SHINING LIGHTS.

• Author: Woronoff, David

I've called Pinehurst home for the past 27 years and am always proud of our Eden in the Pines.

But, I was especially proud of the Sandhills during the nearly weeklong power outage in early December. So much so, I practically popped a couple of buttons off my shirt.

That's because our service-above-self ethos was on full display--along with a heaping helping of resiliency--when villains attacked two electrical transmission stations and plunged us into darkness.

The attack happened on a Saturday night. It took most businesses the better part of Sunday to get the word out about what had happened and to make a plan for the workweek. In true Sandhills fashion, that plan was all about philanthropy.

From First Bank (headquartered in Southern Pines) partnering with The Country Bookshop (part of our company) to dole out free books to 500 stunned and suddenly unplugged children, to the Chamber of Commerce grilling hot dogs at the Southern Pines Growler Co. when hot meals were in short supply, we helped each other cope with the deeds done by society's darker elements.

Caring communities like ours don't happen by accident. They're built by businesses devoted to the community's betterment.

The assault on our electrical infrastructure couldn't have come at a worse time for the small businesses in our small towns--in the middle of the Christmas season. They call the day after Thanksgiving Black Friday for a reason. That's when most retailers hit profitability. This nefarious act moved the goalpost for financial sustainability that much further away.

So, the best thing you can do to help is to come visit our charming central North Carolina community, shop in our unique shops, play golf on our world-class golf courses and dine in our eclectic restaurants.

In the midst of the crisis, our Convention and Visitors Bureau created the Moore Miracles advertising campaign. CEO Phil Werz and his able crew built a website and directory of...