Meet your neighborMike and Linda McComb
Our Meet Your Neighbor segment allows you to get to know the people who will be living in the Searstone community with you. Our community is made up of individuals who bring Searstone to life through the many stories and interests they share.
This month, we’re featuring Mike and Linda McComb. Learn more about this wonderful couple.
Q: What area are you from?
We were both born and raised in Midland, Michigan – global headquarters for Dow Chemical, where we both worked. Together, we have a combined service of 125 years there. Both of our fathers worked at Dow as well.
We retired to South Carolina in 2009 to enjoy the milder winters.
Q: How did you hear about Searstone and what was your main selling point for joining?
We learned about Searstone from current residents, who we also knew from Midland! We like knowing more definitively when the apartment in the Highview will be available, and that it will be brand new. We look forward to customizing it to our style.
Q: What are you looking forward to most about moving to the community?
We sincerely hope all residents (from the original Searstone and the Highview) are able to socialize together and make friends. We look forward to performances in the Highview Hall, dining in the six different restaurants, and volunteering in whatever way our skills are useful.
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your family?
We don’t have any children so we are not restricted to a location to relocate to a CCRC. We have done extensive research on more than 130 CCRCs, visiting more than 20 in person.
Q: What is the most interesting fact about yourself or what do you think people would be surprised to know?
We love to travel and have visited all 50 states – most more than once – over half of the US national parks, all 7 continents, and 73 countries. Yes, we still have a bucket list! We especially enjoy cruising and have spent nearly 400 nights on cruise ships.
Q: What hobbies, activities or programs do you hope to get involved with?
Mike is a competitive and social bridge player and a master gardener. Linda plays social bridge, enjoys photography and is a great organizer. We both enjoy card and board games and like to walk. We have logged over 1400 miles since the pandemic started in March. We like getting to know new people – with or without wine!
We’re so excited the McCombs are joining us at The Highview at Searstone. Stay connected with our Meet Your Neighbor segment each month and you’ll have new friends before you even meet in person!
Meet your neighborSharon & Larry Crane
This month, we’re featuring Sharon & Larry Crane. Before retirement, Sharon was a computer programmer and systems analyst – one of the few women in the field at the time. Larry practiced medicine in the diagnostic radiology field until 2007. Learn more about this wonderful couple and what led them to Searstone.
Q: What area are you from?
We’re from Texas but we’ve been living in Durham, NC for the last several decades.
Q: How did you hear about Searstone and what was your main selling point for joining?
We originally learned about Searstone as we were researching CCRCs in the area. Compared to other communities we were considering, Searstone offered a greater variety of living accommodations. The high end design and ancillary facilities were really appealing to us. And most importantly, we learned that Searstone offered excellent nursing, memory, and assisted living care.
Q: What are you looking forward to most about moving to the community?
We’re excited to be able to socialize with interesting individuals and couples. And we love that we’ll be able to eliminate taking care of household maintenance items. We are both getting tired of cooking! And we’re also looking forward to joining the wine club that we’ve heard about.
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your family?
We have two daughters – both very accomplished women. One lives in Las Vegas and has managed several hospitality venues. The other lives nearby in Durham and is a geneticist that specializes in scientific graphics. Our grandson is a biostatistician and epidemiologist for Becton Dickinson and our granddaughter studies cognitive neuroscience at the University of Michigan.
Q: What is the most interesting fact about yourself or what do you think people would be surprised to know?
Larry: I’m constantly curious about the world around us. Currently, I’m writing a book on Race, Crime, and Incarceration from a public health viewpoint. And I just finished a website advocating Covid vaccination: www.vaccinatedurham.com.
Q: What hobbies, activities or programs do you hope to get involved with?
Larry’s main hobbies are digital art and photography. Since Searstone has other artists in residence or moving in, it will be nice to share ideas. Sharon is a Life Master bridge player. We both love to travel and will be glad when the pandemic is under control so we can plan our next trip.
We’re so excited the Cranes are joining us at The Highview at Searstone. Stay connected with our Meet Your Neighbor segment each month and you’ll have new friends before you even meet in person!
Meet your neighborJim and Pat Pierce
This month, we asked Jim and Pat Pierce to give us a glimpse into their lives and who they are. We can’t wait for them to be a part of the community.
Q: What area are you from?
My wife Pat and I are originally from coastal North Carolina but have lived in Cary for the past 51 years.
Q: How did you hear about Searstone and what was your main selling point for joining The Highview?
I was invited to join the Searstone Board of Directors in 2008. Serving on the Board for the past twelve years has given me the opportunity to see first-hand the quality of service and the value provided to the residents of Searstone.
Q: What are you looking forward to most about moving to the community?
Pat and I look forward to becoming part of an active community with so many different backgrounds and interests.
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your family?
We have one son, Brock and he is married to a wonderful lady, Catherine. They are both UNC-CH alumni. We have two grandchildren, Cameron (12) and Sawyer (8). Ironically, Pat and I met in Chapel Hill, so did Brock and Catherine. So, I guess you could say we are Tar Heels, born and bred.
Q: What is the most interesting fact about yourself or what do you think people would be surprised to know?
Pat played for the state division 3.5 doubles championship in 2012 and 2013.
Q: What hobbies, activities or programs do you hope to get involved with?
Pat enjoys painting and I suspect she will be involved in an art club. We both enjoy travel and I understand the wine clubs are quite popular.
We’re so glad to have the Pierces joining us at The Highview at Searstone. Stay connected with our Meet Your Neighbor segment each month and you’ll have new friends before you even meet in person!
Meet your neighborDennis and Jan Hefner
We asked Dennis and Jan Hefner to give us a glimpse into their lives and who they are and we can’t wait for them to be a part of the community.
Q: What area are you from?
A: We were both born and raised in California and in 2012 moved to Carolina Preserve in Cary upon Dennis’ retirement. He had served 16 years as president of the State University of New York at Fredonia. We’ve also lived in the states of Washington, Maryland, and Minnesota.
Q: How did you hear about Searstone and what was your main selling point for joining?
A: About five years ago, we heard about Searstone from friends who live in our community and thought we’d check it out. There was so much that appealed to us including location, size and quality of living units, access to the various amenities like the gym and the dining venues, number and diversity of the clubs and friendliness of the staff. Of course, the peace of mind that comes from living in a continuous care community was also a selling point.
Q: What are you looking forward to most about moving to the community?
A: We are excited about the possibility of moving into a brand-new facility that will provide us an opportunity to get to know 152 new neighbors who will be moving in at the same time.
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your family?
A: We have been married for 53 years and have two adult children. Our daughter, Kara, lives in Cary and is a Senior Internal Auditor at the University of North Carolina. Our son, Joel, lives in Austin, Texas with his wife and our three grandchildren (21, 17, 14) and is a Vice President at Dimensional Fund Advisors. Most of our family members live in California or Oregon.
Q: What is the most interesting fact about yourself or what do you think people would be surprised to know?
A: Dennis’ grandfather was a candy maker, founder of Kendon Candies. His influence led to Dennis making thousands of soft caramels over the past 50 years that he gives away at the holidays. Jan has sewn and donated hundreds of quilts to children in need.
Q: What hobbies, activities or programs do you hope to get involved with?
A: We enjoy playing pickleball, following college sports, traveling, attending plays, musical events, and lectures, and playing card games. We also like being involved in different social clubs such as quilting, cycling, and volunteering. Pre-COVID days saw us every week helping others who are less fortunate, primarily through volunteer work with Urban Ministries of Durham.
We’re so glad to have members like the Hefners at Searstone. Stay connected with our Meet Your Neighbor segment each month and you’ll have new friends before you even meet!
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