I was so close to becoming a human vegetable that my wife was planning ways to serve me up as a side dish. She will tell you, even now, that I had become rooted to my recline.

rI couldn’t argue her point. Pain in my shoulders from shredded rotator cuffs and tendons had virtually ended my long-time love affair with golf and, when I retired for a second time in May of 2013, I pretty much quit moving. I used the DVR to record shows and movies and spent most of the day watching television, reading or working crossword puzzles. I would go to bed around midnight, get up between 9 and 10 a.m. and begin the cycle all over again.

I became noticeably weaker, began suffering bouts of feeling light-headed and took on the traits of an elderly semi-invalid. I shuffled my feet, walked with my head down and without moving my arms. Putting on a pair of pants was a daunting task and, by the time I had struggled to get my socks and shoes on, I was pretty much exhausted. Just going out to dinner became something I dreaded.

That’s when a friend intervened. He had suffered his own share of physical problems, including a hip replacement, and he suggested I pay a visit to a physical therapist where he was receiving treatment.

I was reluctant at first. I had been to physical therapists before for the shoulder problem and a knee replacement. Those sessions had helped greatly at the time but that had been a few years ago when I was younger, stronger and spent a lot less time in the recliner. So this was different. How do you rejuvenate a vegetable?

Well, the first thing these therapists did was to make me feel like a human being again. They greeted me with smiles, made me feel they had a real interest in my well-being and that perhaps I might even be able to improve enough to play golf again. They worked on my balance, taught me how to hold my head up when I walked and put me through a series of strengthening exercises.

Their patience with my stumbling and fumbling was incredible. They led me through a series of exercise routines and showed me how to help myself. They even forgave me on the days I forgot to wear my hearing aids and they were forced to virtually shout the instructions in my ears.

Despite my original Doubting Thomas attitude, they won me over. After a few sessions, I could tell a difference. I was moving quicker and walking up steps without having to hold on to something. The recliner got less use and the wife took me off the vegetable menu.

One thing I had to learn was to do some of the exercises at home between sessions. The therapists can help you through the exercises during a scheduled session, but they’re like school teachers in that if you don’t do your homework you’re going to fail some tests.

I still slack off on some of the homework, but I’m trying and it’s paying dividends. The dizziness has virtually disappeared and I’m walking with firmer steps and with my head up. Hey, it’s been days now since I stumbled into someone.

I’m nowhere near being in the shape I’d like to be, but I do see progress. And as long as those therapists keep smiling and telling me how proud they are of that progress, I’m going to keep keeping on.

In fact, I’ve already started chipping and putting again. Can a drive be too far in the future?

Photo: Staying active is an important part of being healthy.

My View on Grove View

Wow! Good news! The Fayetteville Observer reported last week that the Fayetteville Metropolitan Housing Authority announced what I think is great news for Fayetteville and the residents of Grove View Terrace, an out-of-date, low-income public housing community off Grove Street.

I have no idea how it came about, but, the United States Department of Public Housing and Urban Development has given local FMHA Director Dawn Driggers one year to submit a plan to relocate Grove View Terrace residents and rebuild the development. What? Did they say rebuild? Whoa! Why would we want to do that?

Surely, the mayor, city planners, city council and the city manager will weigh-in on this important matter. This opportunity is a godsend as we focus our time, talent and resources on reducing crime, beautifying our city and enhancing our quality of life. Think about it. From the Cape Fear Botanical Garden, past Festival Park to the Airborne and Special Operations Museum, Grove Street has the best potential for becoming Fayetteville’s premiere gateway into the city. And, with the recent success we have had with the Hope VI Development Project in replacing Campbell Terrace and Delona Gardens, why would we even consider “rebuilding” or “replacing” Grove View Terrace? The mere fact that Grove View qualified for this new HUD program confirms the need to rid the community of this crime-ridden, worn out, run down and dilapidated eye sore. The residents of Grove View deserve better and our community deserves better

.LIPSTICK ON A PIG

About 15 years ago we spent millions of dollars to camouflage the Grove Street blight only to enhance it. Check out the crime statistics for this area. Now, in 2014, we have a second chance to reclaim this 29 acres of natural, pristine inner-city beauty and to better the lives and living conditions of hundreds of low- and medium-income families while enhancing the quality of life of all Fayetteville residents. To do this we need strong, progressive and aggressive leadership.

What happens on Grove Street and the future of Grove View Terrace should not be left solely in the hands of its residents, the FMHA director or its board. We will have only one chance to get this right. Miss it and Grove View Terrace residents are guaranteed another couple of decades of mediocrity and we will lose our gateway. Again, this will take leadership. Let’s see who steps up — or who doesn’t.

Stay tuned and thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Photo: The future of Grove View Terrace should not be left solely in the hands of its residents, the FMHA director or its board. 

Over the past 50 years, literally tens of thousands of students enrolled in Fayetteville Technical CommunityCollege have discovered that the college’s Success Center can help ensure their academic success. One-on-one and small group supplemental instruction and support have made all the difference to many students in achieving success. FTCC serves a cross-section of the communities within Cumberland County and beyond. Students range from teenagers dual-enrolled in high school and FTCC to recent high school graduates to adults seeking a new career to military service members deployed throughout the world. For many, the challenge of attending college is a dream fulfilled.

FTCC second-year Criminal Justice student Michael Morrow explains how he benefited from FTCC’s Success Center: “Because of the extra instruction and support that I received from caring Success Center instructors, I made the Dean’s List last semester.” Morrow’s comment echoes those made by many students since 1963, when the original Learning Lab opened in the one-building (Lafayette Hall) campus of Fayetteville Technical Institute. Originally housed in Lafayette Hall, the Learning Lab began with a handful of instructors selected by its first Director, Patricia Nunalee. At that time, the Lab’s “technology” included 33 1/3 rpm vinyl records and filmstrip projectors — cutting-edge technology — at that time.

During those early years, Learning Lab staff focused on providing one-on-one tutoring. They gained the trust of students and established an enviable reputation among their peers. As the college’s enrollment grew and new courses of study were added, the staff responded by researching and identifying new ways to serve the ever-increasing student body. The first computer was added in the early 1980s, and by the early 1990s, there were more than a dozen computers available to students, along with a range of instructional software designed to help students improve their academic skills, succeed in their studies, graduate and enter their chosen careers.

In 2001, as a department within the new Learning Technologies Division and under the leadership of its second director (Roger Dostall), the Learning Lab began transitioning from almost exclusively tutoring students one on one to increasing the use of state-of-the-art technology and the instruction of small groups. Today, Success Center instructors are joined by visiting classroom faculty, colleagues who voluntarily share their expertise on a scheduled basis. The focus remains on providing supplemental instruction to meet individual learning needs, with a strong emphasis on helping students recognize and accept responsibility for their own learning, progress, and success. In 2005, the Learning Lab became the Success Center, moving into its first-ever custom-designed facility on the second floor of the Harry F. Shaw Virtual College Center.

With 40-plus student computers, workspaces for at least 75 students, five small Focused Group Instruction Rooms, and a classroom serving individuals who are studying to maintain their NC Teacher Certification through specially-designed Continuing Education courses, today’s professional staff strives to fulfill the Success Center’s mission of providing “…supplemental instruction and resources to FTCC curriculum and developmental studies students in order to help them succeed academically and become independent learners.”

Every year in North Carolina, 1 in 8 babies are born premature. Prematurity  is the leading cause of infant death in North Carolina with the highest rate inf African-American and Native American infants, so that is why the March of Dimes sponsors the March for Babies on Saturday, April 12, at 10 a.m., at Methodist University.

“We have been walking since 1970 and have raised more than $2.3 billion for healthier babies,” said Stephanie Benson, Cape Fear Region community director. “Our goal for the 2014 March for Babies campaign is to raise $150,000 through community involvement and mission connected families.”

Benson added that the organization is anticipating 700 to 1,000 families to participate this year. This year’s 2014 March of Dimes national ambassador is Aidan. He was born 12 weeks early weighing just 3 pounds. He is described as an adventurous 6-year-old who loves soccer, baseball and gymnastics. To honor the nurses and doctors who saved his life, he visits the newborn intensive care unit on his birthday every year. Aidan and his parents will travel the country and help raise awareness of premature birth.

“This year we wanted to reach out to the military and I am a military spouse who understands the stress that a military marriage endures,” said Benson. “This family is amazing and they have a heartfelt story to share.” March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit for pregnancy and baby health.

