A few days ago, we observed May Day, a celebration of spring. And, after a long and hard winter in many parts of the country, most of us are ready for sunshine, warmer temperatures and the hopefulness that spring always symbolizes. But as winter gives way to spring, we are also reminded that our lives have “seasons,” too — and it pays to be prepared for all of them. So, as you move into the “retirement season,” you’ll need to prepare for several possible challenges, including the following:

Outliving your resources — The idea of outliving one’s financial resources is certainly not one we want to face. In fact, in a poll of people ages 44 to 75 sponsored by Allianz Life Insurance, 61 percent said they fear depleting their assets more than they fear dying. The best way you can overcome anxiety about running out of money is to invest and plan. Contribute as much as you can afford to your IRA and 401(k) or other employer-sponsored retirement plan — and when your salary goes up over time, increase your contributions. As for the “plan” part, try to envision the type of lifestyle you want during retirement, and then estimate how much this lifestyle will cost. Once you reach retirement, you will also need to do some planning — specifically, you will need to calculate how much money you can afford to withdraw from your investments each year.

Becoming disabled — One-third of all people between the ages of 30 and 64 will become disabled at some point, according to the Health Insurance Association of America. If you became disabled, even temporarily, the loss of income could prove devastating to your financial security, and that of your family’s. To avoid this worrisome scenario, you may want to consider disability insurance. If your employer offers this coverage as an employee benefit, take it — but don’t assume it will be sufficient. Many times, an employer-sponsored disability policy will only cover a short-term disability and may have a long waiting period for benefits to kick in. Consequently you may need to purchase your own disability insurance policy to supplement your employer’s coverage.

Requiring long-term care — Unfortunately, many people eventually require some type of long-term care, whether that involves a stay in a nursing home or the assistance of a home health care aid. This type of care is expensive, and Medicare only covers part of it. Just how costly is long-term care? The national average for home health aide services is nearly $45,000 per year, and a private room in a nursing home is nearly $84,000 per year, according to a recent survey by Genworth, a financial security company. To meet long-term care costs, you could self-insure, but that might be prohibitively expensive. But failing to do anything about meeting long-term care costs could result in the need for your grown children or other family members to get involved in some fashion — and that is something you no doubt wish to avoid. Fortunately, you can find solutions. To learn about appropriate protection vehicles, consult with your financial advisor.

With some thoughtful planning, constant vigilance and timely action, you can meet all these challenges — and enjoy all the seasons of life in which you find yourself.

Photo: Planning for retirement can make unexpected changes much more manageable

When was the last time you discussed hot flashes in public? What about night sweats and mood swings? Well, grab your girlfriends, ladies. Menopause the Musicalis coming for one day only to the Crown Center on May 18. It’s a Chick Flick, live on stage!

The entire musical is set in a department store, where four women with seemingly nothing in common meet by chance over a black lace bra. From there, a friendship is formed that gives way to conversations about hot flashes, chocolate cravings, wrinkles and mood swings. The show is staged to classic tunes from the 60s, 70s and 80s and promises to have you dancing in the aisles.

It is estimated that nearly 11 million women have attended a performance since the 2001 opening in Orlando, Florida. Inspired by a hot flash and a bottle of wine, writer and producer Jeanie Linders created the show as a celebration of women who are on the brink of, in the middle of or have survived “The Change.”

Although the show’s message may seem a little “senior,” Ingrid Cole, one of the leading ladies of the show and winner of the 2012 Suzi Bass Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her portrayal as Rose in Gypsy with The Atlanta Lyrics Theatre, promises that people of all ages will love it- men, too. “Men love the show! This is why the show is so popular. It applies to everyone,” Cole says.

As an original show cast member, Cole was a bit surprised at first at how popular the show is, but not anymore. “We are all a little amazed at how this little show has exploded. But, it’s no surprise anymore that people have at least heard of it.”

Cole says she and her cast mates are having the best time touring with Menopause. “We get along really well and respect each other. You can see it on stage, too.”

The show is produced by GFour Productions, which has won more than 40 Tony Awards. Notable productions include The Book of Mormonand I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.

The show begins at 3 p.m. and runs for 90 minutes. Tickets range from $30 - $65 and are available online at Ticketmaster.com, in person at the Crown Center Box Office and all Ticketmaster outlets or by phone at 1.800.745.3000. Group discounts of 10+ are available by calling 888-686-8587 x 2. Additional service charges and fees may apply.

Menopause the Musicalhas entertained audiences in more than 450 U.S. cities, in a total of 15 countries and more than 300 international cities. Internationally, the show has been performed in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea and the United Kingdom.

Cole says, “You get in the room with a bunch of women who are celebrating the change and a magical thing happens. We feel like rock stars! Be prepared to laugh and have a good time! And, don’t we all need that?”For more information about the show, please visit www.menopausethemusical.com.

For more information about Ingrid Cole, please visit www.Ingridcole.com.

Heart disease is no laughing matter. It is the number one killer of women causing 1 in 3 deaths each year. That’s approximately one woman dying every minute. So, to support awareness of heart disease in women, The American Heart Association presents its Go Red for Women expo and luncheon on Tuesday, May 13, at the Highland Country Club from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. The Expo will take place from 9 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. and the luncheon will follow from 11:45 a.m.- 2 p.m. Support the cause and wear red attire for the event.

The keynote speaker is Maribeth Kuzmeski, MBA, author of seven books on entrepreneurial business growth, including The Connectors and And the Clients Went Wild!She is the president of the consulting and training firm, Red Zone Marketing. The title of her presentation is “Uniquely You! Standing Up and Standing Out!” Cardiologist Dr. Debbie Thomasson will also speak and will present a segment sponsored by FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital-Hoke Campus.

“Back in 2004, The American Heart Association noticed that heart disease claimed the lives of 500,000 American women every year and most of the research focused on the men,” said Debbie Thomasson, cardiologist and presenter at the event. “Women are caretakers and have a tendency to not take care of themselves and there is no one to take care of them.” Thomasson added that a campaign was launched and she has been involved with it since it launched.

The typical risk factors of heart disease are age, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, high cholesterol, and inactivity. “We are noticing that our children and teenagers are becoming less fit and have less cardiovascular fitness,” said Thomasson. “There is more childhood obesity and we know that obesity changes the way the heart functions.” Thomasson added that the American diet consists mainly of fast food which is low on vegetables. There is a guideline: eat five fruits and vegetables daily, walk 10 minutes a day, and sleep eight hours.

“I’m passionate about educating women locally because in our region, we have counties with some of the highest heart disease death rates in the state,” said Patty Collie, Vice-President and Financial Advisor, Morgan Stanley, and 2014 Chair of Sandhills Go Red For Women Campaign.

