Local News

Aging graciously: Fayetteville's Senior Centers

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Tuesday, 28 May 2024

Written by Lena Simmons

“Getting older means you are more alive. More vitality, more interest, more intelligence, more grace, and more expansion,” said actress Jamie Lee Curtis.

The citizens of Fayetteville gave themselves a gift with a 2016 voter-approved Parks and Recreation Bond Project. The 9.2-million-dollar Senior Center East, 917 Washington Drive, Fayetteville, opened for older adults fifty-five plus on May 6. The facility consists of a warm water pool, fitness and exercise room, two racquet ball courts, a multipurpose room, library, billiard room, indoor and outdoor lounge areas, locker rooms, a card room and a kitchen. The interior square footage is 15,360 with a covered patio of an additional 2850 feet according to City of Fayetteville Marketing and Communications.
“The older adults can participate in diverse activities inclusive of physical and mental health programs. There is the availability of space for community group meetings and athletic events. Free transportation will be available for older persons fifty-five years plus. Transportation to Senior Center East is also available by FASTtrac, a program by the Fayetteville Area System of Rapid Transit,” according to City of Fayetteville Marketing and Communications.
The Senior Center East is a significant part of the economic growth of Fayetteville. “Senior Center East is just one transformation along the Murchison Road Corridor. The Center is within walking distance of Fayetteville State University. It is a short distance from Martin Luther King Jr Park and the growing gateway plaza near the intersection of Murchison Road, Bragg Boulevard, and Rowan St.,” states City of Fayetteville Marketing and Communications.
The Ribbon Cutting for Senior Center East was an emotional day on May 3. Past and present city council members, Darrell T. Allison, Chancellor of Fayetteville State University, and other public officials attended the event.
Mayor Mitch Colvin shared at the Ribbon Cutting, “Our Seniors are the heart and soul of our community. They have dedicated their lives to building our city, to nurturing and raising families, and to contributing in so many ways to the outcomes of what we see today. Senior Center East is one example of our commitment to ensuring our Seniors have fulfilling active lives.”
The older adults of Fayetteville and especially citizens living in the Murchison Road Corridor view the Senior Center East as a blessing.
“The Senior Center East is a beautiful addition to the Fayetteville community. I am proud to be a Senior, to be able to take advantage of the many health information updates, community resources and activities at the Center. Many Seniors will be blessed to participate in the Senior Center East outreach endeavors,” states Patricia Leach, Mt Sinai Missionary Baptist Church.
Older adults having a safe haven is an important concern.
“The opening of the Senior Center East is a proud day for Fayetteville citizens. This building is beautiful and offers a safe haven for seniors,” shares Karen Justice, Mt Sinai Missionary Baptist Church.
Bill Crisp Senior Center opened in October 2022. It was named in honor of the late and former Council person Bill Crisp.
“He was known as the “Dean” of Council and served District 6 for six consecutive terms. He expressed the vision of a senior center overlooking Lake Rim,” according to Fayetteville Marketing and Communications.
Bill Crisp Senior Center is located on 7560 Raeford Road. The facility has an open lobby, warm water pool, fitness rooms, lounge areas, multipurpose rooms, open spaces, dance studios, locker rooms and is in close proximity to Lake Rim and Fall Hikes. The center can service the western area of the city.
“The Center programs have better health screening, bingo, workshops, charcuterie board creation, chess, book clubs, crafts, diner’s club, card games, dominos, Fabulous After Fifty, Bible study, walking club, jigsaw puzzle time, recipes, and technology seminars,“ according to the Bill Crisp Senior Center site.
Bill Crisp Senior Center and Senior Center East were funded by the Fayetteville Parks and Recreation voter-approved bond of 2016.
“The longer you live, the more beautiful life becomes,” stated renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Fayetteville’s state-of-the-art Senior Centers for persons fifty-five and older add wellness, health, and positive interaction to create a beautiful life. The Bill Crisp Center can be reached by calling 910-433-1248. Senior Center East can be reached by calling 910-433-1574.