For more than 75 years, the March of Dimes has worked to help babies get a healthy start in life. 76 percent of the money is used for research and programs that support solutions for babies that are born prematurely or have birth defects. Premature babies suffer lifelong consequences such as mental retardation, blindness, learning disabilities and cerebral palsy. The cytomegalovirus (CMV) causes birth defects in 8,000 babies each year. Moms can pass the virus on to their baby before or during birth. The March of Dimes is funding the development of a vaccine that can prevent the infection in women of childbearing age.

The programs educate women on how to increase their chances of having a healthy baby. There is also a great push for newborn screening and health insurance for all women and babies.

The walk is held in 900 communities across the United States and involves more than 7 million people.

“Our walks are a family affair,” said Benson. “Everyone is connected to our mission and there are many ways to support our mission.”

For more information, call Stephanie Benson at 910 778-5670.

Photo: March of Dimes presents March for Babies on Saturday, April 12, at 10 a.m., at Methodist University. 

Motorcyclists and car enthusiasts know it is spring because it is time for Fayetteville’s Annual Hogs and Rags rally. Hogs and Rags has become a staple event for motorcycle and car lovers from across the state. For those who are not familiar with this event, it is a sanctioned Fayetteville Dogwood Festival event and raises money for local charities. Each year, hundreds of motorcycles, classic cars, convertibles, Jeeps and anyone who just wants to drive descend on downtown Fayetteville for a day of fellowship, fun, food and riding.

This year’s proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society, the Green Beret Foundation and the Kidsville News Literacy and Education Foundation. Also, the Hogs and Rags committee will donate $1,000 to the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Memorial fund.

This year’s event is on Saturday, April 26. The event will begin at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum at 7:30 a.m. City of Fayetteville Mayor, Nat Robertson, will lead the ride and is the Grand Marshall of the event.

Various police departments provide a police escort the entire way from Fayetteville to Myrtle Beach, S.C. There are several stops planned along the way. The first stop is at the Rocking A Ranch for a big breakfast and door prizes. The group will then head out to the Horry County State Bank at the South Carolina border for a water break and to allow riders who want to take off their helmets to do so. Then it‘s off to Landry’s Seafood Restaurant at Broadway at the Beach in Myrtle Beach for a great lunch and the raffle drawings.

This year, Ray Price Motorsports of Fayetteville is the premiere sponsor. First Pawn of 3056 North Main Street in Hope Mills has graciously donated for a raffle. There is also a raffle for $2,500 cash. This raffle has turned out to be like a TV game show where five tickets are drawn and those five people decide if they want to split the money or play their luck.

This year there is a pre-ride welcome party Friday night, April 25, at Speakeasy’s Lounge located at 3986 Sycamore Dairy Road in Fayetteville. This event will start at 8 p.m.

This is the ninth year for the event. The event was started by Gardner Altman in 2005 and has gotten better each year. Over the years, the event has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for various organizations. The event is planned in such a way that you get two meals, a good riding pace, cover two states, a Hogs and Rags T-shirt and still be back in time to enjoy the Dogwood Festival.

If you are not familiar with the Kidsville News Literacy and Education Foundation, it is a great resource that puts a newspaper into the hands of each teacher and student from kindergarten to the sixth grade. Not only does Kidsville News! do a wonderful job helping parents, teachers and the children with education and reading abilities, the company is very involved with the kids and works hard to bring the best out of each student here. Check them out at www.kidsvillenews.com or you can pick up their publications at various locations around town.

Fort Bragg is the home of Special Forces. Special Forces Soldiers are known as the “Green Berets.” In 1961, President John F. Kennedy authorized a small unconventional unit, the Green Beret, because he believed that their special mission deserved special recognition. In 1962, President Kennedy called the green beret “a symbol of excellence, a badge of courage, a mark of distinction in the fight for freedom". The Green Beret Foundation provides unconventional resources to facilitate the special needs for wounded, ill, and injured Special Forces Soldiers and their families. They provide support to the Special Forces community in order to help the Soldiers and their families uphold the Green Beret traditions and values when they need help. To see more about this great organization please visit them at www.thegreenberetfoundation.org.

The American Cancer Society provides researchers and health professionals to explore all avenues to stop cancer.

This event is a win/win event for everyone involved. Although the event benefits local charities it is really about our community and the people that these great organizations touch.

The ride costs $50 per entry and $30 per additional passengers. This price covers both meals and a T-Shirt. The Mayor is leading the ride and leaving the Airborne Special Operations Museum at 9 a.m., so come with a full tank of gas and an empty stomach and help make this the best ride of the year.

For more information, you can go to www.hogsandrags.com or call Wendy at 910-818-0458.

Photo Riders assemble at the Airborne & Special Operations Museum for the Hogs and Rags ride.

When the hit band Green Day made its way to Broadway it was a huge success. The high-energy punk rock nature of the songs in combination with the tough topics it tackles makes for not only an entertaining but also a deeply moving show. On April 15, for one night only, the Professional Artist Series brings the tour to the Givens Performing Arts Center on the campus of the University of North Carolina-Pembroke.

Andrew Humann, who is an ensemble character in the production, describes the show as, “... a big jumble of fun. It is like a rock concert with a heartfelt message. It’s about three men who are trapped in a small town. One escapes to the city and one to the Army. There is something for everyone to relate to, like family members or friends going to war. It also deals with drug addictions, a heroin addiction and the demons that come with that, and the depression of being trapped in suburbia. People should expect a wild night of fun. The show combines all of these motifs and flows with Green Day’s American Idiot album.”

Modern music often gets a bad reputation as not having enough substance and meaning. American Idiot has no such problems. The focus is on three men who are life-long friends, and each is struggling with his own personal demons in a post 9/11 world. There are multiple struggles and themes within this play, but one of the most potent is on the subject of home.

“The show deals with the foundation of home and how important it is. They want to get the hell out of ‘Jingletown’ as they call it and branch out and see new things, but sometimes life brings you back to what really matters most like friends and family and what was there in your upbringing,” Humann explained.

A national tour id an exhausting experience, and because American Idiot is such a high-intensity show it is even more difficult. The constant bus rides coupled with performances is naturally exhausting. But by being conscious of the trials and staying healthy it is an incredibly rewarding experience.

“The reception at the end is great. We have never not had a standing ovation. The reaction is the greatest reward. No matter how crappy your day has been, whether your dog has died or whatever, the gratitude from the audience just makes you forget how crappy it has been and move on,” says Humann. This positive attitude and excitement that all of the actors have makes the show all the more incredible to watch.

The curtain rises on Green Day’s American Idiot at 8 p.m. The Givens performing Arts Center is located at 1 University Drive in Pembroke. Tickets range from $34 to $45. Tickets can be purchased from the box office at 910 521-6361.

Please be advised that the performance contains adult content and language that may not be suitable for all audiences under the age of 14. Viewer discretion is advised. For more information visit www.uncp.edu/gpac.

Photo: Modern music often gets a bad reputation as not having enough substance and meaning. American Idiot has no such problems. 

The Center for Economic Empowerment and Development welcomes the 6th Annual Dancing with the Fayetteville Stars on April 12 at the Double Tree by Hilton. The annual event is a charitable fundraiser beneĀting CEED’s Housing Program. The Events and Promotions Director for CEED, Christina Kenon, describes the event as “a show, not just a dinner … we have fun watching the people that we know in our community put it all out there.”

CEED advocates for families and individuals. The CEED website states its mission is “To promote growth, productiveness and well-being through peer counseling, education, information and advocacy programs.”

Kenon described the purpose of the Housing Program as CEED’s effort to “provide nice, safe and affordable houses to a lot of people in the community. We are able to upkeep them and purchase and rehab homes.”

The event begins at 6 p.m., with a vintage Hollywood red carpet cocktail party with a photo booth and cash bar in the Grand Hallway of the hotel. A meet and greet with the dancers is on tap to allow attendees to meet and mingle with them before they take the floor. The vintage Hollywood theme carries over into dinner and dessert along with the fun and entertainment of the dancing.

The event features 20 couples comprised of members of the Fayetteville and Cumberland County community including the reigning Miss North Carolina U.S.A., Olivia Olivera. She is paired with the Vice President of Village Green Related Properties, Franklin Clark. There are married couples competing like Dan and Ashley Culliton and Michael Adams and Babs Wolfe. Respectively, there is a local chiropractor, a local real estate investor, editor of The Fayetteville Observer and a healthcare administrator. Tara O’Neill, who is the Director of Sales for Home2Suites by Hilton, will take the floor with Brandon Odom who is an active-duty officer in the United States Army stationed at Fort Bragg. Candidate for District Court Judge Stephen Stokes and his dance partner, dance instructor Teresa Barnes, will attempt to wow the audience with their style of dance.