The Heart Health Expo will include vendor booths featuring health related products and services. Two breakout information sessions will be offered: “Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way — Adding Power to all Aspects of Your Life” hosted by Morgan Stanley and “Heart Healing through the Yogic Perspective” hosted by North State Bank Mortgage. A “Red PURSEonality” silent auction featuring original art pieces will add to the day’s fun and excitement.

“I am hoping to broaden the spectrum to include some things geared toward the younger women and some more innovative things we have to offer,” said Thomasson. “I hope it will be fun for everyone to listen.”

Local artist David McCune has made and donated 50 metal red dresses that will be on display around town to spark interest and the desire to learn more about heart health. Look for them around town. The dresses will be available for purchase at the luncheon.

Ticket cost is $75 and can be purchased online at www.goredforwomen-fayettevillenc.org. Tables of eight are available. Highland Country Club is located at 2381 Raeford Road.

Photo: The Go Red For Women Sandhills Region committee is excited about educating the public about heart health.

In 1956 Fayetteville became a home to an art form that dates back not only years, but centuries. It was in 1956 that the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra was formed. Since then, the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra has pursued the mission, “to entertain, educate, and inspire, by serving as a musical resource for all citizens of Fayetteville, N.C.”

Exposure to, and education about, symphonic music as well as assisting developing musicians are central parts of the commitment to the community by the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. Julia Atkins, Orchestra Personnel and Marketing Manager for the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, says that “we like to educate… you are always going to learn something, we believe in always continuing the educational flow.”

The orchestra furthers that effort with events like youth concerts for elementary aged students, Instrument Petting Zoos, and the Music Makers youth program. The orchestra also provides scholarships for music students through the Duenow Concerto Competition. The orchestra has also partnered with Cape Fear Regional Theatre and Cape Fear Botanical Garden on occasion as well.

The orchestra is led by conductor Dr. Fouad Fakhouri who has held the baton since 2004. Prior to joining the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, Fakhouri conducted orchestras internationally for over 20 years. He has also served in academia with terms at Methodist University, Pennsylvania State, and the University of North Texas as conductor and/or professor. He holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Composition as well as Masters Degrees in Orchestral Conducting and Music for Composition/Theory.

Each of the 70+ plus musicians that make up the four families of the orchestra; woodwinds, brass, strings, and percussion, has dedicated portions of their lives to the instruments they have chosen. Most all have received formal education in their respective instruments, some to Doctoral levels. According to Atkins, “all of the musicians are true professionals.”

On Thursday, May 8, at 7:30 p.m., the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra will perform the last concert of their Salon Series. St. John’s Episcopal Church, on Green Street, will play host to a night of Baroque music; a style of music that rose in popularity during the 1600s and 1700s and includes notable composers such as Bach, Vivaldi and Pachelbel. The show is billed as a “Brass Spectacular” and will feature two trumpets, strings, and harpsichord. Tickets are still available for the night of music that Atkins says will be “a very laid back atmosphere where anyone is welcome to come out and see what music was like back in the 1600s and 1700s.”

Memorial Day weekend the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra will partner with the Army Ground Forces Band from Fort Bragg for a “Symphonic Salute to the U.S. Armed Forces” featuring a variety of patriotic pieces of music. The concert is a return of the event that began last year and will be held at Festival Park on Sunday, May 25 at 7:30 p.m. Atkins describes the event as “a little more of an upbeat concert… it is outdoors, it’s free… bring your lawn chairs and your blankets. Round up your families and come in your patriotic gear.”

Find out more about the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra at www.fayettevillesymphony.org.

Photo: The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra has several concerts in the coming weeks, including one at Festival Park on May 25.

The Dogwood Festival: Fayetteville’s

Best Kept Secret

The Dogwood Festival is Fayetteville’s best kept secret, But it shouldn’t be. Congratulations are in order to Carrie King and the Dogwood Festival Committee under the direction of 2014 Chairman Brian Moore, who pulled off another successful event on a beautiful and near perfect weekend.

Tens of thousands of residents and visitors came to Fayetteville and enjoyed the entertainment and festive sights and sounds of Spring in Cumberland County. As good as it is, this award-winning event still has much untapped potential and King and her committee should not stop seeking par excellence.

One area of improvement that they should cultivate next year is marketing, branding and community awareness. We have an award-winning festival, so why not flaunt it? Especially, within the confines of our own county. The Dogwood Festival should lobby the city to allow city and countywide installation of banners, signs and flags promoting and celebrating the event. Honestly, this is no time for us to be shy. Besides, with everyone quick to point out Fayetteville’s flaws, crime statistics and social blemishes, we should take every opportunity to positively market and promote the Fayetteville community, its residents and quality of life.

The entertainment this year was again excellent and activities for the young and old abundant. My personal favorites were:

The 2014 Miss Fayetteville Dogwood Festival, where local youth compete to represent ourcommunity throughout the state and region.

The Hogs & Rags Motorcycle Rally. Now in its ninth year, Fayetteville’s Mayor Nat Robertson, and his wife Kim, led 325 vehicles in this year’s 225 mile rally that raised more than $15,000 for local community charities. It is the most fun a person can have on two wheels.

Last, and certainly not least, the near perfect finale to a wonderful Dogwood Festival weekend was The Festival of Keyboards presented by the Snyder Memorial Baptist Church Concert Series. This free concert showcased some of the most remarkable local talent as eight pianists under the direction of Snyder Music Academy director, Joy Cogswell, performed flawless arrangementsfeaturing spiritual, patriotic and ragtime numbers. The visual of four grand pianos played in unison added to the experience. The Keyboard Festival played to a full house of diverse and grateful residents. Grateful for the Dogwood Festival, grateful for our local leadership and grateful for our community. Does it get any better than this? It can, and it should.

In the meantime, let’s bang the drums loudly, promoting the positive aspects about our hometown. Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

When Michael Martin, the director of Cumberland Oratorio Singers, chose John Rutter’s Mass of the Children to close out this choral season, he had several reasons for doing so. He claims some of it was selfishness but it’s not likely that everyone would see his desire for Fayetteville to have a youth choir as selfish. Martin has been an advocate for choral music and music in general since he arrived in Fayetteville in 2008. Under his direction, the group has grown in membership and has partnered with several musical groups throughout the community, including the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra and the Fayetteville Symphonic Band. The Cumberland Oratorio Singers’ May 3 concert featuring John Rutter’s Mass of the Children is another example of musical collaboration and looks to be a good time for kids and grown ups alike.

