Local News

Police Foundation hosts annual ball

Details

Tuesday, 30 April 2024

Written by Tracey Morrison

The police force is essential to keeping our community safe. They wear the badge of courage to protect and serve the community at all costs. Officers often face unknown and risky challenges when they receive emergency calls, sacrificing their time and lives to protect and serve.
According to PoliceWeek.org, National Police Week, which runs from May 12th to May 18th, honors officers with a week of honor, commemoration, and support, while allowing law enforcement, survivors, and citizens to come together and pay respect to those in the line of duty. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy issued a proclamation declaring National Police Week, as noted on the website.
With its annual Police Foundation Ball, the Fayetteville Police Foundation kicks off the last day of National Police Week in style. The ball will take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, at the Crown Coliseum.
Now in its seventh year, this exquisite event allows police department employees to dress in their finest tuxedos and gowns while presenting and awarding deserving officers and police department staff for their hard work and service.
Police Department employees, employees’ guests, and sponsors will be given priority seating. Tickets are $75 for a single and $150 for two guests. Anyone interested in sponsoring an officer and their guest can contact the Fayetteville Police Foundation.
Like police forces across the country, the Fayetteville Police Department must keep up with crime-fighting strategies and innovative technologies to make the community safe. The Fayetteville Police Foundation helps make it possible, as its goal is to support the needs of law enforcement officers as strategies and procedures become increasingly complex. The Foundation also helps raise officers' morale, provides medical services for canines, and much more.
The Foundation also organizes community-based initiatives such as food drives, Halloween's Trunk or Treat, and Christmas' Operation Yuletide.
The Police Foundation is planning more activities for Police Week, including the 4th Annual Field of Blue, which will honor law enforcement officers and staff from Friday, May 10 at 6 p.m. to Thursday, June 13 at 10:30 p.m.
Field of Blue memorializes the service of those in law enforcement, including canines, other law enforcement staff, and 911 dispatchers, with a flag display as a mark of appreciation for saving lives and protecting the community. The flags will be on display at BJ's Wholesale Club, located at 5200 Red Tip Road. Those interested can purchase a flag for $35.00 at tickettailor.com under "4th Annual Field of Blue" and add a personalized message.
The Police Department will honor its departed officers with a wreath presentation and a prayer on May 17th, the day before the Foundation Ball. This public event begins at 12:30 p.m. at the downtown Police Department at 467 Hay Street.
In addition, the Foundation will sponsor various activities during Police Week, including Doughnuts Day, an outreach initiative partnership with Stacey Buckner, CNN Hero and Executive Director of Off-Road Outreach, Proclamation Day and a free lunch as a gesture of gratitude to the Police Department.
The foundation's sponsors, such as Tommy's Express Car Wash, Jersey Mikes, Luigi’s, and Mission BBQ, to name a few, have generously contributed to the Police Foundation as a token of their appreciation.
"A simple act of kindness can let the officers know their appreciation," Melissa Reid, Executive Director of the Fayetteville Police Foundation, stated. The event is a better way to give back to those safeguarding our community to make it a better place.
For further information about becoming a sponsor, sending thank-you notes to law enforcement staff, donating a flag in honor of a law enforcement employee(s), or purchasing tickets, please contact Melissa Reid at the Police Foundation at 910-433-1746 or by email at fay.policefoundation@gmail.com.
Readers can also visit www.fayettevillepolicefoundation.org to learn more about the Fayetteville Police Foundation.

