal decorations, offers a perfect backdrop for those special holiday photographs.

The carriage is compliments of Mr. Eddie Thompson, the homeowner. Thank you, Mr. Thompson., for the chance to create magical holiday memories at this festive spot in Pinehurst!

• FedEx Ground Dec. 15

• FedEx Home Delivery Dec. 15

• FedEx Freight Economy Dec. 12

• USPS Ground Advantage™ 5-day Dec. 16

• USPS 2-day Dec. 20

• USPS Priority Mail® Dec. 21

• USPS Priority Mail Express® Dec. 20

• UPS 3 Day Select Dec. 19

• UPS Next Day Air Dec. 21

5 Key Laws Now in Effect Now in Effect in North Carolina

• Gun Law Update

  Senate Bill 41 now allows guns in places of worship on school campuses, except during school activities.

• Tougher Drug Overdose Laws

  Enhanced Senate Bill 189 permits charging individuals for providing drugs leading to overdoses, even without evidence of sale.

• Stricter Anti-Riot Regulations

  House Bill 40 increases penalties for riot involvement, including longer detention before bond and higher damages for property destruction.

• Crackdown on Educator Sexual Misconduct

  House Bill 142 raises the legal severity for sexual misconduct by educators and mandates educational programs on sexual child abuse in schools.

• Harsher Penalties for Power Grid Sabotage

  Senate Bill 58 categorizes damaging critical infrastructure as a serious felony, with significant fines and potential civil lawsuits. This bill is a direct result of the substation shooting in Moore County in 2022.

  See full details on MyFox8.com

  
  

Go to www.StNicksAssemblyDept.com

Click the logos to learn more about our Business Partners.

Would you like to have your Moore County business featured here in our Local Business Spotlight? We would love to share your business with the rest of Moore County. You can apply for your own business or nominate a business!

👇 Select an Option:

 ✅ Own a local Business? Apply to be featured.

  ❤ Love a local business? Nominate them.

Sandhills Men’s Golf Shatters Records in NJCAA Division III Championship

The Sandhills Community College men's golf team, led by Coach Gus Ulrich, celebrated their third straight NJCAA Division III championship, also breaking the 72-hole scoring record. Key players like Benjamin Read, Alex Martin, and Fifa Chankarn contributed to this success, emphasizing team bonding and enjoyment. The Flyers, also victorious at the Don Scalf Memorial, are aiming for a fourth national title with the return of key players. See full story with details: Sandhills Sentinel.

Sandhills Community College Men’s Basketball

Watch home games live on the Stretch Internet Portal.

• Dec. 9 Home - Sandhills CC vs Caldwell CC & Technical Institute 3pm

• Dec. 13 Home - Sandhills CC vs Pitt CC 6pm

• Dec. 16 aT Mountain Gateway CC 1pm

• Jan. 3 aT Davidson-Davie CC 7pm

Watch Local High School Sports via Live Stream

You should be able to find live stream links to some of our local high school games and matches on the National Federation of High School Associations website 👉 https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/

North Moore Mustangs - Upcoming

• Men’s Varsity Basketball

  • Dec 8: Away game versus South Stanley 7:30pm

  • Dec 12: Away game versus O’Neal School 6:30pm

  • Dec 13: Away game versus Southeast Alamance 7:30pm

• Women’s Varsity Basketball

  • Dec 8: Away game versus South Stanley 6pm

  • Dec 12: Away game versus O’Neal School 5:30pm

  • Dec 13: Away game versus Southeast Alamance 6pm

• Wrestling

  • Dec 14 Away at Seaforth 6pm

  • Dec 17 Away at Providence (time tbd)

Union Pines High School Vikings - Upcoming

• Men’s Basketball

  • Dec 8: Away at South Johnston 7:30pm

  • Dec 12 Away at Lee County 7:30pm

• Women’s Basketball

  • Dec 8: Away at South Johnston 6:15pm

  • Dec 12 Away at Lee County 6pm

• Men’s Wrestling

  • Dec 9 Away versus South View 9am

  • Dec 13 Away versus Eastern Guilford 6pm

• Indoor Track

  • Dec 9: Polar Bear Meet at Pinecrest, 9 a.m.