(Photos: Top and above: Fayetteville's Senior Center East is the newest senior center to open in Fayetteville. Boasting a warm therapy pool, billiards room, racquet ball courts, a library, and more, the Senior Center East is the latest place for people over fifty-five in the Fayetteville community to gather. Photos by Lena Simmons)

SUN Bucks Food Program to feed children over Summer

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Tuesday, 28 May 2024

Written by Dr. Shanessa Fenner

Children are a precious thing. As an elementary school principal, I am always worried about their sweet faces and the many adversities they may encounter such as pedophile stranger danger, water safety, abuse and/or neglect and laced gummies. But the most important one of all is having an adequate and consistent amount of food in their homes during the summer months.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has partnered with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to ensure North Carolina school children are fed.
This summer, a new program, known as “SUN Bucks,” is expected to provide food for nearly a million school children in North Carolina. Most children will automatically qualify if they are eligible for the following programs: free and reduced-price meals, Food and Nutrition Services, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and if they receive NC Medicaid benefits and have a household income below 185% of the federal poverty level. Some families will have to apply for the new SUN Bucks program.
Families who qualify will receive a one-time payment of $120 per eligible child for the summer period. SUN Bucks will be given to families on debit-like EBT cards for families to purchase groceries at retailers that accept EBT, including most major grocery stores in North Carolina.
Please make sure your contact information is updated at your child’s school and your local Department of Social Services so you will not miss out on this beneficial program. If you receive a call, email or text from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services do not disregard it.
Visit https://www.ncdhhs.gov/sunbucks or call 1-866-719-0141 for eligibility criteria and other information.

New leadership at United Way, PWC's Customer Division; Crown Center sees design update

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Tuesday, 28 May 2024

Written by Staff Report

United Way announces new Executive Director

United Way of Cumberland County is pleased to announce the appointment of Scott Embry as its new Executive Director. Scott Embry brings to the organization a wealth of expertise and a robust track record of leadership in sales and marketing, qualities that are invaluable as we strive to enhance our community impact.
Embry's previous leadership roles, including Director of Advertising at the Fayetteville Observer, have equipped him with a deep understanding of strategic partnership development, team building, and, most importantly, a passion for community service. This passion and his strategic acumen will be crucial as they forge ahead with the goals of improving education, financial stability, and health within our community.
"As the new Executive Director of the United Way of Cumberland County, I am honored and excited to serve this incredible community. I look forward to building on the impactful work of my predecessors and working together to create a brighter future for all," said Embry.
As Embry is welcomed into this pivotal role, United Way of Cumberland County is enthusiastic about the fresh perspectives he brings and his unwavering commitment to fostering a vibrant community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. His dedication to the values and proven leadership abilities make him an exceptional leader for the organization as they continue addressing the most pressing challenges facing our community.
Please join in welcoming Scott Embry to his new role. He is eager to connect with the community and can be reached at scottembry@unitedway-cc.org or 910-483-1179 x 222. (Photo:Scott Embry is United Way of Cumberland County's new Executive Directory. Photo courtesy of United Way of Cumberland County)

 New leadership to lead PWC’s Customer Division

Carolyn Justice-Hinson has been named the new Chief Customer Officer for the Fayetteville Public Works Commission. Justice-Hinson will be leading the Customer Division, which includes Customer Service, Billing and Collections, Customer Programs, Development & Marketing, and Metering Services. She began her duties as the Chief Customer Officer in the beginning of April.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to lead the Customer Division,” said Justice-Hinson, Chief Customer Officer for PWC. “During my time at PWC, the needs of our customers have always come first. Working in the Customer Division, I look forward to the opportunity to have a more direct impact in helping our customers and leading a high-performing customer service team.”
Justice-Hinson joined PWC in 1997 when she established PWC’s first Public Information Office. In 2012, she joined PWC’s executive team as one of PWC’s first female executive officers when she was named the Communications/Community Relations Officer. Justice-Hinson is a past Chair of the American Public Power Association’s Public Communication Section, Past Chair of the Methodist University Board of Visitors, and the Cumberland County Air Quality Stakeholders. She currently serves on the United Way of Cumberland County’s Board of Directors and Development Committee, is a member of the Women’s Giving Circle, and is President-Elect for the Rotary Club of Fayetteville.
“When I joined PWC last year, I quickly noticed Carolyn Justice-Hinson’s passion for serving our customers and our community,” said Timothy Bryant, CEO/General Manager of Fayetteville PWC. “She embodies all of PWC’s Core Values of Appreciating and Respecting People, Being Safe, Commitment to Excellence and Doing What’s Right. She is the obvious leader for the Customer Division and their important responsibility of serving our customers.”
PWC’s Customer Division is responsible for serving more than 122,000 electric, water, and wastewater customers with 75% of customers having two or more PWC services. Last year, PWC’s customer service had 495,136 customer contacts and averaged answering more than 32,000 calls a month. The Customer Division generated 1.4 million bills last year. (Photo: Carolyn Justice-Hinson is taking over as Chief Customer Officer for PWC. Photo courtesy of PWC)