The performers have a range in dance experience from novice to professional but all of them have “put in a lot of time and effort to make a good show … these dancers have really worked hard to raise money for our housing program” said Kenon.

The pairs perform routines of merengue, salsa, swing, and others, which Kenon noted “may not necessarily be ballroom.” A

ll of the performances take place in front of the audience at the Double Tree and via a live stream on the CEED website. Each pair is in competition for votes, which will not only raise money money to beneĀt the works that CEED performs in the greater community, but also determines the champion of this year’s event. Fans and supporters are able to vote and contribute online now for the team they want to win; the voting will remain open until the last couple has performed on April 12.

Two ticket options and sponsorship opportunities, which will allow for reserved seating, are available via the website, www.ncceed.org/dancing.

Tickets are expected to sell out; Kenon recommends to “Get them fast.”

Why stay informed about child sexual abuse? CSA is no stranger to Cumberland County and the surrounding area. Last year, the Child Advocacy Center assisted almost 500 families through the trauma of alleged child abuse. Recently, Chancellor James Anderson of Fayetteville State University, the keynote speaker at the 2014 Human Relations Commission Recognition Banquet, spoke hauntingly about the loss of 5-year-old Shaniya Davis in 2009. He reminded us of our personal responsibility to the children and youth in our community — to keep them safe, healthy and whole.

Child abuse, in general, and child sexual abuse, in particular, are neither vile subjects that we can wish away, nor can we afford to pretend they do not exist in our community. April is National Child Abuse Month. In an effort to educate the community, the CAC sponsors an annual conference that informs participants about topics of concern regarding children and youth. This year’s event, A Community Cares: Putting Our Children First, is on April 15, at the John D. Fuller Recreation Center. Unable to attend this informative program? Here are three ways you can be an active participant in eradicating child sexual abuse and other forms of child abuse.

Use Social Media. Follow people and organizations dedicated to preventing CSA on Facebook and Twitter. Personally, I follow Erin Merryn, a tireless advocate for the prevention of CSA and an adult survivor, who details her work to pass Erin’s Law at facebook.com/Erin’sLaw and @ErinMerryn on Twitter. Briefly, Erin’s Law focuses on legislation requiring developmentally appropriate curriculum to increase the awareness of child sexual abuse for children and youth. More details of Erin’s Law are at www.erinslaw.org. Another organization committed to the prevention of child sexual abuse is Stop It Now!, Twitter handle @StopItNow. Locally, the Child Advocacy Center’s Facebook page, facebook.com/CACFayNC and Twitter account, @fayNCcac, share news of local events and information in the fight against CSA.

Attend Local Events. Recently, the Junior League of Fayetteville sponsored a Women’s Conference featuring Dr. Sharon Cooper, an expert on all areas of child sexual exploitation, as a plenary speaker and workshop presenter. Unflinchingly, Dr. Cooper, in her talk Protecting Girls: A Community Response, presented research and human stories on the sexualization of our society, and of our young girls, in particular. On April 10 at 6 p.m., Cumberland County Schools Student Services, Cumberland County District Parent Teacher Association and the Child Advocacy Center will host a screening of the documentary film, Chosen, at Douglas Byrd High School Auditorium. Chosen is a prevention film produced by Shared Hope International that highlights the true story of two “All American” teenage girls who were tricked into sexual trafficking. Dr. Cooper will be the facilitator. No registration is required to attend this free workshop.

Be on the lookout for similar events in our community and become an active participant in the work to protect our children and youth.

Support the Child Advocacy Center. The Child Advocacy Center is a non-profit organization that welcomes volunteer assistance in multiple ways. Interested in volunteering? Call Faith Boehmer, prevention and volunteer coordinator, at 910.486.9700. Another way to champion the work of the CAC is to attend events like the aforementioned April conference, the recent American Girl Fashion Show, or the upcoming Gently Loved Purse Sale. Check the CAC’s website, www.childadvocacycenter.com for information about volunteer opportunities and upcoming events.

This is our community and it is our responsibility to take care of all of our children and youth.

Russian President Vlad “the Impaler” Putin has gotten some bad press lately. Like the zombies in the Walking Dead, the U.S.S.R. is back from the grave. Our old Cold War nemesis, the U.S.S.R. has been reanimated as Russia to chomp on pieces of Eastern Europe. Vlad is seeking Lebensraum for Russia courtesy of Crimea and chunks of Ukraine, Moldovia and possibly Ruritania. Lebensraum is the German word for “I like your house and I am going to take it. Now get out now or eat lead.” Like the Greeks, the Germans had a word for it.

After Vlad annexed Crimea into Russia, some soreheads accused him of being unpleasant. Vlad’s Q factor, which measures personal popularity has dropped in the West, while hitting new heights of Q-dom in the Russian Motherland. Vlad is not one who does things halfway. He wants everyone to love him, not just readers of Pravda. Accordingly, Vlad is embarking on a charm offensive to make us forget about Crimea.

When a celebrity in the West creates a personal mess that hits the news there is a prescribed pattern for regaining popularity. Vlad is no dummy, if reputation rehabilitation almost worked for Lance Armstrong, maybe it will work for Vlad. Vlad has hired the public relations firm of Dewey, Cheatem, & Howe to recover his reputation in America. Our man Putin is going to be on the next season of Dancing with the Stars, tripping the light fantastic all over Eastern Europe. Vlad tests very poorly with gays due to some unfortunate statements he made regarding their right to exist. To restore his reputation with gays and transgendered folks, Vlad’s dance partner will be Chaz Bono.

Like every other disgraced celeb, Vlad will appear on the Oprah Show fessing up to his psychological problem of wanting to eat small countries. After an hour of genuflecting in front of Oprah, she will grant him absolution. Oprah will present him with a coupon for a course of weight-loss treatment to help him stop overeating small countries. Vlad has lined up a number of commercial endorsement deals designed to soften his image. He will be in an Acme Dental Floss ad to display his life long interest in dental hygiene. The Acme ad shows Vlad promising to floss his fangs after eating any small country. “You only have to floss the fangs you want to keep” is his tag line. He will be appearing with McGruff the Crimea Dog promising to take a bite out of Poland. Vlad will appear in series of light hearted ads for Ritz crackers featuring the tag line “Putin on the Ritz” in which he reveals that Ritz crackers are an excellent accompaniment when snacking on small countries.

Another ad Vlad will appear in is for potato chips in which he compares eating potato chips to eating small countries.

Vlad: “Whether I am devouring a small country or a bag of potato chips, its hard for me to stop. Bet you can’t eat just one.”

Vlad’s PR firm suggested that a good way for Vlad to appear less vile is to compare him to people who are even more unpopular than he is. To that end, Vlad is going to travel around the United States with a dunking booth on his Look Down that Loathsome Road tour with Woody Allen, Mel Gibson, Justin Bieber and the President of Duke Energy. Compared to those guys, Vlad doesn’t look so bad. Admittedly Vlad has had some trouble booking into major venues like Madison Square Garden due to his current unpopularity. However Vlad and his entourage will set up their dunking booth at Bubba Murray’s athletic field behind the solid waste treatment plant at Kipling, N.C., over the Easter weekend. To bring a local touch to the festivities, Vlad’s dunking booth is filled with coal ash water direct from the Dan River. For only $5 a throw you will get the chance to drop one of these individuals into a bath of arsenic and heavy metals.

From Russia with love, Vlad will be coming to your town and lots of Eastern European countries this Spring.

Photo: Putin on the Ritz

Fayetteville: We Are Family

Who doesn’t have a crazy aunt in the attic? Who doesn’t love to eat sausage, but hate watching it made? Almost everyone I know, unless they are lying. I’ll wager those statements are true for most of us. That doesn’t stop us from going about our daily lives conducting business as usual. It is comforting to know that as we deal with the day-to-day needs, challenges and developments in our community we have not forgotten the important elements that define Fayetteville, our community and our quality of life... it’s people.

Here’s proof. Last week, Kidsville News, Inc., hosted its 10th annual national publisher’s conference. By design, we invite our clients to Fayetteville on 4th Friday weekend to intentionally showcase the many positive aspects of our community. Why? Because it reflects positively on Kidsville News!, and the experiences my clients participate in assure them they have made a sound decision in choosing to do business with Kidsville News! and bringing it to their communities. In three days, we manage to send a little bit of Fayetteville back to cities and towns from San Antonio, Texas to Portland, Maine. Sweet!