“I heard this piece quite a few times. Rutter writes so well for the voice and it fits well for the local choir,” said Martin. “Combine that with the fact that I had never conducted it before and it just seemed like a good fit.”Martin knew that the Cumberland Oratorio Singers could carry their weight and invited the Cross Creek Chorale to join in the effort. From there, it was a matter of finding talented youth to perform. He reached out to several local schools, both public and private, in the community. Several responded bringing more than 50 youthful voices to the project. “Part of the reason for doing this is that I wanted to impress on people that a youth chorus is something this city needs,” said Martin. ”Charlotte has a good one, as do many other cities. I would like to see a community chorus for youth for the City of Fayetteville, too. I think Fayetteville needs one and I have impressed on the teachers that I think it is wonderful to watch students come together and sing something they otherwise would not be able to sing with adult professionals. I would be very happy if this causes someone to have the idea to start a youth chorus here.”

Martin pointed out that many times people enjoy singing in choirs as children but once they are out of school they move on to other things. “I really think that people should not think of music as something they did when they were a child,” said Martin. “I support technology and we need good consumers of music but that is not all we need to be. I try to bring the community together with events like this. You can’t buy this kind of experience and feel this kind of intergenerational experience from something you bought online. Those are things you can only get through experiences. This is not difficult. If you did it in your youth and it was a great experience, keep doing it.”

In bringing several age groups together for the event, Martin finds himself working with six schools that bring more than 50 voices to the production and the adults add more than 60. They range in age from 9 years old to 80 something. “We have every age accounted for from third and fourth grade to someone basking in their late retirement years,” said Martin. “It is truly intergenerational. It makes the music almost secondary.”

There are several parent/child partners participating in the concert. For many of the children it is just as muchfun to be doing something with their parents as it is to sing and perform on stage. Martin says this has been a positive experience for the performers so far, including his son, who will participate in the Mass of the Children. “He does well in the Fayetteville Academy Chorus and his teacher does a great job,” said Martin. “Part of it is that he is excited to be able to do something with me and I am enjoying that aspect of it, too.”

For Martin as well as many members of the Cumberland Oratorio Singers, the group is indeed about music, but that is just a piece of it. The music is what brings them together to share their passion, it is what they love to share with the community. That is what makes Fayetteville better — people sharing their passion and investing in their community. The Mass of the Children is on May 3 at 7:30 p.m. at Methodist University’s Reeves Auditorium. Visit http://www.singwithcos.org/ to find out more about the Cumberland Oratorio Singers and the Mass of the Children.

Photo: Several parent/child pairs are set to perform in the May 3 Cumberland Oratorio Singers’ production. Above, from left to right are Arline Porter with daughter Linda good, Dr. Michael Martin with son David, Donna Jo Mangus with daughter Jenna Jo, Jeanne Ennis with son Luke Ennis.

Fayetteville has always been a city of heroes, but what sets apart those who do and those who veg out on Taco Bell and Hulu Plus? Fitness. Come and join Fort Bragg’s Morale, Welfare, and Recreation along with Generation UCAN as they host the inaugural All-American Marathon. Answering the call for an official marathon, Fort Bragg and the City of Fayetteville have teamed up to bring this event to the All-American City. This fitness-based initiative aims to help active-duty military and citizens alike maintain a healthy lifestyle and inspire them with this annual event. Happening on May 4 at 6:30 a.m., the event consists of three separate races.

The full marathon, which will be 26.2 miles, runs from Festival Park in beautiful downtown Fayetteville, past the Iron Mike statue at the Airborne Special Operations Museum, up to Morganton Road, onto the All-American Freeway, through Fort Bragg and ends in the heart of the post at the Main Post Parade Field. The half marathon is known as the “Mike-to-Mike” and is 13.1 miles. It runs part of the same course that the full marathon runners take. However, after entering Fort Bragg, the full marathon runners will split off into a course that will lead them past the “Iron Mike” statue before reaching the Parade Field as well. Finally, the 5K is a 3.1, family-friendly run that welcomes strollers and walkers who just want to be a part of this event. Beginning and ending on the Parade Field, the 5K will remain on Fort Bragg.

After this event, all of the runners and volunteers will converge onto the Main Post Parade Field for a post-race celebration. All involved will enjoy food, drinks and live entertainment from the 82nd Airborne’s rock band. The U.S. Army Special Operations Parachute Demonstration Team, The Black Daggers, will perform a jump for the audience. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this amazing event.

The response from the community has been outstanding. Having advertised nationally as well as locally, MWR has registered more than 2,000 runners thus far. Brittney Vandermoere, assistant race director for MWR, said “We’re very excited with the turnout for the inaugural race. We have a lot of people signed up and need 1,200 volunteers.” The organization hopes to enlist the help of several people who can help facilitate the event by keeping runners hydrated and various other duties. The night before the race, as is customary, the Holiday Inn Bordeaux will host a pre-race pasta party with Olympian Meb Keflezighi for those about to race.

The cost to attend is only $11.95. The MWR hopes to have many people sign up to race and volunteer. The cost to register per person is only $25 for the 5k, $75 for the half marathon and $90 for the full marathon. Prices include entrance into the party, t-shirts and custom race medals for those who finish the full marathon in seven hours or the half marathon in four hours. Come join the MWR as they host the inaugural All-American Marathon. For more information or to register, visit www.mwr/allamericanmarathon.com.

Photo: Don’t miss Fayetteville’s first All-American Marathon

I like calling Fayetteville home. There’s nothing like walking the streets of Fayetteville and enjoying the beautiful ̀owers, landscape, people and lovely sights,until you look down to see trash and litter. On Saturday, May 3 at 9 a.m., Bobby Hurst and Fayetteville Beautiful will conduct its annual citywide cleanup beginning at the entrance to the MLK Freeway on Ramsey Street.

“Fayetteville Beautiful is an organized group of citizens who care about their environment and the physical appearance of their community,” said Hurst, chairman of Fayetteville Beautiful. “We were in the top five trashiest cities in the state of North Carolina, and our goal was to get as many citizens as possible to make a beautiful difference in our community.” Hurst added that they did a litter index of the city of Fayetteville to assess the litter in our city and we were a 2.98 on a scale of 1-4 which is pretty trashy.

Fayetteville Beautiful and Keep North Carolina Beautiful engage and support individuals and organizations to keep North Carolina beautiful. This project addresses three core issues: litter prevention, beautification and waste reduction. The nonprofit organization’s mission is to encourage citizens to create and maintain a cleaner and more beautiful Fayetteville. The results from the nine citywide cleanups include 9,444 volunteers who picked up 111 tons of litter along 216 miles of roadside in less than 3 hours. “Each cleanup we cover anywhere from 212 to 248 miles of roadside during that morning,” said Hurst. “Everybody is usually done within an hour to an hour and a half and that is pretty quick.” Hurst added that it does not take that long to pick up litter and the Parks and Recreation Crew pick up the orange bags that same day.

The organization has many projects that it has been a part of. It helped Cumberland County Schools when Ben Martin Elementary School was hit by the tornado. “We teamed up with the school system and purchased trees and bushes after the tornado hit,” said Hurst. “Some of our volunteers went out along with Parks and Recreation and planted them with the elementary students.” Hurst added that they have planted centipede at the North Carolina Veteran’s Park and at Cross Creek Park.

