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6 days ago | 
thesevenlakesinsider.com | Maggie Beamguard
Karen Elizabeth Yelcich, 82, of McClendon Hills, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 18, 2025 ,at UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill, after a brief illness. She was born Feb. 24, 1943, in Fairmont, W. Va., to the late John Edward Nuzum and the late Elizabeth Zelnak Nuzum. She leaves to cherish her memory her beloved husband of 64 years, Mathew Yelcich; her daughter, Kelly Jones (Kevin); and her grandson, Matthew Antonio Gomez, all of New Bern.
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2 weeks ago | 
thesevenlakesinsider.com | Maggie Beamguard
CONTRIBUTEDAfter reading about the annual Blooming Art of the Sandills Exhibition hosted by the Garden Club of the Sandhills, Jo Cermele, a Seven Lakes Garden Club member, signed up to participate. The event challenges local residents to create floral arrangements representing a piece of art. Cermele requested a helper from her fellow members of the SLGC to create an entry inspired by “Feather Dancer” by David Ramos, a print from Cermele’s private collection.
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2 weeks ago | 
thesevenlakesinsider.com | Maggie Beamguard
By Maggie BeamguardInsider EditorSeven Lakes Ace Hardware turns lucky seven this spring. As the store matures, it is undergoing a revamp. “Every few years we like to change things up here at the store,” said Meredith French, the store’s manager. Two years ago, the store moved the garden center to the back of the store in anticipation of the expansion of N.C. 211. While they were at it, they added a 2000+ square foot greenhouse.
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2 weeks ago | 
thesevenlakesinsider.com | Maggie Beamguard
BY MAGGIE BEAMGUARDInsider EditorSightings of the famous and infamous were made recently at West End Elementary School. Oprah Winfrey holding a microphone, The Rock sporting his gold necklace, Prince Harry ready to sip from a cup of tea and Gloria Steinem wearing signature aviator glasses were among those spotted.
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2 weeks ago | 
thesevenlakesinsider.com | Maggie Beamguard
BY MAGGIE BEAMGUARDEditorBy my estimation, I complete 70-90 interviews each year for the Seven Lakes Insider. The first, and most important, job of an interviewer is to confirm the spelling of people’s names. I can think of no other worse mistake than incorrectly putting someone’s name in print. When it happens — and since I’m human and not AI, it does happen — no profuse apology or offer of printed correction can undo the indignity. As a writer, I feel a fiery sense of shame.
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2 weeks ago | 
thesevenlakesinsider.com | Maggie Beamguard
BY MAGGIE BEAMGUARD Insider EditorEditor’s Note: This is the third and final article in a series introducing our local fire chiefs. Many children get the exciting opportunity to climb into the cab of a fire engine. Few end up getting to drive that truck years later. West End Fire and Rescue Fire Chief, Erik Stromberg, did. He joined the fire service through the junior volunteer program in Bethesda, Maryland.
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2 weeks ago | 
thesevenlakesinsider.com | Maggie Beamguard
BY MAGGIE BEAMGUARDInsider EditorDusk settles over Seven Lakes. Headlights send a herd of deer scampering through the yard. A sneaky fox stalks his prey on Owens Circle. An owl’s yearning hoot echoes through the pines. A commotion of coots — the birds, not a group of old-timers — gathers mid-lake for a slumber. A helicopter on a training run from Fort Bragg thumps against the starry sky. Such is the active night life of Seven Lakes. Unless you know where to look.
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3 weeks ago | 
thesevenlakesinsider.com | Maggie Beamguard
BY MAGGIE BEAMGUARDInsider EditorThe Seven Lakes Landowners Association (SLLA) held its annual meeting on March 29. New board members and the budget vote results were announced. Tom Liddy, receiving 385 votes and Marianne Roberts, receiving 334 votes were newly elected to the board. Re-elected board members were Bob Hayes with 407 votes and Nanci Keating with 395 votes. Board members serve two-year terms.
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3 weeks ago | 
thesevenlakesinsider.com | Maggie Beamguard
BY MAGGIE BEAMGUARDInsider EditorStepping into the Sugar and Spice Salon in Seven Lakes will make you feel like a kid again. Bright colors and friendly animal faces cover the walls and certainly appeal to the pint sized clients Kasey Jasuta, the salon’s owner, hopes will fill the police car and airplane Paw Patrol styling chairs. The week before the salon’s grand opening on April 13, Jasuta turns on the lights in her new space.
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3 weeks ago | 
thesevenlakesinsider.com | Maggie Beamguard
By MATT LAMBStaff WriterFor years, the elephant in the room — in terms of size, scope and cost — has been the idea of a new comprehensive high school in Moore County. The Board of Education’s Construction Committee is beginning to explore a series of options to address some significant and ongoing crowding at both Pinecrest and Union Pines high schools.