It was a beautiful thing to see and experience. During their visit they met and interacted with local residents, the Mayor of the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County Commissioners, business owners and educators. They stayed in local hotels, dined in local restaurants, visited our Historic Downtown and the Crown Coliseum. Needless to say, we made the most of the time they spent with us. However, the warm and friendly hospitality shown by local residents was “genuine” Fayetteville.

The point? As we face the challenges of a growing community head on, we will deal with things like crime, homelessness, unemployment, where to host the farmer’s market, economic development, new taxes or no new taxes, parks or no parks, tainted water and what to do with the Prince Charles Hotel just to name a few. Local issues like these are important but do not and should not change the nature or personality of our residents. In the most candid ways, the true nature of our community came shining through leaving a polished, positive and lasting impression with our guests.

I want to say thank you to the staff of Kidsville News!, Up & Coming Weekly and the entire Fayetteville community for again making us proud to call Fayetteville home. We have much to be thankful for. Our future looks bright. Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Photo: Kidsville News! hosted its annual national publisher’s conference this week and shared a lot about the community with publishers from around the country.

Fayetteville: We Are Family

Who doesn’t have a crazy aunt in the attic? Who doesn’t love to eat sausage, but hate watching it made? Almost everyone I know, unless they are lying. I’ll wager those statements are true for most of us. That doesn’t stop us from going about our daily lives conducting business as usual. It is comforting to know that as we deal with the day-to-day needs, challenges and developments in our community we have not forgotten the important elements that define Fayetteville, our community and our quality of life... it’s people.Here’s proof. Last week, Kidsville News, Inc., hosted its 10th annual national publisher’s conference. By design, we invite our clients to Fayetteville on 4th Friday weekend to intentionally showcase the many positive aspects of our community. Why? Because it reflects positively on Kidsville News!, and the experiences my clients participate in assure them they have made a sound decision in choosing to do business with Kidsville News! and bringing it to their communities. In three days, we manage to send a little bit of Fayetteville back to cities and towns from San Antonio, Texas to Portland, Maine. Sweet! It was a beautiful thing to see and experience. During their visit they met and interacted with local residents, the Mayor of the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County Commissioners, business owners and educators. They stayed in local hotels, dined in local restaurants, visited our Historic Downtown and the Crown Coliseum. Needless to say, we made the most of the time they spent with us. However, the warm and friendly hospitality shown by local residents was “genuine” Fayetteville. The point? As we face the challenges of a growing community head on, we will deal with things like crime, homelessness, unemployment, where to host the farmer’s market, economic development, new taxes or no new taxes, parks or no parks, tainted water and what to do with the Prince Charles Hotel just to name a few. Local issues like these are important but do not and should not change the nature or personality of our residents. In the most candid ways, the true nature of our community came shining through leaving a polished, positive and lasting impression with our guests. I want to say thank you to the staff of Kidsville News!, Up & Coming Weekly and the entire Fayetteville community for again making us proud to call Fayetteville home. We have much to be thankful for. Our future looks bright. Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Photo: Kidsville News! hosted its annual national publisher’s conference this week and shared a lot about the community with publishers from around the country.

There is nothing more effective to change public policy than public outcry. Duke Energy is learning this truism the hard way — although it should have been aware of it years ago. Duke Energy has 32 coal ash ponds in 14 locations statewide. None of these are lined to prevent seepage of toxic coal ash water into ground water or nearby, canals, streams or rivers.

On Feb. 2, Duke Energy allowed 39,000 tons of toxic coal ash sludge to be released into the Dan River. In March, Duke Energy was caught red-handed pumping 61,000 gallons of coal ash toxins from storage ponds into canals that empty into the Cape Fear River above Fayetteville. This kind of outrageous disregard for the purity and safety of our state’s water has been demonstrated by Duke Energy time and again and it is because of the company’s well-developed political connections and expensive but effective lobbying that it was overlooked.

Public outcry has now been heard and Duke Energy’s immunity to our state’s laws regarding pollution may be over. The Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR)-imposed $99,111 fine for unlawful maintenance of storage ponds and dumping was appealed to an appropriate court, by DENR attorneys, for retraction. DENR lawyers realized that they had crossed the line, that the wrist-slap citation and fine to Duke Energy was far too lenient and the public was just not going to stand for it. The seriousness of the Dan River spill has been widely but not under-publicized. The Dan will be polluted not for weeks or months but likely for years.

How the subject and issue of Duke Energy’s coal ash storage arrived at the current condition is a long story. Some of it could be explained by observing that coal ash is the residue of burning coal and burning coal is what Duke Energy does to provide our state’s businesses and residents with electricity. The state agency charged with the responsibility of policing environmentally harmful activities is the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Simply put, that state agency did not do its job as it pertains to Duke Energy.

The election of Pat McCrory to the governor’s office exacerbated an already out-of-control situation due to lack of adequate attention by Democratic governor appointees to head the agency. When McCrory appointed long-time crony, John Skvarla, to head DENR, there was no hiding the fact that DENR was going to be run by a new sheriff with new policies handed down by Gov. McCrory. As a 29-year former employee of Duke Energy and recipient of multi-million dollar campaign contributions from the utility, McCrory knew where his bread was buttered. “Be kind to business and business will be kind to you,” was his guiding principle and light. Upon appointment,Skvarla announced that his agency was to be “business-friendly.” That policy was laid out by Skvarla’s lieutenants as “Get on board with a policy of helping business overcome environmental regulations or get your desks emptied out.” Some did — including a very vocal lead staffer, Amy Adams, who now works for the environmental organization Appalachian Voice.

So, Duke Energy continued to operate without restraints. It had its man in the governor’s mansion. Under the McCrory administration, Duke Energy continued (without concerns of interference by DENR) to pollute and operate coal ash facilities without required permits or adequate attendance or maintenance to those facilities. But when the Dan River coal ash pond let go, even a ham-fisted politician such as McCrory recognized that this kind of irresponsible behavior, which demonstrates utter disregard for our state’s environment, is bad for reelection probabilities. DENR has received revised marching orders, no doubt something along the lines of “Continue to be business friendly but make it look as if the agency is really trying to do its job.” DENR could actually do that but it would require putting a few teeth into their enforcement efforts. It may struggle with this until it gets leadership that puts the well-being of the state’s natural resources above the best interests of big utilities and massive hog farms. We shall see, but one thing is without a doubt — John Skvarla will not be heading North Carolina’s Department of Environment and Natural Resource much longer if McCrory has any ambitions of serving a second term.

Photo: On Feb. 2, Duke Energy allowed 39,000 tons of toxic coal ash sludge to be released into the Dan River.

Starting in April, Operation Ceasefire will host its movie night initiatives in an attempt to reduce gun and gang violence in Cumberland County. All movie events are open to the public and held outdoors. The movies start at 7:30 p.m., and everyone is encouraged to bring chairs, families, friends and colleagues to enjoy a free movie under the stars.

Operation Ceasefire is an intervention program dedicated to improving the quality of life for all residents of Fayetteville/Cumberland County by reducing gun and gang violence in our community.

Although Operation Ceasefire is not an amnesty or a gun turn-in program, it does work to reduce gun violence and inform felons of their restricted rights and new responsibilities pertaining to firearms and ammunition. Not only does this program seek to reduce violent crimes in our community by maintaining strategic and effective partnerships, but it also offers to assist individuals in successfully changing their lifestyles.

There are several businesses dedicated to hiring former felons or assisting them with job placement, ministries that are willing to mentor, admonish, and exhort individuals struggling with changes they undergo in life, and resource organizations designed to help with the daily needs and challenges of successful living.

Operation Ceasefire is not a program that forgives offenders for their violent acts, but rather a program that meets individuals where they are and helps them to reach the next level of change, if change is something they really want. For those who continue doing harm, it is a promise to bring the full impact of a united community to vigorously prosecute violent crimes.

Operation Ceasefire has had an 80 percent success rate in intervention. More than 6,000 residents have made connections with law enforcement and one another at a Ceasefire Movie Night events, and more than 1,000 children have made the commitment to stand against gun violence. In 2011, fugitive surrender cleared 200 warrants, peaceably removing over 130 names from the “WANTED” list.

The plan for Operation Ceasefire is to offer help to former offenders that want to change and need assistance turning from crime and violence, to teach offenders about state and federal firearms laws and Operation Ceasefire’s role in enforcing the same, to respond to future incidents of violence through arrest and prosecution to the fullest extent of state and federal law aggressively and to promote firearm safety and gang prevention throughout the county.