Some of the ways that you can keep Fayetteville beautiful include the following: use reusable containers, recycle bottles, cans, plastics, and paper, use trash containers with tightly fitted lids, adopt a street/site and keep it clean, discourage family and friends from littering, report litter violations, encourage public officials to enforce the litter laws, provide adequate trash and recycling containers and empty them often, support Fayetteville Beautiful with your donations, or volunteer for one of their many projects.

For more information, to make a donation, or if you would like to volunteer visit www.fayettevillebeautiful.com or call 433-1587.

Photo: Fayetteville Beautiful addresses three core issues: litter prevention, beautification, and waste reduction.

Political Correctness: Ruining America, Part 2

Warning! Notice to Readers: This article was conceived and written in good faith and, within the guidelines and framework of the U.S. Constitution as adopted by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. It officially became the law of the land on March 4, 1789. More specifically, I refer to the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights. That being said, the reader must be cognizant and confident that it was thoughtfully and respectfully composed without regard to race, religion or political affiliation. Any attempt to misdirect or misconstrue the intent of this editorial will be viewed as un-American and as a provoked and unwarranted attack on me personally as a domestic terrorist. The penalties could ultimately be severe for all Americans.

enate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada has produced a near perfect example of how people are using political correctness, threats and personal condemnations to suppress the views, rights and free speech of ordinary hard working Americans. It matters not what political party you support, this is a First Amendment threat and this kind of blatant, intolerant, illogical, venomous and disrespectful behavior on the part of our government should be a major concern of all American citizens.

The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

In this specific case, Senator Reid berates Nevada rancher, Cliven Bundy and those who rallied to support him domestic terrorists.Unbelievable. Terrorist? Are you kidding me? Our government didn’t even call Nidal Hasan a terrorist after he shot and killed 16 people and injured 30 at Fort Hood in 2009. That horrific ordeal was merely politically correct workplace violence.

Fast forward to last month when yet another uniformed soldier, Ivan Lopez, murdered three people and injured more than a dozen people again at Fort Hood. Neither of these psychos were terrorist. Oh yeah, we didn’t even have terrorist in Benghazi, yet, a capitalist cattle farmer with a century old family business of attending and herding cows in Nevada’s basic wilderness is labeled a threat to America and a domestic terrorist? Really?

What danger is the United States in? How unfortunate that Bundy must defend decades of family tradition from out-of-control government regulations and overreach. And, when literally hundreds of Americans came to Bundy’s support and confronted the officers of the Bureau of Land Management who had been harassing Bundy and his family to the point they actually confiscated his cattle and killed several valuable bulls out of spite. Hmmmmm? Well, do you think Bundy’s supporters were motivated? Yes. Were they fighting mad? Yes. Were that armed? You bet. Were they willing to shoot it out with the BLM and perhaps die in a range war over grazing rights. I honestly believe so. Luckily, BLM backed down and shortly thereafter released his cattle. No doubt from Reid’s comments, he was disappointed.

This incident could very well serve as a warning that our national government is pushing the American people too far and in the wrong direction. As I stated earlier, it makes no difference what color your are, what your religion is or what political convictions you have, the threat is real and the perception that government is becoming evil and our tangible rights as Americans are gradually dwindling away is widespread. This incident reflects the severity of the situation. It could also serve as a warning.

Currently, our government, 535 voting members of Congress has an approval rating of 9 percent. And, according to Gallup Polling that’s the lowest rating in 39 years. Why? Because of corruption, misplaced priorities and irresponsible leadership in a time when our nation is struggling with some major concerns and situations like: Russia, Syria, Edward Snowden, Benghazi, the IRS and NSA scandals, a failed immigration policy, the ongoing controversy over the disruptive Obamacare rollout and, last, but not least, $14 trillion in public debt.

Knowing this, how do you justify sending out armed government agents to suppress an American cattle farmer, steal his cows and then accuse those who resist and speak out of being domestic terrorists. How un-American. Shame, shame, shame on Harry Reid and the people in Nevada who elected him. It is out of control. This being the case, Congress should be lucky they have 9 percent.

Our lives will only improve when life in America improves. Poor, leadership affects us all. We need heroes. We need people of character, compassion and common sense running for office. As Americans, we get what we vote for, and, this is what we got! Will Clive Bundy’s Battle for the Cattle escalate in Nevada? We’ll see; however, one thing we do know, this incident has demonstrated that our fellow Americans are willing to take a stand and even lock and load against a governmnet that has forgotten it gets its power from the people.

As spring continues to tempt our region, Fayetteville is pulling out all of the stops to welcome the season with its annual celebration of spring that we all know as the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival. Held in the historic downtown and Festival Park, the three-day festival welcomes more than 200,000 visitors to the city center all with one thing in mind — having a good time.

The festival, which kicks off on Friday, April 26, features live music, a street fair, food, friendly competitions and a midway. As in year’s past, the festival has brought some of the top names in entertainment to the area, as well as giving local performers a chance to share their talent with visitors to the festival. This year is no exception.

On Friday, the festival opens with the Bloom and Boom Kick-off Party featuring southern rockers, The Marshall Tucker Band. The Marshall Tucker Band is a tried and true Southern rock band that meshes rock, blues, country and jazz.

From their first album in 1973, to their powerful stage presence today, The Marshall Tucker Band has played countless concert venues around the world, performing classics like “I Heard It In a Love Song,” “Can’t You See,” and “Fire on the Mountain.” A recent edition of GRAMMY magazine named The Marshall Tucker Band as one of the top 10 bands that “need no introduction.” After The Marshall Tucker Band takes the crowd on a trip down memory lane, the skies over Fayetteville will bloom with one of the best fireworks shows of the year. The Bloom & Boom Kickoff Party begins at 6 and ends at 10 p.m.

The festival remains true to its southern roots on Saturday night, when country icon John Michael Montgomery takes over the Festival Park stage.

Montgomery’s career caught fire in the ‘90s, when his romantic ballads owned the air waves, country dance clubs and weddings. Montgomery’s debut album Life’s a Dance, set the stage for his climb to the start. Montgomery’s string of successful hits include: “I Love the Way You Love Me,” “I Swear,” “Be My Baby tonight” and “Grundy County Auction.” The concert begins at 9 p.m.

On Sunday, the Festival Park stage will be filled from 1-4 p.m. and will feature a mini-beach music festival with music from Classic Soul, The Entertainers and Liquid Pleasure. Grab your partner and head down for an afternoon of dancing and fun.

The weekend is filled with other entertainment and events on various stages and entertainment areas. Check out the Street Fair Stage in the parking lot between Hay Street Church and the Cumberland County Library.