(Photo: The outside of the Fayetteville Police Department on Hay St. in Fayetteville.  Photo by Tracey Morrison)

AsONE Prayer Walk: Calling all prayer warriors in Fayetteville

Details

Tuesday, 30 April 2024

Written by Katie Herring

On May 18, at Festival Park in downtown Fayetteville, thousands of people will gather with a unified purpose: to pray for our city. This year is the 11th AsONE Prayer Walk, a day when Christians from every background, every denomination, and every theological ideology unite to pray together.
Over 11 years ago, faith leaders in our community, including Anthony O’Neil, Leo Bryan, Craig Morrison, Josh Goodman, Michael Swindon, Jeremy Wright and others, came together to create an event of unity, prayer and fellowship.
They took cues from similar events in larger cities, such as God Belongs in My City in New York. In 2013, the first AsOne Prayer Walk kicked off in downtown Fayetteville. In the intervening years, the event only grew.
Many of the past years’ Prayer Walks included concerts and other events throughout the week leading up to the prayer walk through downtown. As with many other events that involve large groups of people gathering, the pandemic lockdown in 2020 disrupted the momentum that had been growing since 2013.
The theme for this year’s event is “Calling All Prayer Warriors to The Place Warriors Are Trained to Fight Everyday.” The Prayer Walk in 2024 will be a “back-to-basics” event, according to Jeremy Wright. The 2-mile walking route will be the same as past years; it starts and ends in Festival Park and will include stops for participants to pray for specific people in our community, our state, our country and our world.
Each stop will have a specific prayer focus, seeking to cover our community and those in it with prayer:
• Airborne and Special Operations Museum: pray for military service members and their families, and for veterans.
• City Hall: pray for local, state, and federal government.
• Detention Center: pray for law enforcement, victims of crime, and those incarcerated.
• Market House: pray for unity and reconciliation.
• Headquarters Library: pray for children, families, for educators; also, pray for our city’s homeless population, many of whom find refuge in the library.
• Festival Park: pray for pastors/spiritual leadership.
One difference between this year’s event and those in years past is that churches from across North Carolina have been invited to attend and join the prayer. The organizers hope that this inclusion of people from outside of Fayetteville will only grow, turning the AsONE Prayer Walk into a day of unified prayer for all of North Carolina.
The organizers of AsONE Prayer Walk have big plans for 2025. The goal is to gather 25,000 people onto the streets of downtown Fayetteville for the express purpose of praying for our community and our people.
There are also plans in the works to return to the pre-pandemic unity week: an entire week prior to the Prayer Walk that will unify Christ-followers from all around our city and our state.
Some of the events during that week in May will include: pulpit swaps (preachers from different denominations speaking at each other’s churches); service-oriented events to help organizations such as the Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity; other events aimed at bringing together the people of Christ to serve and pray together.
Additionally, organizers aim to sell 100,000 AsONE t-shirts to people all over North Carolina. That way, even those who can’t come to Fayetteville and walk in person, can still show solidarity and unity in purpose. The shirt bears the logo “Pray Serve Love Carolina.”
Although organizers have big plans for next year, this year’s event is the most immediate focus. Anyone interested in participating in this year’s Prayer Walk can register at www.asoneprayerwalk.org.
It is completely free to participate, but organizers ask that participants register so they can keep an accurate count of those walking. Participants can purchase the AsONE t-shirt, with the “Pray Serve Love Carolina” logo, though a t-shirt is not required for those walking. Come join thousands of other people of faith to cover our city in prayer. For more information, visit www.asoneprayerwalk.org.

(Photo: Attendees to the 2022 AsONE Paryer Work journey around downtown Fayetteville praying over the city.  Photo courtesy of AsONE Prayer Walk's Facebook page.)