  • Dec 16 Holiday Invitational 9am

  • Dec 29 Polar Bear Meet at Pinecrest 9am

• Swimming

  • Dec 9 At south View 9am

  • Dec 13 at Eastern Guilford 6pm

Pinecrest High School Patriots - Upcoming

• Men’s Basketball

  • Dec 8 Home versus Apex 7:30pm

  • Dec 13 Home versus Clayton 7:30pm

• Women’s Basketball

  • Dec 8 Home versus Apex 6pm

  • Dec 13 Home versus Clayton 6:30pm

• Men’s & Women’s Wrestling

  • Dec 9: (Men) Bobby Abernathy Invitational at Piedmont High 8am

  • Dec 9 (Women) Lady Patriots and JV Invitational at Pinecrest 6pm

  • Dec 12 (Men) Men’s Dual at Freedom Christian 6pm

  • Dec 12 (Women) Women’s Dual at Lumberton 6pm

  • Dec 15-16 WRAL at Knightdale High 8am

  • Dec 21-22 Tiger Holiday Classic at Chapel Hill High 8am

• Indoor Track

  • Dec 9: Polar Bear #2 at Pinecrest

  • Dec 15: Reindeer Classic at JDL Winston Salem

  • Dec 29 Polar Bear #3 at Pinecrest

• Swimming

  • Dec 14: Union Pines and PInecrest at St. Andrews 6:15pm

Father Vincent Capodanno High School Grunts - Upcoming

• Men’s Basketball

  • Dec 8 Away at St. Thomas More Academy 6pm

  • Dec 11 Home versus LifeSpring Academy 5:30pm

  • Dec 12 Away at SSLCA 4:30pm

• Women’s Basketball

  • Dec 8 Away at St. Thomas More Academy 4:30pm

  • Dec 12 Away at SSLCA 3:15pm

• December 7 

  • Town of Robbins Christmas Parade 6pm followed by the Christmas Tree Lighting after the parade

  • Aberdeen Tree Lightng 6:15pm

• December 9 

  • Aberdeen Christmas Parade 11am

  • Town of Carthage Tree Lighting 6pm

  • Town of Carthage Christmas Parade 6:30pm

  • Southern Pines Carriage Parade 1pm

  • Shaw House Holiday Open House 1-4pm by the Moore County Historical Association; The Shaw House 110 West Morganton Rd Southern Pines

  • Santa Fly-in with his Skydiving Elves 1-3pm at the Pik N Pig 194 Gilliam McConnell Rd Carthage (Bring canned foods for donation.)

  • Old Fashioned Christmas 1-5pm Malcolm Blue Farm Aberdeen (Free Event)

• December 10 

  • The Light of Christmas Moore County Choral Society (Choral, Brass & Percussion Performance) 7-9pm BPAC, Sandhills Comm College

• December 16 

  • Town of Vass Christmas Parade 11am

  • Moore Philharmonic Orchestra 19th Annual Holiday Concert 7pm at Pinecrest High School in Pinehurst

• December 17

  • Pop Up in the Pines Market 11am-4pm Hatchet Brewing Company

  • A Christmas Concert by the Moore County Concert Band 2pm Bradshaw Performing Arts Center 3395 Airport Rd, Pinehurst (Free Admission)

• January 6

  • Moore Area Shag Society Monthly Social 7-10pm at Down Memory Lane, Aberdeen

ONGOING…

Monday Nights Southern Soul Line Dancing; Beg 6pm; Int 7:15pm; $10pp at The Roast Office (95 Cherokee Rd. Pinehurst

Answer: Roanoke Island