The national received rate of individuals with criminal record averages 67 percent. Without intervening programs like Operation Ceasefire, most of those individuals would continue to commit crimes again and again, leading them to be incarcerated within three years of their last conviction.

From Jan. 1, 2011, through June 30, 2011, Fayetteville experienced a 10 percent reduction in gun crime compared with the same time frame in 2010. Of the participants called-in from August 2010 through July 2011, 80 percent have either successfully completed probation or are in good standing with no criminal violations.

The dates for the movie nights are April 11, May 9, June 6, Sep. 19 and Oct. 10. For information on the event locations, contact Operation Ceasefire Resource Coordinator Lisa Jayne at (910) 433-1017 or LJayne@ci.fay.nc.us.

Additional useful resource links for investigators, parents, children and community stakeholders can be found athttp://ceasefire.ci.fayetteville.nc.us/links.aspx.

Photo: Operation Ceasefire is an intervention program dedicated to improving the quality of life for all residents of Fayetteville/Cumberland County by reducing gun and gang violence in our community.

Fayetteville is a diverse community. People from all around the world and from all walks of life have come to this thriving community and embraced it. Often cultural organizations look for ways to share the cultures of their native lands. On April 12, the Southeastern North Carolina Asian Indian Association (SENCAIA) presents a showcase of the Indian community.

Dancing is an art form that every culture has embraced. Indian dancing in particular has a strong cultural significance as a method to pass on religious and cultural traditions. It is a method of storytelling. “It gives a glimpse into the culture and into the cuisine. We will have entertainment all day. There will be someone on stage at all times. There will be dancing and singing. Some of the performers will be local and some will be from out of town,” said Dr. Sumedha Dalvi, who has been involved in the festivals organization from its inception.

Entertainers of all ages will showcase their talents. The sheer effort that is put into the dances that are performed is astounding. “When you see the kids perform a five minute dance, that dance took weeks of practice, it is impressive. These kids are busy with school, sports, homework and things, but they still make the time to practice. Those five minutes take so much work because they want their performance to be perfect. The parents and the kids have a great time and they get to show off their talents. They’ll even invite their friends from school to come support them,” Dalvi said.

Another important aspect of any culture is its food. People can experience Indian food in several different ways at the festival. “There will be two food vendors. People can purchase all different kinds of Indian food.

There will be vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. You can get a snack or a whole platter. This is always very popular. We will also have Indian drinks like chai and fruity drinks like mango and lychee,” Dalvi said.” There will be cooking demonstrations every hour on the hour as well. “People from our community will demonstrate how to cook traditional Indian dishes. People always like this because they get to learn how it is made and sample it. We also have a spice garden that is a booth that will be selling Indian spices. If people try a dish at a vendor and ask what is in it and want to make it at home, the booth will have spices and recipes and things.”

The traditional clothing of India is also a distinctive and beautiful aspect of the culture. “There will be three fashion shows. First, we have the kid’s fashion show, then a youth fashion show and finally, a ladies and couples fashion show. The theme for our adults fashion show is a wedding — so they will all be dressed as a bride or groom or as someone in the bridal party. We will have a bridal procession leading up to it and a fashion show on stage,” Dalvi said. Additionally, vendors will sell beautiful and traditional Indian clothing and jewelry. Two women will also help with the wrapping of the clothing. There will also be a bargain corner for donated and lightly worn traditional Indian clothing and jewelry available to purchase at a lower price.

The India Festival is a lot more than just a festival. It is a celebration and benefit the entire community. “All of the proceeds, after the cost is covered, go to local charities. This is our way of giving back to the community. We’ve been here 15 years, but coming from India and getting settled here... the community has really embraced us. This is a way to show our culture and to give back,” Dalvi said.

The event is on April 12 from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. at the Crown Arena. The Arena is located at 1960 Coliseum dr. Admission is $2 per person and kids under three get in free.

Photo: The India Festival is a lot more than just a festival. It is a celebration and a beneጀt to the entire community. 

In an effort to help spread awareness of Multiple Sclerosis, an unpredictable disease that often disables thecentral nervous system and disrupts the ؀ow of information within the brain and body, the Sandhills chapter of Walk MS is asking that the people of the Fayetteville community come together for a walk that will connect people living with MS and those who care about them. It will be an experience unlike any other — a day to celebrate the progress made by the Sandhills chapter of Walk MS. Scheduled for Sunday, April 6, the walk begins at 352 Devers Street at 2 p.m., with a check-in and registration time of 1 p.m.

Walk MS has fundraising programs in place and the funds its members raise give hope to people living with MS in the Fayetteville community. These efforts help to support the many programs and services provided by the National MS Society for people living with MS in the Fayetteville community, as well as fund critical MS research. There are currently more than 14,600 people living with MS in the Carolinas.

The success of Walk MS is directly related to the volunteers that help make the event a great experience. Walk MS welcomes volunteers with a wide range of skills, talents, abilities and interests. Anyone who registers as a volunteer online will receive the same fundraising tools that Walk MS walkers enjoy and will be eligible for the same great prizes.

Some examples of available volunteer positions are: greeters, photographers, medical supporters, finish line celebrators and more.

Although registering as an individual is highly encouraged, participating in a Walk MS event is more fun when an individual is part of a team. Members of a team get to share the experience of connecting with friends, family, coworkers, neighbors and anyone that wants to put an end to MS forever.

Teams get to reserve a spot for Team Village, a central location where team members have easy access to the entertainment, food and fun at Walk MS. Team members get to bring a tent, cooler, games, drinks and food. It is the perfect location to hang out and celebrate with teammates before and after the walk.

With a fundraising goal of $50,000.00, the Sandhills chapter of Walk MS has raised 33 percent of its goal and is currently at $16,708.00. The top individual fundraiser is ‘Vivian Smith’ with $1,020.00 and the top fundraising team is ‘Walking 4 All’ with $2,727.00. There are 13 therapies approved by the FDA and $820M in research funding to date.

To register for the walk, connect with others, begin fundraising, or learn more, contact Monica Tierney at (919) 792-1020/ monica.tierney@nmss.org, Diane Hartley at (919) 792-1014/ diane.hartley@nmss.org, or visit http://walknct.nationalmssociety.org.

To register for the event, visit http://walknct.nationalmssociety.org. There are many ways to register for the event. Anyone can register as an individual, start a team, join a team or register as a volunteer.

The Gilbert Theater presents the Scottish play, Macbeth, by William Shakespeare on March 28 - April 13. Showtimes are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.

“Macbeth is considered to be one of Shakespeare’s great tragedies,” said Jeremy Fiebig, member of the board and actor who plays the character Macbeth. “It is about a saint in Scotland who is an up-and-comer that is told by three witches that he will become King of Scotland.”

Fiebig added that after the saint receives his prophecy, he and his wife decide to take steps to make the prophecy come true. They conspire to kill the current king of Scotland and they end up killing him. The rest of the play deals with the aftermath of the murder and what they have to do to keep the power once they have it.

“I am playing the title character, Macbeth, in the play” said Fiebig. “He is an ambitious guy who has many speeches and scenes where his ambition becomes the major theme in the play.” Fiebig added that Macbeth deals with a lot of self-doubt such as wondering if he should go on with the murder and how it would look to other people.

His wife is equally ambitious but has a different drive and less self-doubt. Behind the scenes, she persuades him to take action. Throughout the play, the lords will have to decide whether or not they will align themselves with Macbeth and his new control or if they are going to rebel against him and his new power. There are some fun and creepy characters in the production as well as witches. This production is a must see.

The Gilbert Theater is a community-minded theater company and conservatory serving Fayetteville and the surrounding areas. Its mission is to produce creative, innovative plays and events to stir audiences and students of its conservatory to explore and contemplate the human condition through the talents of local and guest artists. A summer acting camp is offered for youth ages 6-17 on Monday, Aug. 4, through Friday, Aug. 8, from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. The class includes improvisation, comedy, acting and movement. The camp will culminate in a Saturday performance at 7 p.m. at the theater. The early bird rate is $125.00 and after April 1 the rate is $150.00.

“Please come out and support our production,” said Fiebig. “It speaks to a lot of things that humans have in common such as ambition and how will you respond to evil when it happens.”

Tickets for Macbeth are $16 and $14 for students, seniors and the military. The Gilbert Theater is located at 116 Green Street. For more information call 678-7186.

Photo: The Gilbert Theater presents the Scottish play, Macbeth, by William Shakespeare on March 28-April 13. 

Downtown Fayetteville’s Trifecta for Success:

One Man’s Opinion

Every city needs a downtown. It’s the character of the locality — especially in these times when the past four decades have turned our entire nation into one huge homogenized “Stepford” community. My goodness, everything looks the same.