Crown Event Center Committee receives 100% design update

 The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners Crown Event Center Committee received a presentation Monday from the Project Delivery Team that included updated renderings of what the new facility’s exterior will look like, as well as renderings of the building’s interior spaces.
The presentation follows the completion of the 100% Design Development package, which will allow for the Project Delivery Team to obtain updated pricing and move into the development of construction documents prior to permitting and the start of construction.
Bill Koonz, Regional Director with project architect EwingCole, shared updated images of the Crown Event Center, which will be constructed in downtown Fayetteville in front of the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse and will replace the existing Crown Theatre and Arena. The presentation included updated renderings of the building exterior from multiple directions, with both daylight and night views. Interior renderings included images from multiple angles of the lobby during both day and night, the multipurpose room and adjacent pre-function area, VIP spaces including an outdoor rooftop terrace, and views from different levels within the three-story main event hall.
Koonz also shared that the Project Delivery Team has worked to keep the design within the Board of Commissioners’ approved project budget of $144.5 million and that the project is still on pace for completion in early 2027. He said the current plan is to break ground on the new facility, including sitework and demolition, in September followed by an early structural package.
Koonz indicated the Project Delivery Team will return to the Committee in mid-June to present the design development cost model, the approval of which will allow the project to continue moving forward with development of construction documents.
In addition to receiving the 100% Design Development update, the Committee also approved the Proposed Prequalification Process for all Tier 1 Subcontractors for the new facility. The process will allow for the evaluation of potential bidders on the project, assuring they have the experience and capacity needed to participate, and is conducted in accordance with State statute and County policy. Following the Committee’s approval, the item was presented during the Board of Commissioners’ May 20, 2024 Regular Meeting where it was approved unanimously.
The Crown Event Center Committee is comprised of Cumberland County Commissioner Jimmy Keefe, who chairs the Committee, Board Chairman Glenn Adams and Commissioner Jeannette Council, along with Cumberland County Civic Center Commission Chairman McBryde Grannis, who serves in an ex officio capacity. The Project Delivery Team is made up of County staff, and staff from the County’s owner’s representative MBP Carolinas, project architect EwingCole, construction manager at risk TA Loving/Metcon and Crown Complex Manager OakViewGroup.
For more information on the Crown Event Center project, go to cumberlandcountync.gov/crowneventcenter.  (Photo: This rendition shows what the outside of the new Crown Center in downtown Fayetteville is going to look like. Rendering courtesy of The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners Crown Event Center Committee)