Saturday

Noon - 1:30 p.m. - Cape Fear Music Center Student Showcase

1:30-2:30 p.m. Seal the Deal

2:30-4:30 p.m. Cape Fear Music Center Student Showcase

4:30 - 6 p.m. Big Daddy DriveSunday

12:30-3:30 p.m. Cape Fear Music Center Student Showcase

3:30 - 6 p.m. Fayetteville Jazz Orchestra The CenturyLink Performance Area, located in the 100 block of Hay Street at the Market House, will also offer great entertainment.

Saturday

12:30-1 p.m. Shadows of the Fire Belly Dance

1-1:30 p.m. Musha Dojo

1:30-2 p.m. Shadows of the Fire Belly Dance

2 -2:30 p.m. Musha Dojo

2:30- 3 p.m. Kidsville Kids

3-3:30 p.m. Shadows of the Fire Belly Dance

3:30-4 p.m. Musha Dojo

4-4:30 p.m. Kidsville Kids

4:30-5 p.m. Yvette’s Dance

Sunday

12:30-1 p.m. Shadows of the Fire Belly Dance

1-1:30 p.m. Musha Dojo

1:30-2:30 p.m. Roland’s Dance

2:30 -3 p.m. Shadows of the Fire Belly Dance

2:30- 3 p.m. Musha Dojo

3:30 - 4 p.m. All American Fencing

4 - 4:30 p.m. Shadows of the Fire Belly Dance

4:30 - 5 p.m. Musha Dojo

5 - 5:30 p.m. Roland’s Dance

Disabled parking is designated in the Hay Street United Methodist Church parking lot and the Bank of America on Ray Avenue. Dowtown parking is available. Suggested areas include: Franklin Street Parking Deck, which is free weeknights and weekends, Cumberland County Courthouse, city lots on Person and Olde streets, Paid parking in the Masonic Lodge, Systel Parking lot and at the Up & Coming Weekly office at 208 Rowan Street.

No coolers, pets, weapons, bikes, roller blades or skateboards are allowed in Festival Park. The Dogwood Festival Committee has a zero tolerance for bad behavior.

Find out more about the Dogwood Festival at ww.faydogwoodfestival.com.

Photo: John Michael Montgomery headlines on Saturday night.

The Fayetteville Police and Fire Departments have taken up the mission to keep the residents of the City ofFayetteville as safe and secure as possible. They are always no farther away than a call to 9-1-1 and can be counted on to come to our aid at any time, day or night. The men and women that make up these departments put their lives on the line every day in an effort to protect us.

In the line of duty, situations often arise where the two, usually separate, departments have to work together to properly serve the public. As a result of this, the two departments have developed a camaraderie and bond between them; almost like siblings. As with any other pair of siblings, a rivalry can also form out of that closeness.

On April 26 from 12 to 4 p.m., Festival Park and The Dogwood Festival will play host to a competition between the two departments that has been dubbed The Battle of the Badges. Teams from each department compete in a series of challenges that test both squads physically, mentally and emotionally. Plates of chicken wings will be devoured, an obstacle course be conquered and the teams will go toe-to-toe in a match-up of strength and endurance that is the tug-of-war.

The event last year saw the Police Department escape with victory by the narrowest of margins. This year, the Fire Department will try to even the score with the Police Department. In the end, the team that is left standing will be named champion and have bragging rights for 2014.

Assistant Chief Richard Bradshaw of the Fayetteville Fire Department said that he expects the Battle of the Badges to, “showcase a lot of what we have to offer our community. We hope that the community recognizes what fine public safety organizations they have.”

When asked about a prediction for the event, Bradshaw was clear about his expectations, “The Fire Department is going to win. I have a group of very dedicated individuals that take pride in, and feel the pressure of, this competition… We want to walk away from the park that afternoon being the victor. I want their chief to have to cater to my chief. There is a lot of pride on the line. I want our guys to be able to say we won. We lost by one point last year due to a piece of equipment breaking; we feel like we owe them one.”

In addition to the competition, each department will have some of their best equipment on display for the community to see and interact with; Ladder trucks, SWAT gear and much more will all be onsite. Bradshaw said that the city will have on display, “some of the finest equipment in the state of North Carolina.”

The Fayetteville Police Department band, The Rollerz, will also perform for those in attendance.

Bradshaw summed up the event by saying, “We are both two very professional organizations. We hope the community sees that in us by our actions in this charity event. We all get along very well, it is all for fun and a good cause.”

The Givens Performing Arts Center, as part of its annual season will host The 4th Annual River People Music and Culture Fest.This is a gathering of both nationally-renowned and local artists that showcase American Indian music and culture. The performance will feature The Ulali Project known for its contributions to the soundtrack of the film Smoke Signals and their musical appearance on the Tonight Show. Charly Lowry, who is a member of Dark Water Rising, Layla Locklear, a member of Lakota John and Kin are local performers who will also perform.

One of the most exciting new performers this year is Star Nayea who has won multiple awards for her powerful and moving music. Nayea began her music career at an early age. It was born from struggle, but is incredibly positive. “When I was 5, I started with music because it made me feel uplifted, happy and, in a way, untouchable. When I was young I suffered abuse but the music saved me and enabled me to latch on to who I was truly supposed to be. I was adopted by a family of non-natives and they were abusive. The music removed me and healed me. I loved the way music made me feel and I knew that the rest of the world must have probably caught on,” she says.

Nayea uses her music as far more than entertainment. She uses it as a tool to reach out and help heal struggling Native people, children in particular. She brings the healing and uplifting power of music to the communities through music camps. She explains her approach by saying, “Not every native child will have my life, but sadly many native children who live on reservations have things that they are battling. Some have trouble at home, bullying at school, depression or families that are not functioning correctly. These problems are heavy on a child. Also in Indian Country we have a high rate of suicides, so I try to concentrate on communities that are reeling from suicide. Some of the communities are traditional and some are very religious, but despite differences, music is one thing that connects us all. It heals all and brings joy to all.”

During her performance, Nayea will be joined by a group of local Lumbee youth.

“I am coming to the community one week before the festival and working with the Lumbee youth. We will have a daily music camp where I will work with them on writing and recording.

“We will work together to craft one song. I wish we could do more, but we have limited time and I think it would be better for us all to join together to create one beautiful song that embodies who they are and what they want to say. Then they will get on stage and sing this song with me,” she said.

The festival is on April 26 at 6 p.m. at the Givens Performing Arts Center. The center is located at 1 University Drive in Pembroke. Children under five are free and tickets are $10 for adults or $5 for students with a valid ID. For more information visit www.unc.edu/gpac of call 910-521-6634.

Photo: Star Nayea, who has won multiple awards for her powerful and moving music, is set to perform at the event.