Reimagining Church: First Prez making waves for God with new services

Details

Tuesday, 23 April 2024

Written by Amber Little

Sunday in the South means church, and up until recently, the “high church” ruled the area. For those unfamiliar with the term “high church”, it simply is the word for attention put on ritual. Southern Sundays consist of rising early, putting on your Sunday best, and heading to church to pray, tithe and hear the Word.
Most Sunday afternoons are then spent congregating with family around a home-cooked meal. While “high church” is a beautiful tradition, it is not the preferred method of worship for all, especially with millennials. With the changing of the tide and the needs of the “flock”, it is up to church leaders to ensure they are providing worship experiences that attract everyone.
First Presbyterian Church, located at 102 Ann Street, right in downtown Fayetteville, is reimagining the church, offering two uniquely diverse ways to connect with the Church and God. Associate Pastor, Jeff Shaver, is leading the charge with Theology of Tap and Cross Creek Fellowship. Theology on Tap is a new idea, that incorporates old psychology.
As Pastor Jeff said, “I don’t care if you doubt. None of us wake up in the morning and is like ‘hey I have this all figured out.’ We’re all just trying to figure out what's real and what's not…and I’m one of them. So having a safe place like Theology on Tap, where it’s that sanctuary you can bring your doubts, you can bring your questions, you can bring whatever, I don’t care."
"This is not about trying to argue with you. It’s just good conversation over a drink or two," he said.
Cross Creek Fellowship is an extension of Theology of Tap.
“Our first sermon series is going to be called ‘The Church of Misfit Toys.’ I love Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and there’s an island of misfit toys, well I think there are a lot of people, and I’m one of them, that in traditional churches don’t feel like… I feel like I’m a misfit toy. So I’ve always felt you could create a whole other church from people who feel like that….
"You’re not here for it, it’s here for YOU. Meaning that if you don’t show up on a Sunday, you’re not going to get bombarded with ‘where are you,’.... I do these things and sometimes I’ll get 15 people and sometimes I’ll get two. And I don’t care. The numbers aren’t important to me. It’s about creating these little places where people can go and just feel like, ‘oh this is here when I need it.’ … Being able to be in somebody’s life, even as a spiritual person, that's a privilege. That’s a privilege, that’s not a right,” Pastor Jeff said.
First Prez, as it’s affectionately known, has a full calendar for every member of the family. Kingdom Kids is a Christian Education and music program for kids Pre-K to high school.
They meet every Sunday from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Vacation Bible School will begin soon with the theme, Scuba Diving into Friendship with God. VBS will run from June 17 to 20, from 9 a.m. to noon. Registration is now open.
First Prez is much more than its historical building; it is a lively community, of loving and active Christians, seeking to better the community not just through words, but action.

(Photo: Paster Jeff Shaver of First Presbyterian Church.  Photo by Amber Little)

Trees canopy over avenues in front of new dream homes, reduced interest rates starting at 3.5%

Details

Tuesday, 23 April 2024

Written by Greg Floyd

In Fairfield Farms, we have planted trees along both sides of the Avenue in front of each home along Summerchase Drive. The trees will grow to 60 foot tall and 40 foot wide canopying across the sidewalks lining the street and covering the road itself. These trees are Zelkova Vase Green trees and are selected specifically for this street of Dream Homes. Some towns and cities in North Carolina claim to have over 50 % coverage now along their streets forming a canopy lowering the temperature significantly in the entire community and creating a magical stroll down the streets of the towns covered by the majestic trees.
To make this more possible, we are offering reduced interest rates starting at 3.5%
We are very pleased to offer our customers many options to have the home of their Dreams. These new home neighborhoods are exceptional in location, design, amenities and livability. Our floor plans we are offering feature wide open living areas with the kitchen, family room and dining with no walls creating a sense of grand and spacious living. Our most popular homes have family rooms with large glass doors. The kitchens have features the family chef would appreciate and bathrooms that are bright with large windows, full glass shower enclosures, rain shower heads with dramatic open ceramic showers and beautiful bathtubs with ceramic tile all around the sides. The master bedroom closets are all wood custom designed. Farm sinks, laminate flooring, custom designed hand railings, coffered ceilings, wainscoting, dramatic upscale inside trim, chair railing, large crown molding, enlarged base moldings, larger window and door casing and entry way accents, large design created columns and archway dramatic design features enhance the magnificent impact of these features in each home.
Fairfield Farms adjoins the Carver’s Creek State Park and is conveniently located at the 295 exit on Ramsey Street and is accessible to everywhere. It is also near Methodist University, the soccer complex, the Cape Fear River Trail and greenway, the Health Pavilion North outpatient care, many restaurants, shops and retail outlets along the fast growing North side corridor. All the schools are in close proximity. This is without a doubt one of the very best neighborhoods in our area.
Call us today at Floyd Properties at 910-423-6700 to visit this outstanding neighborhood and take a tour of the available homes.