A look at Kevin Dove, Fayetteville Fire Department's new Fire Chief

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Tuesday, 21 May 2024

Written by Crissy Neville

Safety Always better suits than the familiar Safety First slogan when it comes to the Fayetteville Fire Department, which has the vision to “realize a safe and secure community that is resilient against all hazards.”
The newest visionary leading this charge is Hope Mills’ native, Kevin Dove, the recently promoted fire chief of the circa-1791 department. Dove, the deputy fire chief of operations since June 2021, began his new role on March 4. The former fire chief, Mike Hill, retired in December 2023.
Dove recently spoke with Up & Coming Weekly about his promotion and his plans for the FFD.
“Without Jesus as Lord and Savior, nothing is possible. Through Him, all things are possible. And my achievement of this position is a perfect example,” Dove said, crediting God first for his rise to the city’s top firefighting position. This ascent began with Dove’s position as a volunteer firefighter at his home community station, Cotton Fire/Rescue Department, just south of Hope Mills. Born in Fayetteville, Dove is a 1997 graduate of South View High School.
Initially serving as a high school volunteer, Dove was offered his first professional position at age 18 at Cotton Fire/Rescue Department and joined the FFD in October 1999. Dove’s ranks in the department read like an honor roll call: lieutenant, captain, battalion chief, assistant chief, deputy chief of operations, and now, chief.
His educational background also exudes excellence. Dove holds a master’s degree in organizational leadership and fire/rescue executive leadership from Waldorf University and a bachelor’s degree in fire service management from Fayetteville State University.
Per the Center for Public Safety Excellence, National Fire Academy and University of North Carolina School of Government, the Fayetteville leader holds certificates as a chief fire officer, executive fire officer and managing fire officer. Dove is a member of the Cumberland County Fire Chiefs Association and the North Carolina Association of Fire Chiefs.
Completing all the necessary training, education and time commitments, Dove has served in all department ranks during his 25-year career. In becoming the fire chief, he was selected from a wide pool of candidates, including his peers and applicants from across the nation.
Dove expressed gratitude to his predecessors, city leaders and his family.
“The members of the organization that have preceded me have laid an impenetrable foundation that we can build upon with the sky being the limit,” the new chief said. “I also want to thank the city manager and his team for their faith and trust in me, as well as my family for their unwavering support and encouragement.”
Married to Stephanie Dove, the chief and his wife live in Hope Mills and have a 12-year-old son, Cameron. Dove is a member of Southview Baptist Church and is very involved in the local community. He enjoys taking trips to White Lake and dirt sprint car racing with his son in his free time.
Dove also reflected on the fire “brotherhood,” the 351 men and women at 17 citywide fire stations with whom he has served and now oversees.
“I want to give a shout-out to my co-workers,” he said. “They are not going to let me fail because this place is just as important to them as it is to me. And even though I was able to come out as the new fire chief, they are just as qualified and deserving as I am. They are going to stick with me, and we are going to do good for the community.”
Doing good in the community is an understatement for the department that answered over 28,000 emergency calls in 2023. Dove highlighted that 66%, “the lion’s share,” were medical calls. Although fire protection is the department’s primary function, the need for the first responder program arose from an ever-increasing demand for emergency medical services. The department’s personnel are trained in specific divisions for rescue, hazardous materials and fire investigations.
“We call ourselves an all-hazards department,” Dove said.
Still, the new chief plans to tackle “the big three” challenges — recruitment and retention, cancer prevention and mental health — head-on.
“These initiatives were started by Chief Hill and other predecessors, but we have to continue to monitor them, improve upon them and stay at the forefront,” he stated. “These are hot ticket items in the fire service, not just here but nationwide.”
Capital improvement is another top agenda item.
“Station Four is being built as we speak,” Dove said. “And, the general obligation bond voted on last year includes Fire Station 16’s permanent location on Cedar Creek Road, the rebuilding of Station 2 in Haymount and Station 9 on Bonanza Drive. We have two new facilities coming, Station 18 and Station 20, in the five-year Capital Improvement Plan for expanded service, but they are the end of the five years, so two to three away.”
Dove, a soft-spoken leader and self-described introvert, said he has to “get comfortable being uncomfortable” now that he is at the forefront as fire chief — a position he never set out to obtain but quipped, “Every kid wants to be.” For life influencers, he names family and fellow firefighters. While Dove attributes his education to his grandmother’s persistence, he credits much of his life and career development to Cotton Fire/Rescue Department Chief Owen Harris and Deputy Chief Hank Harris: “As I said in my pinning ceremony, Chief Owen Harris taught me to be a man. And Chief Hank Harris taught me to be a fireman.”
Fayetteville’s highest-level professional fireman never stopped being a volunteer, by the way. Chief Dove has remained a volunteer firefighter at the Cotton Fire/Rescue Department, the very station that helped ignite his passion for firefighting over 25 years ago, all these years. Being a fire service member and having served in every fire service role gives him empathy for and an understanding of what his staff members face each day.
“I'm still a fireman at heart,” said the new chief.

(Photos-Top: Fayetteville Fire Department's Chief Kevin Dove stands in the City Council Chambers. Bottom: Fire Chief's son, Cameron, pins the Fire Chief badge to his father's jacket. Photos courtesy of the City of Fayetteville)