In a report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Jan. 10, Lung Cancer Incidence Trends Among Men and Women — United States, 2005–2009, it was stated that, “lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death and the second most commonly diagnosed cancer (excluding skin cancer) among men and women in the United States.” The report also stated that, “80–90 percent of lung cancers are attributed to cigarette smoking and secondhand smoke.”

It was through years of investigation that researchers were able to find the links between smoking and this particularly deadly form of cancer. Once those links were discovered and properly interpreted, educational programs were established, government regulations on tobacco products were instituted and society was able to reap the benefits of that new found knowledge.

According to CDC data published last year, from 2001-2010, the incidence and mortality rates of Lung Cancer patients steadily decreased year after year. Prevention programs can be credited with much of that success. Even though lung cancer continues to trend at the top of the charts as being a truly deadly form of cancer, victories like the one seen in the declines in diagnosis and death are to be celebrated.

Despite the positives seen in the statistics, lung cancer is still a very serious threat. The American Lung Association states on its online Lung Cancer Fact Sheet that, “approximately 399,431 Americans are living with lung cancer. During 2014, an estimated 224,210 new cases of lung cancer are expected to be diagnosed.” To put that into perspective, that would be equivalent to every single person in Cumberland County already having lung cancer with every single person in Harnett and Robeson Counties soon to be diagnosed. The American Lung Association website states that once a patient is diagnosed, that “over half of the people with lung cancer die within one year of being diagnosed.”

The National Institutes for Health currently lists 5,014 ongoing clinical studies regarding lung cancer. Those trials carry the hope for a cure and more effective treatments within them. The hope that those trials can provide requires large amounts of financial support and resources in order to be successful.

The NIH currently lists lung cancer research funding as coming in fifth behind Breast, Prostate, Colo-Rectal and Brain cancer research. This funding disparity is in spite of lung cancer being responsible for more deaths, from 2001-2010, than breast and prostate cancer combined.

To help raise awareness of the needs of those who are battling lung cancer, either as a patient or researcher, the Lung Cancer Initiative of North Carolina will hold its second annual Evening of Hope Gala at the Hope Mills Shrine Club on Saturday, May 3. The semi-formal event will consist of drinks, food, music, a silent auction and a Chinese raffle. The proceeds from the event will benefit the Lung Cancer Initiative of North Carolina and its mission, “to decrease deaths and provide support to those affected by lung cancer through research, awareness, education and access programs across North Carolina.”

More information is available online at www.LungCancerInitiativeNC.org.

Funnel cakes, carnival rides and the children’s jump tower can only mean one thing; it’s time for the 22nd Annual Children’s Fest! The fest will open at the Fort Bragg Fairgrounds on April 26. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission is $8 for access to carnival rides and prize drawings; adults and children under 36” are free. The event is open to the public.

The first 500 children to attend will receive a free T-shirt.

The Fort Bragg Fairgrounds are located off Bragg Boulevard across from Stryker Golf Course. Admission through a checkpoint is not required.

Attendees will enjoy children’s carnival rides, a children’s jump tower, climbing wall, face painting, as well as Pallabar the Clown and the Fort Bragg Fire Engine. Activities are planned throughout the day for children of all ages.

A large tented area with various toddler-friendly activities appropriately named, Toddlerville, will also be available for the young festival attendees. “Activities in the Toddlerville tent will give parents a unique opportunity to get involved in their children’s world for a day and experience some of the activities the children do while attending their Child Development Center during the week. Children will have the chance to show their parents how to play and have fun,” said Dorene Jenkins, Fort Bragg Child Youth and School Services outreach director.

Food vendors will be on hand with everything from hot dogs to funnel cakes. Drawings for prizes will take place throughout the day.

The Month of the Military Child was created in 1986 by former Defense Secretary Casper Weinberger to highlight the importance children play in the Armed Forces community. From deployments to new schools, military children face unique challenges that civilian children their age do not. The recognition of this month is meant to celebrate the resilience and strength of military children in dealing with these difficult aspects of military life.

Event Coordinator Gudrun Blackmon says, “For the past 21 years, Fort Bragg Child, Youth and School Services (has culminated April’s activities with the Children’s Fest. Historically, 3,000-3,500 people attend. In addition to age-appropriate carnival rides, the most popular activities have been the Kiddie Jump Tower and military static displays.”

On Tuesday, April 15,people were asked to wear purple in support and appreciation of military children. Purple is the color that represents all branches of the military, as it is the combination of Army green, Coast Guard blue, Air Force blue and Marine red and navy blue.

Blackmon says, “The event would not be as successful as it always is without the unselfish support and assistance of the Fort Bragg Special Events Team, the Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation Marketing Team, the outstanding sponsors in the Fort Bragg and Fayetteville area and most of all, the outstanding support from our Soldiers.

For more information about Children’s Fest, please call 910-396-8110 or 910-396-5128.

North Carolina is rich in history. A visit to the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum orNorth Carolina Veterans Park will convince you of that in just a matter of minutes. North Carolina also boasts of some well-known personalities like Andy Griffith, Elizabeth Dole and Michael Jordan. Another personality familiar to North Carolina is Jason Michael Carroll who performed at Festival Park this past summer.

Carroll, the son of a preacher, grew up in Youngsville, N.C., in Franklin County — not far from Raleigh. He is probably best known for his debut single, “Alyssa Lies.” “Alyssa Lies” is a song about abuse. In an interview, Carroll said he felt led to write the song but it still took almost three years to craft it to his satisfaction. He understood it was an important message and wanted to perfect it as best he could. Unfortunately, it is difficult to perfect something that is far from perfect itself. Carroll said the song was so emotionally painful that he got migraines while writing.

“Alyssa Lies” is based on a true story of a little girl that wasn’t saved in time. As the song evolves, the listener realizes the narrator’s daughter met a friend at school named Alyssa, who is suffering from abuse. To explain her injuries, Alyssa lies to the teachers and classmates, so as not to implicate her abuser. As the narrator’s daughter explains all this, she then asks why Alyssa lies about her situation.

Eventually, the father (narrator) of the little girl, after hearing her pray one night for Alyssa’s safety, decides to report the suspected abuse at school. However, when they get to school on Monday, it is too late.

This is too many times the case. Concerned people act too late.

Crime and behavioral studies have long cited child abuse for its devastating impact on society. Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) statistics are startling as well. According to the Fourth National Incidence Study of Child Abuse & Neglect:

• 95 percent of abuse is by someone the child knows and trusts.

• 73 percent of children don’t tell anyone until well after the abuse has occurred, if they tell at all.

• Statistically, approximately 500,000 babies born in the U.S. each year will be sexually abused before they reach age 18.

For those reasons and many more, Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation (FCPR) joined hands with the Child Advocacy Center of Fayetteville to protect children and stop abuse.

The partnership provides many benefits to both organizations and the Fayetteville-Cumberland community. One benefit of the partnership is training. The Child Advocacy Center’s training curriculum points out that CSA is pervasive in a society where it is repressed and not discussed. Thousands of organizations across the U.S. and Canada are now seeking out a dialogue for prevention and they are sending this message to parents and their communities.