The skylines have all become redundant with silhouettes of McDonald’s golden arches, Cinema 15 marquees, box stores like Walmart, BJ’s, Sam’s and Bed, Bath and Beyond all dominating the landscape.

Well, at least you won’t go hungry. Look around. You’ve so many choices: Golden Corral, Waffle House, Olive Garden, Moe’s, Chili’s, Ihop, etc.

Every time I drive down Skibo Road, I hear Aretha Franklin singing in my head: “Chain, chain, chains, chains of fools.” Who wouldn’t want to get away to someplace different?

While I’m on singers, Petula Clark had it right in the early ‘60s. Downtown: “When you’re alone and life is making you lonely you can always go, Downtown. When you’ve got worries all the noise and the hurry seems to help, I know. Downtown.” Well, she made a believer out of me, but I’m living in Cumberland County and it’s taking a painfully long time for our downtown community to take root. No doubt it will be successful if it ever comes to fruition.

Yes, I know. For those of us who love this community, it is extremely painful to watch. For dozens, it has been financially devastating. But, you would think with time and pain and a countless number of consultant recommendations we would be further along.

Well, at the risk of stating the obvious, I would like to offer up my Trifecta for Fayetteville’s Success. Yes, here are the three things I feel would replace the lost momentum for developing our Historic Downtown as a preferred destination point in this community and region. The three things I refer to are actually structures and businesses in their own right. But, statistically placed they would create the foundation for growth, economic development and quality of life.

These are: 1. HOTEL. It doesn’t matter if it is a Marriott, Fairfield Inn or Hampton Inn. Our guests need somewhere to stay for Heaven’s sake. If you don’t want them at the mall, don’t make them stay at the mall. Even the people coming to visit the Crown Coliseum would stay downtown because of the convenience and nightlife.

2. PERFORMING ARTS CENTER. Yes, wouldn’t it be wonderful if people could visit downtown, shop, enjoy a relaxed casual dinner then attend a cultural event all in the same evening? They wouldn’t even have to go home. (See #1). In order for this to happen, the entire arts community will have to rethink the fortification of their silos.

And, my favorite, 3. A BASEBALL STADIUM. Yes, a “come one-come all” sports complex that any minor-league team would be proud of. Put it right smack dab downtown. Name it the Fayetteville-Cumberland County “Babe Ruth” Memorial Stadium. Anchor it with the Babe Ruth Museum and a few small novelty shops and have John Meroski of the Fayetteville Convention and Visitors Bureau work his marketing magic and you would literally suck people off I-95 into downtown Fayetteville. Why? Because now they have something to see and do. And, they have someplace to stay. What is so hard about this? Let’s do it! Look at the 300 Block of Hay St. Look at Ralph Huff’s Park View development across from the Airborne and Special Operations Museum — simply beautiful and extremely reflective of what we want our community to be. However, we cannot expect Ralph Huff to rebuild our city all by himself.

We don’t just need a plan, we need an action plan. We have the talent in this community and we have the leadership. It’s time for the City of Fayetteville and the County of Cumberland to set some real priorities for future growth and prosperity. Everyone needs to think differently and act differently. We need to become committed and aggressive toward these goals.

 “High tide floats all boats.”

Every successful community has a strong city center. Positive, aggressive cooperation will get us there. Shall we begin? Thanks for reading the Up & Coming Weekly.

P.S. The Prince Charles Hotel has got to go!!!!!

Photo: The development of Person Street is bringing growth to downtown, but there is more to be done.

It’s been about four months since Jim Grafstrom started managing the Crown. In that time, there have been several policy changes, a lot of maintenance and upgrades to the facility and a general shift in the attitude and culture of the employees and staff — and that is just the beginning. Now a member of the Global Spectrum family, the Crown is part of a conglomerate that operates entertainment venues internationally, which will be a boon for both the Crown and the community. On March 27, the public is invited to visit the facility, meet the staff, enjoy some food and entertainment — and it’s all free of charge. “Whatever the public perception of the Crown is, we are making as many changes as fast as we can,” said Grafstrom. “When people come in, we want them to see a big difference. We want there to be a ‘wow’ factor.”

There are some changes that will be obvious as soon as people walk through the doors. Anyone who has dealt with the staff in recent months has probably already noticed the implementation of the “How ya doin’?” initiative. Whether it is making a phone call for information or purchasing tickets at the box office or asking for directions at one of the venues, engage the staff and you will be greeted with “How ya doin?” and a smile. “It’s a way to engage people and initiate a friendly exchange,” said Grafstrom. “Is it casual? Sure. Do some people think it is a bit much? Maybe. But it makes the staff approachable and leaves an opening for guests to start a conversation and feel comfortable.”

Once the cultural change was established, Grafstrom set about tidying up the facility and doing some much-needed maintenance. Taking cues from patrons and just walking around and taking note of the state of the property, it quickly became clear that there were some big projects to tackle. A professional janitorial service was hired to do some deep cleaning, with a special focus on the restrooms. The concourse was resurfaced and damaged seats repaired, along with a variety of other projects.

While the changes that are highly visible are well underway, there are some other things in the works that Grafstrom says will also make a difference in polishing the Crown’s reputation both locally and with performers it hosts. Getting a handle on the budget is a given and a priority, but that will take some time. Bringing more high-quality entertainment that the public wants to see is doable and something that Grafstrom is excited about. Among performers, Fayetteville has a reputation for waiting until the last minute to purchase tickets. That can make artists nervous about committing to a show, especially if it means they might lose money by coming here. Additionally, in the past, the Crown was a stand-alone venue. When an act committed to come to the Crown it was only to perform at one venue. “Because the Crown is part of Global Spectrum, when we are booking acts we can go to the artists with an entire six-stop tour that includes Fayetteville. This is a great complex. Fayetteville is a great city and fits right into the routing. There is a ton of potential here,” said Grafstrom. “As we bring in more acts that people are interested in seeing, we hope to see early ticket sales improve.”

Bringing in outside talent is just a portion of what the Crown offers the community. Local sports teams play at the facility regularly and local groups plan everything from concerts to conventions, theatrical productions, military formals and more at the Crown. Grafstrom is looking to bring in even more local events and build relationships with more organizations in the community. At the Your Town Your Crown Open House, all of the different venues in the Crown complex will be open and on display.

“When you walk in, we will have some of the spaces divided and set up to show people different things that areas can be used for,” said Katie Mikos, the Crown marketing director. “We will have one space set up like a ball room, another set up for a conference so that people can easily visualize the many possibilities. We are looking to grow our conference and meeting business.”

To make it easy to get to know the Crown complex, be sure to participate in the Golden Egg Scavenger Hunt. The grand prize is a trip to Las Vegas. During the scavenger hunt, guests will encounter a variety of entertainment provided by local radio stations as well as live performances by local musicians. Look for the Kidsville News! Stage for kid-friendly activities and entertainment. The Crown’s caterer, Centerplate, is pulling out all the stops to showcase its menu at the event. “Centerplate will be sampling a little bit of everything,” said Mikos. “They offer more than just concessions, and we want to showcase them right along with the rest of our facilities.”

Newly promoted Events Manager, Victor Landry, has worked at the Crown for nine years. He’s excited about what the future holds for the area’s premier entertainment venue. “I’m excited about being busy and working with entertainers. I’m looking forward to seeing the public at the open house and having them come out and see the venues and have a good time. This is exciting and I am happy for the challenge.”

Visit the Crown facebook page to find out more about the event, check out the new logo and enter The Big Ticket promotion. The Big Ticket winner receives two tickets to every event at the Crown for a year. The Your Town Your Crown Open House runs from 1-8 p.m. Visit www.atthecrown.com or call 438-4100 for more information.

It’s not about the money. A university fund-raising campaign never should be.

On Feb. 19, Methodist University launched the most ambitious capital campaign in the institution’s history. The long-anticipated “Building Excellence: The Campaign for Methodist University” will generate $35 million for new facilities, endowment and special projects. More than $25 million, or 71 percent of the goal, has already been received from generous donors who are committed to ensuring excellence.

The real story, however, is the transformational experiences that will be possible for every Methodist student as a result of these funds. A culture of excellence requires signature people, programs and facilities, so we will be putting philanthropy to work through endowed scholarships, professorships and new buildings to support programs.

I hope every member of the University community will join us in celebrating our heritage and exciting plans for the future through attending one of the many “Building Excellence” events scheduled during the 28 months of the public phase of the campaign. We will travel across the country, and around the world, sharing news about the university and inviting people to participate in our bold journey.

