Five Moore County stories from the week of November 2, 2026, including Pinehurst's new library, two Southern Pines buildings up for lease, and a holiday trail hunt.
Every week I keep an eye on what is happening across Moore County, and the first week of November brought a little of everything: a library rising in Pinehurst, two downtown Southern Pines buildings looking for their next chapter, a holiday scavenger hunt on our trails, a new scholarship fund at The O'Neal School, and a hometown honor for a Southern Pines barbecue man. Here are five local stories worth your time from the week of November 2 through November 6, 2026, with links to the full reporting from the Sandhills Sentinel and The Pilot.
Pinehurst's new library is taking shape on Magnolia Road
The new Given Memorial Library is well past its January 2026 groundbreaking, with the foundation finished and metal framing going up on the 2.2-acre Magnolia Road site a few hundred yards from Village Hall. The approved design is a 9,250-square-foot building that replaces the 1964-era library on Cherokee Road, and the companion renovation will let the Tufts Archives expand into the old space.
Full story: Pinehurst library, archives turning new page at the Sandhills Sentinel
Southern Pines looks for tenants for two downtown buildings
With town departments now settled into the new Town Hall, Southern Pines has issued a request for proposals to lease the former Administration building at 125 SE Broad Street and the former Library and Finance building at 180 SW Broad Street. An open house is set for Thursday, December 3, proposals are due by 2 p.m. on Monday, January 11, 2027, and officials have previously estimated about $4 million in renovation work to bring the buildings up to date.
Full story: Southern Pines looks to lease former Finance, Administration buildings at The Pilot
Peppermint Pathways brings a holiday scavenger hunt to Moore County trails
The Moore County Tourism Development Authority and the glassmakers at Starworks in Star have hidden 30 hand-blown glass candy canes on select Moore County walking trails, and the hunt runs December 3 through 7, 2026. Finders keep the glass candy canes, and it is the fourth hunt in the Pathways series that has already brought pinecones, peaches and pottery to our trails this year.
Full story: Peppermint Pathways brings holiday scavenger hunt to Moore trails at the Sandhills Sentinel
The O'Neal School launches a tuition fund for 10 new students
The O'Neal School in Southern Pines announced the Bradshaw Tuition Fund for Opportunity Scholarships, created with the support of longtime school benefactors Stan and Jean Bradshaw. The fund will provide 10 scholarships covering 50 percent of tuition to new students, with an emphasis on grades 9 and 10.
Full story: The O'Neal School announces new tuition fund at the Sandhills Sentinel
Embers BBQ's David Bungarz will lead the Southern Pines Christmas Parade
The Southern Pines Business Association named David Bungarz, owner of Embers BBQ in Southern Pines, as grand marshal of the 2026 Southern Pines Christmas Parade. The parade steps off at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 5, rolling from the Sunrise Theater south down Broad Street to Massachusetts Avenue and back north to Connecticut Avenue.
Full story: Owner of Embers BBQ named Grand Marshal of SP Christmas Parade at the Sandhills Sentinel
What these stories say about the Sandhills
A new library, two downtown buildings looking for their next chapter, a scholarship fund, a holiday hunt on our trails and a hometown barbecue man leading the Christmas parade: that is a pretty good snapshot of Moore County right now. Civic investment and the small traditions that fill our calendar are part of why people choose to put down roots here, and they are the kind of things that quietly support home values over the long run. If you want to talk through what is happening on your street or in your price range, I am always glad to help.
Experience isn't expensive, it's priceless!
Terry Nanney, Realtor®
Towering Pines Real Estate, brokered by eXp Realty
Serving Moore County and the surrounding Sandhills of North Carolina
#MooreCountyNC #SandhillsNC #PinehurstNC #SouthernPinesNC #AberdeenNC #WhisperingPinesNC #CarthageNC #LocalNews #ShopLocal #NorthCarolinaRealEstate #TerryNanneyRealtor
Written by
Terry Nanney
Local real estate agent in Southern Pines, NC, serving the wider Moore County Sandhills.
More about Terry Nanney