When a parent leaves their child in FCPR’s care, they are entrusting to us their most prized and cherished possession. We take that responsibility very seriously. So seriously, that FCPR has sought after and achieved “Partner in Prevention” status; a nationally-recognized public standard to end child sexual abuse.

The designation was awarded for FCPR’s commitment to protecting children by training 100-percent of its full-time recreation staff on how to prevent, recognize the signs and react responsibly to CSA.

By partnering with the Child Advocacy Center, FCPR hopes to heighten community awareness of CSA. Please accept this as your personal invitation to join the fight as well. Our children need us. Youth can be empowered with awareness and choice, but the real responsibility for protecting children must be shouldered by the adults.

Don’t wait. You can receive the same training as the staff at FCPR. To learn more about CSA prevention and training, please contact our friends at the Child Advocacy Center of Fayetteville. With your help, we can make North Carolina well-known for yet another reason; protecting our most cherished resource — our children.

FTCC’s Continuing Education Division is constantly striving to meet the training needs and interests of our community by developing new courses and providing new locations that are convenient for our students. We are excited to announce a new program for 2014, Natural Hair Care, at our newest location, Tallywood Shopping Center on Raeford Road.

The Natural Hair Care Program is a 300-hour course that prepares students for licensure as a Natural Hair Care Specialist. Students will learn the techniques of hair braiding, locking, weaving and styling. Upon completion of the course, students must pass the state exam and pay the license fee to become a licensed Natural Hair Care Specialist.

In addition to the Natural Hair Care Program, FTCC will also offer classes at Tallywood in Esthetics and Skin Care and Manicuring and Nail Technology.

The 600-hour Esthetics and Skin Care Program provides future skincare specialists with the practical skills and knowledge necessary for success in the salon/spa industry. Students will learn how to perform popular esthetic services, such as facials, waxing and body treatments. This program prepares the students for the North Carolina State Cosmetic Arts Licensing Exam.

Nail care is one of the hottest specialties in the beauty profession today! The Manicuring and Nail Technology state-approved 300-hour course develops skills in all facets of manicuring, pedicures, nail extensions and artificial nails. This program prepares the students for the North Carolina State Cosmetic Arts Licensing Exam.

Students are taught by qualified, state-licensed instructors and gain their knowledge and skills through classroom instruction and practical application. In addition, our students will have the opportunity to provide their services to clients at a discounted fee!

Students are responsible for the FTCC registration fee, cost of textbooks, a program kit and their uniforms. Day and evening classes are offered for all three programs. Due to class size limits, pre-registration is strongly encouraged. For more information about upcoming class dates, times and fees, call Kimberly Allen, business services coordinator, at 678-0033.

Don’t delay; begin a new career today! Learn more about this program and about FTCC by visiting our website at www.faytechcc.edu. Or visit us in person! We have three campus locations: Fayetteville, Spring Lake and on Fort Bragg.

Photo: FTCC  offers natural hair care, esthetics and skin care programs.

Political Correctness: Ruining America

… and the American way of life. I’m not just pontificating, I believe this and experience it almost every day here in Fayetteville and so do you.

As despicable as it is, extreme political correctness has woven its way into almost every aspect of our daily lives. We live our lives guarded, walking on egg shells, careful not to say anything or do anything that would be interpreted as “offensive,” or not PC, out of fear of being slandered or labeled a bigot, racist, sued or both. I think this extreme PC is un-American, contrary to our core values and beliefs and is developing into a blatant attempt to stifle our First Amendment rights.

Good, decent people are afraid to speak out and step up into local, state and national leadership positions because they do not want to deal with the nastiness of those who simply disagree with their opinions. Sad. The people brandishing the PC iron are desperate and try to obtain some advantage point for the sole purpose of personal gain or gaming the system. Fortunately, these posers are usually easy to find and identify, as they are vociferous in nature, wrapped in hypocrisy, masters of subversion, advocates for the intangible and achievers of nothing. Hmmmm? Not necessarily the kind of distractions Fayetteville needs as we attempt to fight crime, improve our economic conditions and address the other priorities we have recently identified.

When did everything in our lives become so complicated and political? When did everything become racial? When did we begin judging each other by the net sum of our assets? When did we become so divisive? And, when will it stop? My political views are pretty much middle of the road, especially when it comes to the hot topics of the day: ObamaCare, gun control, gay rights, abortion, immigration and amnesty.

Now, we are in a danger zone with this extreme PC and I, for one, am not comfortable having other people and organizations judging my character or plotting my future based on their values and political convictions. Good people must speak up and speak out to reverse this hideous trend. We need leadership at all levels to challenge this hyper-political correctness and remind us that we are all Americans.

Best regards and thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

  It’s not too late to adopt a duck for the 4th Annual Fayetteville Duck Derby on May 3. The grand prize is a 2014 Toyota Scion XD. There will be prizes for second and third place, as well. In the end, everyone wins because the money raised goes right back into the community.

As the big day approaches, Ducky is on the move visiting local schools and businesses to spread the word about The Duck Derby.

“The Quack Attack Tour is active and in full effect,” said Brandon Price, event spokesperson. “Quacky has been to Chick-fil-A, J.W. Coone Elementary School, Mary McArthur Elementary, Long Hill Elementary and he is going to the Special Olympics. He’s been at the North Carolina welcome centers at the Virginia border and in Lumberton. Quacky is all over the place — look out for him.”

One of the things that makes this event different from other fundraisers is that it benefits so many local organizations. Fayetteville Urban Ministry hosts the event, organizes the activities and manages the duck adoptions, but there are many nonprofits that have signed up to participate and to raise money for their causes.

To participate in The Duck Derby, the public is invited to visit www.duckrace.com/fayettevilleduckderby and adopt a duck. If you want to be sure that your adoption helps a particular organization, once you click the “adopt a duck now” button, click on the “teams” tab and choose a team or teams to support.

This year, the Cumberland County Schools system is participating, which gives the community an opportunity to support a particular school or schools. Several participating schools are sponsoring fun events to get kids and families excited about The Duck Derby. “Some of the uniform schools are allowing a dress down day for students if parents buy a duck and some of the schools are holding classroom competitions,” said Price. “The class that sells the most ducks will get a Quack Attack from Ducky during lunch.

”Price sees the Cumberland County Schools’ participation as a great fit because the big day features so many kid-friendly events. “It will be all about kids this year at The Duck Derby,” said Price. “We are going to have games set up — much like a field day. There will be a lot of Zumba and a band called 45 rpm will perform. It is an all-girl band.”