Visit www.CampaignForMU.org for more information and news about the campaign, or feel free to write to me personally at Bhancock@Methodist.edu to share your story with me. Methodist is truly an amazing place, and through your engagement in the life of the university, our students will directly benefit.

There has never been a better time to be a Monarch. Building excellence has never been more relevant or critical. Your support has never been more needed.

I have the best job in America because of these amazing students and their stories of commitment, sacrifice and dedication. I feel truly blessed to be President of our university at this time in our history. We need to be successful with this campaign to ensure our students success. We have a promise to fulfill — a promise we make to every entering student that we will do all we can to maximize their university experience and prepare them to live lives of meaning and purpose.

It’s not about the money. It’s about the students. It has always been that way, and always should be.

Best wishes,

Ben Hancock, President

Photo: A culture of excellence requires signature people, programs, and facilities.

As I campaign to represent the people of Cumberland County as County Commissioner, I feel it is important to explain how I learned my work ethics and values using them to continuously strive for success in life. I cannot express the importance of persistence better than Calvin Coolidge, our 30th President of the United States, in his quote “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”

My work ethic, values and appreciation of the value of the dollar were learned during my high school years while living at the Drumm Farm Institute in Independence, Mo., a 360 acre farm where boys from broken homes could go and live until they graduated from high school at that time. While I was there, from 1965-69, the Drumm Farm consisted of 50 boys ages 6-18 years of age.

I was sent to Drumm Farm to live due to a couple events in my early life. When I was 10 years old, my mother and younger brother had sudden tragic deaths, which left my father to raise me as a single parent while still serving in the Army. My father retired from the Army in 1964 but soon after became very ill. He had to be hospitalized for an extended period of time. It was then that I went to the Drumm Farm to live — thanks to the help of the sisters at the elementary school I attended.

At the Drumm Farm, we were 90 percent self-sustaining. We slaughtered our own meat, raised our own vegetables, had dairy cows for milk, gathered eggs from our chickens and cut and baled hay for the livestock. Each boy had his own chores he was responsible for in the morning and evening, before and after school. We were rotated among the different chores to learn all the different aspects of farm life. We also learned domestic skills such as washing, ironing clothes, cooking and setting tables. We were taught all the skills we would need to know to function on our own in society.

I remember receiving a $2-a-month allowance as a high school freshman and $3 a month as a sophomore. This was money we could spend on ourselves (usually treats) when the house parents would take our list and go to the grocery store to buy on a Saturday evening. We did not have cars and had little money so not much dating occurred with the Drumm boys on weekends. My time at Drumm Farm Institute is where my work ethics, values, and respect for others were formed, and I believe I am a better man because of my time there.

Photo: John Czajkowski Candidate for Cumberland County Commissioner (At Large).

On Saturday, March 29, the Junior League of Fayetteville and First Presbyterian Church will hold a Women’s Conference. Event Coordinator and Junior League of Fayetteville member Kelly Sherrill described the conference as, “... a wide variety of speakers and topics reflecting all aspects of a woman’s life. There issomething for every woman at this conference.”

The Junior League of Fayetteville is a women’s volunteer organization, founded in 1960, that emphasizes developing the potential of women through volunteerism. “The current focus area of the Junior League of Fayetteville is children’s mental health … for over 50 years, the Junior League of Fayetteville has supported many worthy local organizations with much-needed funds as well as volunteer hours,” Sherrill said.

First Presbyterian Church is a Christian congregation that has been an integral part of the Fayetteville community since 1800. First Presbyterian Church is active and involved in many charitable organizations that address the needs of the local community. The church also helps impoverished people globally through international missions.

The Women’s Conference is a one-day event that begins at 8:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church on Ann Street. The event features Brigadier General Barbara R. Holcomb speaking on achieving a healthy life balance. Also speaking at the conference is Dr. Sharon Cooper. Sherrill is truly excited about the two speakers the conference has secured “The ability to bring such great speakers as Brig. Gen. Barbara Holcomb and Dr. Sharon Cooper to a new audience that might not normally have the opportunity is incredible,” said Sherrill.

The featured speaker, Brig. Gen. Barbara R. Holcomb, is currently the Command Surgeon for U.S. Army Forces Command at Fort Bragg and will soon become the Commanding General of Northern Regional Medical Command, at Fort Belvoir, Va. Brig. Gen. Holcomb is a Registered Nurse and has served the country during Operation Desert Storm and during NATO operations in Bosnia. Her experience of leading in the United States Army puts her in a key position to speak on the dynamics of balancing the needs of a profession with the personal aspects of daily life. She will also conduct a workshop focusing on her path to leadership and development of her leadership skills.

Dr. Sharon Cooper M.D., F.A.A.P., is the CEO of Developmental and Forensic Pediatrics and is a widely-recognized expert in the field. Dr. Cooper has testified as an expert witness on many occasions in cases of child abuse. She has also testified before the United States Congress and other international governing bodies. She will use her expertise in the areas of child abuse and developmental pediatrics to hold a discussion on how a community can protect its girls.

Following the speakers, attendees will have the opportunity to attend workshops led by experts in the fields of leadership, financial planning, nutrition, business, aging, health, family dynamics and more. A full listing of the workshops and a schedule of events is available on the Junior League of Fayetteville website www.jlfay.org.

The registration deadline is Friday, March 28. Register online through the Junior League of Fayetteville’s website. The cost is $15 per registrant and childcare is available with registration.

Photo: The featured speaker, Brig. Gen. Barbara R. Holcomb, is currently the Command Surgeon for U.S. Army Forces Command at Fort Bragg.

For the past couple of months, more than 150 local girls have been preparing to participate in a fashion show that is so much more than just pretty clothes. The girls in question are the models for the 7th Annual American Girl Fashion Show, which benefits the Child Advocacy Center.

The show, held in the Crown Center Ballroom on Saturday, March 22, and Sunday, March 23, supports the Child Advocacy Center. Last year, the show, which showcases historical and contemporary fashions for girls and their dolls, raised more than $60,000 for the CAC.

The show, which revolves around the highly popular American Girl dolls, features fashions for girls and their dolls, complemented by “lively commentary, music and decorations.” Contemporary clothing from the My American Girl Apparel will also be on display during the fashion show. Attendees will partake in “elegant refreshments, party favors, raffles and door prizes.” Last year, all four shows on the schedule sold out, and organizers expect the same kind of reception this year.

Support for the show has grown over the past six years, which is evident by the return of the volunteer chairpersons, Julia Adkins, Cindy Williams and Carol Jones, who have headed up the campaign since its inception.

“This show is our largest fundraiser for the CAC. Funds raised from this show are critical to our ability to provide services to child victims of abuse in our community,” said Roberta Humphries, the executive director of the CAC. “Having three experienced and highly committed chairpersons like Julia Adkins, Cindy Williams and Carol Jones is critical to the success of this event every year. It would be extremely difficult to have such a successful and well-organized show each year without their expertise.”

Williams explained her commitment to the event and the organization.

“It is important for me to continue my involvement with this event because I believe wholeheartedly in the CAC’s purpose, vision and mission,” she said. “They have such an enormous impact on our community serving the most vulnerable of victims, while striving for a safer and nurturing community free from abuse.”

While the nature of the CAC’s work is somber, organizers look forward to the joy in the girls’ faces who participate in the fashion show and in the faces of the girls who attend.

“My favorite memory of the event is seeing the excitement on the children’s faces as they go out on stage having a wonderful time and knowing that they have helped other children in our community,” explained Humphries. “It is an opportunity for children to learn that they can have fun while helping others.”

Williams echoed that sentiment.

“My favorite memory of the event is seeing models return year after year excited not only to model again but that they’re making such a difference within their own community” said Williams. “The greatest beauty of this event is it creates a tradition and heart of giving back to others at such a young age that will stay with these girls throughout their lifetimes.”

Williams’ work with the CAC was an offshoot of her involvement with the Junior League of Fayetteville.

“I’d say to anyone interested in volunteering with the CAC that it will be one of the most rewarding experiences you’ll ever have,” she said. “You truly walk away feeling you’ve made a difference and had an impact.”

Humphries added that there are many ways to volunteer with the agency.

“There are many opportunities for people to volunteer with the Child Advocacy Center from assisting with special events such as the American Girl Fashion Show to working in the office and providing clerical support,” she explained, adding that the next volunteer information session is on Wednesday, May 7 from 1-2 p.m. Anyone interested in volunteering with the CAC should contact Faith Boehmer, the volunteer coordinator at the CAC. Register for the event by emailing programs@childadvocacycenter.com or by calling 910-486-9700.

If you want to attend the fashion show, you shouldn’t delay buying your tickets. As of March 11, the CAC has sold all but 200 of the available tickets.

“We anticipate another sell-out this year,” said Williams.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com or in person at the Crown Center box office, 1960 Coliseum Drive in Fayetteville. VIP tickets with seating close to the stage are available.

Photos: The American Girl Fashion Show has raised more than $60,000 for the Child Advocacy Center. 

Coal Ash: McCrory Owns It Now

Personally, I like Governor Pat McCrory. Makes no difference that he is a Republican. He won the top North Carolina seat by proving his competency as Mayor of Charlotte, the state’s largest city. Caring about our state and its people got him elected. Now, he is faced with making some extremely difficult decisions; ones he needs to make quickly.

John Skvarla, head of the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, is under fire and many feel he needs to go. In fact, many think he needs to go now. If he doesn’t, McCrory runs the risk of mimicking President Barack Obama’s self-serving management style of no blame, no responsibility and no consequences by allowing bad conduct to go unpunished. Further, by not holding anyone accountable — no matter how offensive or treacherous the deed — McCrory is setting himself up for a failed administration. Attorney General Eric Holder, IRS Director Lois Lerner and Department of Health and Human Resources head Kathleen Sybellius are just a few examples that come to mind from the Obama administration.

Now, with tons of Duke Energy’s coal ash polluting the Dan River and contaminating wells and drinking water, it becomes pretty obvious that Skvarla and Duke Energy were derelict in their duties by failing to look out for, and protect our natural resources. Granted this cushy relationship between Duke Energy, big business and state politicians has been going on for years, and has been nurtured under the auspices of state Democrats. The shoe is now on the other foot, and with a Republican majority in charge, McCrory and his administration must deal with the aftermath.

No doubt Skvarla and his DENR chums are playing footsie with Duke Energy at our expense. Not good. However, we should not be too hasty to indict McCrory just because he was a former employee of Duke Energy. That being said, where there’s smoke there could be fire. Duke Energy has poured millions of dollars into the campaigns of high-ranking politicians on both sides of the aisle. Is ignoring environmental safety concerns in favor of big business profits what’s at play here? Perhaps. One thing is paramount, McCrory owns the problem now. All eyes are on him waiting to see how he will move forward. With Skvarla at the DENR helm, if McCrory doesn’t act quickly, he could go down with the ship. Let’s hope not.

Thanks for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Photo: Tons of Duke Energy’s coal ash is polluting the Dan River.

Rape, sexual assault and gender violence are often seen as problems that women face when, in fact, these are society’s problems. Sexualized and gender-based violence not only affect the women who are victimized, they impact the people who care for the women, too. And because this tragedy affects all genders, all genders can play a part in preventing it.

Men are invited to speak out against domestic violence at Walk-Awhile in Her Shoes, on March 28. This is an opportunity for men to step out in a unique and fun way and proclaim that they will not tolerate such violence within their community.

The goal of this event is to promote communication about sexualized violence and to combat stereotypes that women face. To do this, all the participating men will walk a mile literally in “her” shoes, meaning high heels. This may give men a new awareness as to what women experience in fashion and creates a strong, if humorous, visual symbol of solidarity. The participants who sign up in advance can have shoes provided by the Rape Crisis Volunteers of Cumberland County (RCVCC), which is sponsoring the race. Men purchasing their own heels, are also welcome and encouraged to participate.

In the past few years, the Fayetteville area has had a tremendous turn-out for this event. The variety of walkers that participate shows that rape and abuse affects people of every walk of life. “There are a diverse group of men and women who come out every year to support the walk. Last year, brothers from the Tau Gamma Gamma fraternity walked side by side with bikers in red high heels. Fire fighters showed up in turn-out gear to walk. This year, Chief Medlock has authorized police officers to support Walk-Awhile by wearing their uniforms while walking in heels,” Deanne Gerdes, the Executive Director of RCVCC said. The large show of men also helps to bring a fun and festive atmosphere to the march in spite of the serious issues it supports.

Though the march is designed for men, there are also ways for women to get involved and support the cause. “In the past, women have cheered on the men and escorted the parade of high heels from the Market House back to the AIT building for the reception. Last year, we even had cheerleaders come out with pom-poms to show their support for the walkers. This year, we are introducing a ‘shoe-gram’ where anyone, whether male or female, can sponsor and pay for a man to walk in high heels for Walk-Awhile. Our volunteers will then deliver the shoe-gram and the recipient can then choose to accept and walk or graciously decline the invitation. Anyone interested in purchasing a shoe-gram can contact RCVCC at 485-7273.” Gerdes said. Monetary donations are also welcomed at www.rapecrisisonline.org. This website can also provide information about volunteer opportunities.

For men walking in high heels for the first time Gerdes offers some advice, “Move your hips and swing your arms for balance. Swing your arms. Do not flap them. You cannot fly, though with shoes like these you’ll feel like you can soar.

While standing still, place weight on heels using toes for balance. Don’t wobble. If you start to fall, fall gracefully and roll, shoes in the air. Do not break a heel. Do not take anyone down with you.”

To register, call the RCVCC at 485-7273 or fill out a registration form at https://www.facebook.com/pages/RCVCC-Walk-A-Mile-In-Her-Shoes/266266913408980. Registration costs $20 person but it is $10 for students. To include shoes is an extra $5. Registration includes a T-shirt, two admissions to the reception and two drink tickets. The student registration includes a T-shirt and one admission to the reception. The march starts on Hay St. and is on March 28. Check in is at 6 p.m. and the walk will begin at 7 p.m.

Photo: To raise awareness about domestic violence, participating men will walk a mile literally in “her” shoes, meaning high heels, on March 28.

Spanish dancing is known for its passion. The dancers not only demonstrate incredible skill, but also reveal their souls in their dance. It is an art form like no other, and people in the Fayetteville area will have an opportunity to experience it. Fayetteville State University (FSU) is set to host a performance by Flamenco Vivi Carlota Santana, a highly renowned dance group.

Flamenco Vivio, named after one of the founders, Carlota Santana, is one of the nations best and most respected Flamenco groups. It was founded in 1983 under a different name: The Spanish Dance Arts Company. The mission is still the same, though. Through incredible performances these dancers aim to promote the art of Flamenco, inspire the next generation of dancers and create new dances for both the audiences and the dancers to enjoy. They also reach out in arts education through Project Ole, which provides school-aged students across the nation with artistic experiences.

The performance at FSU features a unique mix of innovation that shows flamenco is a living art and traditional dance that promotes Hispanic heritage. “Flamenco is a centuries-old form of folk music and dance that originated in the Andalusia region of Spain. This performance by Flamenco Vivio features ‘classic’ flamenco dancing and music along with ‘new’ flamenco styles that show other musical and cultural influences. The entire family will enjoy an evening of music and dance by one of the world’s most respected flamenco groups,” says Earnest Lamb, the chair of the Fine Arts Series Committee at FSU.

So far the Fine Arts Series have brought a wide variety of dance troops to perform for Fayetteville audiences. African, ballet and modern dance have graced the Seabrook Stage in the past. The combination of the lively and theatrical nature of Flamenco and the skill of the Flamenco Vivio dancers will make this show a cant miss opportunity. “This group is celebrating 30 years of performing flamenco for audiences from around the world. We are lucky to have them stop by Fayetteville,” said Lamb.

Tremendous amounts of work go into organizing events such as this, but they are done in the interest of the entire community. Lamb explains by saying “The tag line for the Department of Performing and Fine Arts is ‘Building community through the arts.’ We hope to bring a diverse audience together, through this and all of our Fine Arts Series events, to experience something that might perhaps be new to them. The community should know that FSU has great fine art programming right here in their own backyard.”

Despite the hard work, Lamb also has a personal interest in bringing dancers to FSU’s stage, though he is not a dancer himself. “As chair of the Fine Arts Series Committee at FSU, I’m interested in bringing cultural events to campus and to the community that represent the range and scope of expressive arts from around the world. The committee hopes that introducing an art form to students or the community is a means to foster cultural understanding. I’m glad play a part in that,” he said.

Flamenco Vivio Carlota Santana: The Soul of Flamenco will be held in the Seabrook Auditorium at 7 p.m. on March 24th. Tickets are $10. Seabrook Auditorium is located at 1200 Murchison Rd. For more information visit http://www.uncfsu.edu/arts/fine-arts-series. Tickets are available for purchase online at etix.com.