There will be live entertainment, food vendors and a Kids Zone where youngsters can play and enjoy activitiesfor free. Many of the nonprofit teams will be there to share information about their causes and to answer questions. The event starts at noon and ends at 3 p.m. The Corporate Duck Race is at 2 p.m. and is followed by the main event.It costs just $5 to adopt a duck. If you choose to support a team, the team will receive $1for each duck adopted under the team. At the main event all of the adopted ducks are dropped into the Cape Fear River. The first duck to cross the finish line wins and the person that adopted this duck will get the grand prize. Companies are invited to adopt ducks for the corporate race, as well.

Proceeds from this event that go to Fayetteville Urban Ministry are used to support the outreach programs at the organization. Fayetteville Urban Ministry is built around four programs: Adult Literacy Program, Emergency Assistance Program, Find-A-Friend Program, and Nehemiah Home Repairs Program. The organization serves people from all types of backgrounds. It serves a number of veterans, active military service members, single parents, grandparents, dual parent households, and the list goes on. Not everyone it serves is poor or a single parent. Many of the people Fayetteville Urban Ministry serves are in crisis, or they moved to the area due to natural disasters. Fayetteville Urban Ministry is a place people come to when they need help. The programs are designed to give a hand up not a hand out and continue to exist because people continue to support the organization and events like the Fayetteville Duck Derby. Whether it is teaching someone how to read, tutoring or mentoring a child, helping with food or clothing, or helping to make homes safer, Fayetteville Urban Ministry does it 100 percent free of charge. While the need is great and sometimes resources are scarce, the staff at Fayetteville Urban Ministry knows that no one can do everything, but everyone can do something.

Find out more about Fayettville Urban Ministry at www.fayurbmin.org. Sign up a corporate team or purchase ducks at www.fayettevilleduckderby.com. It costs just $5 to adopt a duck and the money goes right back to the community. There is still time to schedule Quacky for a visit, too.

Photo: On May 3, thousands of ducks will race down the Cape Fear River to support local nonprofits.

We have all seen the movies and television shows that depict Civil War amputations performed by bloody, dirty and sweaty men in a tent or on the back of a wagon. Most times the men being operated on are provided a shot or two of whiskey and then given a stick or strap of leather to bite down on before the surgeon begins to remove the afflicted limb. Hollywood has shown time after time that field medicine during the Civil War was crude by today’s standards. Or was it?

According to Dr. Matt Farina, a retired pediatric cardiologist and Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Albany Medical College in Albany, N.Y., “Civil War medicine has been described as the three Bs; butchery, barbaric and brutal. The Civil War was really a home to medical advancement. Widespread use of anesthesia, the ambulance corps and emergency triage all come out of the Civil War. The field of American nursing was also greatly impacted by the Civil War. Effective pharmacology, orthopedics, prosthetics and clinical cardiology all come out of the American Civil War.”

Farina is an authority on the Civil War and how it has shaped modern medicine. His perspective and expertise are the result of a love of military history coupled with his training as a physician and years of independent research. His passion for the Civil War came from a series of battlefield tours that he went on with his wife during the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. Since that time, he has researched and learned all that he can about the Civil War’s impact on modern medicine. He has joined and spoken at Civil War Round tables locally and in the northeast.

On Sunday, April 27, at 2 p.m., Dr. Farina will present Civil War Medicine: Myth and Reality at the Museum of the Cape Fear. The program is hosted in conjunction with the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of North Carolina in the Civil War. This event is sponsored by the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources and is free and open to the public.

Farina’s presentation will be a visually interactive discussion complete with period medical items and an amputation kit that he has recreated to demonstrate the tools of the day. His talk will be about many of the commonly held myths regarding Civil War medicine. One of those myths is that surgeries of the time were done without any anesthetic on men who were in screaming pain. According to Dr. Farina, “most were performed after the patient was given chloroform or ether.”

The discussion also includes how the change in weaponry from the smooth bore musket to the rifled musket resulted in an increase in battlefield amputations and the development of vascular surgical techniques. Notable individuals from the medical community during the time period will be discussed, namely Dr. Samuel Preston Moore who served as the Confederate Surgeon General throughout most of the war and is responsible for many of the advancements in medicine.

More information about the presentation is available online at www.NCDCR.gov/NCMCF/Events or call the Museum of the Cape Fear at 486-1330.

Photo: Medical practices during the Civil War were often different than most people would expect.

On Friday, April 18, The Crown Coliseum plays host to Grammy-Award-winning country music artist Darius Rucker and the True Believers Tour. Rucker will take the stage to perform the hits from his third Country album, True Believers.

The most popular single from the album, “Wagon Wheel,” is his interpretation of the song that was originally started by music legend Bob Dylan and finished by the Old Crow Medicine Show. “Wagon Wheel” quickly rose to number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Country Music Songs when it was released last year.

Rucker’s current single from the album, “Miss You,” was released on Feb. 4 and is currently working its way up the charts.

True Believers is another sales success for Rucker having achieved Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) Certified Gold status with sales of almost half a million records to date.

Jim Grafstrom Jr., general manager of the Crown Complex, expressed his pride in the upcoming show, “to have Darius here in the Carolinas where he calls home … we couldn’t be more excited to have him.” When asked about the crowd that he expects Grafstrom said, “We are very happy with the turnout for the show, but there are still great seats available. We certainly feel that we are going to have a great night here in Fayetteville, with Darius Rucker.”

Rucker is one of the most popular country music performers touring today, but that is not where his story starts. He first achieved success as a member of the rock band Hootie and the Blowfish. Their debut album, Cracked Rear View is one of the top 20 best-selling albums of all time, having reached RIAA Certified Platinum status 16 times. In 2008, the band went on hiatus so that Rucker could try his hand at a solo career.

Since going solo in 2008, Rucker has reinvented his musical career by releasing three country music albums:

The first album, Learn to Live, quickly reached Platinum status based on the popularity of three singles from the album that all reached number 1 on the Billboard Country Music charts.

The second album, Charleston, SC 1966, reached number 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums based on the success of three singles, two of which reached number 1 on the Country charts.

In addition to Rucker, fans will also get to see the 2012 Academy of Country Music Song of the Year winner, the Eli Young Band and acclaimed independent artist Corey Smith.

The Eli Young Band is currently performing music from its Billboard chart-topping album 10,000 Towns. Singles “Crazy Girl,” “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” and “Drunk Last Night” have given the group their three biggest successes, based on chart positions. In addition to their 2012 ACM Song of the Year win for “Crazy Girl”, the group has been nominated for more than 15 other awards since 2009.

Corey Smith is an independent artist that has found great success in making music on his own. He has purposefully stayed away from the major labels in order to allow himself to stay true to his art. Smith says, “I feel like I owe it to my fans … I owe it to my family and my community to be honest. I am not going to give in to the temptation of sacrificing art to get popularity.”

Photo: Country Music singer Darius Rucker takes the stage at the Crown on April 18.

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.